Johnny & June
Last spring an amorous pair of ducks wandered into our garage. Against H.O.A. warnings, we fed them. This year they've come back! Quacking, and waddling, and demanding a welcoming feast. They are exceedingly friendly and bonded, and we are calling them Johnny and June after Johnny Cash and June Carter. They enjoy chattering, drinking clean water, and napping under our rhodedendron bush. Spring always brings to me a sense of continuity and ritual. Welcome back to all our resident birds!
posted by Pamela @ 2:34 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Johnny and June!!! Are you feeding them cracked corn - it is a duck favorite you know. I've got a big-ole bag if you want some. (I have a real duck fetish - they are amazingly entertaining creatures.) Back at our old home on Mount Hood, my family had a large pond with ducks and geese - (the Wobblies).
Summer nights and winter days were the best. In summer you'd lay in bed trying to sleep and hear the duck arguments come swelling from the pond - quack, qua, qua, QUACK, QUACK! ACK ACK! There is no way to describe it on the page.
And then in winter when the pond was mostly frozen over and I'd step out to feed them cupfull's of corn, this mass of them would come running and then slipping, sliding, and finally face down skiing across the ice. Total slapstick.
Greta, the sort of mother goose of the bunch, was the ballsiest of the fowl. She ventured off the pond and all around our yard, frequently beating up our dogs (who would run in fright anytime they saw her), and chased our cars with her tremendous hiss tongue and huge, flapping wingspan. She, strangely, had a love affair with our neighbor's female, black lab - following her everywhere she went for a whole summer; sleeping by her, guarding her and cleaning her. Somewhere I have pictures of the two of them together. I always thought it would make a great children's story.
I should clarify that I did feed them certified "critter feed," which I believe includes cracked corn, Mere!
Right after I posted this they came to see why I was late on their food! :-)
Heya Hools :) Popped in to say I love the pics of Johnny & June - very cute. Lovely garden too. Hugs Karina xxx
KARINA!!! All the way from the magical land of Oz, and the even more exotic locale of Perth! What a treat! Thanks for dropping by, I miss you.
If I remember, I will take more pictures of the garden which is in full bloom and for which I can take no credit--that must go to the Mr. who has a knack with it.
Update on the ducks: An intruder, another male, came in today and caused quite a ruckus.
I miss you too Hools - its been ages !! Ooooh an intruder causing a ruckus. Hope it settles down !!
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