A Mystery At The Pond

The good thing about farm mysteries is...
they can most always be solved with the use of the game cameras!

We've had a mystery at the pond for the past several weeks.
You see, our pond was man-made about 17 years ago
(before there were rules about making ponds).
It is fed by several underground springs... one of which comes from our old log cabin,
whose basement serves as a springhouse.


Over the years we have raised several groups of ducklings...
Perkins, Cayugas, Khaki Campbells, Swedish Runners.
Only four domestic ducks remain.


Several wild mallard couples are amongst the many squatters that call this area home.


From time to time we have stocked the pond with fish to supplement
the "mysterious" koi that somehow made it into the pond.
(I am told that a friend may have slipped his little koi into the pond years ago.)
In the past 10 years these koi have reproduced and grown.


At the present time we have 8 huge koi.


A whole host of bullfrogs and spring peepers and turtles call the pond home as well.
And of course there are the transient visitors...
wood ducks, blue herons, and a whole host of mammalian immigrants.

On the edge of the pond is a structure that has housed baby ducklings from time to time.
It now houses duck and fish feed as well as a light that goes on at dusk to keep owls away,
and a radio that plays all night to keep foxes away.
(We try everything possible to protect our ducks from predators.)


I've noticed every morning of late that there is a bird that flies out
when I approach the hut to get feed.
This bird has picked an unusual location for it's nest...


and within the nest...


four tiny beige eggs.

Alas... I have rambled.
Let's get back to the mystery.


There is a black rubber dish in which we put the duck food
that has lately been moving during the night.
More mornings than not, we find this rubber feed dish 
down at the water's edge and sometimes floating in the pond.


Hubbs was sure that something very large (like a bear) might be responsible for this mischief.
The only way to be sure was to place a game camera in the area to gather evidence.


After two days, I retrieved the camera and found it to contain 2500 photos.
Wow!
After perusing all of the images...
Our mystery is solved!

(To be continued....)

Comments

mommar6 said…
Aw. Come on. I can't believe you are making us wait for the answer.
Jan B said…
Cliffhanger blog! Raccoon? Sleepwalking ducks? big rats? All of the above?
GeorgiaHoneyBee said…
Beverly... this is considered cruelty to blog readers... AHHHHHH!!!!!!!
This N That said…
That's really not fair 😩
Carine said…
I say it is one of the dogs (jealous of the ducks)! Regarding the bird's nest: I am amazed how clever is this little critter, the lamp will keep her eggs warm!
Kathy said…
Well, all I can say it better be something good.....like Bigfoot, for making us wait!!!
jaz@octoberfarm said…
i agree with all of the above!
Deb said…
You've got my interest. :)
Cindy said…
No fair! We have to wait???
Bee Haven Bev said…
There were just too many photos to put into one post....If I had to wait two days to find out what it was....then you can wait just one day!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!(She says in her best Snidely Whiplash accent!)
No you can't stop now! I will be back tomorrow for sure.
Cecilia said…
Love reading your blog, thanks for the share.
Rita B Caldwell said…
I hate you leave me hanging!!! ;) Is it a coon or a bear???
Are you kidding me? I can't wait until tomorrow. Give me a small hint. Just the first letter of the culprit. I swear on the lives of my three children I won't tell a living soul!
Anonymous said…
What a great story! I can't wait till tomorrow. :()
Anonymous said…
hi beverly...oh!!!...i love mysteries, and the solution...deer, wild turkeys, feral cat, things that go bump in the night?...am on tenterhooks...we are surrounded by woods, however every year a bird makes its nest on top of a window shutter under the front porch overhang...the nest is well-protected, however, we cannot use the front entrance until the little ones have flown...mother nature and her critters!!!...until tomorrow...take care...sally
diane in wis said…
Oh you stinker! :o) How fun! I'm going to guess that it will be a raccoon that is causing the mischief, because we have a lot of that kind of thing where we live. Can't wait to see who is doing it!
Beverly,
Here I am reading away and you got me so excited then WAIT? Oh for pete sake. Ok, I will be back tomorrow... Think it may be a bear..
Your photos are just beautiful.