Watch Out For Ducklings
I just got back from interviewing soon-to-be University Park mayor Dick Davis at Goar Park. We got some pretty pictures, too. Before we got started, though, Davis said that he had something he wanted to show me. We walked over to the little circular fountain next to the gazebo and there were four little ducklings peeping and begging for their mother duck to get them out of there. They were much too young to be able to get themselves out of the fountain.
At the end of the interview, Davis said that the ducklings were probably the more interesting story. We may have to agree to disagree on that.
And Dan just shared his own duckling story, too. A family of ducks were crossing the back entrance to the Dallas Country Club yesterday morning. A security guard in a golf cart had traffic stopped, making sure the little ducklings crossed the road safely.
Ann Bray, receptionist at University Park City Hall said that residents have called in about territorial ducks guarding nests built in hedges. Bray added that, not too long ago, several ducks made their nests in the flower garden near the front entrance of City Hall.
Ducklings will drown if they are in the water too long. Their feathers are not waterproof. Neighbors learned this the hard way a few years ago. Best way to get them out of a pool is tump a lounge chair over upside down and allow them to walk up the backside of it.
Update: Minutes later the City’s Animal Control Officer helped the ducklings out of the fountain. Soon thereafter, they waddled down to nearby Turtle Creek and joined their mother for a swim.
Thanks for the update, Steve!
You should have seen the “duck parade” last Saturday. A momma duck and 12 ducklings climbed out of the nest at a home across Hillcrest. Neighbors flagged down traffic and a crowd of people and two UP police cars proceeded to follow the mama and babies all the way from Hillcrest to the park pond down by UP pool. One duckling kept stopping from exhaustion (it was a loooong way to the park), but an UP citizen helped gently coax the little fella along. Quite a sight!
My husband saw that duck parade and said it was really cute. Love that!
I’m impressed with Bill’s use of “tump.”
My husband once rescued a duckling from this same area by using our pool cleaning scoop…little guy didn’t know what to think as he was hoisted free!