One Lucky Duck
Orange County NC Saturday was the last day of the North Carolina turkey season and nobody in the hunting camp was thinking about ducks. Inside the clubhouse during lunch a scratching sound was heard coming from the woodstove. Harold Dorsett says that in years past they have had swallows fly down the flu and get stuck. During the lunch nobody gave much thought to the scratching sounds but after Harold was left by himself he decided he better check to see if something was inside the stove. Here is what happened;
I opened the door slightly and looked in with my flashlight expecting to see a starling or maybe even a squirrel. I certainly was not prepared for what I did see…..it appeared to be a bird but was much larger than a starling. I opened the door a little more, taking care not to let critter out, and determined that it was a duck. I got my gloves and a towel to try to get it out without it getting loose in the house. Fortunately, unlike a trapped starling, the duck remained calm and I was able catch it with relative ease.
It was a woodie hen all covered with ash and yes I have pictures. I had to hold the duck with one had and take the pics with the other but here they are.
When I released her, she flew straight to the pond and swam around behind some clumps of grass along the edge only 10 yds from the woodie box. I suspect she is the hen that has been nesting there.
Photo Courtesy of Harold Dorsett
Well certainly for this duck it was her lucky day being set free apparently none worse for wear. This is not as unusual event as you might think giving that wood ducks nest in cavities they find. Harold says he plans to get a chimney cap for the hunting cabin to hopefully prevent any other critters from getting trapped.
What an amazing story; I’m glad the duck was not hurt; thanks for sharing this
Comment by lisa — May 15, 2007 @ 7:53 am
This was a cool story. Glad I dropped in today! Awesome pic of the deer, too, on your previous entry.
Comment by Cass — May 15, 2007 @ 10:52 pm