Spirit Guide of the day is Duck! Time to have some fun a be a little silly for whatever challenge or rough phase of your life is over. Release any pent-up emotions you may have been pressing back and do what you must to find emotional comfort rather than trying to deny that you need it. Now is a fertile time, either literally or metaphorically so use it or be aware that it is there. If, in particular, a Mallard shows itself to you as a sign, then this means it is a time of productivity to either complete projects or move forward with new ideas. If a Wood Duck, however, is showing as a sign, then realize that you need to accept yourself just as you are in order to open yourself to your true spiritual path. You may need to work on regaining your sense of fun and play. People who connect with Duck are those who prefer to stay at home, possessing strong nesting instinct. These individuals are highly generous with big hearts and a resilient, amiable personality. These folk are emotionally expressive, able to bounce back easily from situations and enjoy the company of others, especially like-minded individuals.

Ducks, Anas Platyrhynchos, are omnivorous birds that live between 4 and 8 years in the wild. These birds are also known as Waterfowl due to their highly aquatic lifestyle. They are medium sized birds related to swans and geese, however they are different in their inclination to dive under water in order to catch their food. Duck diets include aquatic plants, insects, small fish, and grubs found both in and out of water. They can easily adapt to finding food both in the water as well as on land. Due to this ability, they are one of the most widespread birds in the world and live on every continent except Antarctica. A duck's feeding is aided by rows of tiny plates that line their teeth to help filter water out of their beaks without losing food. This is comparable to the system used by Baline whales. Duck beaks also possess comb-like structures along the edge of their beak called a Pecten which enables them to hold slippery food. These birds will swallow their food whole, using their gizzard to digest their food. Ducks possess a wide range of vocal skills, able to communicate using whistles, grunts, and many other sounds. Despite popular belief, not all ducks actually quack. This sound is made mostly by the females of the species. The features that enable a Duck to live a highly aquatic life extend to specialized webbed feet. These appendages not only allow them to speed through the waters by cupping and pushing the water behind them, but also to make it easier to walk on slippery river banks. However, they must walk with a waddling motion when on dry land. The Duck's webbed feet contain a complex structure of capillaries on their feet that help them to regulate the blood flow and prevent their feet from becoming cold. Their feathers have also developed to be water proof with interlocking patterns and a waxy coating. This waxy oil is produces by what is called the Uropygial Gland and is found in other birds as well. Ducks will often come together into groups called a Raft, team, or Paddling and are able to live in both fresh water and salt water sources. Male ducks are called Drakes while females are called Hens and a baby duck is a Duckling. There are three main groups of Duck that are based on how they feed. The species that are known to dive for their food rather than just ducking their heads under water include Canvas back, Eider, Redhead, and Scoter ducks which are found more on bays, lakes, and rivers. The ducks who are more likely to only duck their heads, or surface-feeding ducks, include the well-known Mallard duck, Black, Teal, and Wood Ducks. These types of Duck prefer to live on ponds, marshes, and other forms of quieter water. The third type of Duck would be the eating ducks that possess slender, serrated bills like the Mergansers which prefer open water like the diving ducks. The surface feeding ducks are known to take flight straight up from where they are where as the diving ducks will rush forward along the water's surface before take of. These are also migratory birds that will travel great distances and, like other birds, lay eggs. These eggs hatch into Ducklings which are Precocial, meaning that are covered with a soft down and able to walk and leave the nest within just a few hours of hatching. A Hen will lead her ducklings over up to a half mile or more in order to find suitable water for swimming and feeding. A duck's nest is constructed by the Hen with materials such as twigs, leaves, mud, and grasses. It is then lined with feathers plucked from the Hen's own breast in order to give the eggs the most cushion and insulation. Drakes will go through a duration of time after the breeding season that lasts about a month where they have Eclipse Plumage, which is similar to the female Duck's feathers. During this time, the males are completely flightless and will remove themselves to an isolated, remote area in a flock to help protect themselves against predators.