Backyard Mallard and ducklings...

[MariaFrancisco]

A wild mallard's eggs hatched two days ago. We had Mom and her seven ducklings in the pool yesterday, and in the adjacent grass and shrubs. We haven't seen them since late yesterday afternoon, though there is evidence of Mom being in the pool this morning and sometime in the night. We stopped putting chemicals in the pool in late March when we first discovered the hen and drake in the pool, and we stayed out of the back yard to respect their privacy. So, we have known about the hen and her nest all along.

The concern is, where is she keeping herself and the ducklings at night and in the early morning hours when it is still shady around the pool? We have many places for her to settle in (her nest was in a vine seven feet high; she brought the babies down yesterday morning). Yesterday, I went out into the yard twice, to move one of the two "duckling docks" we have installed in the pool for the ducklings to use to get in and out of the water. I wanted there to be a dock on each end of the pool, for safety reasons, and they were too close together at one end. Mom didn't like me out there, but she was not overly anxious about it; just moved herself and the ducklings away from me. She's not used to me being out there, and I am worried that I upset her. But that wouldn't keep her away from the pool with the babies, would it?

We have a very private and enclosed yard with lots of mature trees, shrubs, ivy, etc, and tons of bugs.

Any information about the habits of these birds would be appreciated; this is our first season with a duck!

Thanks,

Maria

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I would be concerned that ducklings might not be able to get out of a pool. I really feel that its best to leave wild animals alone. @Speceider might have some ideas for you to think on, or @desertdarlene, they are both very knowledgable about wild ducks.

 

[MariaFrancisco]

Thanks. They do have two "docks" with ramps for getting into and out of the pool. Mom was using it with them yesterday.

 

[desertdarlene]

Does the mom still have the babies? Are they able to leave the yard? I would think a wild mallard mother would prefer to not be too close to people and take them out of the yard if she could. Is there a water source like a creek or lake nearby? I wouldn't leave gates open or anything, but maybe make sure the babies can leave if mama wants them to.

You may also want to put some kind of grate or something to keep the ducklings from getting sucked into the pool's filters.

 

[MariaFrancisco]

Thanks for getting back to me!

I just came home and Mom is on the duckie dock giving herself a thorough preening. She's preening, sunning herself, and looking around as if to scope the place out for potential threats. No sign of the babies; perhaps she is taking a breather, like all moms must do? I still remember the first shower I took after coming home with my two sons! It was heavenly!

Now she's napping on the dock.

She has known all along that humans are around. Up until last week, our pool guy was coming once a week just to check the water, not to add chemicals; and our gardeners were raking the area but not using any power tools or blowers. She saw me twice yesterday. I have also been under her nest a number of times. So, I think she should know about us.

There is no way the babies can get out. The pool's filter system is designed not to capture any critters.

I can't imagine something happening to seven ducklings without us hearing it.

Suzi

 

[SouthernPride]

If she is still in your backyard, the babies are also. If they were in danger you would know that as well. Sounds like a perfect set-up for them.

 

[MariaFrancisco]

It's really confusing! She was in the yard for an hour this afternoon, but then flew off. While she was on the ground, on the lawn, she was "talking" to someone and watching the surrounding bushes. She must have had the babies settled close by. Our local wild bird rescue center called me right after she'd flown away, and the woman told me that she would be trekking off with the babies today or tomorrow for a water source she'd already checked out for them. I get confusing information: some folks say she will stay and raise her ducklings here, while others say she will take them off the property to a different body of water that she's already decided upon. Either way, the lesson here is not to get quite as attached to a wild duck as my husband and I have allowed ourselves to get -- though we would not have done it any differently had we known that our time with her and her little ones was going to be this short. We love animals and enjoy whatever birds come to nest in our yard each year; we have had up to 30 nests in one season. We hope that next year this mom or one of her female offspring will remember us and return to nest. Thanks for the help here. Best wishes, Suzi.

 

[desertdarlene]

That is really weird that you don't see them around if they're still alive. I've never known ducklings not to stick close to their mother at all times. When she moves, they move. I think something happened, too. Maybe it's not the same female duck and the other female already took her ducklings away?

 

[MariaFrancisco]

God morning! A rescue worker at the International Bird Rescue Center in Fairfield (CA) called me right after the hen flew off. When I described to her the hen's behavior, she was certain that the babies were in the bushes at that time (which, she said, was why the hen was "talking in a low voice" the entire time). She also said, without a doubt in her mind, that the hen had decided long ago where she was going to take her babies soon after they hatched: i.e., to a body of water more natural than our pool. This is probably where she would fly off to once a day while nesting. There is a pond about a quarter of a mile south of our house, on private property. I think this is where she has gone with her ducklings.

Thanks for all your help! No more ducks for now, but who knows, maybe another will come this way, or she will return next year -- or one of her female babies -- and I'll once again have a reason to write on this forum.

Best wishes,

Suzi

 

[desertdarlene]

Yes, you said that twice now.