Wild baby ducks!

[desertdarlene]

Thanks! I don't really have HQ ones of these right now available for screensavers, wallpaper, etc. I may sometime in the future, but I don't know when.

Some are known to be mallard-rouen hybrids mostly because I know the parents to be so and, plus, the ducklings will often have two eye-stripes or vestiges of a second eyestripe when they're young. The majority of the hybrids can't fly.

Usually about 2/3 of all ducklings will die within the first two to three weeks for various reasons. The main reason is hypothermia, especially for large broods that can't fit under the mom. However, at this lake, herons and big-mouth bass take a lot of them. Last year, we didn't have the herons until late in the season plus we had someone feeding the ducks and ducklings, too. As a result, we had a higher percentage of survivors, but less ducklings hatching. This year, we have more ducklings hatching, but much fewer surviving.

 

[DuckLover9138]

Thanks anyways! Those ducks are awesome! Sigh, I can't believe there is such a high mortality in the wild.

Well, hopefully, they will be able to fly better with each generation!

This way, more ducks will survive!

 

[Miss Lydia]

dd, i think you should be a wild life photographer, your pictures are that good.. I always enjoy them..

 

[desertdarlene]

Thanks! I would love to do it professionally, but I can't afford the equipment and can't seem to get someone to hire me to use theirs. I do the best with what I have. But, to be a professional, you need to have flawless shots with absolutely no noise (graininess). I can't do that with my current set-up. Plus, I would need a larger HD format and longer lenses. But, I like to use them for educational purposes such as my articles and posts. I would like to sell to stock agencies that work with sites like Webshots where people can download them for wallpapers and cards.

I do plan on using some of my photos for photo products such as magnets, mouse pads and mugs. I've used them on T-shirts, but I think I need that larger HD format in order to make them more saleable.

By the way, I took new photos today, but haven't put them up. The little black duckling is still around as is about 4 of the others and one little tiny one. One of the mom's sisters, I think, stole the other little one and perhaps one of the bigger ones, too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thats interesting about hens stealing others chicks, ducklings. One of my hens [ chicken] tried that with another hen when they first hatched their chicks, of course the other mama wasn't game for it. but it finally worked itself out. Now they are both happy with their Own chicks. Keep the pics coming I enjoy them as others do to.