Ducks in the Pond

Recently I took my three grandchildren to a local duck pond. A feeder had been added since our last visit, where for a quarter you can get duck food. Each of my grandkids got some food in their hands and began putting it through the metal fense. The ducks went wild and were acting like they were starving. Closest to the fence was a small duck my granddaughter named Quackers and he was not getting anything to eat.

My granddaughter put some food right in front of Little Quackers and he quickly gobbled it up. When her brother gave the tiny duck some food two big ducks tried the take it. Quackers let out a loud sound, stuck his head way out and ate the pellets before the larger fowl could get to it. That was a funny sight and we laughed so hard.

The ducks all seemed as if they were very hungry and appreciated being fed. There was an opening in the metal fence where the ducks could get out and a few were walking around behind us on the sidewalk. We looked back and saw three ducks crossing through the parking lot near a station and then they went to Burger King. All the cars slowed up and I told the grandkids there needed to be a sign that read "Duck Crossing."

The ducks in the local pond have a life of ease. All they do is indulge in swimming all day and waiting on someone to feed them. Their life of leisure brings a peace to the atmosphere as we watched them. I would love a day when we could stay for a longer time and just watch the patterns of the ducks in the pond. On this occasion, as we walked across a foot bridge, a few ducks decided to join us. They showed no fear and were not easily startled as they waddle behind us.

Once when I was driving to a Burger King in the area a few ducks walked in front of my vehicle. I blew the horn and they ignored me. They simply continued their casual waddle as if they had not a care in the world. I'm glad the wrought iron fence has now been put in place and children must throw the food to the ducks. A few years back my middle grandchild was bitten while at the pond with his dad. He was giving a duck some food and it bit his finger as it was trying to take the bread from his hand. It was an accident but it still hurt him.

It was amazing watching that one small baby duckling holding his own with so many bigger fowl. I wished we had more quarters and could watch Quackers exhibiting his strength for a little longer. Now that we know about the feeder, we will make sure to have enough change on our next visit to the pond. Quackers may have grown up a bit and might not even be on that side of the water. Hopefully, there will be at least one other baby duck who we can feed. Now I'm wondering how it came to be that there was only one little duck among about 20-30 bigger ones. At any rate it was a great experience and the grandchildren had a ball.

The weather is getting cold now and little Quackers has surely grown. The temperature is dropping and once it freezes the duck pond will tun to ice. We will try to still visit the ducks and give them some food to eat.