Woody – A lesson in ego
February 10, 2009 – 10:28 am
Woody, the wood duck
This past weekend I attempted to set up my camera equipment for a photo shoot in the butterfly house at Cypress Gardens. As I unfolded my tripod I felt this pull at my shoes. Woody, a brilliant juvenile Wood Duck was attempting to untie my shoelaces.
Ignoring him, I tried to locate the best position for capturing the butterflies that seemed to be everywhere. The more I ignored him, the harder he tried to gain my attention. When the shoelace trick didn’t work, he explored the zipper on my leather jacket, then moved back to my pant legs.
Sampling my shoes
I didn’t want to hurt him and the signs clearly said “Do not touch the duck.” So I moved my camera to the other side of the greenhouse. As I walked around the path, Woody copied my pace, adding delicate peeping sounds as we went. Each time he peeped he raised his crest as if expressing his earnest desire for my attention.
By that point, I was captivated. He was so much like a child that I couldn’t help but pay attention. And just like a child, once he had me, he played it up, squeaking and cooing and walking in circles. At one point he picked up a giant dead leaf and whirled it in the air, then immediately attempted to remove the fleece from my shoes.
A few minutes later the curator entered with breakfast. Within seconds he was eating out of her hands, ignoring me completely. I laughed even harder. All the while he was not showing me affection at all but merely trying to get food.
How silly of me to think I was anything more to him than a means to a meal. We humans are so egocentric. It’s all about us isn’t it?
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