Right there, just off Main Street, I saw a mother wood duck and her ducklings this morning! Somehow they had successfully crossed the street (they were already on the side opposite the river when I caught up with them). The little ones were way beyond cute, far past adorable, and I watched with a big smile as Mama led them across the green green grass of the yard and behind the granite church. It was quite a production, I tell you, a picture perfect formation of the straightest possible single line of eight tiny waddles, accompanied by much peeping and quacking. It made my day.
Then I came home and looked up bird group names. I knew gaggle of geese, but what’s a grouping of ducks? A raft, or a team (if flying), or a paddling (if swimming). But listen to some of the other ones:
There are several different terms used to refer to a group of ducks. Mostly, it depends on what species of ducks are in the group. Paddling, skiff, raft, team and dopping are just some of the terms used.
It also depends on whether the group is on the ground or in flight. For example, a group of mallard ducks on the ground is call a “sord”, but when in flight, it is called a “flock” (as are all ducks in flight).
This catalogue of murders and prides and coveys and on and on
come from medieval lists for Bestiaries, made up by bored poets
for their bored (and boring) client-tell (the ROYALTY).
Ho-HUM… HUM-bugs !
Denny check your PM I sent you at 2:50 AM. central time !!!
Doing my BEAST !
Sean Folsom
murder of crows 
