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| Ducks On The Pond |
When we were kids, we used to enjoy splashing around in the creek that runs through the park and running around on the trails, and my sister enjoyed feeding the ducks on the Upper Duck Pond.
There were dozens of fat, prosperous-looking Mallards and Wood Ducks, white domestic ducks, as well as some odd hybrids waddling around, importuning everyone who came near for bread crumbs or seed. Anyone approaching the pond would be met by a waddling cohort of beady-eyed quackers. An occasional swan would float by, regarding the scene of frenzied duck feeding with a disapproving eye, but the swans mostly stayed down on the Lower Duck Pond.
Unfortunately, what we didn't realize then was that such feeding wasn't good for either the ducks or for the pond itself. The bread crumbs deteriorated into a thick green algae, and all the duck poop in the water made it look really nasty.
So the park authorities have now cleaned up the pond. There are signs all around discouraging people from feeding the ducks. The pond is much cleaner looking and a lot more serene environment. There were still two ducks there, swimming quietly around on the pond.
It's probably better for everybody, but I kind of miss seeing the kids feeding the ducks.
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