Friday, April 5, 2013

The Black Swans

On Good Friday, dad opened the fence at the water end of their pen and set the black swans free.  They have been having a blast exploring all over the land, in the brook and all over the pond.  Don't laugh, but Buster thinks he's a girl and Gussie is the protective male. They're both male swans.
 Before dad let them out of their pen, they made a nest out of their sawdust bedding and Buster was pretending to be a "mom".  The story gets even more funny but unfortunately, we don't have a picture so you have to use your imagination.  The NY bathtub black duckies sneaked into Buster and Gussie's pen one morning and one of the females laid an egg in Buster's nest.   So now Buster had an egg to hatch!  The black duckies have been laying eggs all winter long and something keeps eating them.  Dad let Buster play "mom" for a few days and then he removed the egg.  He thought it would be best.

Getting back to the story, Tuesday morning, Gussie and Buster didn't come for breakie and dad was worried.  He checked on them all day long and no black swans so after dindin, he got into his canoe and headed to the back of the pond to try to find them.  He had help from Penny and Margaret.   Dad was whistling and calling to them and they answered faintly but loudly enough that we heard them and knew which direction to head in.
 Mom decided that being on the left hand side of the pond was not doing her a bit of good because the black swan peep was coming from the right hand side of the pond so around the pond she went.  It takes about 5 minutes to walk from one side of the pond to the other side.
 
These are the black duckies that dad rescued from the NY bathtub.    They're free too and having a great time.  This is breeding season and the male was chasing mom trying to bite her.    Why does he look like he's laughing!
 Mom saw skunk cabbage along the way and had to take a picture. 
 They they are!  Gussie and Buster are happy as larks playing Gilligan's Island back here all by themselves.  They're on their own mini island with mucky water surrounding them. 
Dad goes back twice a day to make sure they're safe and still having fun and they are!

So until next time.............

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

34 comments:

  1. What a great place you have. We love hearing about your swans and ducks. Mind you I would not be trusted round them. We avoid our ponds as peeps thinks I would chase the birds and ducks. Have a fabulous Friday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  2. I guess you'll have to call that Black Bird Island from now on.

    Kisses,
    Dexter

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  3. Maybe Buster is goin' through an identity crisis. But I promise you, I ain't laughin'...okay maybe a tad.

    I can't believes dat duckie would be laughin' at yur mom.

    Puddles

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  4. What a funny story about the swans being female.

    But we are glad that your Dad found them safe and sound.

    Love -

    Hershey and Kaci

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  5. That's cool that you have such a nice pond that the swans and ducks can roam and still be safe. Do you ever get to go for a canoe ride? I hope some day to take my guys on a canoe trip with a company called Dog Paddling Adventures.

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  6. Are there any psychiatrists for Duckies in your area? We think Gussie and Buster could use one.

    :)

    gussie and Teka

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  7. Woof! Woof! LOVELY! I visited a neighborhood pond and no ducks or swans yet but looking forward to see one soon. Golden Thanks for sharing yours. Lots of Golden woofs, Sugar

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  8. That is so beautiful! What fun to observe them!

    Piggy kisses,
    Katie and Coccolino the mini pig

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  9. Glad they are safe! What a beautiful place there!

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  10. Phew - so glad the black swans are safe....Mom is a bit bias towards the blacks swans considering where they originated from :)

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  11. How lucky that you have a beautiful lake and so many feathery friends; they are so beautiful and we love them a lot.

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  12. Those black swans are silly, but I'm glad they are safe.

    Millie

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  13. Mom used to raise Mallard ducks and she has lots of stories about them and their silly behavior.
    Morgan, Sebastian, the Porties, Syd and Mac

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  14. Guys, thats so nice that you take care of the duckies, Huuhhhh, never heard of skunk cabbage!

    The Mad Scots

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  15. Yea! So glad you found Gussie and Buster
    Snuggles,
    Benny & Lily

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  16. Well that is really cool drool stuffs. WE had No Idea that ducks and Swans could be so INTERESTING. It will be super fun to watch how this all unfolds.
    Do you suppose that buster is like the ugly duckling or something?

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  17. Fun Adventures of the Ducks and Swans. That is so funny that Buster wants to be a "mom" - he must have a kind and gentle soul.

    Happy weekend.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  18. I think it is funny too that Buster wants to be a MOM !!!! LOL LOL

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  19. We're glad Gussie and Buster were found well...and happy. Guess they'll be camping out for the summer.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  20. I likes ur photos. They are happy. :)

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  21. Wow, MItch and Molly, what a beautiful place you live. Glad to know that your dad made sure that black swans are ok and happy.

    Oh mom aka the cabbage lover (bol) googled about Skunk Cabbage. Very nice!

    Ahhhh... your Easter photo is so cute!

    Momo & Pinot xo

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  22. That is the coolest thing!! We wish we had swans and ducks actually LIVING on our property! So glad that the black swans are safe!! Love the pictures!! Xoxo Chloe and LadyBug

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  23. We agree...what a wonderful place with so.many beautiful creatures. Mom remembers when she lived next to a canal, how a male muscovy who was "ready' moved over to a female who was accompanied by two of her remaining ducklings and bit her on the neck.and dragged her back.into the water. Mom's thought: in front of the children?????

    Wirey love,

    Jake and Just Harry

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  24. I just love reading about your birds!

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  25. What an awesome back yard menagerie you have. We love hearing stories about your birds, bc we know nothing about birds.

    Today we saw a great blue heron on our hike. Later we heard alot of bird racket and a pair of Canadian geese were squawking like crazy, then we saw another pair. Maybe they were not interested in visitors, claiming land or something. We don't know but it was LOUD. We thought there were 100 geese NOT 4!

    Violet

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  26. Howdy Mates, your swans sounds so interesting. Poor Buster, we wish he was a girlie so he could keep sitting on the egg. They sound like they love their home. That black duck does look like he's laughing. Little rascal. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

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  27. How funny that Buster wants to be a mommy, we think that would be OK!

    Luv,
    Winston, Chloe, Cecil and Mom Shawn

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  28. I am sooo happy for the happy ending to this wonderful story! And it is a funny story to boot!
    love
    tweedles

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  29. Your Dad took Buster's egg. The egg that another duck left in his nest. Well I just feel sad for Buster. I think Buster must be traumatized he has got his sex wrong and now he has lost his egg.
    No wonder he moved to that island with murky water.
    Sweet William The Scot

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