falcongrrl

I just realized that I never posted the duck update.

We were able to retrieve five ducklings from the attic. We were still hearing peeping, so there was probably at least one more that died up there. :-(

One of the five also died, due to getting out from under where the others were nestled in a towel-covered heating pad.

But four lived and were eating and drinking. Then my neighbor told me how to try to get them back with the mama duck.

So I took them down to where the ducks come up to eat seed. They weren't peeping (having bonded together pretty well), so I took one away from the others.

As soon as that one started to peep, the others answered, and the mama came flying across the street from wherever she was. She called, they responded. I set the duck in my hands down and mama duck and duckling ran toward each other. I picked up the other three and set them down and they ran toward the mother. They all gathered around her and she fussed over the four for a bit and then the five of them waddled away.

It was very beautiful and I got just a bit teary.

So...now we have a bunch of duckling food (it's really unmedicated chick starter) and a repaired soffit. Daniel was sad at first that the ducklings went back to the mama, but he seems to have adjusted well now.

Now, a busy spring break is ahead, and after that, some semblance of a normal routine (and writing!), I can only hope. :-)

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circuit-four.livejournal.com

Awww! That's so sweet -- how'd Daniel take the casualties?

ladyperegrine.livejournal.com

He insisted on burying the duck that died himself, in the morning before school, and put a flower in the grave, then berated himself for not putting it in the (cardboard box) coffin. I told him that the important thing was that it was done with love, but I don't think he believed me (or he probably thought that was lame.) He lamented the fact that we didn't buy the chick a headstone. Ellie made one out of a piece of paper and wrote, "We love you. We took care of you." Daniel thought that was pretty lame, too, though. (I made sure Ellie knew that it was very cool and that the paper did stay out there for a good amount of time.) Daniel was planning on getting a brick or flat stone and writing or carving his own message on it, but I think he may have forgotten about it for the time being.

oh, duck that died = duckling that died under our watch. He hasn't mentioned the fact that one likely died up in the attic, and I've been keeping a low profile about it.