Ducks! 10-15-08

Time:1550-1615

Date: 15 October 2008

Climate: about 60 degrees, partly cloudy with slight wind

Location: Between the back of Goudy Commons and the side of Doney Hall

As i move east along the Mill stream i see 6 mallards, 3 male and 3 female.  They were in that exact spot last Saturday at brunch as I recall and I believe they like it there because it is quiet, shallow, half in the shade and half in the sun.  They are almost on the rocks just wading on the side of the stream.  I like this area and i hope it doesn't change because it is nice to see ducks at a certain place multiple times because it shows that there is something they particularly like about that spot and if we change it, then they would have to adjust and why should we mess up a good thing? As i continue along the stream i sit and settle on a bench facing the back of Goudy and with my back to Doney hall.  I am sitting under a large oak tree.  Looking around i am shocked by the fact that there are barely any acorns on the ground.  I think about the oak tree i pass every day next to Lee House and there are hundreds of noticeable acorns on the ground.  This tells me that there must be a lot more squirrels around this area than that one because they must be taking all of the acorns.  This oak tree is very peaceful and adds a lot to this spot because it provides a place for birds and squirrels to nest, food for squirrels, shade and shelter.  It might be nice if a few more trees were added to this area, and maybe some bushes to keep some of the traffic noise down from the people going in and out of Doney and the little Willamette golf carts going by.  As i am sitting here the ducks swam about 10 feet away from me.  They walked up on to the side of the stream closer to Doney hall.  They were pushing their beaks into the ground as if there was food or something they wanted but i am not sure of what.  Two more ducks came down the stream and now all of them are up on the grass pecking around on the ground.  The ducks stay on the ground for a while until a man came a cut a branch on a near by tree scaring them off.