tens of thousands of ducks

i've seen thousands come out of the refuge, but that's no where near the number of ducks that circled the gas hole off middle channel ridge just now before setting back down. wow. i knew i moved this computer over to this window for a reason. i spent the last week cutting phragmities on the ice all the way around my island. really opened up the view. last ice though. fell thru 3 times 2 days ago, and it's above freezing day and night since then, so if you venture out on the ice, be careful.