Dougie

This is Dougie. He is a wild duckling.  My hubby named him.

When I inquired about the name, he said,  "You know", then  he sang, "Rubber Dougie, you're the one..."  See what I have to live with...

**********

If  you haven't read the saga of the wild ducks in our fish pond, you can catch up here and here.

**********

Here's Dougie's story...       

All of the ducklings--all 70+ of them-- eventually quit showing up at our pond a few weeks back and we were surprised but happy about that. But, now and again,  I still can't help but wonder where they go and if they survived because the smaller broods tend to be abandoned.

Well,  a few days ago, Dougie showed up all alone.  I was actually kinda excited since we think he is the very last one brought here and he was one  'only duckling'. This time, we actually didn't mind that he was there because he can't quack.  He opens his mouth over and over and over again, but nothing comes out.

It seems that Dougie's parents followed him back, too.  They show up sporatically, and this makes him happy for a while, but they eventually leave again to do whatever it is that ducks do. 

But Dougie stays. 

And, although we haven't said it out loud, I guess we will let him stay... since he's all alone and just getting his adult feathers (so he needs just another month to be able to fly).  And he's so cute.  And sad. But mostly because he's so quiet.