Never Judge a Book by it’s Cover

There is something so serene about watching the ducks gliding across the pond. Their feet paddling unseen as they quietly enjoy the water. I love to watch them, not just when they are on the water but also when they waddle from one pond to the other twitching their tails as they go. Their pigeon-toed walk seems so child like and innocent.

The first duck to arrive here was the black one, lost and alone. She decided to stay, and why not; the fishing is good here and she is protected, well at least until Scott grew up some. The other two guys arrived about a month later, and they too decided to stay. I can’t explain it, but I really do love them. Perhaps it is that they are content, their life an easy existence here, which reflects my own life. Whatever the reason, they always bring a smile and a giggle to my day.

As it turned out the pure white one and the black one are both females, the mallard is the male. And as it also turned out both the females became pregnant at the same time. Now it should be obvious that the mallard would be the father, but I did see a rooster have its way with the black duck more than once. Lol – is that even possible? I wonder……unfortunately it woke up my imagination and I had to wonder what you would call the chicks or would it chucks? In any case both ducks were nesting at the same time their chosen locations for nesting quite different.

The white duck took to the bank of the pond among the rocks, while the black one found a nice safe spot among the bushes by the arena (yes they have cock fights here). She was up high and without knowing her location, you would just walk on by without a clue. The white duck was more exposed, which proved to be fatal unfortunately.

Scott with his new rawhide bone – and he’s not sharing……

I have talked about Scott several times on the blog, so the regulars will recognize him I believe. He was only 3 months old when we arrived, so he has grown although not so much in height (his knees seem to be very close to his ankles). Now I know he has a beautiful face, but as I’ve learned one must not judge a book by it’s cover and so we must apply this to Mister Scott. One morning I awoke to the sounds of indignation, the voice of Scott tied to the pole at the arena. I couldn’t help but wonder what he had done now. He has a dark side, does our Scott, which defies that beautiful face, so I wasn’t surprised he was in trouble, but he had never been tied up before, so I was worried about the severity of the crime.

When I went for my meal that day, after my run, I asked what he had done. I didn’t understand Maria when she tried to explain in spanish, but she was not happy with him. Maria is not very comfortable using the translator, so I just left it for that day. I found out the following afternoon when Abel arrived home from school. Although Scott had been moved from the pole to the trees near my room, he was not allowed off his rope during this whole time, even through the rainy night. I did not go to visit him because I had a sense that he did not deserve sympathy. From Abel I learned he had discovered the white duck’s nest and had eaten 8 of the 10 eggs – mucho mucho malo!!!! When they let him off the leash at one point, he went straight back to the nest, so back he went to puppy jail. Definitely no sympathy from my corner!!! He remained tied up for a few days, until they were sure he would not return to the nest. The second he was released, he ran straight for me, trying to hide under my bed, his favourite spot. Well, that was about to change…..I had to use the broom to get him to come out from under the bed, although I did not hurt him, he was very upset he wasn’t allowed to hide.

To this day, he hesitates about going near the kitchen, and never on his own. Did he learn his lesson? Well not really, but maybe that should be another story…..

Whether Scott got all the eggs in the end, or whether the duck just decided to abandon the nest, I’m not sure. I would see the mallard and the white duck hanging out together, while the black duck faithfully attended her nest. Her eggs never hatched, not fertile in the end, unless they belonged to the rooster and that would have been considered an unfavourable match. Both of the female duck hiss at Scott when he happens by, but he just struts his stuff, unaware of the damage done. I believe he thinks his looks should get him out of any trouble he may have caused. It can be that way with people too can’t it? Ahh well, karma gonna get you in the end :).