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--20cf303639a93c807604ae5678e4 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I'm hoping to get some insight into the behavior of a group of black ducks that has been gathering on the little pond--more of a big puddle, really--behind my farmhouse. For several years we have a motely crew of domestic ducks that hang out on the pond when the weather is decent but will be herded into warmer quarters once the pond freezes. In past years they have occasionally been visited by wild ducks, but the wild ones always move on fairly quickly. This year something different seems to be happening. About a month or so ago, we noticed that two black ducks had joined our flock and seemed to be sharing their food. To our surprise, they stayed on the pond. About a week later, a third one showed up, and that one also stayed. Yesterday we had five. And today we have seven. We get a kick out of watching all the ducks and would be happy to have the wild onces become regular visitors or permanent residents. But we're wondering what these guys are going to do as winter comes. Are they just gathering here on their way south? Will we wake up one morning and find that they've taken off for Florida (or wherever black ducks go in the winter)? If so, is it possible they'll come back here next year? Is it possible that they might try to spend the winter on the pond (which will be frozen solid)? If they do hang on, is it ok for us to feed them? Any experiences or insights anyone would care to share will be gratefully received. Flora --20cf303639a93c807604ae5678e4 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div class=3D"gmail_quote">I'm hoping to get some insight into the beha= vior of a group of black ducks that has been gathering on the little pond--= more of a big puddle, really--behind my farmhouse.</div><div class=3D"gmail= _quote"> =A0</div><div class=3D"gmail_quote">For several years we have a motely crew= of domestic ducks that hang out=A0on the pond=A0when the weather is decent= =A0but will be herded into warmer quarters once the pond freezes. In past y= ears they have occasionally been visited by wild ducks, but the wild ones a= lways move on fairly quickly.</div> <div class=3D"gmail_quote">=A0</div><div class=3D"gmail_quote">This year so= mething different seems to be happening. About a month or so ago, we notice= d that two black ducks had joined=A0our flock=A0and seemed to be=A0sharing= =A0their food. To our surprise, they stayed on the pond. About a week later= , a third one showed up, and that one also stayed. Yesterday we had=A0five.= And today we have seven.</div> <div class=3D"gmail_quote">=A0</div><div class=3D"gmail_quote">We get a kic= k out of watching all the ducks and would be happy to have the wild onces= =A0become regular visitors or permanent residents. But we're wondering = what these guys are going to do as winter comes. Are they just gathering he= re on their way south?=A0Will we wake up one morning and find that they'= ;ve taken off for Florida (or wherever black ducks go in the winter)? If so= , is it possible they'll come back here next year?</div> <div class=3D"gmail_quote">=A0</div><div class=3D"gmail_quote">Is it possib= le that they might=A0try to spend the winter on the pond (which will be fro= zen solid)?=A0=A0If they do hang on, is it ok for us to feed them?</div><di= v class=3D"gmail_quote"> =A0</div><div class=3D"gmail_quote">Any experiences or insights anyone woul= d care to share will be gratefully received.</div><div class=3D"gmail_quote= ">=A0</div><div class=3D"gmail_quote">Flora</div><br> --20cf303639a93c807604ae5678e4--
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