Ducks on the Run

Haven’t seen ’em.

A concerned citizen called me the other day to make sure all my ducks were in a row. Or at least in my backyard. Her handyman had come to the door and said he had just seen some chickens on her front lawn. Chickens? But I don’t have any chickens (I paraphrase her thought.) Maybe they were Lori’s ducks!

Having just been out back playing with the ducks (well, Pamela was playing, not sure about me–or the ducks, for that matter!) I thanked her but said all ducks were present and accounted for. So what feathered creature had come to visit our small but bird-crowded neck of Westchester woods?

We were reasonably sure no one around here had chickens. We knew one, maybe two other folks who had ducks but they were unlikely to have (willingly) traveled that far from their comfy homes. Wild turkey? Could be. They’re natives, they do wander and anything’s possible but could this guy really mistake a turkey for a chicken? (Maybe a poult for a chick but where was the mom?!)

PJ and I took a detour later that day to scope out the cul-de-sac in question, eager to spot potential poultry on the lam. Nada de pollo–not even an empty Taco Bell container! We were, however, infused with a warm feeling of community. It’s very nice to discover we have neighbors who look out for one another (waterfowl included!) After all, you never know when you might need help with a runaway chicken or a wandering duck.

Or maybe a goose on the loose?