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and hung a wreath on it loaded down with popcorn, cranberries and other dried fruit. Yes, that's the spirit, I thought, that's what it is all about and I made up more cornballs and came bearing gifts for the ducks too. Once again the bags of cracked corn, outdated produce, scatterings of cereal and snack lunches left in children's school packs found their way to the river. Once again sleet and freezing rain, snow and the bitter cold winds came and the people still came, they came to feed and check on the ducks that stayed all winter.

Our duck population has increased considerably over the years. I counted fifty seven duck across the street from my home one day this last spring, on the river that run along busy route 11, right in the middle of town. In the early spring we usually have a few geese drop by for a short visit but they soon head farther north or west to a pond about five miles from here. It is the ducks that stay.

It's not an easy life for a duck on this river in the middle of this town; it is even dangerous but for some reason they seem to like it here. They've caused a few fender-benders, no one was hurt, but they've also given us a lot of smiles and a bit of laughter. We sure enjoy having them; at least most of us do, most of the time. No one seems to want to see them leave.

Living next to the river is a wonderful place to live and I love and enjoy the ducks as much, if not more, as anyone who comes by to watch them and yes feed them. They are delightful and funny and oh so much fun to watch but winter is coming once again.

A few days ago the geese flew south and much to my surprise for the first time in several years so did our ducks. They've gone; all but two and they may leave also in a day or so. I'll just have to wait and see. Some of these ducks have never been south. They were born here and have survived long and cold winters on our river. I'm going to miss the ducks this winter but spring will come and maybe our ducks will return. I don't know why they stayed for so long, so many winters on the river. I don't know why they chose to leave this year. Maybe they know something we don't or maybe the river is getting too crowded, too polluted with man's waste. Maybe the new road and bridge construction has driven them away. I don't know and I don't know why two have stayed when all the rest left. I may never truly understand the ways of ducks.

It has been an interesting adventure for them and for me and the other folks who have helped feed them and stopped by the edge of the river to enjoy their company. For now they are gone. It leaves me feeling a little sad and I think winter will feel a little colder and a little grayer without the ducks but spring will come and maybe the ducks will return and we'll have new ducklings on the river once again.

Learn more about this author, Annette Bromley.
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