Louie

               I would like you to meet a new friend of mine.  I have named him Louie and we met back in July.

 

Louie is a Muscovy Duck.  I have only seen one other before, so when this rather large duck came running at me, I didn't know how to respond.  Did he want seed?  When I tried to offer him some seed he showed no interest. He just started to puff up and "charge" me.

 

His head feathers continued to raise and flow back and forth.  Was he angry? Did he want to attack me?  then I saw these:

 

those are some talons.  I was not afraid of him and did not feel threatened, but I just didn't understand his behavior. When I went to walk away he started to follow me.  Was he being territorial?  As I was leaving I ran into a lady I see every week.  I asked her about him and she said she thought he was lonely, that someone had dumped him there and he seemed to be looking for a friend.  This made me sad.  I almost wished he was vicious and not lonely.

 after a few weeks, I found out how Louie had arrived a Lindo Lake.  His former owner had brought him there because she lived in an apartment and he got too big for her to take care of.  Sure that makes a lot of sense. Take this domesticated animal, a pet and throw him into the wild. Great plan.  I am glad I have no idea who this woman is, if I did I would be tempted to push her in the lake for being so stupid!

Louie spent week after week chasing after people and practically begging someone to take him home with them.  then one day Louie was gone.  My heart sank.  Then I found out that Louie had been taken by a wildlife rescue group and while I would miss Louie, at least he wouldn't be surrounded by hundreds and but be all alone. 

                                                          And then yesterday this is what I saw:

 

Not only is Louie back, but he's got himself a friend.  As you can see by her wings, she appears to be a rescue/rehabbed duck as well.  She is a sweet little duck, just like Louie.  Louie is very protective of Lola. When I first walked up to them, he got up and stood in front of her and once he realized I was not going to hurt her, he stepped aside and Lola and I introduced ourselves.

 

of course I cannot have a trip to Lindo Lake without including a photograph of these lovelies:

 

This is Fritz & Fiore.  While they tend to be big bullies in the flock, how can I possibly hold that against them when they look this sweet?

Unfortunately the East Basin is empty again. While we had rain last week, we then had temps in the 80's and the little pools dried up again.  the time will come when this beauty fills back up, but not just yet.

 

I had to include this pictures of these beautiful little Starlings.  No words needed :)