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Brava the Duck

Summer, 2006 - Once I was feeding several geese that were gathered close around to get some corn. Upon feeling something tap my foot a few times, I looked down to see a female duck looking up at me. As I rewarded her with some whole corn, I found that she would eat right from my hand. Thus, Brava was named for her bravery; no other duck here is that tame. When it is time to feed the geese, Brava is often the bird nearest the bottom of my stairwell. Once she even began climbing the stairs to meet me.

Brava has a husband, but several of the male ducks still chase her around the lake. Often a would-be suitor interrupts her while eating corn, and a chase ensues. Finally her husband confronts the other male duck, allowing Brava to return to her meal. He guards her while she eats and always lets her eat first.

Brava climbs the stairs to get first dibs on the corn. Her husband guards from below. Click here for larger image.

Quack-along stands with her lame foot pointing down—just like Skip-along did before improving. Click here for larger image.

This is as far as Quack-along can reach to scratch her head with the lame foot. Perhaps Hop-along will get a chance to show her how it's done. Click here for larger image.

Quack-along

Summer, 2006 - Phrases such as "lame duck," "sitting duck," "ducks in a row," and "duck soup" are part of our modern vernacular. These terms seem inspired by victim ducks, which would seemingly be everywhere. But, I had not seen a lame duck on the lake until this one. Alas, a duck counter-part to Skip-along has arrived. This female duck's left foot is constantly curled backward as if folded for the roosting position, similar to Skip-along's right foot. This duck can sort of hop on her right foot for a few steps, but often pushes herself across the grass on her belly just enough to reach some corn nearby.

When I'm feeding the geese, Quack-along flies over and lands near me, quacking to get attention. As I approach, she bobs her head up and down just like the geese do to say "hello." I toss her handfuls of whole corn, which she scoops up with lightning speed. While her injury is much like Skip'along's, her feeding strategy is much like Hop-along's. Thus Quack-along's name pays homage to her geese counterparts. Currently she is the only lame bird on the lake while Hop-along and Skip-along are away for the molting season.

Fall, 2006 - Quack-along's left foot has improved significantly since I first saw her. She no longer has to drag her belly along the ground, but still has a pronounced limp, though. Around October she disappeared from the lake, but many ducks come and go like that. She is otherwise healthy, and is probably out there at an area pond or lake.

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