T'was a PLEASANT surprise while drinking that first cup of coffee this
morning, to see 4 wood ducks fly in the large, old, bare big-leaf maple tree
in our yard and perch there for several minutes! They were beautiful and
were no doubt contemplating the nesting possibilities. The neighbors have a
pond near by. Kinda hope they don't, however, because it was very
disheartening last year to watch the little mallard ducklings who hatched
out in a very well hidden nest under this same tree, undetected by our dog,
gradually all disappear, due, I suspect to the HEAVY infestation of
bullfrogs in that pond.

Linda Bartlett
Kent, WA