Waddle Waddle...Mr. Duck is Back!

This mallard duck, we call him Mr. Duck (creative huh?), has flown back into our yard/pond/zoo of a backyard. He has graced us with his presence each spring for the past four years.

We have had the pleasure of watching him grow up. The first year he was a little guy and it seems this gal he was with was his first girlfriend. We foolishly hopped for them to have their babies in our yard. Wouldn’t that be fun?!

We soon realized this was not going to happen...what with all the other critters coming in and using the pond and yard as their own playgrounds. Little baby ducks probably would not do so well around the raccoons, Henry the Heron, the local cats, hawks and bluejays, not to mention the three chickens that LIVE here.

The second year he always flew in and out with the same Ms. Duck, they seemed very happy. The third year she left him mid-year and it was sad. He would arrive, sit by the pond and “honk” for her. But she did not come back.

This year he seems to be single. No Ms. Duck...yet. He seems to use the pond as a “time out,” a time for rest and reflection. He flies into the pond, swims around, climbs out and waddles over to the grain, eats, waddles back to the pond for a nap, hangs out for a few hours and then flies off.

We think he might live at Blackhawk Plaza. There are A LOT of ducks living there and we are glad to provide a quiet place for Mr. Duck to re-group. We will watch and see if he finds a mate this spring — perhaps he has a mate and comes here to have some “alone” time? Whatever his story is, we are happy to have him join us for a few months.

As always I am asking that if you spot a Great Blue Heron or know where they are nesting-in tall trees somewhere. Let me know!

~Celebrate and Enjoy Nature Everyday~