The beautiful Wood Ducks are here

[Iona60]

They seem to come every February. I sure hope they don't have their ducklings here again as it is too sad to watch. They start out with about 8 trailing behind them. Every few days, one or 2 gets eaten. After the last one disappears, the mama swims all around desperately quaking in hopes of finding her baby.

[erash]

Iona60 great photo...def. worth painting 😉 And I know you could do justice to the beautiful shimmers in the lake!

That's so sad about the ducklings 😢

Whose the predator. Gators?

[Iona60 in reply to erash]

No gators in the lake. We think it's either big turtles or herons. One time we saw an osprey flying off with one. Nature can be so cruel.

[jimeka]

They are very similar to what we know as Mallards. Beautiful markings, very distinct, lovely green heads. Are the females brown and plain?

[Iona60 in reply to jimeka]

These are different than Mallards. The wood ducks don't have green heads and have beautiful markings around their eyes. We sometimes get mallards that are just passing through.

And yes, the females are just brown.

[Morllyn]

😢

[Morllyn]

Beautiful, they are fun to watch.

[Royjr]

SAD😟😔

[cheshcat]

Beautiful! That's so sad to watch though 🙁

[ddeadred]

POOR MAMA!!!

[Iona60 in reply to ddeadred]

It's so pitiful watching her frantically search for her baby and doing a loud, sad quack.

[greaterexp]

Isn't it great to spend a little time watching them? It's very relaxing. Our ponds will be the things I may miss the most about leaving our farm. Such beautiful birds to enjoy!

[Iona60 in reply to greaterexp]

Are you moving away from the farm?

[greaterexp in reply to Iona60]

Iona60 , yes. It breaks our hearts. We've poured so much into this property, but we will have great memories and can say we were really blessed. It was my husband's dream, and we got to live it for awhile. But it's a 2-1/2 story with my sewing room on the top floor, and with five bedrooms and only my last son at home, it doesn't make sense to keep such a big house and all the upkeep.

[Iona60 in reply to greaterexp]

greaterexp I hope you find another dream home, only smaller.

[greaterexp in reply to Iona60]

Less cleaning!