City (Duck) Slickers

Some people tell the arrival of spring by the blossoming flowers or the leafing trees, the lilacs, the warmer days, or the increasing excitement when you are out on the street. Having worked in the same office building almost consistently throughout the last 3.5 years, I tell the arrival of spring by the arrival of the ducks. Yes, ducks. This may not be the picture you have in your mind of Washington, D.C., but sure enough there are ducks in downtown D.C. And the great (and almost inspiring) thing is that they come back to the same fountain across the street from my office building year after year. “So what?” you may think. The funny thing is that as I walk to work every day, while people are busy running to Starbucks or trying to cut their waiting time to cross the street by 5 seconds (yes, time is money), I always check to see how my little community of ducks is doing. And sure enough, it brightens up my day. Towards the end or March/beginning of April, a pair of ducks (one male, one female) usually arrives. They make the fountain their home and are literally inseparable. Whenever you see the male, you are sure to see the female not very far away from that spot. Sometimes, they even waddle along on the sidewalk as if they are in their own little world, oblivious to the business executives rushing past them. Well, now it’s May. In recent days, I walk by the fountain and I keep seeing five male ducks (there is no sign of females). My guess is that the females are secluded somewhere, busy with laying and hatching eggs. So the males, given the fact that their female companions have temporarily deserted them, have to amuse themselves in groups. It’s pretty interesting to observe (for me, anyway). And it is gratifying to see that there is life other than that of corporate employees in downtown D.C. It almost makes me question what I’m doing locked up in a cubicle across the street…..