As I walked across a bridge over a small river, I noticed some wild ducks below. They were gathered in a shallow, quiet eddy in the curve of a faster current. I paused to watch.
Pretty soon I noticed a pattern. A few ducks would move to the top of the curve and enter the fast current. The rapids would rush them around to the bottom of the curve where they would exit the current, returning to the calm shallows. Meanwhile, some other ducks entered the rapids at the top, quacking and flapping as they were swept to the bottom of the curve.
They moved in this circle, making their way to the top of the curve, entering the rapids for the rush to the bottom, waiting their turn to ride again.
What were they doing? They didn’t appear to be looking for food. I think they were just having a good time. The scene reminded me of a children’s playground, with a line of kids climbing up the ladder, laughing down the slide, and returning to the ladder to climb up and repeat.
Ducks at play. Simple pleasures.
It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
That's funny. Our ducks around here copy hood behavior- two or three mallards just hanging out with a hen.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reminder to all of us about the importance of play, Galen. It's not just for children or ducks, but for adults, too. We would do well to balance our lives in such a way.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
True, Martha. I can see that you get lots of great play time with your granddaughter!
DeleteOh, this was a fun one! I love to watch wildlife. I especially enjoy ducks. We have a retaining pond across the street and we usually have a number of ducks waddling around. There is a river next too it. They like to come down our street and visit our property sometimes. I note that they have interesting personalities.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your observation on this one.
Blessings and hugs for you dear friend!