05/06/2026
Great news for anyone who saw my post about my ducks and geese NOT having opposable thumbs yet somehow taking the feeder apart. The mystery I've found!
Now, I didn't have my phone ready this morning, but I turned around after filling the feeder to see it popping off and floating across the ducks' backs to be deposited behind them. It turns out it's a pretty easy explanati.on when you see even part of the process.
So, I posted a couple days ago a video of these guys eating in the kiddie pool in their enclosure with the statement that I believe Hungry, Hungry Hippos was mis-named. The ducks eat with very small, very fast, repetitive motions that make me think of that game.
Well, after I filled the feeder, to get as much as they can before the ganders chase them off, the ducks charge in and start that same feeding method. I don't know if they always charge in widdershans, but they do often enough for me to find the feeder dismantled. And since the majority of the population is right-handed, the feeder assembles in a clockwise direction.
The ducks, with their rapid-fire gobbling method and approach from the opposite skating direction, basically unscrew the top from the base as they bump against the separation fingers that are supposed to keep the birds from fighting as much during feeding.
Now... if only I can locate where the one, mature, female duck is laying... 🤷♂️
