Thank you so much everyone for the comments! Thank you so much for the picture comments, and compliments too!! After reading the very first comment I was a little nervous about releasing her, but after all the reassuring comments I felt much better! Each persons comments were so unique, and interesting. Thank you so much for taking the time out to write me!
I saw her yesterday, she came back!!! It had been raining for 2 days straight, and I was worried about her. It hasnt rained here all summer, and the day after I release her...rain for 2 days straight! I was cooking dinner yesterday and I glanced out the window by my pond. Surprisingly, there was Beauty walking up out of the water and through the pouring rain. I yelled out "omg, there she is!" and my parents and son ran to the window. I ran outside through the pouring rain, and down to the pond. She sat under the weeping willow tree for a little while, then hopped back in the pond and paddled away. I was so excited to see her happy and healthy!
When I told my son (he just turned 3 August 18th) that she flew away he cried so hard. He's not an emotional kid, and never cries so I was so sad for him. He called her "his duck" and asked "why did my ducky fly away on me?" He now wants a "black ducky" (although the indian runner-pekin mix is his ducky too). Where do I find a black Cayuga at this time of year?? (I didn't tell him this, but Cayugas are my dream ducks too) lol.
Today I passed by a spot on the river where there are tons of ducks. There must have been over a hundred ducks there today, which is more than I have ever seen before. The spot is a fishing spot with a pier, and small picnic park. The town has duck food on the shore for the ducks at all times. I realized how happy these ducks were and am now considering capturing her back, and releasing her there. Id love to see her come back every year to my pond, but its selfish when she can be with hundreds of other ducks. This way she can live a normal duck life, and I can always go see her there if I want to since she is tagged. Its about 15 mintues away from me, but I pass by there anyway almost every week.
Releasing a duck is alot different than releasing a deer or a hog. Ducks are natural foragers and Im sure she can find some reeds or leaves to bed down in. I would keep placing feed out though near the pond. I have a few rescued ducks that were once wild and are now happily domesticated. Sure, in the morning they yell to be put out like little brats but by 8 pm they make their way back into their night time yard, not help needed.
