Ducks on Ice

No, this isn't a musical show tour you can buy tickets for, but it is the best show in town.

It has warmed up a bit in northern Germany and there is a light rain falling. This has melted the snow and put a thin layer of water over the ice present in the smaller lakes. The ducks seem to be poorly adapted to deal with this in a sophisticated manner. They are slipping and sliding trying to walk over the ice, it is odd just to see a duck slip and fall down on water. But the hilarity is from watching them fly in and land. They seem to expect to splash down in water, so they tuck their legs up and belly flop, then scoot off across the surface. Some manage to stay facing forward but other spin around and crane their neck trying to see where they are going. A few that really land hard get bumped onto their sides with their legs flying out trying to regain control. They temporarily become quacking distressed billiard balls that either lucky come to an eventual stop or crash into each other or the side of the lake.

I remember my father telling me about seeing this when he was in Labrador, Canada. He said it was the funniest thing he had ever seen. Especially the ones who end up on their back, wings flapping and legs kicking unable to stop or see where they are going.