Watching ducks land on a frozen lake, a real riot.

[calsibley]

We have some islands off the southern point of Toronto with a couple hundred houses. Ice breaking Ferries are the only means of connecting them with the city in the winter. The channels between the islands are frozen in the winter. Some of us take the ferries across, lugging our food and charcoal for cook outs while there. When it becomes too cold we go in the island firehouse to thaw out. The channels are a great place to teach the youngsters to skate. Hit the puck, chase the puck, hit it again, chase it again etc. Finally we stop at one of the outdoor barbecues and cook up lunch. It's a great way to spend an afternoon. The highlight of the trip is when the ferry docks at the islands. Ducks numbering in the hundreds flock to the ferries looking for the handouts they've grown used to all summer. The passengers always have goodies to toss out to them, even in winter. The problem is the ducks land on the ice and slip and slide for sometimes a hundred yards before they can get their balance back. They're a bloody riot to watch as they knock each other over like bowling pins. There's just no way they'll get out of each others line of fire. A duck is a beautifully majestic bird in its element, but not when it's skidding with feet pointing upward.
Apparently ducks (maybe other species as well) cannot distinguish ice from water and get a rude awakening when they attempt to land, but hey a goodie is a goodie worth the hazards of the landing. Has anyone here ever seen them try to put down on ice? It's enough to make you howl with laughter. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal ;D

[donnie]

Cal,
several years ago, when I lived in South Dakota we had an early freeze up and though there were still tons of ducks coming down from North Dakota most of the potholes were solid. The birds that were around still fed in the fields but usually flew back to Francis Case to loaf on open water. I found a way to hunt em though, I bought a bunch of black plastic sheeting at the Menards store in Mitchell and cut a slit in it so the dog and I could hide under it when I spread it out on the Ice. I put Dekes on it as though it were water and had one hell of a shoot! Those ducks would see that from way up and as soon as they heard my calling they would break down right on top of us. The shots were incredibly easy as the birds hovered right over me.

[bounce]

Baiting poor frozen ducky's how wonderfull lol

[calsibley]

There's a tragic side to these same ducks. The location is called Centre Island. It's right off the foot of Toronto. Almost everyone visiting the islands in summer brings food for the ducks. They're so used to receiving handouts they flock to the ferry boats even before they dock. Ufortunately they also do not migrate anymore. They winter over on the islands. When the snows and ice of the long winter set in no one comes to the islands so they no longer get their accustomed handouts. Still they don't migrate, and thousands are found dead each spring. Their posh haven turns into a death trap for them. It's almost like the ducks forget how to migrate. The city is actually trying to come up with a solution, but so far, nothing. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal