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Bad thermodynamic decisions? Anonymous
There is a heterosexual pair of mallards outside my apartment, in a flooded grassland that would otherwise be my backyard. They're floating in the water... and I understand that they are waterfowl, but there is plenty of muddy land around, and it's 34F (1C).

On the face of things, this seems like a thermodynamically poor decision. Why immerse yourself in a highly conductive medium instead of sit on a poorly conductive one? What a waste of calories. Can anyone explain this behavior?

Also, may I throw them some food? I've heard it's stupid to throw them bread because it has no nutritional value.
>> Nyarly
... what exactly does the sexuality of the ducks matter? Do you have to be sure in case you feed a gay duck by mistake and inadvertantly cause a water fowl Rocky Horror picture show?
>> Anonymous
>>223935
Thank you for making me lol
>> Anonymous
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GAY DUCKS
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>> Anonymous
Duck feathers are water repellent, so only the duck's feet is wet. The rest of it's body is dry.
>> Anonymous
1 Water may be warmer than the air (1 C air).
2 Mud is dirty and ducks don't like that.
3 Only the feet are wet.
>> Anonymous
>>223915
How do you know they aren't gay? Or bi?
>> Moonbarker Osbourne
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This is why you don't wanna start feeding the ducks in your yard. This also started out with feeding just two
>> Anonymous
>>224383
This happened to us too. Small creek. mom started feeding a few ducks bread.
Now- she's buying 100lbs of cracked corn every two weeks to feed the 50 some odd ducks.
>> Anonymous
>>223915
Water is heaviest at 4 degrees celcius. If the lake is not frozen at any part, it should be assumed that any water on the surface is warmer than 4 degrees celcius.

It's the same reason cranes sleep with their legs in moving water at night. The heat water absorbed from the sun during the day leaves the water at night, making the air above the river warm.
>> Dreamer
>>224388
Those ducks *are* very odd.
>> Anonymous
Also, ducks and other waterbirds have excellent heat exchange systems in their legs so very little heat is lost to the water through the feet.
>> Robot6969 !5loj5TiA7k
>>224388
THIS IS FREE WATERFOWL.

Create soup, post pics!