Duck Update

Our web-footed friend continues to keep her patient guard over the next generation. I've got to believe that sitting on a nest is terribly boring, even for a duck, which brings me back to the thought that it's a good thing humans don't nest for two reasons:

1. We'd lose our minds sitting still for that long
2. Men are clumsy, and we'd break the eggs.

A little online research led me to some information about ducks and the proper care and feeding of them. The bottom line seems to be "leave the duck alone." Feeding them bread causes them to abandon their normal diets, and because they don't get enough nutrition from bread they wind up getting fat. Food also attracts predators, which we're trying to avoid. Trying to keep the well-intentioned bakery staff from showering her with bits of bread has proven a bit of a challenge.

I also learned that it can take between 28 and 35 days for duck eggs to hatch, depending on the species. Since we don't know how long she's been there, we don't know when to expect ducklings, other than some time in June.

Once things start to happen, I'll update with photos and news. I've started calling the duck Baguette, which seems fitting for a duck living outside a French bakery.