Feature Photo: Sorry this is an blurry and distant photo. It depicts two Moore Ducks with 5 almost adult sized juveniles.

There is a rather large boomerang shaped lake 50’ off of my back door, that is my Wilflife haven and is a thrill as a wildlife biologist. I have many “friends” that call this lake home. There is a handsome giant and beautiful male iguana, Giant Heron that likes yoga, named Spricket, because of the characteristic sprigs of feathers atop his head. Another friend is a beautiful white heron that I call Henry. But there is a pair of Moore Ducks, typically quite shy, that will swim to my side if the lake when I come outside, and hang-out with me, following me around the yard w the dogs in training on a regular basis.

It took 2 years to befriend the pair to this degree. It says more about our friendship that they trust I’ll keep them safe from constantly new and strange dogs. I felt truly blessed having these friendships.

I’ve known Pippin & Puffin, the breeding pair of Moore Ducks, for many years…likely 6!or so. I’m thrilled to watch them tote their young broods to me every year, across the lake. The young are always appropriately flighty in my presence.

This year, Pippin & Puffin managed to rear 5 of their 7 hatchlings. They’re great parents with huge success getting so many to survive to adult-sized juveniles. Turtles are plentiful in this lake, and ducklings are a preferred meal. They’re simply grabbed and pulled below surface as they swim about the lake. Tough when you don’t see your ambusher coming! Just how did Pippin & Puffin teach their young to avoid/ survive title-ambushers?! I’m impressed.

The pairs first 2 years of producing young after they paired yielded “0” survivors. They have more and more survive each year. The pair to the left and to the right still only rear 1-3 of their 5-7 every year.

Go-go Pippin & Puffin! Congratulations on your hearty brood.

I couldn’t discuss my backyard pals without also mentioning a special stork named Corky. Corky will part from his feathered friends and fly to my out of the sky when called. Now that’s special! He’s such a gregarious bird, that he rather than I pursued our friendship. I believe he watched me for awhile, with my many feathered and scaley friends, including Morning Doves, a breeding pair of Blue Jays, a woodpecker, many herons and egrets, many lizards, frogs, toads & turtles, and numerous songbirds.

Corky and I have spent much time together and are “super tight” as friends go. One day I entered my home and left the back glass sliding door open, and came back to it finding him stepping through it to come indoors! For his safety and the sanctity of our friendship, I’m sure to close the door each time I pass through it! Corky will also catch food treats I toss, like a dog can. He never misses.

And lastly I want to mention my good friend Curly Tail, a Curly Tail Skink. While I’ve got (3) skink friends on (3) corners of my home, he’s my “patio-skink, and gets most of my attention. He will take fruit from my hand, and also sun on the patio amongst up to 5 strange dogs. That’s real trust from such a tiny and vulnerable creature!

So I know all of their “stories and status” always. I give my mom updates about their rearing of young, who’s nesting, who’s recovering from injury, etc. Together and individually, they absolutely enhance my home-life!

See video below of Curly Tail:
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