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When there’s a summer thunderstorm on the horizon? We head for the barn porch.
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And if it’s cocktail hour?
We add an adult beverage.
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This particular storm was disappointing as all the good rumbling stayed to the north…
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But the gentle rain brought our old friends the ducks to the backyard and they’re always fun to watch.
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I don’t know how long mallard ducks live but we’ve had this visiting pair for close to 4 years now.
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When there’s rain and puddles? They plop right down and make themselves at home.
❤️
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And why shouldn’t they? Plop in any old puddle.
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Well, the buffet we lay out might have something to do with it.
😉
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Same here with our Mallards and Wood ducks just south of you.
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They’re fun to watch waddle around.
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For some reason I can’t work up any interest in ducks unless they are roasted to crispy goodness and served with orange sauce. 😂 Things are certainly looking lush and green in your neck of the woods – can you send some of that rain south? We’re a bit parched here.
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We had a nice slow steady shower yesterday. My gardens loved it.
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Oh, I love this.
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A relaxing adult beverage with visiting neighbors, what else could be better?
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I’m sure I don’t know.
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How long they live depends on their proximity to a chef with a meat cleaver.
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Up here it’s more likely to be a hunter with a rifle.
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You may see these Malleard for many years to come, if everyone is lucky. They mate for life, and could have another 26 or more years to live. (Average lifespan in the wild — 30 years.) Enjoy!
Oops. Added strange facts. Mallards do cheat on their spouses on occasion. Talk about a “wild” life.
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Wow. They really live that long?
❤️
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So the internet ssys. But it was the “cheating” that caught me off guard. In nature, mated for life is a normal thing, but I guess human cheaters come by it naturally. 🤣😇🤣😇🤣😇🤣
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I love watching the duck pairs that grace our yard. Usually the man seems to be standing guard while the woman eats. As it should be.
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That’s exactly what happens here.
😉
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Mallards have been recorded to live for nearly 30 years in the wild, although the average individual is not likely to reach the age of two. In captivity, mallards are likely to survive longer than wild birds if given good care. One captive mallard in the United Kingdom is a great example of their potential longevity. This male, named ‘Ernie’, lived to be at least 21 years of age.
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I don’t know about their life in general, but they’re well fed here.
😉
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I love watching a good storm, so call me next time! The ducks are cute.
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Our barn porch is perfect for storms. 24’ long, 12’ deep. We stay nice and dry.
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I love ducks and woodchucks….
But chickens are just for clucks.
(I bet bucks that pun gets no yuks. Shucks.) 😥
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