THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190206
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Eric Feber, Susan Smith and Shirley Brinkley
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
While driving north late Sunday morning on Greenbrier Parkway in front of Greenbrier Mall, a motorist noticed an interesting entourage crossing the street.
A man and four teens were busy escorting a family across this busy thoroughfare. The family in question was a mother duck and her five, tiny ducklings.
As the group reached the median strip, the man raised his hand to halt all three lanes of traffic.
Cars obeyed the signal to stop, and everyone watched as the unconcerned mother and her downy babies waddled slowly across the highway to the lake on the other side. More ducks on the way
Buddy Ligon and his 10-year-old daughter, Christine, are as excited as they can be.
A large family-to-be has moved onto their property on Copperstone Court in the Hunningdon Lakes section of the city.
``We have a duck who made a nest on our property, on some shrubs by our front porch,'' Ligon said. ``The mother started laying eggs almost two weeks ago.''
Mama, a good-sized duck with coloring resembling a dapple-gray horse, has been very busy.
``The last time we took a count, there were 15 eggs in the nest,'' he said. ``I videotaped that just to prove she laid so many eggs. I think she's finished now. She now sits on the nest all the time.''
Before, Ligon explained, mama would wander around, maybe lay an egg or two and repeat the process until reaching her grand total of 15.
``Every time we thought it was over, she would lay a few more eggs,'' he added. ``This is the first time this has happened to us.''
Ligon said the nest isn't even near the lake. It's about 100 yards from the water.
``We're just waiting for them to hatch,'' he said.
While waiting for the young to hatch, Christine is acting as protector of the family.
``She's totally fascinated with the whole thing,'' Ligon said. ``She's as protective as the mother. She checks on the nest in the morning and in the afternoon, as soon as she comes home from school.''
Right now the Ligons are watching and waiting for mama duck to do her thing. Until then, they'll simply observe her and watch out for other creatures in the area.
``We're trying not to disturb her,'' he said. ``And we're concerned about the neighborhood cats.'' Youthful honesty
Four young ladies from Chesapeake recently celebrated a ninth birthday party in high style at Cara's Restaurant in Great Bridge.
In flower-print dresses and straw hats, amid giggles and good cheer, the foursome politely dined inside and then stepped out on the deck for pictures that someday they'll certainly cherish. Looking out across the water and then arm in arm, they flirted and posed for the camera.
And then as all young ladies do, they retired to the powder room to freshen up for the next event on their party calendar.
In the powder room, the girls found $25 in cash on the floor. Many folks would have kept the cash, but not these moppets. Without hesitation they turned the money over to the restaurant owner without ever identifying themselves.
Not only are these fashionable, stylish young women, but they're also honest. by CNB