Summer has finally come to a close here in Minnesota.  As I am writing this post the final yellow leaves are falling from the maple tree in the back yard; beautiful sunny fall day of 52 degrees.  Back in August (when it was quite a bit warmer) my two pet mallards (e.g., Friendly and Old Yeller) would take their nightly flight.  About five o’clock each evening they would take off and fly around the neighborhood.  They’d fly about one hundred feet up and circle my house in a huge arc, sometimes zipping right past me.  All the time they would bank, turn, climb and dive.  The nightly flights would go on for about fifteen minutes, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter; but every night.

One evening they didn’t return.  My daughter and I searched the neighborhood.  Usually we would find them down the street at Rob’s house.  They loved Rob’s grass.  Or, we would find them in Don’s backyard.  They loved Don’s weeds.  Or, we would find them in a little pond a few blocks away.  Never though had we failed to find them.  That night they were gone.

For the next three days we were vigilant in our search.  We checked all their favorite spots, kept food out in the backyard, and had many an extra bike ride.  No luck.  The, the phone rang; it was my son Brian.  “Dad, you’re not going to believe this”, Brian said on the phone.  “I’m over at the CVS and as I’m backing out some lady is yelling ‘stop’, ‘stop’”.  He proceeded to stop and get out of his Jeep.  Lo and behold the lady tells him two ducks are under his Jeep and she didn’t want them to get run over.  “Dad, you gotta get over here, I think it’s the boys!”

So Natalie and I grabbed our cage, jumped in the truck, and drove to CVS.  It was a miracle; it was our boys.  So as folks in the parking lot watched we coaxed Friendly and Old Yeller out from the Jeep and into the cage.  They were in rough shape, tired and thirsty.

When we got them home they went straight to their pool for a swim and a drink.   So how did they end up under my son’s Jeep after three days?  Did they recognize his Jeep?  Possibly.  Did they recognize my son?  Maybe.  So for the next four weeks the boys stayed at home and my family got to enjoy them.  They kept up with their nightly flights until early September.  Then they took off for good.  Was it coincidence? No.  Miracle? Yes!

After a week we moved the ducks out into the garage (now late April) and kept them in a large cage.  As always they were developing their unique personalities and quirks.  During the day we'd take them into the backyard for some free time but at night it was back in the cage and back in the garage.

Finally, after about three weeks the cage was getting small so we moved them out into our long since past dog's kennel.  It is about 14' by 12' with chain link fence.  On one side of the kennel I out 1/4 inch square fencing on the outside of the chain link to keep anything from squeezing through/or out.  On the inside of that portion of the kennel I added a chicken wire run.  A secure length of area where we'd put the ducks at night to keep out owls, hawks, cats or anything else that might be prowling around.

All was well and good for the first month.  Then, one morning I came out and only two ducks were there; Friendly and Old Yeller, Defender was missing.  All I could find were a couple piles of feathers, one in the kennel and one in the backyard, Defender was gone.  All of us were crushed, my daughter and wife the most.  In talking with the neighbors they say they have seen a few skunks around.  I have seen many hawks and eagles.  But in the end we cannot figure out what happened. 

Since that day I keep my two ducks in the garage at night and in the backyard during the day.   Please share with us your story!