Stray Muscovy Duck in Front Yard

[unknowncaller]

Hello, I joined this forum to ask for information and advice about a stray duck in my front yard. When I got up yesterday morning around 8am, I noticed the duck sitting outside next to a shrub in my front yard. It wandered a bit to the neighbor's yard occasionally, but likes to return to the shrub. I'm pretty sure it is a Muscovy Duck since it looks like one to me. I don't know where it came from, since I live in the SF Bay Area. I thought it was just hanging around for a bit, but as of early evening right now, it is still sitting by the shrub.

What should I do? Unfortunately some passersby have been mean to the duck. The front yard is open without a fence. Some kids apparently threw rose buds with thorns at it last night and some jerks have chased it around on my grass with their little dogs yapping at it. We left a little dog bowl with some water for it. People like to gawk it and take pictures. It is very cute and sweet. A neighbor across the street mentioned seeing it with a white one, so maybe it is waiting for the white one to come back. I haven't seen the white one.

 

[Mylied]

It's probably wild and want to make a nest under your bush. I don't know what you can do about rude people. I'm inclined to say let it be. If not, maybe you can take it to a nearby pond, if it hasn't already laid eggs. I'm not good enough at muscovies to know if it's male or female. I do remember them being all over the place when I was in California and there was a rule not to feed them. That was 15 years ago so maybe it's changed.

 

[Raenh]

It's a male and will not be laying eggs. However, have you looked under or around the shrub? If not, do so carefully and you might find the white one sitting on a nest. And that he's standing guard.

 

[unknowncaller]

I will have to check more carefully around the area tomorrow since it is now night. The shrub has been trimmed down to be very small, such that this duck is around the same size as the shrub itself. The shrub is a Camellia sinensis, aka tea shrub. I live in an urban residential neighborhood with a bus route and moderate traffic going past the street. The nearest lake is a couple miles away, so I don't know if I could safely lead it to water. The lake is also frequented by Canada geese and pigeons that can be aggressive. I suppose it can hang around for as long as it likes, since it has been harmless so far. Though I will be sad to see something bad happen to it if the passersby get more rowdy.

 

[Isaac 0]

Welcome to BYC! @unknowncaller

If the duck wants to leave it definitely will on its own, I would definitely ask the kids to stop and leave it alone. It would be pretty hard to herd a wild duck to a pond, it's already hard enough herding domestic ones.

 

[Mylied]

I didn't mean herd or lead it. I meant catch it and transport it.

 

[Isaac 0]

I didn't mean herd or lead it. I meant catch it and transport it.

Good luck...Is all i can say

 

[Miss Lydia]

Its a gorgeous Muscovy drake. And yes look for it's companion if you don't find one she may have flown off. Drakes don't fly as well because of weight and size. He's gorgeous please protect him. If he is friendly he maybe easy to catch. Believe me he can hold is own with geese. I have a Muscovy drake that will beat the tar out of my gander if I let him. He would be able to hold his own with geese better than hateful humans.