A floating duck.

Hannah Waller
Date: 15 September, 2008
Time: 1115
Location: The Millstream between the Hatfield Library and Rogers
Weather: Hot, sunny, 79 degrees

As I was sitting on the bank of the Millstream about to begin my nature observation process, I was startled and actually jumped when an exceedingly loud "QUACK" broke the quiet morning rustle of students passing by. I then chortled softly to myself as I saw a lone female mallard floating down the river in a current, her body traveling sideways. She was facing me and it was as if she quacked so to warn me of her location and that I better not step on her or otherwise invade her space. She had a strange looking growth on her beak resembling a white marble. I wonder if she's unattractive to males, hence why she is alone? It is very strange to see ducks not paired with a mate. Watching her float on, I got a sense that she is more intelligent than one tends to believe when considering waterfoul. This duck seemed to know just how to place her body so as not to move in the current to quickly. At one point in the stream there was a rock creating a period of more rapid flow. She eyed it warily as it got closer, and then strategically twisted her body to slow down enough and go over the rocky spot without losing control or getting hurt. I watched a while longer, until finally I saw 3 more mallards pop out of some bushes along the stream and smiled to myself as I watched the four of them let the flow take them where it pleased.