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The photo that received second place in the last PVT contest was an evening shot of the Calvada duck pond.

The photo was taken by Ginny Simer and reflected the peace and tranquility the park offers. The ducks and geese were at rest and there was a feeling of calm in the air. The pond was also featured as the cover of the 2008 Pahrump Rural Phone Book because of its significance to the valley.

The duck pond, as it is regularly called, is for all of Pahrump to enjoy.

There are people who visit the park to relax, enjoy the serenity and do some bird watching. The staff of JobConnect has their office on site; they love the park, and the ducks and geese. They do what they can to watch over and protect them.

This is a labor of love. They are not obligated or compensated to watch out for the wildlife or clean up after park visitors. These folks have a sense of community pride that won't quit, and I, for one, appreciate their dedication.

Families bring their children to the pond to feed bread or cereal to the wildlife that calls the pond home. This is good for the ducks and a lesson for the children. The younger kids seem half afraid or intimidated by the ducks and geese, as they are used to being around people and will walk right up to you.

On more than one occasion, I have witnessed a small child with a bag of bread in hand, being chased by the ducks. The poor kid freaks out and drops the bag, the ducks then attack the bag as they can be somewhat pushy when food is involved.

The duck pond is a Pahrump landmark and should be treated with respect and admiration. I have attended various activities there from weddings to birthday parties and even a celebration of life service.

Ducks and geese are migratory birds; however, those living at the pond are content, happy and typically remain there year-round.

This time of the year they are in their nesting season. They build a nest, lay their eggs and do what any good mama would do: tend to their precious bundles.

Some visitors to the pond think duck and geese eggs are a delicacy. I have heard from several individuals how they have seen people come into the park, chase a mama from her nest and steal her eggs for human consumption.

I say "steal their eggs," because that is what they are guilty of. The eggs don't belong to them; they will hatch at some time and the natural cycle of life will continue. Please, don't take their eggs.

I have also been told of teenagers coming into the park with pellet guns. They shoot at each other, the trees and occasionally, either by accident or on purpose, a duck. Several ducks have been killed by pellets.

Please leave your pellet guns at home. A human butt can handle being shot with a pellet, a duck can't. If you want to shoot at a live target, rent a virtual reality game and have at it.

People also bring their dogs to the park to play catch and run around. Use your common sense -- if you have a bird dog, take it to Petrack Park or out in the desert for its daily workout, not the duck pond. Bird dogs do what they are bred to do, retrieve ducks and geese. This can be an ugly sight and harm not just the duck but sometimes the dog.

If you have no other place to take your bird dog for a walk, please keep it leashed for the safety of both the birds and the dog.

When driving in or around the Calvada Eye please obey the speed limits (and remember the roads are one way).

One last request, be sure to clean up after yourself. If you bring it in, take it with you when you leave. If it belongs there, leave it alone.

Again, the duck pond is for all of us to enjoy. Treat it with the respect, dignity and admiration it deserves.

Do your part to preserve the park and its inhabitants for future generations to enjoy.