Cyn's Nature Notes: The Pike and the Ducklings

Thursday 1 May 2008

The Pike and the Ducklings

There’s a bend in the river, where the water runs deep
There laying and waiting is the fat pike sleeping deep
Ducklings happily bobbing on the pond
Soon these carefree antics will end
When the mother decides it’s time to grow
Down to the river to learn they all must go
If the pike is still in the river, with a crash
He’ll drag them down, leaving only a splash
Anxious mother jumps the fence with wing powered leap
Showing her little ones how under the fence they can creep
Seen it before, I’ll see it again, with heart in my mouth
I watch the rusting little ones follow her south
Across the paddock and into the field where danger lies deep
Tonight these images will disturb my sleep
With motherly movements and tender quacking
Slowly she shepherds her treasured ducklings
She guides them on through rough grass and bramble
Guards them as they hasten and tumble
The river is near
Is the pike waiting?
If only she’d taken the path to the lane
Maybe tomorrow I’d see all her babies again
But even there lies danger, of cars hurtling past
Uncaring, unseeing, and much too fast
A swift drop over the bridge to the water
The current drives them forward to their slaughter
But, this year, there’s hope in my heart
If the mink ate the pike they’ll have a good start

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.