No Mama

Perfectly matched. Always in tune. (USPD)

The local power couple.

Heads always turned when they zipped in to hold court. Even the most elegant, totally sophisticated couldn’t hold a feather to them.

No comparison.

The two had been a couple for as long as I can remember. So attentive to each other – it was like no one else existed in the world. 

She was quite a looker which meant all the visiting guys would try to cozy up to her, but she’d have none of it – with great dignity, she’d turn tail and glide away knowing, without looking, that her partner of so many years would simply slip between her and the would-be-admirers saying, “The Lady says, no. The Lady is taken.” And he’d then fly to her side.

They never missed a beat. Got along most swimmingly. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Even after their kids were grown, he would come close whispering in her ear as she gracefully bent her neck to hear – smiling a little bit at whatever he said. 

Apparently romance and having a family can coexist. They were blessed.

She had motherhood down.

Effortlessly, but firmly, raise her children – all of whom were so well behaved and so polite she likely followed the Druckerman style of parenting.

If she was swimming in the lake lake or a neighbor’s pool, and one of the little ones attempted to follow uninvited, she quickly reminded them, “I told you to sit quietly in the shade or on the dock.” The wannabe rebel would scurry back to the assigned seat without any squawking or quack talk. Raised better.

Everyone knew the handsome pair. Admired and envied them.

Hollywood Hank the Husky was also charmed by her voice and their style.

We would often see them stroll by as we watched sunrises or sunsets over the marina and lake.

So it was a shock one morning at dawn as Hank and I strolled across the island’s bridge.

There in the road was her body – only a short distance from her youngest duckling who had been run over and was, as they say, as flat as a pancake. Flat as a sheet of paper.

In what must have been a desperate flight attempting to rescue, she, too, was struck.

I hurried Hank home – he was most disturbed by Mama Ducks’s stillness.

By the time I returned, someone else had found her and gently carried her to one of the couple’s favorite places under a bush overlooking the lake.

Standing with Hank in the park looking across water to island bridge at sunrise – and at the new massive apartment project where speeders care little for gentle indigenous ones who first inhabited the place. (© image)

Things just weren’t the same. For any of us. There was an emptiness.

How was her “better half” going to go on? 

Hank and I altered our normal walking route to avoid the sad scene.

Surprisingly a few days later we stood in the park across the waterway from the bridge, and saw Mama Duck’s drake and their two remaining ducklings. 

When their dad wanted to fish a bit, he’s order them onto a little brushy peninsula of rock and sand below the park’s bulkhead. If one dared to move into he water he would splash furiously towards them and reprimand.

They obediently waited on the bank until he said it was OK to join him.  

Small refuge under bulkhead at park which is home, nesting nursery, or landing spot as needed. The drop down ladder on the right is how paddle boarders can drop into the water to play like ducks.(© image)

For over a week we saw a very tired duck dad taking over Mama’s guiding role.

When a small flock of traveling ducks flew in and tried to paddle over to his teen duckings, Dad came out of nowhere creating such a massive display of splashing and talking – “Not with my daughter, you won’t!” Raising teenagers of any species is quite tiring.

Then, not long after, another group of equally young ducks landed in the park.

The well-feathered group wandered closer and closer to Mama Duck’s twins who looked around expecting Dad, who was casually swimming nearby, to charge in.

But he didn’t.

He remained at a watchful distance as his two offspring tentatively waddled over to chat with the newcomers.

It was a little like those awkward middle school dances in the gym. Forward, then retreating back to emotional safety a few pace away. Then risking another stepping out again.

It seemed to go well. Everyone was polite and kind.

We left the party – as it was already chaperoned.

Everyone has to eventually venture out and find their own flock.

I think Daddy Duck agreed. Or maybe he was really, really tired as Duck Defender is a difficult role. May have needed a little “me” time.

“What do you think, Sis? Shall we go for it?” (© image)

For the next few days we saw the teen ducks flying and swimming happily in the lake fingers by the park.

They were frequently in pairs.

Giving them a bit of privacy, we only observed the duck tango at a distance – so it was difficult to tell who was who and with whom.

This is a wetlands and a major birding zone.

Plenty of time now for ducks to get acquainted and make decisions before winter migration.

Many birds look around and decide, “Hey, why leave? It’s fine year round here.”

Mama Duck and her beau were year round residents.

We’ll see if the young crowd decides to travel in the fall or follow family traditions. 

As for Dad Duck, we all wish him to be lucky in love. May his second love be as fine as his first.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

Another group that has chosen to voluntarily relocate to the park. The island no longer their own private paradise. Besides the sprinkler system is quite a wonderful ibis amenity as it turns out. (© image)

 

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