Thursday, June 11, 2009
Thanks Jess. Ollie and I will keep this in mind for our next playdate. We look like we need cigars.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Ugh. I just witnessed an epic display of humanity and nature. I'm left feeling a bit nauseated and a bit heartwarmed. Maybe just a bit numb. I was walking home from near the Capitol, along Grand when I came across a lady and a gentleman who were trying to keep a family of ducks out of traffic along their walk to the river. The gentleman had his eye on the mother and two babies while the lady was trying to wrangle a third duckling who had fallen behind. She was afraid to pick him up because she was afraid the mother would then disown him.
The man disappeared for a bit (later coming back with a box, hoping to collect the babes and get them to safety) so I blocked traffic for the Mom and two of the little ones while they crossed Grand. Looking back... that was probably a mistake. I should have herded them along the west side of the street on the sidewalk until we past the Accident Fund/BWL construction.
It all happened so fast... excitement that the other lady was scurrying towards us with the third baby in hand, confusion as I looked down and saw only one baby at my feet, horror as an enormous hawk swept right past my face with a forth baby I didn't even know existed in his talons, dismay as we realized that now all three living babies had hidden under the cement blocks supporting the construction fence completely out of reach, and total failure as the mother duck panicked and flew away... doubtedly to ever be seen again.
The hawk sat perched on a street light right across the road from us. He mockingly tore the feathers from his prey and spat them down at us. The onlookers gasped, and eventually wandered away. I was left on my hands and knees, sadly peering under the cement blocks, knowing the babies were safe for now, but would never make it to the river.
I was snapped back to reality by the angry yelling of the other lady, "Get out of here, you!" I looked up to see the massive hawk with his gigantic talons perched right next to me on the fence. We scared him away (not before I got a picture) but still... if the babies emerge from their cave, they will be hit by a car, or smooshed by construction equipment. Maybe they'll just starve.
They were the sweetest little things you ever saw up close. The number of people who tried to help was amazing. The awe of watching the food chain in action was humbling.
Intense afternoon!
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