The scene: Duck Pond at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum and the adjacent busy street. The cast of characters: three Muscovy ducks, two black and white and one all white except for some black feathers on his or her back. Actually the feathers aren’t really black, they have a green sheen when the sun shines on them.

There are two parts to this story. The first occurred on December 22, 2011, and the second took place on January 5, 2012. Very different dynamics on the two days.

On Day 1 (December 22), the ducks were feeding calmly in the shallow waters. They even took time to come over and investigate up close and personal my pant leg and shoes. After awhile they decided to head for greener pastures on the other side of Monroe Street. Monroe Street is a very busy street and it was rush hour. They marched to the curb, stopped and looked both ways, then ventured out into rush hour traffic, crossing the road confidently one after the other. Cars stopped to let them pass. (I think the locals were familiar with this little band and their antics.) At any rate, they arrived safely on the other side of the street and headed for some bird seed on the ground in the yard of one of the houses across the street.

Day 2 (January 5) was a different story. Same location, same cast of characters, but there was much agitation. Wings flapping, flipping upside down with feet sticking straight up, water flying everywhere. Then a little grooming. Then the ritual trek across the busy street for a nap under a tree.

Two entertaining afternoons. Better than Animal Planet.