Education – A Houston Zoo Blog

LOOK AT THIS FACE!!!!

Who couldn’t love a face like this?

I see that picture, or this one…

…and I just have to SMILE!

(even if it’s a little blurry, the comedy still comes through)

This is Freeday, the Indian Runner duck who lives the zoo. He’s not on exhibit, but makes his home in a very nice duck condo on the grounds and has a devoted group of keepers who tend to his every need.

Freeday is the first animal I took out on grounds for the visitors to enjoy after completing my animal handling training — the last part of the close to 9 month training process it takes to become a Houston Zoo docent.

This breed is aptly named, because they don’t walk or waddle, they run, and when they get where they’re going, they often stamp their feet as if they are very excited, or drank a lot of Starbucks.  I took a shine to Freeday because of these charming antics and knew right away that he would be the animal who I’d take out on grounds first.

While Freeday is trained to be held, I found he was more comfortable when I set him on the top of his carrier. Think about it. In the animal world, anything bigger than you trying to hold you could feel a little like someone who may want you for dinner (and, mind you,  not as a guest)! While this duck was doing fine in my arms, I wanted him to be as comfortable as possible, so I let him stand and he was very well behaved. I was quite impressed!

I’ve grown to LOVE ducks and geese after spending quite a bit of time with them at the park next to my house, where they reside in abundance. On regular visits, I’ve gotten to know who hangs with whom and what their personalities are like, what each pecking order is, etc. In fact, between my time there and the Houston Zoo I’ve come to have a real respect, love and appreciation for all kinds of living beings that I never thought I’d feel that way about…simply because I’ve spent some time observing and learning about them.

It takes a lot to get a duck to trust you. Freeday was delightful — well behaved (though he entertained himself trying to pluck off my buttons and name tag till I hid them) and very responsive to what I was asking of him. The day I took him out was one of those in the triple digits. Though we stayed close to where he lives and I parked us in the shade, after 20 minutes he looked hot, so I packed him up to take him back for a dip.

And I think it was just the right thing to do. Without delay, he walked up his little plank and posed at the edge of his personal pond for a picture before diving in and splashing around.

At 98 degrees, I was ready to join him!

His  quacking has quickly made the short list of my favorite sounds.

Now that I’ve introduced him to you, what do you think of Freeday? Please let me know in the comment area.

Photos by Rochelle Joseph

Written by Rochelle Joseph. Please visit my animal and nature blog at www.naturegirrrl.blogspot.com

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