A Duck's Life

By Mack Grubbs

There is a park with a pond near my office where ducks live year round. Sometimes I take my lunch there and just sit in the shade and enjoy the beauty of nature as I eat my sandwich. Once in a while I take a walk through the park with a friend and get caught up on the latest happenings. But most of the time I just go there to feed the ducks. It is interesting to observe them as they interact with one another and it allows me to temporarily take the focus off myself.

When asked what I feed the ducks, my response is usually met with disapproval. The frequent comment I hear is that my treats are not good for their health. I’m sure that bits of stale hamburger buns aren’t nutritionally the best for ducks but the only complaint these ducks register is that there is never enough. Doctors take the Hippocratic oath that includes, “above all else, do no harm.” I’m not a duck doctor or an ornithologist specializing in bird nutrition. I’m just a guy who enjoys watching the ducks smile.

Anyone who doesn’t know that ducks can smile hasn’t spent any time with them. They not only smile, they pair off, swim together and peck at each other with affection. Once the ducks build a nest, they even share food. But until they build a nest together, they never share food. As the bits of stale hamburger buns are tossed into the air it is every duck for itself. They peck each other, push each other and even steal from each other. If you watch them long enough they will begin to remind you of humans. I try to not stay that long.

Ducks, like humans, have differing natures. Some are very shy while others are extremely aggressive. No matter the temperament of a specific duck, if I can get it’s attention and toss it a bit of stale hamburger bun, that particular duck will catch the morsel almost every time, even with fifty other ducks clamoring for that same piece of bread. In nature, it is that aggressiveness that ensures survival but I focus on the shy ones, those holding back from the pressing crowd. But remember, I’m not in charge of ensuring the survival of the duck population nor am I a duck doctor. I’m just trying to make a difference in a duck’s life. Interestingly, I always come away from the experience of feeding the ducks with more than I gave. Isn’t that how life is? When we help from the heart, we can never give more than we receive in return. Now, go make a duck smile. Or better still; give another person a reason to smile.