Keeping a watchful and documented eye on a newly born Muscovy clutch

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

Quick update before landfall: Mama has all 9 babies. So far so good. I expect by tomorrow morning we'll be back to normal. hopefully with all nine of them.

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

Quick update post hurricane: Tons of debris everywhere but the ducklings survived it. Went out to see mama and she had all 9 and they looked healthy. No ducklings were weak or looked sick. Gonna spend most of the day cleaning up, working and sorting things out. Im hopeful to return to normal updates tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Imndixie]

That is wonderful news! What a good Mama! I currently have 5 muscovy eggs in the incubator!

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

Double update.


September 26th: (Day 15, 9 ducklings)

Hurricane day. I checked on mama and ducklings periodically throughout the night. There were a few gusts that knocked a few them away. I was able to collect them and keep them near mama. Mama was pissed at me and attacked me a few times but at that point keeping them alive is more important than mama's trust. The only photo im gonna post through this is mama standing tall and protecting her babies. (Sidenote: Iphone has great night photos)

Thankfully the high gusts that toppled them didn't last long and eventually they were able to get back under mama and relax. I'll see if I can win back her trust but if she feels threatened or scared everytime im around then i may need re-evaluate this project.

September 27th: (Day 16, 8 ducklings)

I checked in the morning and she had nine. She also ran away from me and bolted into the water as if I was a predator. So it was best I go away.

I decided to check again the PM and she was hiding in a bush. I sat near the water edge 10ish yards away from the bush keeping them in sight. I had hoped to count them from a distance. After a couple minutes of sitting I was stunned that the ducklings emerged from the bush and ran toward me. Mama reluctantly followed making coo sounds. I counted eight and just closed my eyes.

A few babies got close but mama started making an alert sound and fanned her tailfeathers out walking toward me. I decided despite the ducklings warm greeting I was no longer allowed to be so close to them so I moved away. I was able to capture one photo before I noticed mama's reaction.





Sorry soldier. I know you don't understand and went through hell last 24 hours but just stay alive and keep your brothers and sisters safe.

Conclusion:


This was a really bad beat. I know I did the right thing and I don't regret it. It just killed me seeing that baby walk up to me and look at me like that. I may have chronicle from a greater distance.

"Sometimes doing the right thing means you lose" - Ted lasso

 

[Canadian Wind]

Double update.


September 26th: (Day 15, 9 ducklings)

Hurricane day. I checked on mama and ducklings periodically throughout the night. There were a few gusts that knocked a few them away. I was able to collect them and keep them near mama. Mama was pissed at me and attacked me a few times but at that point keeping them alive is more important than mama's trust. The only photo im gonna post through this is mama standing tall and protecting her babies. (Sidenote: Iphone has great night photos)

Thankfully the high gusts that toppled them didn't last long and eventually they were able to get back under mama and relax. I'll see if I can win back her trust but if she feels threatened or scared everytime im around then i may need re-evaluate this project.

View attachment 3953291


September 27th: (Day 16, 8 ducklings)

I checked in the morning and she had nine. She also ran away from me and bolted into the water as if I was a predator. So it was best I go away.

I decided to check again the PM and she was hiding in a bush. I sat near the water edge 10ish yards away from the bush keeping them in sight. I had hoped to count them from a distance. After a couple minutes of sitting I was stunned that the ducklings emerged from the bush and ran toward me. Mama reluctantly followed making coo sounds. I counted eight and just closed my eyes.

A few babies got close but mama started making an alert sound and fanned her tailfeathers out walking toward me. I decided despite the ducklings warm greeting I was no longer allowed to be so close to them so I moved away. I was able to capture one photo before I noticed mama's reaction.





Sorry soldier. I know you don't understand and went through hell last 24 hours but just stay alive and keep your brothers and sisters safe.

View attachment 3953308



Conclusion:


This was a really bad beat. I know I did the right thing and I don't regret it. It just killed me seeing that baby walk up to me and look at me like that. I may have chronicle from a greater distance.

"Sometimes doing the right thing means you lose" - Ted lasso

That last photo needs to be entered in one of the contests!

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

September 28th: (Day 17, 8 ducklings)

Time to move forward. I decided to visit just a couple hours ago after debating on what to do after yesterday.

Then this happened literally two minutes after walking outside.

I walked to the water edge and sat down where they followed me. Mama sat near me and relaxed while the ducklings were just below playing in the water

Good job soldier.

After playtime in the water, Nap time!

Ego is an interesting thing. Its not just walking into a room and thinking your the best or the center of the world. It also can mean placing reason for negative interactions on yourself. What I thought was Mama being angry and distrusting toward me may just be the result of a tough 24 hour period. Surviving tropical storm force winds only to be preyed upon and lose a duckling.

Its not about me. It never was. Nature loves handing out lessons if you can be ego-less and listen instead of pretending you have any true idea what goes on outside your own life.

 

[Imndixie]

Your story is fabulous. I soo love to read and see their progress!

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

Quickie update: Something happened to mama duck. Missing some ducklings but they may be scattered. I think I caught the tale end of a (land) predator attack. Will provide a full update later, Gonna do some extensive searching

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

September 29th: (Day 18, 7 ducklings)


As per my previous post, Something attacked our duck family. No pictures/videos for today because none of them would appropriate. Mama duck couldn't move much when I got to her and only had 2 ducklings near her.

I went looking around and we found 5 more huddled in a bush. We grabbed them and brought them back to mama duck. Looked for the eighth and could not find it.

Mama's limping pretty badly but we gave her some medicine/food. Hopefully she looks better tomorrow. Gonna check on her every few hours during the day just incase she succumbs to her wounds, I am going to rescue the ducklings. Hopefully that doesn't happen and she heals. I am optimistic due to the fact she seemed to be perking up and even moving/swimming a little over the time we sat with her.

The hits keep on coming but this is the norm for wild ducks unfortunately. The hits are often and consistent in the beginning but the positives really shine after 6 weeks or so as the ducklings become big enough to limit the amount of predators that seek them and become faster/stronger to evade. Then you get to see their colors and watch them fly for the first time as mama duck begins to release them.

I've followed 5 clutches so far this year and unfortunate stat is that no more than 3 make it to the 6 week mark.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Awww, poor Momma. I hope she pulls through. Any way of doing a rescue on her instead of field care?