A Hard Lesson for a DuckMy regular walks with the dogs – two Jack Russell terriers – bring many different experiences, most of which are totally positive and some genuinely life enhancing. Today’s episode concerns a family of ducks, which the dogs firmly believe should be theirs to do with as they will!
We have been privileged to observe three generations over the last couple of years and the duck in question is the sole survivor of three siblings from last year. Some weeks ago, she hatched two babies, which we watched regularly as they developed for three or four weeks. My wife commented that the duck did not appear to be a particularly attentive mother. This proved to be the case, when – along with a hysterical infant – my wife was witness to the distressing sight of one of the ducklings being grabbed enthusiastically and taken swiftly away in the jaws of an out-of-control dog, not, of course, one of ours!
The mother duck seemed to take little notice of the survivor and spent most of the next few weeks back in her nest in the middle of the lake.
Well, recently, she appeared with three more ducklings; when we see her now, she is rarely more than a couple of metres from her babies and is voluble in making her ducky protective presence felt. A rather tough way for her learn, but I think these three have a better than even chance of achieving adulthood.
For me, this is another great example of the value added to our lives – albeit this time indirectly – by having dogs in the family.
There will be lots more heart-warming stories of people and their treasured pets on
http://yourpetgiftstories.blogspot.com/ .
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