17/10/2026
Some ducks are the stuff of legend, and our JC is one of them. This video shows his recent joyful arrival at our Oak Valley sanctuary, his final home.
JC first came into our lives 11 years ago, as a magnificent fully grown drake, with glossy black feathers that shimmered emerald in the sunlight off the river. Standing on an underwater rock, he appeared to be walking on water. We estimate he was just one or two years old at the time he was dumped. Today, he's at least 12, possibly older!
But JC's magnificence has never been just about his looks. Over the years, he became the leader of a large group of ducks, earning his place not through aggression or fighting, but through quiet confidence and a remarkably gentle nature. When he eventually took over as the dominant drake, something quite extraordinary happened: the fighting between the other drakes stopped. His leadership changed the dynamics of the entire flock.
Years passed under his quiet strength and leadership on the river, but as his mobility declined, JC told us he needed a little help. In May 2025, he came to Connie's Coop for some well-earned rest. With some extra care, the right medication and a little rehabilitation, he found his confidence again, naturally drawing other ducks to him through his sheer presence.
These days, our gentle king spends his retirement in the Hen’s Den, surrounded by lovely ladies, with easy access to the pond and no younger drakes to trouble him. He's travelled a long way in his life, and while he's a little slower these days, there's still plenty of JC - the duck who walked on water, to share with the world.
