New ducks on the block....

[Clicker]

Just before 9am  I heard the peeping and babbling  of one of our resident Mallards and her newly hatched family ... I went out and opened the gate  to allow her to lead her family to our pond 75 yards away . Sadly one of the 16 duckling was injured as it could not walk properly and it looked like his head was falling over to one side.. in fact when he tried to follow his mother he just kept  staggering round in circles ...it was pitiful to watch I have to admit . She was loathe to leave him  but the urge to protect the one  was  overwhelmed by her instinct to keep the rest safe so eventually left him    and headed for the safety of the water .He is out of shot in the photo though I have taken some of him . ... Sadly he did not survive very long ....Nature  can seem cruel  ... but the rest of them are just starting out on their journey ....fingers crossed eh ...

 

[JohnP]

Lovely capture... shame about the one who didn't survive... but WOW!!! what a lovely family she has produced.

[Clicker]

Thanks John ...Sadly this is the little chap who didn't make it.......  I have to admit it was really upsetting ..

 

They work so hard Ron...... I   try to keep a low profile with them as they need to be fearful of predators and so I don't feed them or encourage them to engage with  people  ...at least till they get their "wings "

The  good news is that all the others (15) have survived the  first 36 hours and Mum looks like an experienced Mother....