Sisters
Kate almost always wakes up before I do; and while there are exceptions to every rule, she will often be the first to greet our ducks with breakfast. Nevertheless, they can somehow see through the reflective coating on the large glass doors which line the Florida room, and know the moment I am awake. I have ducks which I have known for ten years, and yes I seem to recognize them and they me.
One of the true delights of late spring and summer is when the mother ducks bring their babies to meet me. There seems to be some unspoken rule regarding one mother duck with ducklings on the porch, at a time. I have seen the mother’s line up, on the grass, to wait their turn on the porch. Normally, and thus the exception to every rule, the mothers will not let their new born babies play with other babies, until they are at least a few weeks old; and have visited with us alone, several times.
I have never seen mother ducks raise their children together until Polly and Patty, who have surprised me for weeks. The ducklings seemed to have hatched at the same time, and these two sisters, who were once brought to my house by their mother, Penny, brought their children together, the first time and every time since then.
It has been quite remarkable to see these two sisters choose to raise their ducklings together; taking turns guarding them and making sure they are fed, before eating themselves.
It has been a banner year for ducklings, and I honestly fall in love with each one as they come into our lives. I have two sets of orphaned triplets which are weeks apart from each other. One set is now full grown; they have begun to fly! The other set is days away from adult hood. I have so very much enjoyed watching the triplets grow up this season, and I have another mother Annie, who is an incredibly caring mom; as well as a brilliant mother who has not lost a single baby, but my sister mothers have earned a special place in my heart. Enjoy!
