So much of life at the farm happens when we are not looking.
And the pond is no exception to this.
(This is the point where you must go back and read yesterday's post if you missed it!)
I know...it was cruel of me to make you wait a day for the mystery to be solved.
Hopefully it will be worth it.
(If you click on the photos, they will enlarge to give you a better view!)
(If you click on the photos, they will enlarge to give you a better view!)
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In a glen nestled between shale hills of oak and pine and walnut there is a small pond
teeming with life.
The pond is home to 4 domestic ducks, a few pairs of wild mallards,
and goodness knows how many wild critters.
and goodness knows how many wild critters.
The humans that tend this pond deliver feed daily for their beloved ducks.
They also throw fish food into the pond each day for the koi.
They also throw fish food into the pond each day for the koi.
Although the ducks actually prefer the fish food, they do
supplement their diet with nibbles from the bowl from time to time...
but not enough to ever empty the bowl...and certainly not to drag it, empty,
down to the water's edge.
Who is responsible for this mischief?
Let's see....
supplement their diet with nibbles from the bowl from time to time...
but not enough to ever empty the bowl...and certainly not to drag it, empty,
down to the water's edge.
Who is responsible for this mischief?
Let's see....
Pekin Pete: " Have you noticed how quickly this bowl gets emptied lately?"
Cayuga Cal: "Yea, thank goodness we have the fish food to eat!"
Pekin Pete quacks up, laughing, "Yea, poor fish!"
One of several pairs of wild ducks stops by for some breakfast...
oblivious to the fact that he is not the only one with that idea.
One of several pairs of wild ducks stops by for some breakfast...
oblivious to the fact that he is not the only one with that idea.
Rodney Rat: "Maybe if I hide, he won't notice me."
Recovered, he waddles to the other side of the dish and calls his mate,
"Hey Mildred... come look who's been stealing the food."
"Hey Mildred... come look who's been stealing the food."
Mildred Duck: "Oh, Harold...he's adorable. And he's all alone. Let's invite him to stay."
Mildred Duck: "We can share the food with him...there's enough to go around!"
Little did Mildred and Harold know....
Rodney Rat: "Hey fellas! There's free food!"
And in a matter of seconds, Rowland and Ronald showed up...
Followed by Randy and Robert...
And before long, all six of the Rat family were feasting heartily!
(I'm pretty sure that Rhonda, Richard, Robin, Rose and Raymond were not far behind!)
All day long and into the night they ate and ate and ate...
And then Ophelia Opossum showed up and sent them scattering.
Ophelia's visit didn't last long, however.
Rita Raccoon, a youngster, appeared...
and everyone knew that her momma wasn't too far behind!
Also, earlier in the day, Muskrat Sam stopped by for dinner.
Trying food from every side of the bowl,
he found it most efficient to sit atop the food.
Muskrat Sam: "Hey Susie!"
"Look!"
"Free Food!"
Of course we all know what Muskrat Susie and Muskrat Sam did next....
They did the Jitterbug down in Muskrat Land, of course!!
Do you think we might have a little rodent problem??
Yikes!
Comments
Great snapshots and commentary ... looks like you may have to be buying more and more food or figure out how to keep those varmints away ... hmmmmmm ... buying more grub for the critters may be the only solution!! LOL Or, trapping and relocating!!
Great post!!
Hugs from CO ... Marcia
thanks for a smile today--actually a chuckle!!
love and laughter, di
Maybe also a floating duck house would be nice for them to rear their ducklings:
http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/duck-houses-and-floating-duck-houses.html?mode=list