New Creek Babies - Plume, our suvivor duck hatches (pic)

[Duckville denizen]

Plume, on of our backyard creek survivors, hatched two babies today. She had 17 eggs, but the weather has been so unbearably hot (over 100 for days), coupled with searing drought, that it is amazing that she was able to hatch any at all. She has remained on the nest all day, apparently waiting for others to hatch, but these two little fellows were totally dry this morning, so I think they will be it. During the day today, she would scurry off the nest, come and dip in a container of water we keep out for the creek ducks, and rush right back to the nest. I suspect she will lead them to the creek in the morning if they make it. Plume survived some sort of predator attack almost a year ago, leaving her with only half an upper bill. She has adapted marvelously, scooping up grain and crumbles with her lower beak. Her last clutch, she survived temperatures in the teens for several days, to hatch four little December ducklings.