Nature Done Wright

     Yesterday around 10 a.m., while I was on an assignment for The Record, the wood duck babies started jumping from their nesting box.

     Patty and Jerry Barrack, my friend the photographer, were by the window to see it.

   I hope to share one of Jerry’s photos with you next week.

    In all, nine duckling made the leap — that’s the same number of baby wood ducks as in the children’s book I did with Jerry and Doug Goodell, "Duck Enough To Fly."

   The nine ducklings immediately disappeared into the understory of the back yard.  Mrs. Wood Duck was no doubt nearby but out of sight.

    The week’s tally:

    Owl box:  4 owlets left home over 4 days

    Duck box: 9 ducklings left home over three minutes

    Not bad for a week’s work.

    None will return to the box any time soon, if ever.

    There is the enticing possibility that one might move in as an adult and raise a family of their own — on video-camera, I hope. 🙂

        I plan to take a breather for a day or two, and will post again with some rarely seen photos and a nifty new project. Not to be missed.

   Stay tuned!

    And thanks for joining me on that neat ride with the screech owl family.