Apifera Farm - where art, story, animals & woman merge. Home to artist Katherine Dunn

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

When you name a duck



Naming the ducks has been a challenge. For starters, I've never named a duck and they are very shy around me even after a few weeks. This has allowed for only short, cocktail chatter rather than longer intimate conversation one really needs to name an animal.

"You could stop and talk to me," I said one day. While their hesitance to stop and chat is a bother for my duck shepherd ego, it does allow me to watch them waddle off which is very amusing. I thought chickens were entertaining but duck ladies really swing those bottoms!

So after a few weeks of quacks turning slowly into longer sentences, I have finally named the ducks. Harold has the most beautiful, brown neck which doesn't show in this photo and Ray Duck has the white neck ring.

Doris is mother to the other three ladies. She is in the front of the waddlers - apologies to Doris for cropping her beak. Taking up the rear is June with the white eye stripe and in front of her are Harriet and Madge. To be honest, Harriet and Madge look very alike and I have to look at my notes to tell them apart. That will come with time and duck study play dates.

Taking pictures of ducks is an art in and of itself. Stay tuned.