A Sure Sign of Spring

Diana was sitting at the kitchen table the other day when she hollered at me, "Mom! Come look! Quick!!"

I ran to the dining room to see this:

A mama duck and her chicks walking up our driveway! We think they were coming from our neighbors cause they have a pond in their yard. We don't see this kind of thing every day! So I grabbed the camera and we ran outside. They turned out of our driveway and headed up the street.

Our street is very busy and whenever a car would drive by, they'd head to the fences. Then back on their way. We were so afraid they'd try to cross the street so we followed them a little ways.

Sure enough, that's exactly what they did. Mama headed through a patch of unmowed grass and the little chicks followed her, getting lost in the tall grass. That's when I put down my camera and went out to stop traffic. Diana got behind them and shepherded them across the 3 lane street, Mama was squawking the entire time!

They got to the other side, but couldn't get up the curb! So we carefully helped them, as they'd jump we'd sort of put our hands under them and lift them the rest of the way. Mama was really squawking now!

Safe and sound on the other side of the street, they continued on their journey. To where we don't know cause there's not much around here for wild ducks.

I think she is the same Mama duck who brought last years chicks to our neighbors pond.

Last year.

This year.

If she is, we can't wait til next year!