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Monday, December 1, 2008

A heartwarming story & the moon

Did you see the alignment of the Waning Crescent Moon, Venus & Jupiter? It was only viewable a couple of nights... I had originally heard that it would be Nov 30th, Dec 1st & Dec 3rd... This phenomenon will not happen again until 2056... I hope you got to see it... It was truly beautiful.


Here is a heartwarming story I thought would put a smile on your face



Something really cute happened in downtown San Antonio this week. Michael R. is now an accounting clerk at Frost Bank and works downtown in a second story office building. Several weeks ago, he watched a mother duck choose the concrete awning outside his window as the unlikely place to build a nest above the sidewalk.

The mallard laid ten eggs in a nest in the corner of the planter that is perched over 10 feet in the air. She dutifully kept the eggs warm for weeks, and Monday afternoon all of her ten ducklings hatched.

Michael worried all night how the Momma duck was going to get those babies safely off their perch in a busy, downtown, urban environment to take to water, which typically happens in the first 48 hours of a duck hatching. Tuesday morning, Michael watched the mother duck encourage her babies to the edge of the perch with the intent to show them how to jump off! The mother flew down below and started quacking to her babies above. In his disbelief Michael watched as the first fuzzy newborn toddled to the edge and astonishingly leaped into thin air, crashing onto the cement below.

Michael couldn't stand to watch this risky effort. He dashed out of his office and ran down the stairs to the sidewalk where the first obedient duckling was stuporing near its mother from the near fatal fall. As the second one took the plunge, Michael jumped forward and caught it with his bare hands before it hit the concrete. Safe and sound, he set it by the Momma and the other stunned sibling, still recovering from its painful leap. One by one the babies continued to jump. Each time Michael hid under the awning just to reach out in the nick of time as the duckling made its free fall. The downtown sidewalk came to a standstill. Time after time, Michael was able to catch the remaining 8 and set them by their approving mother.

At this point Michael realized the duck family had only made part of its dangerous journey. They had 2 full blocks to walk across traffic, crosswalks, curbs, and pedestrians to get to the closest open water, the San Antonio River . The on looking office secretaries and several San Antonio police officers joined in. They brought an empty copy paper box to collect the babies. They carefully corralled them, with the mother's approval, and loaded them in the container. Michael held the box low enough for the mom to see her brood. He then slowly navigated through the downtown streets toward the San Antonio River . The mother waddled behind and kept her babies in sight.

As they reached the river, the mother took over and passed him, jumping into the river and quacking loudly. At the water's edge, he tipped the box and helped shepherd the babies toward the water and to their mother after their adventurous ride. All ten darling ducklings safely made it into the water and paddled up snugly to Momma. Michael said the mom swam in circles, looking back toward the beaming bank bookkeeper, and proudly quacking.


Until Later
Hugs And Kisses
Rubber Duck

28 comments:

nikkicrumpet said...

I am so glad you shared that wonderful story. It just warmed my heart that someone had a kind enough heart (and who knew it would be a guy...girls if he isn't married already...SNAP HIM UP) to save those poor ducklings. And it looks just like momma was quacking her thankyou to the kind humans that helped her out! I loved it...it really made my night!

Deb said...

How wonderful! Great story! After hearing about what happened to the Walmart worker this has given me something good to focus on. Deb

Lisa (aka) French said...

What a truly wonderful story gave me the warm and fuzzies;) JAcob and I looked at the sky tonight and discussed it how cool was that;) French

Sharon said...

OMG, what a wonderful story. I could just cry! It is heartwarming to see people take so much interest and care with animals. The poor animals just don't have their normal habitats any more - too much "civilization". When David gets home, I'm showing him these pictures and reading the story to him. He loves animals, too. As for the moon, didn't get to see that. The sky here has been too over cast for us to see the events. Guess I'll just have to wait for 2056......and see it from the other side. You're Thanksgiving looks like it was a great one. So good to have such a large family. Have a great week!

The Muse said...

Here is a lovely Christmas prose...
"The Unexpected Gift"
I hope it helps you treasure your family this season...
(it is my latest work)

http://www.jlomowriter.blogspot.com/

Thank you and many blessings...I really am happy to have found your blog :)Pictures are Superb! :)

Buffie said...

I DID get to see it! Isn't it the coolest! The planets all together? Cool!

Kathy said...

I missed the crescent moon :( but I am so glad I got to see this delightful story, what kind people, she knew they were helping her how heartwarming. hugs, Kathy

SmilingSally said...

Isn't that sweet? I saw a newspaper story a few months back about another mother duck doing much the same thing. I think it was in Washington, DC.

Bo said...

Oh Donna... how sweet this story is and how needed in these too often depressing news stories... My 'puter is healed and I'm so very thankful!! Big hugs, ;-) Bo

Bridget said...

I'm not seeing it because it has been terrible weather here today. : (
I love the duck story. Thanks for sharing that.

Ruthie said...

What a wonderful story!! I wonder if the first duckling was OK after her fall?
Hugs.

Carole Burant said...

Awwww what a wonderful story and so heartwarming to know that there are people out there who don't mind going out of their way to help a feathered friend:-) Loved seeing the pictures as the story unfolded!!

Love your Christmassy look here:-) xoxo

cherry said...

OHHH wow that is the sweetest story...I am soo glad they all survived. Thank-you for sharing...night night girl! Cherry

Anonymous said...

What a great story. It made my day!

Ginger said...

Hi Donna:
I missed the crescent moon. It's so cold outside at night, I don't even go out.
Great story on the ducklings.
Thanks for your offer to help on my blog...I was going to email you, but I don't see your email address anywhere. My little dog is supposed to be animated, but it isn't.
Ginger

Anonymous said...

The view of the moon has been awesome here, our family was out looking at it last night. That's a great story.


Love Ya,
Chris

Cheryl said...

I love this story. Thanks for sharing it with us and thank you for your wonderful comments. I sure appreciate them.
You have also been tagged!
Stop by and check it out.
Cheryl

Sue said...

Beautiful story Donna! I missed the moon and planets, hope I live to see the next one! xo

Tardevil said...

Awwww...what a sweet story. I'm so glad they made it safely to the water. I hope the duck learned not to do it again. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. It surely looked good!

Lin said...

What a GREAT story, Donna!! LOVE the photos too!!!! And thanks too for the kind 'rock' offer!! I'd love a few if you have any with wildflowers and grasses in them ..!!!

Hugs!

Dawn Marie said...

I'm so sad I missed it! It was cloudy here both nights and we couldnt see it. I rarely miss the neat things in the sky unless you just cant see them. Baldyman and I LOVE waiting for these interesting things.

Such a cute story--we need more of those!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What a wonderful picture of the alignment. I missed seeing it, so I'm glad I got to see your picture of it. I have read this story before, and I loved seeing it again. It's amazing that he was able to catch those ducklings! So heart warming. laurie

Stacey said...

Make Way for Ducklings!

Thank you for sharing that story. That man deserves a great place in Heaven for sure.

Baba said...

Hi Donna, I love this story with all of the great pictures..I hope the first jumper was not hurt.. poor thing!!!It was so heartwarming to see mom and babies together again..thanks for sharing with us.
Hugs, Baba

Jerry and Suzy said...

Donna, that's a great story. Merry Christmas to all.

We got out to see the celestial glory last night, but didn't get a picture. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

What a great story; thanks for sharing it with us!

Melissa Miller said...

Awwwww! How did I miss this post? Love this sweet story! :).

Piggy said...

aawww... what a heartwarming story! Glad to know that there are some kind ppl out there who are willing to help the mother and the ducklings... :-) Thanks for the tag, btw!

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