The Mighty Ducks (of Main Street, that is)

According to my brother, at a recent city council meeting, the subject of the ducks who have taken over Main Street arose.

The four ducks have been staking out their territory since about mid-January. They range from the corner of 5th and Main to 1st and Main, from Ocean St. to the city park on Trade St. The pair of Mallards and the pair of Pekins are totally oblivious to traffic, dog walkers, hovering hawks, and small children who want to pet them.

They enter any yard with impunity. And they expect recompense for the priviledge of their company. Preferable, bread. And none of the sticky white stuff, thank you very much, it's whole wheat or nothing.

They know our vehicle. When I come around the corner, if they happen to be within the block, they beat me to the porch (I have to drive into the garage, unload my stuff, and close the garage door - I AM faster than a danged duck, I'm just a little handicapped).

Once at the door, they don't leave until they receive their snack. Four slices of bread. Two won't do it.

Upon eating the offering of the hour (this happens several times a day...), they have no compunction about cutting the conversation short (yes, we talk to them, being proficient in "Mallard" and other ducky dialects), and waddling off to their next appointment.

But first they wet their whistle in the ditch across the street - a veritable duck paradise, running water and green grass!

Many a time, we have watched perplexed but somewhat amused drivers stop for the flat-footed invaders, letting them cross the street at their leisure. The really funny incidents happen when one duck gets too far in front, and stops in the middle of the road for the rest to catch up. As I said, they ignore cars. Mom even trundled up the road to scoot them across one day, as a very patient driver waited - and waited - and waited - for their royal highnesses to complete the voyage from one side of the street to the other.

At other times, it's amazing how quickly those flat feet can cover ground - such as when they hear the garage door going up...

Surprisingly, they are seldom found at the park, despite the inviting creek. My theory is, the kids at the park are too busy at the skate board ramps to bother with packing a loaf of bread around for a bunch of pesky ducks.

So far, the city council remains as oblivious to the duck dramas as it does to other city issues that the property owners would like to have addressed.

Such as - just who do those crazy ducks belong to, and who would have to assume liability if one gets hit by a car and wipes out a hubcap??

I just hope no one has noticed how much time the ducks spend at 5545 Main St......they might get the wrong idea....