Wandering down to the river for one of our first strolls of the season, we were surprised when three mallards flew overhead so closely that their beating wings nearly touched our heads. We soon realized it was not a joyful journey but a pursuit. Eventually they landed upstream near the shore with a considerable flapping of wings.
Other ducks began swimming to the scene. It reminded me of a school yard, when a crowd quickly gathers to surround children who are fighting. Gradually the onlookers swam away leaving the original three. As we drew near we saw the viciousness of the attack. Two males were in the process of killing the female, biting her repeatedly on the head.
Following our human instinct we tried to intervene, to save the beleaguered young lady. Alas, it was to no avail. Moving on we realized that although we may not understand or approve, the natural world has her own ways. "Murder" is probably too strong a word. Maybe we just witnessed the way of the wild, and should rejoice in the fact that we here in Stratford live close to nature in its purest form...the survival of the fittest.
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