Yes, I know they are called crested, but like to call them pom-pom ducks. I once read, too, they can have neurological problems, but did not realize it was an actual deformity. That's a shame.😟
Yes, you did exactly what you thought you should do to protect them from predators. Many people don't know all the predators in their area until they set up cameras or personally see them. The predator scene can change, too. Our top predators were raccoons until about 5-6 years ago. Then, one...
I am sorry Malmal got grabbed, sorry for both the little duck and your family. I'm used to dealing with ducks in a much larger pond and a very long deep river, so owls have never been much of a predator problem . . . as far as I know. Since a lot of mallards were spending the night in a canal...
Not to be insensitive, but this could show how nature eliminates weaker birds and animals. I would think the owl would go after a white duck, an easier target and an abnormal color for wild ducks, yet instead it gets a mallard you described as having bad vision and being slower. The two main...