Tuesday, February 2, 2010

QUACKED UP

If you'll excuse the cheap wordplay, I'd like to say I have my ducks in a row this morning. Actually, they have them themselves in a row across from the cottage. You might note how a couple are staring my way. You can take it from me that most of the rest are keeping an eye on things surreptitiously. This is not a matter of duck distrust, but rather duck decorum. The rowed-up mallards are all waiting for me to toss out a few scoops of cracked corn. Breakfast! We all know what's going on, yet most of the waddling herd believe that feigned disinterest is the proper demeanor; apparently it's considered unseemly behavior to appear too eager and attentive toward the hand that feeds you.
Fine. I'm willing to allow them their uppity moment. I'll fill the big feeders first with sunflower seeds. Then I'll take care of putting fresh suet cakes in the wire cages for the woodpeckers. After that, I'll sprinkle a bit or cracked corn on stumps and rocks for the cardinals and sparrows…and then I'll pretend to go back inside, duck severing apparently forgotten.
Will there be little gasps of alarm from the overlooked waterfowl? A round of anxious quacking?
I hope so. An occasional comeuppance does everyone good. "Lighten up, you mangy featherballs," I'll tell them when I reappear, grinning, a minute later. "It was only a joke."
Then I'll toss them their allotted scoops of cracked corn over the bank—and probably an extra one to make up for my good-humored trickery. One does not want to run afoul (or would that be afowl?) of one's ducks. The last thing I need is a line of moody mallards.

10 comments:

Jenn Jilks said...

I think you cannot herd ducks any more than you can herd cats, Griz.
And NO EXCUSE for the puns!!!

My Muskoka is frozen in, with no water birds around here. Glad you're looking after them. Remember to send them back in spring!

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ-
delightful, every detailed thought and image, absolutely delightful. and of course, great picture too. I Love your world.

Love Gail
peace.....

Grizz………… said...

Jenn…

I wasn't trying to herd them…just wipe that superior look off their bills. But not to worry—I'll fatten them up and send them northward in your direction as soon a s you have open water. That'd be about July, right?

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I'll bet that pup of yours would love these ducks. Don't know the feeling would be reciprocated, though.

Take care!

Bernie said...

I like this photo Grizz....and you have given me a glimpse of Spring seeing ducks on the water...everything is still frozen here........:-) Hugs

The Weaver of Grass said...

You are naughty teasing them like that Scribe! Remember those ducks might be moody but they will soon be broody - many little duckling to come, one hopes.
Thank you for posting another shot of your river in the snow.

Grizz………… said...

Bernie…

Just warm enough here to make it a bit muddy out. But there's still a fringe of ice along the river…

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

There's nothing cuter than little string of fuzzy yellow-brown ducklings on the water. I hope they all get broody and hatch lots of eggs!

Rowan said...

This post made me smile, I chose a good moment to come out of my January hibernation!

Grizz………… said...

Rowan…

I wondered where you'd been. I'm about to the point of hibernating myself. Of course, then I'd miss the duck and geese antics on the river—and the fun of freezing to death in old fields.

Again— Welcome back!