The SpiRIT of Wild Ducks
While living in a small village in France, I walked each day along the river Yerre, and documented the actions of the individuals in a wild flock of ducks. Their remarkable sense of ritual, social inclinations, and the events in their lives, make this a fascinating and unique account. Jonathan Balcombe, PhD., acclaimed author of many books and papers on sentience in animals, wrote the foreword.
As in my other books, a main theme is the birds' intelligence and spirit. Another is the understanding that comes through knowing each bird as an individual. For it was through the unexpected comprehension of certain birds that I was accepted into their community, in spite of them being hunted.
This is a new concept in reading, since for the first time a book can be lavishly illustrated in colour for reading on colour devices without prohibitive printing costs. It was inspired while publishing The True Nature of Sharks and I could not resist the temptation of bringing the idea into being here. I have photographs of nearly every event, so there is an illustration for nearly every paragraph. Thus, The Spirit of Wild Ducks is as close as I can come to a movie book!
Reviews:
Jonathan Balcombe PhD, author of Second Nature and What a Fish Knows, wrote:
Ila France Porcher provides a rare glimpse into the private lives of a small population of Mallard ducks in this sensitive, revealing account. Her careful observations show that ducks are not merely alive--they have lives, with personality, emotions, and preferences. I hope this book will encourage more people to view ducks through a pair of binoculars, and not down a shotgun barrel.
Dr Pat Macwhirter BVSc (Hons), PhD, FAZCVS, Specialist in Bird Medicine wrote:
Superbly illustrated, this sad but beautiful story about a community of wild ducks who live on a picturesque stream in France is a delight to read. Having studied sharks and jungle fowl in Polynesia and a range of wildlife in Canada, the author is gifted in being able to gain the trust of a range of wild species which has enabled her to appreciate relationships and emotional innuendo in individuals and photographically document aspects of the birds’ daily lives in a way that a casual observer could not.
Fronting mansions and farmlands, the quiet, treed stream where the ducks live is periodically washed with toxic residues of human habitation that affect the health of the river system and the ducks who depend upon it. Hunters and animal predators take their toll with lasting physical and emotional effects. The story told is a microcosm of similar stories happening around the world where human insularity and a loss of connection with wildlife is profoundly affecting the welfare of native animals and our own future on this planet.
While very few of us will have the author’s patience and talent for engaging with wildlife at her level, all of us can appreciate the images, insights and message that The Spirit of Wild Ducks brings.
I highly recommend this book.
An Soegijo, of Germany, wrote:
A Chance for New Insight
Most of us think we know ducks. Those noisy, well-padded birds who seem to be leading a comfortable existence on our lakes and waterways. Fairly common, neither particularly beautiful nor especially graceful, comical at times. See one, you've seen them all.
After reading Ila France Porcher's new book 'The Spirit of Ducks' you will never be able to see our web-footed friends in the same way again. Those who have already encountered this author's exceptional studies of the lives and ways of sharks will have suspected as much, since their revelations of a world of complex and fascinating beings, observed, documented and encountered over a period of many years, show us an observer of nature who is prepared to invest her utmost in her quest to understand the creatures she studies.
I was drawn into the stories of 'The Spirit of Ducks' for the same reasons that these previous works had captivated me. Ila France Porcher is not afraid of detail, and she does not expect her reader to be either. So her minute observations of behavior build up gradually into a surprisingly expansive mosaic of information and insight into numerous aspects of the character and life-situation of a population of ducks working, as it were, for their living along a small river in France. Their sexuality, their ways of communicating, their family life, their courage and ingenuity in facing the dangers they must cope with, and quite particularly their individuality - this and much more is set in scene with a care and depth of description that, finally, helps us to share some of the writer's own remarkable empathy with the birds who are her concern.
The insertion of a generous photo-documentation directly into the narrative helps bring us closer to already well delineated scenes and characters.
I finished reading the book, not only with fascination and wonder, but also with regrets. Regret that the carelessness and cruelty of humans is still so omnipresent, causing needless harm and suffering to a species which can in no way be regarded as a threat to us. And regret too, that this book is relatively short – which does not mean to be a criticism! The story seems complete in all aspects. It is just that I would gladly have gone on reading it for longer. To all who are interested in the lives and being of other creatures, I heartily recommend this book.
Joan Gale, wildlife advocate in Canada wrote:
Would you like to go on a journey with an author, and experience and see wildlife from day to day? In fact, eight months in the lives of a flock of wild ducks? How exciting and amazing that would be! You can!
Then do not hesitate to read Ila France Porcher's new book, The Spirit of Wild Ducks. You must not miss this story with its many beautiful illustrations (photos). It is a MOVIE BOOK!
The story is one of devotion, love, care, danger and survival of this flock of wild adult ducks and their delightful ducklings. One note, it is a joy to see that the author named every duck in the flock and as you read about them and their lives, you will even find that you recognize each duck and even feel a closeness to each one as you follow the story. This is unusual! Some names are May, Star, Poppy and Brandy.
You will not put this book down!
Sadly, you will read about heartless hunters who shoot some members of the duck family and how the ones left feel the loss and live on. You will also really see how the impact of the rifle shots affect the other remaining ducks and how frightened they are when they hear gunfire...
You will never look at wild ducks the same way. This book changes your perspective about them.
You will see that wild ducks actually think and respond to their surroundings. As a result, you may want to be an advocate for wildlife.
Yes, you will feel that you are on a journey and observing the life of this flock of wild ducks because the author's well chosen words and descriptions touch your heart.
Do read this unique story never told before. The book is outstanding and I highly recommend it.
Five stars is not adequate...
In conclusion, I want to quote a heartfelt and loving sentence from this book.
"But instead of trying to dodge around me, he came close, and reached up to touch my hand with his bill."
Cat Lim, of Singapore, wrote:
Growing up with Donald Duck and Daffy Duck, my perception of ducks was pretty one-dimensional. Literally. I passively accepted the world-view offered to me by the cartoonists, without question. I didn't feel compelled to look beyond what was presented to me. What's more, living in an urban city environment meant that I had almost zero interaction with real-life living ducks.
Of course, I knew that ducks had feelings and emotions, but that was it. There was no motivation to go further than that.
Until now.
This book "The Spirit of Wild Ducks" opened my eyes and allowed me to peek into the world of ducks. I found out that real ducks had real experiences and relationships that weren't always pretty, with feelings and memories just like any other sentient being. Every duck in this book has his or her own story to tell. And writer Ila, through her keen observation, translates what goes on in this "duck world" into terms that we as human beings can relate to. Her sensitive and factual retelling of their stories brings to light each duck's trials and pain, and gives them a voice that elevates these animals to be more than just three-dimensional versions of childhood cartoon characters.
I, for one, will not look at ducks the same way again.