This may seem like a strange article from someone who's web site is dedicated primarily to the control of pest birds and bats, We do have a number of very effective, humane products to assist you if there is a problem with birds or bats that have gotten out of control and become a pest and potential hazard to you and your property. But this is one I just couldn't pass up.
I am an early riser and have developed the habit of reading informative books and the Bible during those early hours; so was the case on this morning. My wife came into the living room where I was reading and exclaimed, "Bob, what do you suppose made this strange trail across the dew covered grass? It looks like one of those giant turtles or something has been here." Of course I jumped up to see what she was talking about and then I saw them. A proud Mallard hen with her brand new brood of ten ducklings. She spotted us through the window and started directing the fluffy little ducklings around the side of the house. We had noticed that for several days there had been two and sometimes three male Mallards that had taken up residency in our front yard. They would come around and rest on the lawn for several hours at a time and hardly pay any attention to our coming and going. We wondered what would entice these drake mallards to pick our front yard. Well, our little hen must have called out a distress signal and suddenly two drake mallards come running to her side. They all proceeded to the hill behind our house and disappeared into the underbrush. In less than four minutes they had negotiated their way through the thick brush, around a 50ft cliff and without time out for swimming lessons, crossed about 40 yards to the other side of the pond. Altogether they traveled about 100 yards. When we discovered them across the pond, the ducklings were running around and swimming in the pond and there were five beautiful green headed drake mallards that had come to see that the little family got started out ok. A golfer approached their area and one of the drakes actually started to advance toward her until she turned and walked away from them.
The next day I went down to the pond to check on our new arrivals and much to my delight there were the two Canadian Geese that had been hanging around for about two weeks. They were showing off their five new downy goslings. The gander made no secret of the fact that he didn't want me to come too close. Our little hen mallard was busily herding her brood around the opposite end of the pond. What a delight to be able to witness one of God's miracles right in our own yard.
About the Author
I am Dr Bob Atterberry, a seventy six year old, retired veterinarian. Marie, my wife of 51 years, and I have been nature lovers and birdwatchers most of our lives. After spending over 50 years of my life preparing for and practicing veterinary medicine, I had an empty feeling with so much time on my hands so I decided to build a web site that would be beneficial to both bird lovers and to those who might have a control problem with pest birds and
