Psycho Ducks!

by Peter Heal (From the OzHPV Canberra Mob E-mail list)

I've had a bit of a long running "thing" happening with a particular brown duck on the bike path near the ferry terminal. For some reason this duck singles me on my recumbent out as a threat and usually will make a fake charge with neck extended and hissing beak as I ride past.

This morning Mrs Duck and Mr Duck and all the little baby ducks (>15) were actually on the bike path, so I slowed and said something like "Get out of the way Ducks!" Obviously Mrs Duck took offence at this and felt threatened by me being so close to her babies. Mrs Duck closely followed by Mr Duck launched one of their fake charges.

I had nowhere to go and with two ducks flying at my head all I could do was drop my chin and try to fend them off.

Mrs Duck bounced off my helmet (ever had a couple of kilo of duck hit your head at speed before?) and she got a bit of a helping hand from me.

Mr Duck missed the first hit and ended up sitting on my tailbox pecking at the back of my helmet for a few tens of metres. From henceforth I will have a greater regard for the well being of brown ducks.

Peter Heal