About “The Ducks & Us”

Read the Discussion-Reflection Guide (PDF)

"I am really impressed! You call this a song but I think it's more like a one-act operetta—it's a whole story that covers a lot of ground. You brought up issues in a way that allows people to make their own decisions."

Belinda Chin
Education Program Supervisor, City of Seattle Parks and Recreation

Credits:

Story Characters, Vocals

Pamela Sackett: "narrator"

Timothy Piggee: "Lou"

Teresa Clark: "Claire"

Elisabeth Williams: "Kate"

Maggie Holmes: Kate's 'ahem'

Michael Loggins: "Chas"

Northwest Boychoir: vocals

Production

Pamela Sackett: composer, rhythm guitar, design consultation, content

Kenyon Curtiss: synthesizers, strings sampler

Daniel Sackett: recording engineer, sound editor, graphics, editorial

Guy Nelson: recording engineer for Boychoir

Ben Kromholtz: choral arrangement, conductor

Mark Magill: illustration, graphics consultation

Joel Tepp: recording & guide consultation

Special Thanks to:

The Northwest Boychoir

Sylvia Moss and PAWS Progressive Animal Welfare Society

Heidi Narte and Seattle City Parks

Sarah Moore, Pacific Science Center

Maria Johnson, Executive Director Northwest Boychoir

Tavia Wormstedt, Administrative Coordinator Northwest Boychoir

Paul Beck, Ensemble Sub Masa

Linda Sebenius, Music Shine Media

Marilyn Andrew

Adam Cole, Environmental Stewardship Coordinator, Seattle Parks

Laura Radin Kimball

Don Kraege, Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife

Audubon Seattle

Carrie York

Connect with ELA on

The Ducks & Us

Claire saw her friend, the duck,
he begged
so she took a corner off
of her bread

she wanted to feed him
wanted to feed him

Claire blinked her eyes
six came
then ten all wet
from the rain
a team of ducks
marched on
and spread across
the park lawn
before she knew it
her sandwich was gone

ducks in a crunch
went and
ate Claire's lunch

she didn't mind
says she
loves their kind

Claire went away
then came back
with stale bread
in her pack

she wanted to feed them
wanted to feed them

a child was crying
so scared
the ducks were fighting, one glared
quaking and nipping
over each other tripping
and making duck poop

ducks in a loop
ducks without a scoop!
bacteria adrift
from the bread that's left

the park attendant Lou
said, "Please—
the ducks can feed themselves
with ease—
but not from your own dish
what you toss can malnourish
and cause ducks to choke!"

Lou said: "Ducks do not know
not to
eat what you throw
the food that you cast
can make ducks sick
and bring rats!!"

a man named Chas
stood by
he said: "I feed the birds
or they'd die...
it's my cause, my mission—
my family tradition...

...I come here every week
with table scraps in my jeep
I used to do it with my dad
gone now is the old man
so I come by myself."

Chas said: "The ducks fly to me—
I'm their best company
what would ducks do
if I
listened to you?!"

Claire walked over to Chas and said:
"That's sad about your dad
maybe you can borrow mine—
I'll bet my dad would like that
some time.

And maybe what Lou said
about our table scraps and our bread
is trustworthy and true
can we believe Lou
about ducks and our food?

I come to the park
every week at 3:00
we can watch the ducks together
by my favorite tree!"

"Ahem, ahem," said Kate
my grandma's cookies
are great
"No one can tell me
what to do—
I'll feed them to the ducks

if I want to...
besides there's no law!

I sing to the birds
and throw gram's cookie crumbs upwards
the ducks always come around
and listen to my sounds—
even if I'm off-key."

Kate said: "When I'm in the park—
I feel so free
me and the ducks
the ducks and me!"

Lou wiped his brow and sighed
and said: "I, too, am a duck ally
and I love freedom, I do—
are we free to learn from nature too?
It's a volunteer cause."

Lou said: "I love the birds' company,
I need them more than they need me
they're wild and connected
to a power that's protective
and has its own laws.

The birds already know
what to
feed themselves and how to grow...
I feed them my appreciation
for such a self-sustaining creation!"

Claire saw her friend, the duck
he begged
so she studied him instead
he flew into a lake wave
pulled out something he truly craved
from under the mud

Claire blinked her eyes
Chas appeared
and Kate came by and said:
"It feels weird...
to stop the duck feeding
but I learned it was leading
to trouble and harm."

ducks taking flight
such a wondrous sight
we all play a part, together,
in the cycle of life!

Please send questions, comments, referrals
or program endorsements to

or call Pamela at 206.723.4887

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