Banking on S.T.R.
Why risk messing up your own place when a bunch of friends arrive when there’s Airbnb? (Cecil B. Demille movie/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
They sneak in – under cover of darkness – just in case the subdivision has a ban on Short Term Rentals.
Already made the long trip. Hungry, sleepy, and trying to duck any problems upon arrival.
Clumps of neighbors and early dog walkers bunched here and there muttering worried things like:
- “How did they end up here?” (Pretty obvious. You can find anything online – Airbnb, VRBO, social media, travel sites…)
- “Can you believe how many showed up? It must be one of those parties – like the ones that get out of control late at night.”
- “How long do you think they intend to stay? It’s the Christmas holidays and all.”
- “You do think they will leave? What if they decide to be squatters!”
A lot of honking and squawking had already been heard! Their imaginations ran wild – expecting the worst. (Infrogmation of New Orleans/Flickr/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Stories quietly exchanged about wild parties that weren’t supposed to be permitted. Of small neighborhood pools being swamped by beer drinking, barely clothed strangers behaving badly.
Well, the neighborhood will just wait and see how the visitors strut their stuff…and attack the flowerbeds for bugs.
So far they seem to be in fine feather with the wintering flock growing larger each day.
The regular migrating duck flocks aren’t stopping on the little island which is now covered with apartments and parking lots. Our little peninsula park bordered on two sides by shallow lake water inlets/canals apparently appeals more.
The first day they arrived, I thought three large guard drakes were actually going to charge the dog and I.
Goose stepping with determination and purpose…only they were ducks.
By now, the ducks have figured out that they can buffalo any and all, and no one really cares if they settle in.
“OK. Everyone stay with the tour group now while we review the facilities available during your visit. To your right is the open hill. Great for practicing lift offs and dry landings. Ahead of us are the well mulched flowerbeds with rose bushes and prairie grasses – all promising tasty buggy snacks. Ignore that red tailed hawk in the tree – but close up ranks a bit. He’s generally mostly fond of squirrel, but some of you young ones look pretty tender. Keep up now. Off to your left are the gazebo and swings. You really might get a kick out or those. And it’s OK wander the bulkheads without fear – the big drop keep the gators in the lake. (© image)
“Wait. I thought our STR write-up and agreement said there was a dock. Sunny dock for lounging!” (© image)
Early this morning an additional squadron of them flew some ten feet right over our heads before banking a landing, then strutting over to query which patch of land was their designated reservation.
Wonder if they will stick around or eventually wander back to the wetlands sanctuary not far away.
The city looks like they have completed the upgrade of the water system bordering the edge of that official bird sanctuary. Loud construction is pretty annoying for ducks – overshadows their quacky conversations.
The mighty flighty mass of ducks may be only STRs, but their aquatic and aerial Duck Olympic Trials are quite spectacular each morning. Fun while it lasts
Santa wasn’t the only thing flying through the sky around here recently.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Bunch of adoring fans in the stands watching Duck Aquatic Olympic Trials over and in the canal. (© image)
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
Here, a short term rental for whistling ducks has turned into full property rights, with a multitude of relatives invited for the season…you can tell the season has started by the noise of clog dancing on the roof.
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Oh, it sounds like the word has spread. People who retired to Florida or other tourist vacation places always mused that all of a sudden everyone – all their friends and relatives – couldn’t wait to come visit them. Maybe there’s been a whole lot of quacking going on between ducks, too?
This morning was our first freeze so I was curious if the 3 big flocks stayed or not. The small resident flock (annoyed) had claimed the most sheltered cove, but there was quite a fine feathered crowd enjoying the shallows at the base of the sunny bulkheads. I guess we are lucky they prefer the water zones and park to our lawns and houses.
Love the image of clogging whistling ducks on the roof (easy to do – at a distance!)
Thanks for flying in to chat. Have a great dash to the end of the year!
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No quackers or honkers around here. Not enough water. But the green belts occasionally bring coyotes. Or so it’s been said. I’ve never seen one around here.
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Ahhhh, so lucky! When I lived next to a park, I’d get the disoriented Canadian goose who came up to visit. My cats thought it was the funniest looking cat they had ever seen. No one hissed. They just eyed each other up and went on with business. No sure that would work with large flocks!
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We have had some different avian STRs around here but no ducks. Humans could be worse sometimes.
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I heard the most interesting discussion this week among people who travel frequently and have to use short-term lodging in various cities. They all agreed that AirB&B is a lost cause at this point, and that VRBO is the way to go. Apparently corporateness has overtaken AirB&B: the fees have risen, the hidden costs are everywhere, and the restrictions are increasingly complex. I also learned that much of the huge house construction on Galveston’s west end has nothing to do with private individuals. It’s corporate-funded STRs. Figures.
Now, the duck. I don’t know if you saw the video update on the League City site, but they’re planting new prairie grasses now to restore what was damaged during the construction of the water line, and plans are to open February 1 or thereabouts. Tell the ducks! It’s time to start planning the homecoming party.
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