Weird wild duckling

[desertdarlene]

Mama duck still shows him a lot of love, but he hasn't changed much in the last week. Still small and scruffy.

But, he's an awesome diver. I don't mean dabbler, he dives just like a ruddy duck:

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mama duck still shows him a lot of love, but he hasn't changed much in the last week. Still small and scruffy.

But, he's an awesome diver. I don't mean dabbler, he dives just like a ruddy duck:

Maybe just the runt of the litter as they say? cute lil thing though. mama is beautiful

 

[desertdarlene]

I've never seen anything like this. He's at least 10 weeks old but still looks and acts like a 4 week old.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've never seen anything like this. He's at least 10 weeks old but still looks and acts like a 4 week old.

Think mama will continue to stay with him?

 

[desertdarlene]

I'm not sure. He goes off alone a lot. I think one day he'll go off for so long that she will leave and he won't be able to find her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm not sure. He goes off alone a lot. I think one day he'll go off for so long that she will leave and he won't be able to find her.

Do you think he can make it on his own? do these birds migrate or stay put?

 

[desertdarlene]

He can't fly, but the mom lives there all year. Whether she wants to take care of him much longer is another question. Eventually, she will want to be on her own and start hanging out with the adult males.

 

[Frank Phinster]

I think sooner or later her inner clock will tell her to look for a new mate and then he will have to fend for his own.

Thanks for keeping us updated, always interesting to learn more about the little guy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

dd do you think it can make it without being able to fly? I hope it does.

 

[desertdarlene]

Sadly, I didn't see any ducks that looked like Trouble today unless he went through a sudden growth spurt in the last week. I think I saw the mama duck and I think only 6 babies. I was going to check on him on the way back through the area, but couldn't do it. I couldn't check an area near where I saw him last, so I will keep looking for him for a little while longer. He does like to go off on his own, so I'm hoping that he's just hanging out somewhere else.