DUCKS IN THE YARD

It started last year when I would walk to the Save-On-Foods store a couple of blocks away from where I live. I cut through a small park with a year round running stream through it and there, in the middle of winter, in temperatures of more than -20C, were a number of ducks managing to keep an area of the creek open for swimming. We had greater than -20C temperatures much earlier than usual last year.

I started taking them wild bird food and scattering it around. None of the ducks would come right up to me, but that was fine. (now many of them eat out of my hand)  My concern was that there was a lot of snow and the temperatures were very cold and were these birds finding enough to eat.

I asked around and found that staff from the store and several of the businesses were taking some food out to the ducks, usually during their lunch breaks etc. There were also others who, like me, didn't feed them every day, but came a few times a week to lay down some food. Many were feeding them bread type foods so I would take wild bird feed for them, thinking it  would have more nutritional value for them. It turns out, after reading a number of sites on feeding them, I was right.

This year the weather is mild and has been all winter. We have little snow, as you can see from the video. The "flock" in the park has split into 3 groups now with a total of more than 100 birds. I am not sure if the number of people feeding the group has decreased or if we just have too many birds now for the food being left for them. Either way the birds appear to be hungry.

A few weeks ago I walked through the park with no offerings for them and the entire group followed me right through the park. The next day I took a big container of food down for them and, as I scattered the seed I started walking toward home. My street is only one block long so from the park to home is a very quiet walk usually. I had the entire 3 groups follow me almost to my gate. Then a car door slammed and they all flew away. However a couple of pairs showed back up outside the gate, so I threw them some food.

The next day they showed up again and I threw food on both sides of the fence. Of the six that came to eat, only two figured out how to get at the food inside the fence. As the last few weeks have passed I have added grapes (cut in half), bits of apples diced small, lettuce chopped up fairly fine, and other vegetable bits, and peels. I am going to the farm supply today to get feed for them as I have found I will be able to get 3 times as much for the same money. I have been just buying the wild bird feed at the grocery store in the largest bags I could find, but I am getting more and more birds coming in, and my budget is extremely limited. 

I get two pair who are early risers. They show up just after first light. As the day goes on now I see different groups of ducks come in at different times throughout the day, with the largest group showing up about an hour before dark. The group I have filmed above are here mid-day. My dogs have a separate dog yard and use that when they are out. They no longer bark at the ducks and they are all learning to co-exist.

It is such fun to watch the ducks in the yard, and a privilege to be able to contribute to their well-being. I also see it as a step toward animal rescue, which is my desire. I have rescued a number of abused dogs, birds and cats in the past, but when I am able to develop and fund the animal rescue I would like to include the rescue and rehabilitation of injured wildlife as well. In the meantime I am learning what I can.

Until next time, be good to your furry friends.