This book explores the nature of interspecies connection and the resilience of wildlife through the author's long-term observation of an injured mallard. Mel Ellis, an experienced naturalist and writer, documents the six-year period during which his family provided care and observation for a wild mallard drake missing a leg. The narrative serves as a case study in human-animal interaction, examining how wild instincts coexist with dependency in a controlled, natural environment.

Readers frequently note the gentle, observational tone of the prose, which prioritizes the animal's perspective over anthropomorphism. Experts highlight this work as a classic example of nature writing that bridges the gap between personal memoir and biological observation.