What becomes of the broken hearted...

It's been a sad 24 hours in our house.... We lost one of our much loved ducks....not to sickness but rather mother nature in some way....we don't know details....only a handful of white feathers in a path leading into our woods. Meanwhile, Max ( the duck left behind) is just lost. He was the one that tipped us off that something was wrong when we saw him walking in circles in the backyard... him and his brother were never more than a few feet apart. The girls were beside themselves and I found myself at a loss. I'm sure I was a sight tho... walking around the back yard with a gun following feathers.... It's not that I really thought that I would find him alive. I guess I just wanted to be prepared.

It's been a whole day now, and it just makes me sad to look out and see Max by himself. I have feelers out to everyone I know looking for another duck or two to be his friends. I have a lead on one, so please keep your fingers crossed that it works out. I just got back inside from putting Max to bed and he was a nervous wreck. I actually had to get a hold of him and hold him while he calmed down and stopped shaking. I know it must be terrible going back to his pen and pond. He didn't even step foot in the pond today.... That's where I found the most feathers so I'm sure poor Max has bad memories.... I've never really thought about the intelligence of a duck. I wonder how long he'll remember this terrible incident... and if there is anything we can do to help...