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Post by downylover on Jun 14, 2015 19:55:20 GMT -5
I feel like a 6 year old with my duckies (and I probably sound like one talking about them!).
Ingrates no more! I got 3 bricks from my sister, made new steps and moved the little wooden box. Apparently the location was the problem because she hopped on the little wooden box and into the pool before she even ate tonight. For the past couple of days they have been coming separately. She was here for an hour and a half and probably in the pool for an hour. She was dunking her head and splashing like any bird in a bath. She was preening, stretching her wings and just splashing all around. She even stood all stretched, flapped her wings all the way out then plopped back down and started in again. Of course my camera battery wasn't charged so I only got a couple of pictures when she first went in. Its supposed to pour tomorrow so I'm hoping on Tues. evening she'll be back and will go back in with the same gusto she had tonight. I'll be all ready with a fully charged battery. He came by just before dark and also took a dip after he ate but nothing like her.
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Post by luv2bird on Jun 15, 2015 8:31:37 GMT -5
I feel like a 6 year old with my duckies (and I probably sound like one talking about them!). Ingrates no more! I got 3 bricks from my sister, made new steps and moved the little wooden box. Apparently the location was the problem because she hopped on the little wooden box and into the pool before she even ate tonight. For the past couple of days they have been coming separately. She was here for an hour and a half and probably in the pool for an hour. She was dunking her head and splashing like any bird in a bath. She was preening, stretching her wings and just splashing all around. She even stood all stretched, flapped her wings all the way out then plopped back down and started in again. Of course my camera battery wasn't charged so I only got a couple of pictures when she first went in. Its supposed to pour tomorrow so I'm hoping on Tues. evening she'll be back and will go back in with the same gusto she had tonight. I'll be all ready with a fully charged battery. He came by just before dark and also took a dip after he ate but nothing like her.
Love those photos Downylover, how very exciting, she is having a great time.
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Post by BarbK on Jun 16, 2015 13:16:31 GMT -5
Love your photos, Downylover. Such a good idea with the little pool.
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Jun 17, 2015 18:24:30 GMT -5
Success!!!! What fun! I'm enjoying the whole event "vicariously" through your descriptions!
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jun 19, 2015 22:35:38 GMT -5
Oh, how much fun is that!?! She does look like she's enjoying herself! And I'll bet you were, too.
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Post by BarbK on Jun 20, 2015 0:29:00 GMT -5
My neighbor has two ducks visiting her backyard and she's thrilled. She has water out for them to drink, and she's feeding them. Must tell her about the small pool.
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Post by downylover on Jun 20, 2015 10:23:49 GMT -5
My neighbor has two ducks visiting her backyard and she's thrilled. She has water out for them to drink, and she's feeding them. Must tell her about the small pool. Maybe they'll pop over to your yard too! I got a doggie pool from PetSmart. It was on sale for $8.99. Downside of the pool - I just looked outside and saw something moving in the pool. It was a chipmunk. I fished him out with a plastic flowerpot and put it on its side in the shrubs so he can rest and be hidden. I think he'll be ok. He was swimming with his head above the water but couldn't get out. He looked soaked and very tired but seemed to be breathing completely fine. I didn't want to stress him out more by bringing him in the house in a box. I thought semi-hidden but where he could run free when ready would be the better option. I'll check on him in a little while. I also put a brick in the pool near the side in case anyone else falls in. I feel so bad for Chippy. I should have thought to put a brick in there from the start. Update: Chippy is gone from the undisturbed flower pot
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jun 21, 2015 19:54:03 GMT -5
A brick or a piece of lumber that could be used as a plank, long enough for one end to rest on the bottom in the water and the other end past the top rim of the pool... Good thing you saw him before he was exhausted! You're a good woman!
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Post by BarbK on Jun 22, 2015 0:35:56 GMT -5
Downylover, A year or so ago, I had a male and female duck visiting my backyard on occasion. They ate the birdseed on the ground, but their interest was mostly with my neighbor's pool. They put in a fake swan which did the trick for a short time, but then the ducks got wise to it and swam with the swan.
I think Hazel's idea about the plank is great, and so happy the chipmunk was rescued
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Jun 22, 2015 20:01:56 GMT -5
Great rescue of the chippy! He was a lucky creature.
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Post by downylover on Jun 23, 2015 19:41:43 GMT -5
I have to find something else for a plank. The brick didn't really work as a plank. The pool isn't that deep and the brick to the top isn't really deeper than a birdbath. Even a little sparrow would have its head above the water if it stood on the brick and be able to get out.
I think Mrs. likes the pool more than the food now. She spends 50%+ of her time here in the pool. Last night she was at it in full force. She now runs to the pool and goes to the step and into the pool like a champ. I'm going to miss them when they leave. I wonder how much longer they'll be visiting.
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Post by hutchgigi on Jun 25, 2015 12:08:35 GMT -5
I just got back to Ma. after three weeks in NJ. Catching up on bird feeders and seeing what is new out there. I see i have three week old ducklings in the lake. I was worried as they are putting herbaside in the lake for algae. But they say it won't hurt them. I have not seen them in the yard yet and have put out seed for them. Have to get some cracked corn when i got out for other supplies. Enjoy you duckies. Ginny H.
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Post by downylover on Jul 3, 2015 16:58:28 GMT -5
I hope you get some duckling photos! I haven't seen Mr. Duck for about a week now Mrs. was missing for 2-3 days but has returned. Her visits now are brief. She takes a couple of fast baths, eats a little then takes off. There isn't anything scaring her, she seems very at ease. I think she won't be around too much longer this summer. Hopefully they'll return next year. Regardless I feel lucky they were around so long. Its been a treat for me.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jul 4, 2015 15:44:17 GMT -5
Hmmm...think she might have a brood somewhere?
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Post by downylover on Jul 6, 2015 19:48:46 GMT -5
Hmmm...think she might have a brood somewhere? I think they may have ducklings somewhere but have no real idea. They were here every day for almost 2 months straight and would stay for over an hour much of the time. Would they leave a nest that long? Maybe they hatched went he went MIA and they take turns going off to eat? I miss them! I hope they are off in pond somewhere, with or without ducklings, living large
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