Lake Oconee Easter Ducks continued.... 
Just to refresh your memory, recently I sent this blog out about our precious Lake Oconee Quackers, promising to continue on with the story....Three years ago we brought home some Easter ducks, allegedly, for our grandchildren. Of course, when it came time for them to depart, the "parents" didn't want to take them home with them. No kidding! So, we became the caretakers of these two strange birds. They were orange and green colored ducks. Have you ever seen such a thing?
When I went to purchase them at the local Farmers Feed and Seed store, I looked aghast at the sight of a cage full of multi colored baby ducks. What hath God wrought, I thought? I want the "REAL ducks, the yellow ones". The old gentlemen at the feed store just shook their heads and assured me they "would turn white", as if I was a nutcase. 
The next challenge was how to raise them in our Lake Oconee environment with two dogs who love to attack unsuspecting wildlife, preying hawks & owls, yadda, yadda, yadda. So, we erected a wire fence, put a small animal kennel inside for them to get out of the rain? Hello....they are ducks! Of course, being the vigilant mom. I had to feed them "gourmet duck food" to make sure they were getting the nourishment they so richly deserved. And, on with the show....
Eventually, the ducks began shedding their "orange and green" feathers giving me hope that they were certainly the "real ducks" I had imagined. They waddled around and around in that fenced in area, as I "waddled" around chasing them in order to pick them up and cuddle them just to let them know they were loved. They weren't really happy about the cuddling, but I convinced myself they needed to "imprint" with me. Well, low and behold they did. They began following me all around the yard, "quack, quack, quacking" all the way. Talk about a "duck mama"!
Then the excitement began. As you could imagine, one of our precious dogs took off charging after them. Luckily, they were running towards the lake and were able to hop/fly in and get away. But not before the alpha-dog caught one by the tail end and took a bite! Not to worry, it survived. And that was the beginning of their indoctrination to lake life. Never again was I able to entice them back into their fenced area. The Lake Oconee Easter duck saga continues. Here they are today. Stay tuned for more.....Here's the continuing saga...
New Update: Our Quackers are growing in numbers, 15-30 at various intervals. They swoop in whenever they hear or see me coming with their "gourmet" duck food (cracked corn, primarily). Occasionally,I feed them grapes, their fav-o-rite treat! Yes, I said grapes. Call me crazy, but our ducks are crazy over grapes. They come from all over to chomp on this delectible treat.
The ring leader, ("Aflack") duck is named "Carrot Cake". (Well, he used to be orange, see above pic). He is a very large, beautiful white Pekin duck. His two offspring are named, Blondie and Ringo. Now Blondie is, of course, blond or champagne in color. Ringo is a very large Mallard-looking species with a big, white ring around his neck. That's how we tell him apart from the other "hoards" of Mallard ducks that are a part of this menagerie. (See if you can pick him out). It is undetermined who the mama duck is to date, as all the mallard hens look alike! So, Carrot appears to be a "single dad".
Did you know that only the female ducks actually "quack". The males just mumble under their breath in a series of short, static noises, sounding as if they are disgruntled about something. Maybe because the females are always quacking LOUDLY! I consider this to be a cruel joke of nature, since a certain segment of our human population seems to think that females control all the conversations in the universe! Hmm, enlightening isn't it?
Our family is growing as you can see. If you would like to donate some "gourmet" duck food, please don't hesitate to contact me. I will work for (duck) food!!! Seriously, I am sure the DNR (Georgia Dept of Natural Resources) would welcome your support in providing assistance for the preservation of our "nongame" wildlife in Georgia. Life is never dull with the Lake Oconee Quackers! Well, I must be off to get some more food. I hear the Quack, Quack, Quacking in the background and the food bin is empty! Stay tuned for more.....
Footnote: If you would like to raise some of your own beautiful white "Pekin" ducks, here is a link to cool place to find some eggs or hatchlings:
Submitted by Pat Okenica, Lake Oconee Dweller! Pat@LakeOconee.com
www.LakeOconee.com 6/09/11
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