Quacks!

A few years ago, like four or five, we had a big rain like we had last week. In between then and now, we've been in a major drought, so the excitement around here was real.

Anyway, the last time we had a big rain, we were visited by a family of ducks. Mommy and Daddy arrived in our backyard with a whole bunch of little yellow ducklings.

Shiner, our blue heeler, was a puppy and tried to herd the peeps. We figured their home flooded and our yard had been part of a wildlife trail before the area was developed. So after a few minutes of checking everything out, Mom and Dad Duck eventually found a way for peeps to go under the fence.

Fast forward to last week.

Not long after the rain let up, ducks appeared in our side yard by the gate to the back searching for a way under the fence. Only it’s a different breed of duck from before.

These ducklings were black and white. So we had Mommy, Daddy, and fourteen active little ducklings. And soon, two neighborhood kids--one about six and one about nine.

Live-In Handyman opened the gate, and into the backyard they went. Mama Duck huddled her ducklings in the far corner of the yard but soon joined Dad in the trees. Duck Lesson #1: teaching independence.

The same hole the ducklings found before has since been repaired, so Handyman started making a new opening for them. Mom and Dad Duck watched, and both of them talked to the babies, who ran around like, what else, little lost ducklings :)

Those ducklings were quick and all over the place. We needed Shiner! But he's traded his love of little moving things for a love of food. So both dogs stayed in the house.

The kids and I kept the ducklings semi-corralled until the hole was open. When it was, Mama Duck landed in the yard to oversee the safe passage of her babies.

As soon as the last duckling was through and in the neighboring yard, Mama Duck flew up to the fence, then to the ground on the other side. I’m guessing she counted babies and made sure all were OK.

Then she flew back up on the fence and talked to us for about 30 seconds. I’d like to think she was thanking us for getting her babies safely on the other side. Since I don’t speak Duck, I’m not completely sure.

She then flew down to the ground on the other side again, and about a minute later she flew off in the opposite direction.

Although I couldn't see them, I am sure she was following her babies.

That's what Moms do.


See you back here on Monday, June 1.

For those of you in the U.S., have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!