Juggling life through a bi-polar lens. Sometimes up, sometimes down. Mostly trying to tread water in the middle. Creating a likeness to a normal life. Whatever "normal" is...

Wednesday 14 May 2008

ABC Wednesday......


Q is for QUACK!

Meet Jemima.....My partner teaches at a primary school (ages 4-11). The school buildings form a rectangle round a central courtyard, in the centre of which is a small pond.

For the last 4 or 5 years, a duck has flown in at the first sign of spring, and made a nest. The children have named her "Jemima". Here she is, two week's ago, with this year's batch of new quackers hiding under her wings.....here they are just two days old...

There were 12 eggs and 11 hatched.
The sides of the pond are too steep for the youngsters, so the school caretaker put in a ramp for them:

Here's a short film of them using the ramp, proud mum standing by and going "Quackackackack". The food is special grain bought by the school from a pet shop.





These next pictures were taken this Monday. Look how they've grown in less than 2 weeks!A proud and happy mum.

Still 11, all present and correct!

There will soon come a time when the pond is too small for them. Luckily, the school has a larger one. Unluckily, it is on the other side of the buildings- remember, the pond is in a courtyard enclosed by classrooms. Well, don't worry! When the time comes, they open the door of one of the classrooms and lead the family straight through and out the other side, much to the amusement of the children.

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For more info ABC Wednesday posts, go to

Mrs Nesbitt's blog

where you will see info on how to join in, and a table of links to those taking part.

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23 comments:

Patty said...

Oh what sweet ducks!

Mrs Mac said...

Aren't they cute??!! We're hoping they give us advance notice of when they'll be led out through the classroom so we can film that too!!

:^)

BumbleVee said...

Oh, Helena...this is great!! Makes me want to build a pond in my back yard now and encourage my ducky couple to stay after all.... but, when they got bigger, I would have to lead them across the street and through a neighbour's yard and under a fence.. might have to dig a big hole...to the ponds on the golf course.... hmmmm it's do-able........

mrsnesbitt said...

We kept ducks for years, such a wonderful thing to watch!

Kyanite said...

That's such a lovely post with wonderful photo's.
I haven't seen any duckling so far this year - think the pike in my local lake are sadly taking them.

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Oh I DO love ducks - and those are adorable! Great photos of them too!

Mrs Mac said...

Bumblevee,

That's the thing- what would you do when they get big? LOL! I think I would still love to have them around. I loved reading about the couple on your blog, especially when the lady duck settled down in one ofyour big flower pots.

Mrs Mac said...

Mrs Nesbitt,

I must admit, they would be good for keeping the lawn in trim. Or is that goosies?

Mrs Mac said...

Blue,

I didn't know about pike stealing ducklings till a few years ago. I was really shocked. Isn't it horrible?

Mrs Mac said...

Lynda,

They crack me up! There are young ones on the pond in Colchester Castle park as well!

Dragonstar said...

Oh, that's beautiful! Clever Mum to find a safe, enclosed space for her nest. And to hatch 11 of the original dozen takes some work. I love ducks, they're such happy people. Nothing like them to cheer you up on a dull and rainy day!

Daryl said...

I used to draw, paint but I could never get the drawings/paintings to look EXACTLY like that I was drawing/painting and that frustrated me no end. People would say nice things/praise drawings/paintings I did which I really didnt like at all .. I liked what they said, I didnt like what I had drawn/painted. Then I discovered the camera! Oh boy did I love taking pix. I say all this because I read your sidebar thingie about wanting to draw and compare to photo ... unless you are one of those anal retentive people who can draw photo-realistically dont bother .. keep on taking fabulous photos and lap up the praise.

Your photos are FABULOUS...

Oh and no, its not too pink, its just right..........;-D


:-Daryl

Jan said...

This is a wonderful post. I love seeing how they've grown. It must be wonderful for Jemima not to worry about predators, while she raised her little quakers.

Unknown said...

That's a lovely post with wonderful photo's.

CherryPie said...

Aww! these are adorable :-) We have ducks on our pond at work to and she has just had babies. Sometimes they roam around the carpark making it difficult to drive :-)

kRiZcPEc said...

quite cute^^

Neva said...

They are soooooo cute...but you found your "Q too....can't wait til it rolls around again!

Miss_Yves said...

Quite perfect !(photos and video)
The ducks are so cute!
En français, les canards cancanent, c'est à dire qu'ils font" coin, coin, coin!"
Miss Yves

Rune Eide said...

That was the right kind of Quacks (the other kind does not have my suppor...)

VP said...

Very good - I particularly like the bit about them being led through the classroom to their new abode.

Have a great weekend - and what's this about you going off chocolate hmm?

BTW I got otdog on someone's Word Verification this morning and yours is saying gobdce

Carolyn said...

Hey! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Those ducks are just adorable. I love ducks!

And I skimmed back to your sketches. They're really very good. You should keep doing them, at least once in a while.

imac said...

Fantastic photos, love the way you did a follow up.Great post, Great blog.


Thanks for viviting my blog and your kind cooents.

Anonymous said...

The kids can have "milk and quackers"