Why Did The Duck Cross The Road?
@RawBill1 (8531)
Gold Coast, Australia
September 20, 2010 6:52pm CST
Ducks have wings right?
Ducks can fly right?
Well why is it that they have to walk across the road in front of my car all the time? 
I see ducks every day when I am taking my kids to school as they are always feeding along the side of the road that leads to their school. Often, I see a squished one on the side of the road and a few times I have had to slam on the brakes or stop completely as they continually waddle out onto the road to cross to the other side. 
It happened again to me on the weekend as I was slowing down to pull into my archery club. They waddled out right at the last second before I came upon them. If I was not slowing down, then I would not have been able to stop in time and would have squished them. 
So why do you think that Ducks like to walk across roads?
I see ducks every day when I am taking my kids to school as they are always feeding along the side of the road that leads to their school. Often, I see a squished one on the side of the road and a few times I have had to slam on the brakes or stop completely as they continually waddle out onto the road to cross to the other side.
It happened again to me on the weekend as I was slowing down to pull into my archery club. They waddled out right at the last second before I came upon them. If I was not slowing down, then I would not have been able to stop in time and would have squished them.
So why do you think that Ducks like to walk across roads?5 people like this
8 responses
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
21 Sep 10
LOL, I have no idea. We don't have that problem here. Guess they are like us just creatures of habit.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
22 Sep 10
I guess all animals are like that. I know deer do the same thing here but they are usually pretty speedy about there crossings & if u are not careful they will dart out in front of u & cause u to wreck. Have a good one.
1 person likes this
@jodylee (946)
• United States
21 Sep 10
I bet they like the way the pavement feels on their feet. They also might find it a bit of an adventure, perhaps you have adventure seeking ducks. Do they hang out near the archery club? Perhaps they have a bit of a dark wish? Hmmm... why did the duck cross the road?
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Sep 10
Welcome to MyLot Jodylee. 
They are definitely seeking adventure by trying to cross these busy roads. The ones at the archery club are even more adventurous as they have to avoid flying arrows! 
I think that they have the view that the grass is always greener on the other side and that is why they risk their lives to get to it!
They are definitely seeking adventure by trying to cross these busy roads. The ones at the archery club are even more adventurous as they have to avoid flying arrows!
I think that they have the view that the grass is always greener on the other side and that is why they risk their lives to get to it! @jodylee (946)
• United States
21 Sep 10
Thanks for the welcome RawBill! The grass is always greener, isn't it? Pretty smart ducks you have there. What do you suppose the casualty to survival rate is in your area. Are they at least winning more than loosing. It could get really sad if it is lopsided.
I have to ask though, at the archery club are they actually walking around? If so, it must be tempting to use a live target... no?
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
21 Sep 10
Yes, ducks do fly but ducks also like to walk.
In one little village in England there is an official road sign, warning to slow down because ducks cross there. Apparently they make two trips a day to the local pub where they are fed and the village has adopted them.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Sep 10
I know of a town here in Australia that has Geese like that. Orbost in Victoria. There are always Geese in the main street and everyone knows to watch out for them. 
Yeah, I know they like to walk, but why don't they realise that it is safer to fly across the road? 
Yeah, I know they like to walk, but why don't they realise that it is safer to fly across the road? 
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
21 Sep 10
It is unusual. You usually find ducks where there is a source of water near by where they can swim. But they only fly to go from A to B. They rather be on the ground or in the water.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Sep 10
There are dams in the properties on either side of the road to the school and a creek and a river nearby as well, but every morning and most afternoons they are waddling alongside the road in about a 2 kilometre stretch. I guess it takes more energy to fly, but I wish they would rather than try to cross the road by foot.
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
21 Sep 10
These are the little known "Kamikaze ducks". They are employed by the local police force to test the speed of motorists reactions and the efficiency of a vehicles brakes. As these ducks with attitude strut and saunter into the road, they are mentally sticking their fingers up at you (obviously, it has to just be mentally, given that they HAVE no fingers.....) The squished ones are posthumously awarded a medal depicting 3 ducks of decreasing sizes, flying in formation & their families are also presented with a Bill of Honour bearing their name.....
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
22 Sep 10
Well Wizzy, you have completely embraced the interest that this discussion was started in. Well done for taking notice! 
I think they do try to stick their fingers up at me the little duckers. Every now and then I see a wing shoot upwards in my direction!
So that would be a duck bill of honour that their families are awarded with then. 
I think they do try to stick their fingers up at me the little duckers. Every now and then I see a wing shoot upwards in my direction!
So that would be a duck bill of honour that their families are awarded with then. 
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
21 Sep 10
I am not an expert in regards to ducks but I presume that they don’t like to fly for long periods perhaps and they prefer to walk. Just yesterday we had a mother duck with her ducklings crossing the highway and traffic was held up for ages as cars stopped to allow them to get across. I heard about it on the radio. It would have been a cute sight but darn annoying if you were late for work!
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
21 Sep 10
We've got that problem here too. State government has put up signs warning of known duck crossings. If motorists hit any, they get a fine if reported (I don't know how much the fine is). Perhaps they're testing our level of compassion, to see how far human society has advanced? Most motorists stop for them whilst the two parent ducks waddle across eight lanes of stopped traffic with their ducklings trailing behind them. So maybe that's the other reason... to keep an eye on the ducklings that can't fly. It looks quite orderly the way they do it & may make people stop & think (they have to stop anyway, so they might as well think while they're at it), "oh yeah, it's good to slow down... why was I in such a mad blinding rush again?".
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Sep 10
Yeah, you are right. Having to stop for nature does ground us a bit and force us to stop and think about what we are doing with our daily rituals. You could be right about the ducklings. I see the odd duckling trail in the bush at the archery club, but along side the road to the school there seem to be mainly adult ducks. Usually only a couple (husband and wife presumably). They must keep the ducklings deeper in the bush away from the noisy big metal animals. 
