Polar bear swimmin'

James tiptoed hesitantly to the edge of the swimming hole. Four months earlier, the pond would have been a warm, balmy splash zone. Now, however, it was the dead of winter. The swimming hole was surrounded by ice and snow. His friends stood watching and waiting, he could tell. James steeled his resolve. Glory lasts forever! No time for second-guessing! Geronimo!
Poor James. Nobody was all that impressed in the end. Probably because he’s a duck! The ducks at Best Friends have a brand-new pond in their brand-new living room. Until recently, all the ducks lived in separate groups. Now they all live together in a big new fenced-in resort of sorts. Heated carriers with straw flooring provide cozy getaways if the ducks ever want them. But so far, they would rather plunge into the icy cold water. Oh, and that green stuff that looks like grass? Astroturf, because the ducks kept wanting to build sand castles at the bottom of their pond.

This whole winter swimming thing is sort of hard for humans to understand, of course. To most people, trimming a Christmas tree and doing cannonballs don’t happen at the same time of year. The ducks couldn’t be happier, though. Their feathers keep them dry and toasty, and duck feet are built to stay warm in the coldest weather. So don’t be alarmed if you see this crowd of beach bums throwing a swim party on New Year’s Eve. After all, if you’re a duck, what better way to celebrate?

Story by David Dickson
Photos by April Dickson