Kirk,
Almost sounds like one of LA's local stories. Mama duck lands at Fox Studios fountain and Rupert Murdoch is making sure she and her 6 ducklings are watched over! Here's the link to that video.
Looks like the ducks are well loved no matter where they are! :-)
Love, Jules

Here is a link that might be useful: Fox Studios Ducks

What a wonderful story Kirk!! And the banker is a real trooper, isn't he?? I love stories like this!!

I sure did need a story like that today!!! Super.
Thank you Kirk

Also enjoyed your Fox News video Jules!!!

Ducks are the nastiest pets to try and have in a yard in suburbia.

Many years ago I had a water fountain with a pond and also a large goldfish pond with a bridge. With all of that water I thought I should be able to have a beautiful sweet little duck or two swimming around.

A very savvy bird salesman sent me home with three ducks and two baby peacocks. CAN YOU SAY "POO ON EVERYTHING"? The fountain pond turned brown and the goldfish pond turned green and both of them stunk!!! I had to put the poor goldfish on prozac after all of the abuse they suffered. The peacocks pooed an 8" pile on the deck every night-everywhere.

I hosed things down so much that my lawn was becoming a mudd hole. This pleased the ducks just fine.

Would you have guessed that a peacock could sound so much like a child being strangled? How about two peacocks? Now amplify that 1000 percent.

My neighbors refused to smile at me anymore. They were already shocked that I had 3 yappy dogs who now were yapping at ducks and peacocks as well. And of course they chased our feathered pets up over the fence into the neighbors yard a time or two.

It all ended with a call to "Old McDonald's Petting Zoo". They came out and said "Who in the world would have these ducks and peacocks in a suburban back yard"? I said "er....they're strays!!! Yep, no collars, tags, or microchips. Just dumped out on the road. Yesser, just left for me to rescue them from harms way" (sheepish grin with imaginary halow).

That is a wonderful story. How wonderful that he was able to help the ducklings to safety. I wonder why the mallard had her nest up there. Usually mallards have a ground nest. A wood duck will have a nest in a tree. I am so glad they all survived(-:

That is such a great story!!! Good to hear in this day & age that people are still willing to go out of their ways to help animals like that.And two years in a row...thanks for sharing that story...it hasn't been the best day & that story brought a smile to my heart.

Susie,

Oh yeah----you must have been in a DUH moment when you rescued them! :-) When I was little there was a peacock that ended up in our neighborhood. I remember how NASTY their call was! Yes, a child being strangled amplified 1K times is very accurate! A goose would be a better choice as long as they were nice to YOU and noone else. good Guard Gooses! :-) There is no such thing as Guard Peacocks. I wonder if the poo would make a good fertilizer though? Hummm :-) I bet you weren't too excited about shoveling peacock poo! Heheheh :-) Thanks for making me laugh!

Love, Jules

What a great story!!

Right now, we have Mallards hanging out in our yard. We love them! The hen has been here with various beaus for awhile. Her...we recognize. Don't know how many different males have been here with her, but earlier this evening, DH saw her running through the side yard with two males in hot pursuit!! LOL Later this evening, she was in the backyard for a long time with one male. She isn't afraid when I go out with corn, but the males are a tad antsy.

I tried to photograph them as they took off from the back yard at twilight, but the camera setting wasn't good, and I got a blurry picture. I'll try again tomorrow night!

They are just so beautiful!! I did get a picture the other day...right outside the family room window. She was looking right at me!!

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But I really love the one I got of her under the pines the other day!

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Not bad from in the house!!

I look forward to seeing them every day, but really hope they don't have babies here. It would make me a nervous wreck!!

~Sandy~

Great story Kirk!! I saw it last yr too. The banker has a new part- time job looks like!! I was very surprised driving down the road a couple of years ago to have to stop for 2 peacocks. They acted like they owned the road, very regal & they were completely alone. Several days later I passed same corner & there they were inside the fence of corner house. Lady had chickens & peacocks. Recently I noticed a change & animals were gone & house for sale. Probably end up in apts.Sad, I like the rural aspects of our town & enjoy horses riding by. 1 man has young colt & he rides it's mother I guess & has colt on a rope. Some race horses are raised around here also but they aren't walked on the asphalt. Neighborhood kids like to feed the 2 horses nearby carrots. Pretty mallards, Jeanne

Jules- After 13 years of apartment property management buying a home in the suburbs felt like having a castle on acerage. LOL I was really living in constant state of "DUH". LOLOLOLO To me I was supposed to be allowed to let the inner 'Alabama country girl heritage' out of the closet. The 'ornamental fouls' just did not want to "DO RIGHT". I have not actually ever heard a child being strangled (even though I grew up with a pretty mean big sister) but everytime I heard those peacocks yodle I wanted to dial 9 1 1 !!!!!!! (And so did the neighbors.)

Sandy- You must live on a beautiful (large) lot. You are blessed with Eagles in your trees!!!!!! Now you also have room to have 'dating' ducks about. I learned enough about duck's 'behavior' to know that I'd never want to be one. The nap of my neck is too sensitive! LOLOL The mallards are paticularly beautiful though. Loved the pics.

SunnyCAJan- Your area sounds so charmingly rural. The town next to us is that way. People get to have their horses, chickens, and goats in fenced yards right in the small town. I guess all towns use to be like that and they would have a milk cow and a kitchen garden too. There are farms all around the perimeters of my neighborhood so I can hear the donkeys throwing a fit which always makes me smile.

This is such a fun conversation thread!!!! Thank you Kirk.

One of my mothers cousins lives in So CA. Right after her husband left her a peacock moved into her back yard. Just appeared out of no where. She likes it, but I guess between her yard and the neighbors there's enough room to roam and not be obnoxious. They do have an unmistakable screech don't they?
kathy