Duck Hunting

by Don Torbenson, Winter 2006

    We were having Sunday brunch at the "Garden of Eaten" with Bart and Lori Kotarba and expecting nothing more than good food and good company.  So, when Lori said, " We have to go rescue the ducks."  We questioned, what do you mean, rescue the ducks?  Lori explained, " There is a duck in the courtyard of the high school that has a nest of 11 ducklings.  There is no way she can lead them to a life on the river, the courtyard is surrounded by the building!"

     The Kotarba mission was: catch the hen, retrieve the 11 ducklings and then transplant them to Boom Lake where they could have the natural life they deserve.  Lori, Bart, and the kids had been chasing this "Misguided Mallard" since sometime on Saturday with no success.

     Grandma and Grandpa volunteered to help and off we went to the school.  Bart was in charge, sneaking from window to window, trying to locate the brood.  Daughter, Katie followed closely, brandishing a large fishing net intended to snare the illusive mallard hen.  Son, Peter was taking in all the planning with an intensity that meant certain success.  Grandma and Grandpa scurried down the corridor toting a golfing practice net, rake, and window brush.  Lori had the binoculars that would help us locate the critters in the maze of spruce trees, day lilies, and miscellaneous shrubs.

    The little ducklings were easy to find, they were meandering around the courtyard pecking at the ground and grass, as though they what they were doing to fill their little bellies.  Mom, Mrs. Mallard, was not to be found.

     Two hours later we returned to the courtyard, finding the hen leading the brood from bush to bush.  Each time she stopped, she surveyed every corner of this grassy patch making sure it was safe for her family.  Finally, she seemed to be settled for a while under a cluster of lilies.  It was time for us to complete our task and capture this dutiful mother and her  brood.  Grandpa and Bart carried the practice net, hoisted aloft with the rake and the window brush.  The net was intended to encircle the bush that provided cover for the ducks and make it easy for Bart to grasp the hen.  Wrong!!!  The hen saw all of this coming and flew past Grandpa before he could push the net against the wall.  We looked at each other and exclaimed, "Now what do we do?"  Bart's answering reply was "All we can do is wait till dusk for another try."

     At dusk, not seeing any of the critters, Bart felt our best chance would be to encircle the original nesting spot, a group of day lilies, with the large golfing net.  We must have looked like prime candidates for "Funniest Home Videos" when all we captured was a bouquet of lilies.  The ducklings were there, but not the hen.

     A determined lot, at 10:00pm and in almost total darkness, we again sneeaked across the courtyard to spring on this clever hen.  This time, when the net hit the flowers, she exploded into it and Bart's sure hands carefully placed her into a pet carrier.  The ducklings scurried in all directions as we tried to place them in a bucket.  "Careful, don't step on them!"  Bart shouted.  When the dust settled only 10 were counted.

     Grandma said she had heard something by the storm sewer and, sure enough, one had fallen thru the grate and was four feet below grad waiting for rescue.  So, Bart did his " Ed Norton" impression going into the hole to save the duckling.  It was time to go home.

     At 5:45am the next day, Lori called saying it was time to meet at the Hodag Park beach to release our new friends.  First, in plain view of the hen, the chicks were released onto the grassy slope.  When the pet carrier was opened her wings whacked the door, she flew over the chicks without even saying hi, past the trees and out onto the lake.  Free again from her night in prison, we wondered if she would return for the brood.  Two fly-overs gave us hope, but still no reunion.  Then, as the ten ducklings splashed into the water, mom glided around a shoreline thicket and led them across the lake.  Yes, ten, unfortunately, one duckling didn't make it.  Perhaps the fall in the storm sewer was too much for the delicate creature.  However, we must savor the success of saving the ten and try harder next time for the one we lost.

PS: Hats off to those that continue to rescue, to rehabilitate, and even pray and cry for animals in need, knowing they can't save them all.