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Make way for ducklings
[As always, click it.]
It's that time of year. Ducklings everywhere. These were in my backyard but before I could grab the camera Mama took them to the other side of the ditch. As you can see she's still keeping an eye on me even though I'm at least 50 feet away at this point. The most striking thing about this photo is that there are still seven ducklings in the brood and that they are no longer tiny. Every spring the Mallards and Muscovy ducks hatch ducklings, usually seven or eight to a brood. Unfortunately there are also lots of predators in the neighborhood - dogs that people let run wild despite the leash law, cats*, owls, and lately a fox that has been stalking Psycho. I'm not sure which are to blame but one day you see mother ducks with seven ducklings, a day or two later with five, and a day or two after that with one.
*Psycho swears that he's never had anything to do with it and I believe him. He's the cat that went on a hunger strike because I gave him food with poultry in it.
April 12, 2008 | Permalink
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Comments
Darnit, I forgot baby duck season!
Oh well. Thanks for this photo :) I really hope they all survive. That was really sad, reading about the disappearance of some little ones. Keep an eye on Psycho! that fox stalking is worrisome.
Posted by: Carrie at Apr 12, 2008 6:42:30 PM
I feel sad for Momma Duck, who is so vigilantly trying to keep her babies safe from the predators. Unfortunately, she has no "weapons" with which to fight.
Posted by: Margaret at Apr 12, 2008 7:23:40 PM
That fox isn't scared of anything! It kept running up to look at my car when it was in the yard at the corner of Roslyn and Murfield. I didn't want to get out of my car, in case it had followed my car down the street... Someone needs to find it and take it away.
Posted by: Justine at Apr 12, 2008 11:51:50 PM
The fox has been very bold lately. I'd love it if Psycho stayed in at night but that isn't going to happen.
Posted by: Mike at Apr 13, 2008 12:52:54 AM
I remember Psycho's hunger strike! That cat can certainly be stubborn. Of course, so can his owner! ;-)
Posted by: Bev at Apr 17, 2008 11:50:09 AM
