I am not sure exactly when or how it started, but a couple summers ago we began to feed a pair of wild Mallard ducks. They are so much like human teenagers it is scary sometimes.

When we are busy out there, they will all of a sudden appear behind us and are following us around the yard. If we do not see them right away, they start quacking to tell us they are hungry. Once we were on our way to the neighbors house and there they were following us. We had to go back home and feed them. If anyone besides hubby & I are out there, they leave. Sometimes we see them flying over the house and call to them and they light in the yard and eat.

Mrs. Duck is the "boss of the family". She does not allow Mr. Duck to eat very much....maybe a couple bites. Then when we pitch the food right in front of him so he can have some too, she will run over and grab it in front of him. One day he must have been extra hungry cause he came by himself. We kept asking him where Mrs. Duck was. When he had eaten his fill, he waddled off behind the yard building and soon came back with her in tow so she could eat too. Made us sorta wonder if she really is all that much in control. LOL. But when she gets enough to eat, she waddles down to the drainage ditch and gets a drink. He follows, then they fly off. They always quack first before they leave. Are they thanking us for the food?

Once there was a gang of about 5 males came down where our ducks were. It was springtime and their fancy had turned to nature's perpetual inclinations. They were all over Mrs. Duck. Mr. Duck was trying in vain to chase them off. Hubby went down there and rescued her. All the males flew off, including Mr. Duck. Mrs. Duck came up to the side of the yard building, flattened herself down on the ground under the edge of the building which sets on four leveling blocks. She was almost invisible. After about half an hour or so Mr. Duck came back. They flew off together. After that we would notice her run over to either the yard building or the privacy fence and flatten down to the ground. It is strange how invisible she becomes.

Now that the weather is warming up a tad, we are wondering if they will be back for the third year in a row. I don't know, but surely do hope they return.