We've had so much pleasure from our garden pond this year. For the first time ever our visiting mallard ducks have raised a brood of ducklings. I should say the mother duck has done the raising, no sign of dad around which is probably usual for mallards. First there were 5 ducklings, then overnight one disappeared and mum took the 4 tiny remaining ducklings of only two days old on a trek across the fields to look for a safer pond I suppose.
We were sad but thought that perhaps she had made a wise decision as the cat from next door frequently lurked in the garden and had most probably been the culprit.
After 4 days she returned with all 4 ducklings safe and well, we were so pleased to see her.
Around a week later a male and female mallard arrived to join her and the male kept chasing our female away. We feed the ducks on grain around 3 times a day and I think he decided he wanted to keep all the food for himself and his girlfriend. Once again our little party disappeared and this time after a few days returned another duckling down.
We thought about all the trials and tribulations mother ducks go through to try to raise their babies to adulthood safely.
The foursome have remained safe now for several weeks and the ducklings are growing up fast having some of their adult feathers now.
We've watched them learn to dive, chase flies and root around on the lawn searching for worms etc. The mother duck has valiantly watched over them throughout always looking around for foe while they feed. She also has the difficult decisions about whether to remain where there is a ready source of food but known dangers, or brave the trek across fields with three tiny ducklings in search of a new pond with perhaps many unknown dangers.
So much wildlife visits our pond and we have watched the flowers around it open and the white roses, and pink tamarisk and rock roses come into bloom, not to mention the white, pink and yellow lilies open and close their petals with rising and setting of the sun.
I hope you enjoy these photos of our brave and strong mother duck and some of her enchanting little ducklings which have given us both delight and anxiety this spring.
Very best wishes to all.
Kim
