Archive for December, 2008

How do they keep warm?

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

Wow!  It is -13 F as I write this post and my furnace is really struggling!  Yet I’m comfy.  This makes me think about all the ducks down at the dam by my house.  The water stays open year round and the ducks (at least a few hundred or so) stay year round too.

My question is how do they stay warm?  They swim in the icy water and seem to be happy.  They are diving, dipping, drinking and evn sleeping.  Their beaks (on days like today) are covered in ice.  Are they cold?  Why don’t their little legs just freeze solid.

I know they are hungry.  The snow has covered up all the grass and weeds.  Minnows and bugs are pretty slim pickings.  So, my wife and daughter delivered two fifty pound bags of corn yesterday and it was devoured in 5 minutes.  They are famished.  The corn helps them make it through the coldest part of the winter (helps maintain body fat).

Later his week I plan to add a “donate” button to my site.  Please consider donating $1.  I’ll use it all on corn for the local ducks.  The 50 lb. bags re getting pretty expensive these days.

Thanks, Dave

The River is Packed Side to Side

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

Thanksgiving is over, Christmas shopping has started and it is cold here in Minnesota (-3 F 12/8),  brrrrr!  I’m getting outside less and less.  However, I did make it out to feed my friends; the ducks that winter down at the Rum river by my home.

This time of year the ducks have a lot of friends.  Thousands and thousands of migrating mallards and a few Canadian geese line the banks of the river.  The confluence of the Rum and the Mississippi is on the main migration path south.  For about a month, mid November through mid December the banks of the river are packed with waterfowl.

The local ducks however know me.  As soon as they see me coming with my bucket of corn (and hear my whistle) they all come running.  A few more timid birds stay in the back and wait for me to throw them some corn.  The others however will eat right out of the bucket.  There are two big white ducks that waddle up to me and give me a fun look.  They love to eat out of my hand and get their belly rubbed; apparently two pets that were either dumped or escaped from up on the Mississippi.

As it gets colder more ducks leave.  Only a few hundred stay all winter in the open water below the dam.