Brown Duck (Isabella) likes to buddy up with Ferdinand. Ferdinand was named after the anorexic duck in the movie "Babe" because the outline of his keel bone is visible through his breast. (I don't know if this is genetic or due to illness, but he seems healthy.)Brown Duck recently broke the outer toe on her left foot. For a while, she had a tough time walking and would stumble when she waddled up the pond's banks. I think there is something wrong with her hip, too.
Although the males find her *very* appealing, she doesn't have any ducklings that we know of. We caught her running--with egg on her bill!--through the parking lot last year, so we know that she has laid eggs before. She looks like an older duck.
Brown Duck laid eight eggs in 2001, but sat on them for only a week before smashing them. In June, she quietly wandered off somewhere, but has not returned to the pond. She is still missing and has most likely passed away. We are really going to miss her...
The Ponds
