Motor & Mel

Motor and Mel

They came from a foreclosure situation, and found their home with me, and my life has never been the same. They were the cutest little ducklings – but were frightened – needing some serious love and attention, and my home was just what the doctor ordered!

Motor & Mel – 4 days

They grew up in northern Arizona, amongst the snow and cold, only to be swept up with and moved with me in June 2012, to Oregon.

I think when they got to Oregon they decided this was where they belonged… there were streams, rivers and lakes galore and it rained so much it was duck heaven.

Motor was especially fond of me – I must have held him longer as a duckling, and possibly because Mel liked to take off without him, leaving Motor and I searching endlessly for her – him, calling her incessantly along with me, insisting she come home and get locked up for the night.  Mel would always come home, eventually, but a couple of times it was after 10:00 pm – but we figured out she just liked hanging out at the local creek at night instead of coming in.  Motor would accompany me to the creek to ‘ball her out and get her home’.  There are lots of wild creatures around.

Motor & Mel – 6 months

When the warm spring weather came they would fly away to a local pond or river, but when calling, Motor always came home.  Motor is the type of individual who I consider responsible.  He comes when called, he talks to me regularly, sometimes in fun (bobbing head and crazy motions/sounds) and other times – scolding me because dinner was late.  He is a big communicator for a duck, and I always knew what he wanted.  He had a way about him, and he never seemed to mind the occasional pick up by mom… for cuddles.  Mel, on the other hand wanted none of that.  She had her mate – she was too grown up for that.

One night just last month, the weather was unseasonably warm and since I got smart and put ponds on the property, the two of them loved hanging out in their little water pond late into the evening as it cooled off.  I’d coax and taunt them with food and treats trying to get them in at normal time, but they never wanted to go in.

One particular evening, I went out to put them in for the night – and Motor was nowhere in sight.  He’d just simply disappeared.  And him leaving Mel intentionally was unheard of… he was the epitome of loyal and faithful – he was always right by her side and following her like a little puppy.  Not only that, he was the homebody of the pair, so this was highly unusual – and it freaked me the hell out.

It was dusk and I searched and searched endlessly for him… all the while, Mel, calling and calling until her voice got raspy.  Nothing.  No Motor.  We went in after putting Mel to bed thinking he must have just decided to get a last evening flight in, and he’d be back.

Motor never came back.  I think my heart broke into a million pieces.  I searched and searched endlessly, called and called for days.  Today, a month later, Motor is just a sweet memory.

I believe that he and Mel must have both been confronted with trouble, although there was never a sound, it could have been a number of wild animals that took him… the point is, I am sure – without a doubt –  that Motor died protecting Mel.  That is why she was still here – because he had stepped in and protected her.  That was the kind of individual Motor was. 

I knew that Mel had a couple of eggs she had laid while Motor was still here – and I knew they were fertile – so my immediate instinct was to hatch Motor’s babies.  If we couldn’t have Motor, the least we could have is his offspring.

So I set up the incubator and began hatching his two fertile eggs.  They hatched 28 days later, within an hour of each other. 

They are just hours old in both of these photos. When they hatched they imprinted on me – and I am mommy. I really don’t have a choice, Mel isn’t likely to accept babies she didn’t hatch.

The other baby is calm, easy going, doesn’t cry continually for Mommy – just kicks back and enjoys life.  When outside, the grass is just fine – no need to come crawling all over me.  And the pond? No need to go rushing over and jump in… #1 reminds me of Motor.  Laid back, not really excitable, but funny and cute… the responsible type.

I hope, in the coming weeks, I can share stories of their growth, as well as their unique personalities as they begin to grow into beautiful Mallard ducklings.  I am throwing in a day 2 photo, just for fun!