A happy duckling

Our “ducklings” have grown up now, and they’re as big as their mother Esther. Although their wings aren’t yet of full size, they can still fly a bit, flapping across the pond about a foot above the water. Yesterday one even made a U-turn and flew back. It won’t be long till they’re accomplished flyers and, sadly, I’ll probably be in the Arctic when that happens. In fact, they may be gone for good when I return in a few weeks, though Esther has yet to begin her molt, which takes about a month and renders her flightless as she sheds and regrows her wing feathers. (All ducks molt once a year, and hens do it after the babies are grown.)

I have a ton of photos and videos, including incipient flying, and will post them in time. I’ll try to do one tomorrow and one when I return. In the meantime, yesterday afternoon, when it was hot, the brood was splashing, diving, flying, and dunking, and here’s one “duckling” who looks quite happy after a good dunk in the water. (Click photo to enlarge it.)

More to come. . .