Choosing her Partner

Choosing her Partner

June 1996

Obviously, now she had laid eggs we knew she was sexual mature, but we didn't think on how this would influence her behavior towards us, and especially towards me.

We thought: she would just go on laying eggs, and that's it! 

But – already a few times before, I had experienced Pipke bit me, at least – that was what I thought it was.

It happened the first time in the period she had made her first nest in the woodland, and now – a half year later - she started to do it again, but with a lot more force than before. 
Sometimes she bit me so violent, that I had bruises on my skin. It happened every morning at the moment we cuddled in the laundry room.

I then noticed – when I stroke her on her back she calmed down a little – but from the moment I came in the environment of her bum she began to squeak very heavily and she then bit me with even much more force.

When I fondled her at that place she became very exited and she then raised her backside.

So - I discovered what this meant: she had chosen me as her partner.

This was her way to show me, that I was her mate. She wanted me to mate with her.

For granted: I couldn't mate with her – I am not a drake – but I had to do “something” to calm her down and it seemed cuddling her this way was the only way to do it.

After a while, I found out, she was already satisfied that I fondled her and gave her soft pats on her backside – or I squeezed in her tail. She enjoyed it – she seemed to see “this” as mating.

From then on we cuddled – (this way) – every morning during the mating season and after the “deed” - if she hadn't made a nest already - then I had to go with her outside. 
She quacked and waited for me until I came outside to look for a good nesting place. 
We then looked very diligent together for the right spot while she chatted the whole time. She then really could be a chatterbox, actually - we both talked nineteen to the dozen.

The reed was one of her favorite spots. We then stood there together, while she inspected the place.

If she had made her choice she started to squeak very heavily. 
(This way of squeaking was then totally different, it was actually repeatedly very short quacking.) 

Working together on her nest and chattering without ceasing.

This was her way to say: “This location will do!” We then both took some twigs and dry grass and so we started to build the basis of a new nest. The further completion of the nest she did herself.

If she had already built a nest, she went on her own to it. She then ran very fast towards it and sat on it until she had laid an egg.

After she'd done that, she came to call me. 

I had to come outside to look at it. Then we went together to her nest and very proud she showed me her newest asset. While I stood there to inspect her eggs she was so exited, and again - it was chattering without ceasing.

Consequently the nest grew to a total of at least ten eggs. 

A nest at an other place.

But of course - these eggs were not fertilized and she realized it because she could perceive no life in it.

Therefore she then made a new nest at an other place, but obvious - and unfortunately for her - without the result that she wanted to achieve.
Unfortunately for her, I could never give her what she would have wanted.

I never could have thought that a duck would choose me as her partner.

I could never have imagined that our bond would grow so close and I could love a little critter so much.

In fact, at that time I didn't know it yet: but - the time “together with her” would become 

“the happiest time of my life”.

About this happy time I will tell you in the next chapter entitled: 

Living in the Woodland July-August 1996.

Hope to see you again.

Bye bey!

Thanks for your visit.