A Sudden Plea on the Wooden Pier
The Canada goose pecked sharp and fast at the fabric of the man’s khaki pants, honking with its neck stretched completely flat against the wooden planks.
A man walking down the crowded marina boardwalk paused mid-stride, glancing down at his shoes as the large bird continued to snap its dark beak against his trouser leg.
Right behind the goose lay a female mallard, stretched out flat and entirely motionless against the weathered timber deck.
Pedestrians strolled by in the background under the bright midday sun, but the goose refused to clear a path, shifting its stance repeatedly between the fallen duck and the standing man.
The bird thrust its bill forward into the air, letting out a sharp, resonant call before snapping its head back toward the duck’s limp form.
Kneeling Down to Investigate the Trouble
The man bent his knees and lowered himself slowly down onto the wooden boards directly beside the grounded mallard.
The goose stepped back two inches, extending both of its wide wings outward while keeping its eyes fixed on the man’s outstretched hands.
He extended his right hand, placing his fingers lightly along the duck’s brown and blue-tipped wing feathers to check for signs of movement.
The duck remained flattened on the wood, its neck tucked low, unable to push itself upright against the hard surface.
Working with slow, measured movements, the man slid his fingertips beneath the bird’s trapped wing, gently separating tangled feathers and freeing the pinned joint.
The duck stirred, lifting its head slightly and tucking its bright orange webbed feet back under its rounded body.
The goose flapped its broad wings in place, honking loudly while stepping back and forth just inches from the man’s knees.
Carrying the Mallard Along the Boardwalk
The man scooped both hands beneath the duck’s chest and belly, lifting the bird securely against his blue plaid shirt.
He pushed himself up off the deck, securing the mallard firmly in the crook of both arms as the bird tucked its head in quietly.
As he turned and began walking down the narrow wooden walkway toward the water, the goose immediately followed on foot.
The large bird matched his walking pace step for step, waddling briskly just inches behind his heels with its long neck outstretched and calling out at regular intervals.
Other walkers on the dock moved aside against the metal railings as the man and his feathered escort made their way down the pier.
The mallard rested calmly across his forearms, blinking as the breeze blew across the open lake.
Rejoining the Water Together
Reaching the lower platform near the water’s edge, the man lowered himself down on one knee above the surface.
He tilted his arms downward, easing the duck’s body forward until its orange feet and chest touched the water.
The mallard slid forward onto the surface, spreading its wings slightly before settling comfortably on top of the ripples.
The goose swam in close beside the floating duck, dipping its beak into the water as the pair paddled away from the wooden dock together.
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