Haughty Insouciance

I've written about this phenomenon before:

After generations of protected status the ducks have lost all fear of humans. They sleep in large groups, not caring about our presence...The ducks waddle about, leaving their organic matter everywhere.

In the above photo the ducks stroll fearlessly on a road that snakes around condominiums. As I approached on foot, they looked at me with haughty insouciance but eventually backed away, quacking their displeasure.

Ducks seem to know that cars, slowed by speed bumps and 15MPH signs, will stop for them when they're on this particular road. They also know to stay away from the main avenue a few yards away, where the cars move at 40 MPH.

They've adopted to human environments better than some people have.

Mystery Ducks

In the fountain by the Apple Store a mother duck and nine ducklings splashed merrily.

I wonder where they came from. The nearest body of water is Laurel Creek, a quarter-mile away.

The ducks would have had to traverse parking lots, busy streets, and a major shopping center.

While the ducklings have feathers, flying here would be hazardous. And the chance that they would settle in a man-made fountain seems remote.

Frankly, I wonder if they were placed there. Ducklings mature in 2-3 months, at which point this family should join the ducks and geese in the Bay marshlands four miles east. Yet ducks seem to show up regularly, else why go through the trouble of making a sign?

Their presence is a mystery.

It Bothers Them a Lot, But Not Enough to Fix It

SF survey: 2019 vs 2023. Everything's getting worse (Chronicle chart).

An April survey showed that San Francisco residents believe that City services are at their worst point in 20 years: [bold added]

San Franciscans report feeling less safe and believe their local government is doing a worse job of providing services compared to any other point over more than two decades, according to a new survey conducted by the city. The survey was released Thursday by the Controller's Office.

In results collected last year, residents graded the city with the lowest safety rating since 1996 at 3.3 out of 5, which the city calls a C+. The data shows that just 36% of residents report feeling safe walking at night, a drop from 53% in 2019, the last time the city conducted the survey.

Residents also gave the government the lowest rating since 2002 at 3 out of 5, or a grade of C. The city’s public safety and government ratings saw the biggest drops from 2019 of 16 ratings collected.

In our younger days we considered forsaking our boring suburban existence and moving to the City, where the lights were bright, the food was good, and the energy was high.

Now San Francisco seems to have sunk into a slough of despond from which it can't seem to get out of. Worse, it was a predicament of residents' own making.

the San Francisco voters seem to approve these policies on homelessness and crime because they keep re-electing leaders who spend $billions and not only do not fix the problems but make things worse.

This pair returns every spring.

We're glad we stayed in our sleepy Peninsula town, where the biggest problem is removing duck poop from our walkway.

Geese: Going Where They're Not Wanted

Ryan Park in July

Although I've been walking Foster City's trails and sidewalks for decades, only recently have waterfowl feces become a noticeable problem.

Foster City has a poop problem, and it doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.

For years the Canadian Goose population has multiplied in the city, which sits right next to the bay and has several parks along a central lagoon that attracts waterfowl from all over. The increase in Canada geese has also brought with it poop in parks, streets and waterways, sparking complaints from residents fed up with the unwanted feces and want the city to manage the geese population.

The City has been mulling "several non-lethal and lethal means" of reducing geese, but an initial proposal to cull 100 geese has been stymied by another group of residents who are opposed to any solution that involves killing birds.

Your humble blogger lives far enough away from the lagoon that the geese haven't posed a significant problem, and I'm content to let the politics play out among those who are most concerned.

However, I do have a relevant historical observation. At one time there were colonies of feral cats living in San Mateo County near water's edge. They were descendants of house cats who were released into the wild by negligent owners. Their numbers increased because of the Bay's plentiful food sources.

The Homeless Cat Network initiated Project Bay Cat to reduce the feline population and even received help from bird lovers who had a common interest in protecting wildfowl from feral cats. Through its program of Trap-Neuter-Release, the cat population was reduced from several hundred to a few dozen who lived out the rest of their non-fertile lives in the wild. Project Bay Cat declared success and was disbanded 4-5 years ago.

Colonies of feral cats bring their own set of health and animal-welfare problems, but one problem we didn't have when they were around was too many geese in Foster City.

Admirable From a Distance

Yesterday I took a walk in Ryan Park, which was crowded with hundreds of Canadian geese.

They were rooting about, looking for the leavings from the crowd of picnickers who had come to watch the fireworks on Monday.

Dozens were waddling on the sidewalk. I could walk right up to them, though when I did so they would turn their head to glance at me sideways in case I was one of those children (or peculiar adults) who liked to chase futilely after winged creatures.

Each generation of ducks and geese becomes less fearful, probably because they've learned that humans are much more likely to feed than threaten them.

The fear went both ways. There were so many waterfowl that images from Hitchcock's The Birds rose unbidden from memory.

I quickened my pace and walked home, taking another route.

Returned in Force

Ryan Park, Foster City, 9:30 a.m.

The air was still as the morning warmed quickly .

Every few yards along the walkway a faint smell of decay drifted from the lagoon.

I had to step around the clumps of waterfowl scat (was that the inspiration for the name of my current search engine?)

A brood of ducks, evincing no fear, marched by. With summer approaching, the ducks have returned in force.

Decades ago we didn't have the money to purchase a house on the lagoon; instead we bought one a block inland. The burden of maintenance and repair on a waterfront house is high--a friend of ours said that he had to hose off his deck several times a week--so I'm happy that our finances were thin.

I like ducks, but preferably at a distance and not in large groups.

Anthropomorphizing the Waterfowl

The ducks have been more active since the heavy rain of last Sunday. They swim more quickly, and their heads turn back and forth instead of gazing in one direction.

The temperatures have dropped to the '50's. On Monday, the day after Halloween, the forecasters are predicting rain. Could we have a normal fall and normal waterfowl migration?

The ducks seem happier, and so are the people who watch them.

We're Number 2, 4, and 8

Foster City has made another distinguished list. Our little town of 30,000 (0.1% of California's population) has three of the ten most polluted beaches in California:

(Source: Heal the Bay)

But Foster City is not as bad as it used to be: [bold added]

Erckenbrack Park in Foster City in San Mateo County was the second most polluted beach in California based on the levels of harmful bacteria in the ocean, the report said. Nearby Gull Park in Foster City was the fourth most polluted, with neighboring Marlin Park in Foster City as the eighth most polluted.

While that’s not a great showing for San Mateo County, this was actually an improvement for the county, which had six beaches included in the top 10 in 2020.

To be fair, Foster City's pollution doesn't stem from the usual culprits. The city spends millions annually on a well-maintained sewage treatment system, and there's virtually no agricultural or industrial runoff. The lagoons were designed to provide a buffer against storm water flooding from the Peninsula hills:

The Foster City Lagoon, as a drainage detention basin, is designed to successfully withstand a storm of 100-year return frequency or a storm of such severity that it is likely to occur only once each century. The lagoon therefore provides maximum drainage security for Foster City. Stormwater collected throughout the City flows to the Foster City Lagoon. All storm water enters the storm drain system through curb inlets and catch basins and drains into the lagoon from which it is pumped into the bay.

Because storms have been lacking for the past several years, the lagoons have been stagnating. And the fact that the waterfowl like it here just adds to the problem....

Making Lists and Getting Serious

I can point to a few recipes I've learned, some books I've read, and clutter I've cleared, but basically it's been an unproductive 15 months. During the pandemic it's easy to make excuses for not tackling projects that matter. Now's the time to make lists and get serious.

Yes, it's time to get the ducks in a row.

I'll Go Back Inside

After generations of protected status the ducks have lost all fear of humans. They sleep in large groups, not caring about our presence. In the photo above, the ducks wouldn't move when the two strollers approached on the path. Eventually the ladies walked around the dozing birds.

The ducks waddle about, leaving their organic matter everywhere. Neighbors with decks fronting the lagoon have to hose them off weekly; the same goes for cars that are parked outside.

Often we see plumps flying overhead...caution! I have learned from experience not to gaze upward with my mouth open. (Is that where the phrase "duck and cover" comes from?)

Speaking of sharing space with creatures who have the right of way, the kids are back in class. Within a couple of blocks of a school, drivers really must slow down, breathe deeply and exercise patience.

Making it worse, the new bike lanes have encouraged more children and adults to try bicycling. With some using the sidewalk, and with many riding the lanes both with and against traffic, drivers have to keep their head on a swivel.

The coronavirus is nearly over. Nevertheless, I'll go back inside.

Teach Your Substitute Children Well

"Cakes has developed a taste for
Kentucky Fried Chicken." (WSJ)

It's not news that the Wall Street Journal ran an article on fat cats. However, this time the phrase was meant literally.

So many people have struggled with weight gain during the pandemic that the term “Covid 15” has gained currency, a variation of the familiar “Freshman 15” weight gain in college. Their pets aren’t far behind...

Among 1,000 dog and cat owners surveyed in October by Banfield Pet Hospital, the nation’s largest general veterinary practice, with hospitals in 42 states, 42% said their pets had gained weight during the quarantine, up from 33% in May.

One dog cries during a Zoom business call to extort a treat from her owner. Other pets divide and conquer by exploiting their owners' failure to communicate with each other about how many treats have been doled out.

For many people cats and dogs are substitute children. Like real children, pets have learned how to get what they want from their parents.

Note: during the past year wild animals have gotten fatter, too. In Foster City the portlier ducks didn't flee and gazed half-expectantly when I approached them. Where did they learn that behavior?

Ducks: Enjoy Them at a Distance

The ducks that have long frequented our neighborhood have returned to Foster City.

Idly curious about how the two resting on the grass would react, I turned on the sprinklers manually. They rose to search and peck the ground, as if they knew that the water would cause earthworms and insects to surface.

They add to the color of the community, but resist the temptation to feed them, unless you want to clean your driveway, sidewalk, and patio more often. Enjoy watching them....at a distance.

First World Story

(Alameda County FD via SF Chronicle)

The Alameda County Fire Department rescued two ducklings from a storm drain, a story that wouldn't otherwise be notable except that the firefighters: 1) Played a cellphone YouTube video with mother-duck sounds to lure the ducklings from the pipe; 2) Spent an hour looking for the family so as not to consign them to an uncertain fate with Animal Control. A happy ending resulted:

they checked the Monarch Bay Golf Club and spotted ducks in the distance....When [firefighter Brendan] Burke approached, the duck and her 10 nestlings initially retreated, until one of the lost ducklings let out a chirp. The mother duck corralled the two little ones and the family was happily reunited.

Seven ducks in a box.

Flashback: three years ago at our behest the Foster City Fire Department rescued six ducklings (plus one that came running from the bushes when it heard its siblings) from a storm drain. We watched them overnight, then opened our windows wide in the hope that the mother would hear them. She did.

The green-eyeshade people would say that duck rescue is a waste of taxpayer resources; however, if it were put to a vote I am certain that Bay Area residents would overwhelmingly disagree.

Springing Forward

This morning the clock sprung forward and we "lost an hour." The church administrator had thoughtfully assigned me ushering and layreading duties on the one Sunday when slothful me would have really liked to sleep in (no, Jesus, I'm just joking and happy to be of service).

Attendance was below average, but well within the margin of error---I've forgotten what that means but it sounds STEM-related and professorial. Later that day, availing myself of the Sunday Loophole, it was time to eat and drink everything that I'd been abstaining from during Lent.

I stopped by the local 99 Ranch Market and picked up some sweet and fatty items suitable for Lent-breaking. Fortified by a couple of glasses of pinot noir, I was ready for the week.

99 Ranch Market's duck tongues and duck heads---tempting, but I'll pass.

Duck and Cover

In a shocking display of speciesism, three men chased off ducks and geese just so that they could practice throwing around a plastic disk during a weekday lunch break.

The formerly peaceful waterfowl loudly expressed their displeasure, depositing digestive effluvia on peacefully parked cars as they flew overhead. I kept my mouth closed from a long-ago, literally bitter experience.

I avoided the first salvo and left. When stuff starts flying, don't stick around.

Ducking from View

Ducks roam the neighborhood with impunity, stopping traffic, fouling decks, and quacking loudly when approached. Just last month we had to help a new family escape from our backyard.

A pair stopped by this week, and I happened to be holding week-old (mold-free) bread intended for the compost bin. Impulsively I tossed them a couple of slices.

They were back in the same spot the next day. I stayed inside. Psst! Are they gone yet?

A Quiet Spot in the Garden

Twenty (20) months ago a mother duck nested in our backyard. We experienced a great deal of trouble trapping her brood (they couldn't fly over the fence) and moving them to the lagoon.

We prevented a repeat of the experience last year by keeping a watchful eye on the shrubbery.

Alas, we let our guard down this winter. A mother duck had found a hidden spot to nest. A cacophony of quacks awoke us this morning.

The hatchlings were signaling that it was time to leave (and we didn't even have a chance to get acquainted).

A very intelligent person in our household (you may be surprised to learn it wasn't me, dear reader) figured out that he only needed to capture a few of them---three in this case---and slowly walk around the corner to the gate. The mother followed the quacks-in-the-box, and the rest of the brood trailed the mother. Within a few minutes all were paddling merrily in the lagoon.

Ducks reach adulthood in about a year. Perhaps we'll see one of them again when it's her turn to find a quiet spot in the garden.

Think We're Here to Serve YOU?

For two years Juanita the duck was "a beloved mascot and friend to all at the Bello Gardens assisted-living home on Mariposa Avenue in San Anselmo."

When she flew a short distance away, Juanita was turned in to the WildCare rescue center, where she has remained for 28 days.

federal rules say stray ducks are wild animals until proved otherwise. The law, they [at WildCare] say, prohibits Juanita from being reunited with the two dozen bereaved, heartsick and moping senior citizens at Bello Gardens.

[Juanita] is not going anywhere until the U.S. government makes up its mind whether she is a pet duck, a wild duck, a lost duck or simply a misunderstood duck.

It's easy to see why bureaucrats are taking their time: once human happiness is allowed into consideration, what other rules will crumble? And having to answer awkward questions at annual performance reviews can be such a bother.

From 8/20: Seven ducks in a box.

[In retrospect we were fortunate that we didn't involve government or non-profit agencies in our own duck-rescue efforts.]

Lucky Seven

Yes, she was up to something.

Last month we espied a duck in the back yard. Although we guessed what she was up to, there were no other tell-tail tale signs until Saturday, when she hopped onto the six-foot fence and called to her brood.

Unable to follow their mother (ducks can't fly until they're about two months old), the hatchlings left their hiding places and chirped plaintively. The lady of our house spent hours gathering nine of them in a box and carrying them outside to their mother.

Seven ducks in a box.

Hours later, TLOOH heard chirping coming from a storm drain a hundred feet away. Calls to the police and fire departments brought out hard-working public servants who tried with difficulty to mask their lack of enthusiasm. Upon prying open the cover, the firefighters found six ducklings--more than was expected from the faint noises--and agreed that the effort may have been worthwhile after all. Maybe the mother will come back, they counseled, otherwise you should take them to the SPCA.

Meanwhile, the sound of its six rescued siblings lured a tenth duckling from our backyard shrubbery. We now were responsible for seven (7). Hypoglycemia was a danger, so we administered sugar water via syringe. Energized, they pecked at lettuce and raspberries and splashed merrily in a water-filled plastic tray.

It was 9 p.m. on Saturday night. The SPCA and other animal-rescue organizations had stopped taking calls. We set up an incandescent lamp above one corner of the box to keep them warm overnight.

What happened to the mother? What happened to the three siblings? Should we take the "lucky" seven to the SPCA? Answers would have to wait at least another day.

Spot the Duck

I was picking up some lemons that had fallen from the tree when there was a rustling from the bushes. I didn't spot the duck initially.

The day had been exceptionally hot and muggy, and the duck had found a cool spot. It watched me for about a minute, then voiced an irritated squawk and flapped away.

Can you see it?