Everything sublime is as difficult as it is rare. Baruch Spinoza

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Duck Duck, Wood Duck

We had a visitor in the fireplace flue this morning. A female wood duck attempting to nest in the chimney



It's not the first time, it used to happen fairly often but hasn't for several years. We'd asked a chimney sweep to put a cover over the chimney but he didn't do it.



We do know what to do. Lock the cats up. Hold onto the dog. Open the French doors and open the flue. These are not birds to be confused about where the exit is.


The duck comes out of the chimney and makes a quick exit out the doors, before Keetah even knew what happened.


This is why we don't put a cap on ourselves. It was too steep when we were young to try. It sure isn't going to happen now. It's not snow covered now, 😉, this is the only photo I could find with the roof line. The bonus is a photo of a young Zinger.


It's a beautiful day. Mark is going to take some time to pull weeds. I'm going to mow, again. 

8 comments:

Boud said...

I used to have a fireplace like that, except it was river stones, rounded, from nearby water ways. In a suburban ranch! And we had a starling fall down the chimney and create havoc before we could usher him out. He kept trying to batter his way through the windows. Didn't believe the wide open door next to them would work.

Sandra said...

The stone in the house is field granite. The prior owner had the stonework done. This is the difference between birds and the ducks. The ducks have never faltered.....right out the door! Birds panic. Your smooth stones would be easier to clean than this granite is.

Lori Skoog said...

Your home is beautiful!!!!

Sandra said...

Lori, thanks, it's an oddity!

Far Side of Fifty said...

we had the same thing happen at the resort...they are persistent, we finally put a screen over the chimney and attached a wood duck house to the chimney! In the attic was proof of many nests nice and cozy in the attic...they pushed the stove pipe away and went into the attic...smart birds:):)

Sandra said...

Far Side, they seem to know things, like how to head right for the door! That must have been a surprise to find nests in the attic.

julochka said...

i now have four small ducklings and they are much different than i expected them to be. i thought they'd be more like chickens, but they are super scaredy. like they think i'm going to kill them when all i want is to be friends. mine can't fly, as they're indian running ducks, but man, they can dart quickly. i think they would also make a beeline for the door if i let them.

Sandra said...

julochka, I've had several wood ducks in the large fireplace flue. The all do the same thing, fly like a rocket out the door. No messing around, they don't get confused. I remember when you discovered those running ducks.