Ducks

I think the ducks are deffinatly a symbol of Holden's well-being.

I think his being obsessed with how the ducks survive in the winter is a symbolic parrellel to how Holden has nobody to support him during his "winter".

Allie's death brings Holden a taste of the big picture. With the one person who isn't a big "phoney" gone Holden becomes a wrek. I think his wondering about the ducks really is him wondering about how he should deal with the pain of loosing his brother and relising his life is on the wrong track