Duck Duty

While visiting our nearby Japanese Garden a couple of days ago, I saw a male duck sitting very quietly on one of the platforms set into the garden pond for the placement of a sculpture or plants.

When I got closer, I could see that there was a depression in the platform where the dirt had been pushed away and I realised that daddy duck was incubating his offspring.

Ducks form seasonal pair bonds that last until the males have to leave to find a protected spot to do their molting, usually after the young ones hatch.

The ducks have been in a bit of upheaval because their favourite little creek has been running high (a situation that’s improving for them), but this duck seems to have settled on this spot for his family.

Happy Monday. Have a ducky one.

24 thoughts on “Duck Duty”

    1. Yes, this daddy duck is an involved parent! However, he will disappear after the chicks hatch so that he can find a safe, secluded area to moult as he will lose his flight feathers and won’t be able to fly or protect himself. I’m looking forward to seeing the little ducklings!

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    1. I wondered about that too, Lori. Apparently these platforms (there are several in the pond) are popular nesting sites (one of the gardeners told me). I guess they are fairly safe from predators there because it’s difficult to get to them and there are a lot of people around. As soon as the ducklings can swim (which they can do from very young) the mom takes them away to the nearby creek.

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    1. They are beginning to return to their beloved creek as it has slowed down a lot recently. Apparently the mom will take the chicks to the creek within a day or two of them hatching (they can swim almost from birth). Cheers.

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