Bird migration is a really complicated business. Like humans
who do a lot of traveling, the birds and ducks rely on travel agents, internet
travel websites like MigrationAdvisor.com, and long term weather forecasts.
They use these services to book five star stopovers and get reservations at the
best natural food restaurants. However, you need to check out the reviews and not
be taken in by the glossy photos in the brochures.
The weather forecasters (a bunch of groundhogs) seeing the
recent warming trend recommend this time as optimum for migration. And then we
got hit by two Nor’easter storms and the cold weather is back. A lot of birds
and ducks got caught off guard.
The local Duck Motel (a negative 5 star establishment) overbooked
the pond this year. On top of that the pond refroze leaving only a small open
area. Management stuck the Ringnecks, Hooded Mergansers, and Bufflehead ducks
in the same small pool as the Atlantic Mute Swans. Not a good combination. If
you have ever met a swan, you know they are the holy terrors of any pond. I
have never seen a more uncomfortable social gathering in my life.
Aren’t we all cozy?
To the pass the time, the swans play a fun game. How
many ducks can you corral at once? They split up into two teams. One team only
gets four ducks, the other team get a couple of dozen.
This swan is about to give these mallards an
unexpected wake-up call
“Finally, we have the pond to ourselves”
Ducks feasting at the Woodpiles' Five Star All Natural
Restaurant.
This restaurant has its own snow plow. No getting cold feet while dining.
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