Plume and I were walking through the park at 6:30 this morning, arguing about whether it was better to plod slowly along the paved path or bound gaily through the pond of snow-melt that takes up a good part of the park at this time of year. In any case, we were getting a good look at the pond of snow melt and the many, loud, associated seagulls. And then a pair of ducks waded into the pond and started swimming.
In case you’re wondering what’s so special about ducks, take a look at my neighbourhood:
Ducks might be nothing special for you, but they are very special for me.
Thanks, Plume! (Without whom I would have been reading the internet instead of going for an early-morning walk. With ducks.)
How special would a 150lb fully grown male cougar be to you? A lady found one in her apple tree last week. They took him for a long drive, as far from elementary school playgrounds as they could. Big cats love to watch kids. They act like prey.
Cranes are special for us. They winter here. I love to hear their calls. Didn’t hear any last week now that I think of it. Summer is coming.
Comment by Kathleen — Monday, March 22nd, 2010 @ 07:37
Yes I understand your gratitude. If it were not for my 17 year old diabetic cat’s need for insulin shot at 6 am, i would probably be complaining about the Red Cardinal’s annual return and 6 am Mating whistles. Instead I am thoroughly enjoying his desperate sunrise calls this year.
Comment by su — Monday, March 22nd, 2010 @ 08:00
Of course, I love ducks. Remember my pet duck? Her name was Duck and she was very special. I made daisy chains for her neck and she followed me everywhere. My dog, McGregor, reluctantly took it upon himself to make sure she never left the yard.
I went for a long walk with Winnie, my friend Nancy’s dog, just yesterday. We stopped by a creek so she could watch the ducks. She was totally fascinated.
Comment by Deirdre — Monday, March 22nd, 2010 @ 08:26
I have never seen a duck in my neighborhood, but one day I saw a seagull. It picked up a squirrel and got as high off the ground as a telephone pole. Then it dropped the squirrel. The squirrel landed on all fours, shook his head back and forth a few times, and then ran away. That’s the weirdest thing I’ve seen on my street – although I saw a coyote a few weeks ago, and there are foxes as well. And I live in a suburban neighborhood, not out in the woods!
Comment by Roz Cummins — Monday, March 22nd, 2010 @ 09:27
Kathleen: A 150lb cougar in an apple tree would be very, very special. Plume and I would probably fit in the category of things-that-look-like-prey, so any blog post I wrote after that very, very special encounter would likely be very different.
Comment by alison — Monday, March 22nd, 2010 @ 10:45
su: I am not yet grateful for insulin shots. Good to know they are something to look forward to! You will appreciate this strip about animals’ enthusiasm for mornings: http://bit.ly/doW61r
Deirdre: I don’t remember Duck but I do remember McGregor. How long did she stay with you? With daisy chains around her neck she sounds emblematic of that time. Do kids still grow up with that kind of memory?
Roz: I didn’t know seagull encounters got that dramatic. It’s amazing how people-tolerant some animals can be.
Comment by alison — Monday, March 22nd, 2010 @ 10:54
Duck lived with me from Easter 1970 (or so) until that Fall. Michael bought 4 ducklings at the pet store and mine, the ugliest, was the only one to survive. We took her to a farm where she cozied up to another duck, Peter, who had also lived in a house and was lame. Sadly, I think she was shot by some neighbor boys who went to our friend’s farm and used the sitting ducks for target practice. (They got in big trouble.) Mother told me she flew away with a Canadian goose.
Comment by Deirdre — Monday, March 22nd, 2010 @ 11:04