Well, another peak on the roller coaster, but probably the last one: after a two-day absence, my beloved mallard Honey returned to the pond for her final meals. She was hungry (which worries me!), and ate a substantial breakfast and lunch, with an extra ration of tasty mealworms. We communed a bit, and then she went to sun herself on the duck island. (The photos are enlarged from iPhone snaps, so they’re not great.) I’ll be at work for a short while tomorrow to prepare for departure, but she’s usually not here early. This may, then, be our last farewell.
Her wing feathers are large now; she’ll take to the wind shortly, I think:
She doesn’t like the traffic jam with turtles and koi. I suspect this will eventually drive her away:
I fed her corn on the lily pads, where she can eat it without being bothered by the pesky goldfish:
Goodbye my sweet duck; may flights of angels sing thee to the south:
Your feeling for Honey is touching.
I knew I was detecting a pattern. It is good you are leaving for Poland or this would go on until the freeze.
Is there nobody at UC who will pick up the duties of feeding Honey? (Assuming she comes back while you are away.)
I want her to leave when I’m gone rather than hang around for food until it gets cold.
Tough love!
You’re a jealous duck-lover!
I nominate you “Duck Dad of the Year.”
Odds appear to be high that
1) you will suspect not to see her again, and
2) you will see her again.
Fine feathered friends do like to play with our sensibilities.
“after a two-day absence”
Sure, assume SHE was at fault – has it ever occurred to you that she was there but couldn’t wait all day for you to show up?
You can’t blame everything bad in the relationship on her.
I’m thinkin’ there’s a “A Boy and His Duck” telenovela waiting to be made of this story.
Selma Lagerlöf started with more or less that premise and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909.
Hooray! So glad she’s back. It might be reasonable to be concerned that she was so hungry. Maybe she’s becoming dependent on your food source. You could always take her in like a pet if that’s something ducks can do.
What a roller-coaster of an affair. There are almost 50,000 witness-readers who have been buffeted by Honey’s insouciant toying with your emotions.
Please, JAC, for your own good, steel yourself for the inevitable.
Lucky duck, having you to love her.
She’s going to wonder where you’ve gone when you head off to Poland.
I know where Honey has been… she’s been off updating her website (pun intended), wondering if she’s ever going to see Jerry again, worrying whether or not he’s coming back… “Oh no, I fear he’s left me for good…”
This has been such a very sweet affair to follow. I wish elegant Honey farewell, and PCC[E] bon voyage