The Big Leap happened this morning. Early in the morning there were two ducklings in the pond, with no sign of mom, and I heard peeping from the windowsill above. I knew, then, that there was a larger brood on the way. About a half an hour ago (I didn’t see it), they jumped, and now there are ten ducklings in the water. The mom and brood are skittish, so I’m leaving them alone for the time being.
Ten, of course, was the size of Honey’s brood last year. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that most of these will make it. To do that, they’ll need to become a bit tamer and accept food from me. I’ve loaded up both duck islands with corn, mealworms, and duckling chow, so maybe they’ll find them.
Wish us luck! It’s giong to be a long summer. And, frankly, I’m quite anxious about the new mother befriending me so that I can feed her and her family. Last year we lost two out of the ten, and every lost duckling is like an arrow in my heart.
Beautiful!
“About a half an hour ago (I didn’t see it), they jumped, and now there are ten ducklings in the water”
I can’t help but point out the Zen (is it) nature of this – I think there was a similar statement on yesterday’s (or the day before’s) single duckling update.
I’m not sure what you mean. What similar statement.
that old idea – if a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around to hear it, did it make a noise. so … I guess… if some ducklings fall from a precipice and nobody is around to see it, did they fall? Answer : yes of course.
as for “I think there was a similar statement”, I couldn’t find it where I thought it was, so I think my memory was jostled by reading “the Dude abides” in a duckling report – especially since PCC(E) didn’t care for The Big Lebowski.
upon further thought
I think the equvalent Zen-like koan would be :
if ten ducklings appear in a pond, and nobody is around to see them leave their nest from high above, did they all fall?
… or were they pushed?! We need a Ducktective…
I thought of Basho–
Ancient pond
Duckling jumps in
Plop
I am visiting Chicago for the first time. Arrived yesterday afternoon (O’Hare – aaaghhh, zig zagging customs and immigration line for what seemed forever). I have Cubs tickets for tomorrow and am hoping the rain holds off. Having successfully sold that one to my wife, I should be able to make a case to visit a duckpond in the suburbs now there are cute ducklings 🙂
We’re not really in the suburbs, but part of Chicago; you can take the Metra Electric train from downtown to 57th street (or the #6 bus to 57th Street and Stony Island), and you’re just a ten-minute walk from the ducklings.
For the record: Finally getting around to documenting the fact that my wife and I did visit the ducklings, on a beautiful spring Friday morning in Chicago. The ducklings (in fact the whole family) were very cute, exactly as advertised. We even met Jerry who was very nice, and gave us local tourism hints.
Mama is a fine looking lady!
Thank you for the directions. We are here until Sunday, it’s very likely we will take the trip. I’ll be sure to add a comment to a duck post with our impressions.
Looks like game on. Did not think we would see tourism to urban Chicago to see baby ducks but there it is. Busy time indeed.
Aaaa! That’s wonderful!
Say, it’s too bad Honey didn’t return this year, but the new mom needs a name! Maybe she has one already and I missed it.
Here’s a wonderful clip from Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE). A female duck has nested in the same balcony, fifth floor, for several years. The city is Turku, southern Finland. Every spring the owner helps the ducklings out; the mother waits and leads her offspring to the river.
https://areena.yle.fi/1-2858470
Fond memories of a visit to Turku many yrs ago. The castle was great (just as great that it was restored after WWII) and my daughter took her first successful steps of any distance on a long and nearly-deserted (since it was in Feb) hallway of the ferry getting there from Stockholm).
Congratulations! A Granddad again!
“…every lost duckling is like an arrow in my heart.”
The words of a true naturalist.
Congrats, and good luck Professor Duck Whisperer. Nothing wrong with a new moniker I suppose. 🙂
Beautiful photos! But I am confused. Is this Honey or the other hen who was photographed before with a single heir?
This is definitely not Honey. It’s the hen with a single heir, who had more heirs hatch this morning!
I don’t know where Honey is.
It’s possible that Honey has not hatched her clutch yet, and will still show up with ducklings, at which point you will be inundated.
L
I worry about that as a Honey-like hen visited the pond yesterday. I’m not sure two broods could coexist in the pond!
I can’t stop thinking about Bill Withers.
What lovely pics! I suspect this is Honey’s daughter from last year. You and she developed quite a relationship last year, especially after the boys left. You always made a special effort for her when her brothers gave her a hard time. She will see Botany Pond as a place to return to imo.
And Honey is probably still sitting on her eggs given that Gregory Peck is still hanging around and appears to be keeping the place safe for her.