I was pretty much spot on about predicting when Vashti and Armon’s brood would hatch. I guessed Saturday or Sunday and, sure enough, some time between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, a brood of eight was seen in Botany Pond. I wasn’t there, but my colleague Peggy Mason, neuroscientist and member of Team Duck, spotted them.
Sadly, one duckling was “off,” and couldn’t swim or hold its head up. It got stuck in the drain, and then in the rocks, and finally expired. Peggy removed the little carcass from the pond and we were all very sad.
The good news is that we’re left with seven healthy ducklings, whose first job was a swimming tour of the pond behind Vashti to get their bearings (they do learn the layout of Botany Pond within a day, as they’re smart as well as cute).
Vashti is a good mom, even trying to help the “off” duckling by nudging it, but she couldn’t help it. She’s very solicitous towards the ducklings, and Armon stays nearby but doesn’t bother them.
Two members of Team Duck will be feeding them and looking out for them until my return. Everybody got fed yesterday (tiny pellets for the ducklings), though it’s not clear that the ducklings ate, as they survive on the remaining yolk in their bellies during their first day on the water. They will be fed twice a day.
And so, here are Vashti and her hard-won brood of seven; all photos by Peggy Mason. I am jealous as I was not there to see Hatch Day.
Vashti and the Magnificent Seven:
They are of course heavily imprinted on Mom and stay very close to her.
I was glad to see that they all made it onto the rocks and then from the rocks to the ground, where they huddled under Vashti to get warm as well as to get coated in her feather oil, which waterproofs them until they’re old enough to produce their own
Huddling under Mom. I hope they all make it to fledging! But Vashti has proven to be a good mom.
Congratulations!
🐣🐥
[ cigar emoji unavailable ]
Great news, looking forward to Duck Dad updates on the magnificent seven.
Mazel Tov. I have been checking the Duck Cam off and on, but missed the blessed event. Best health to them all.
Congratulations! They’re adorable.
Being of a certain age, we both remember when expectant fathers were supposed to be hustled off to a waiting room while the Serious Business all took place behind closed doors. Cartoons and comics would show the new dad fainting when the nurse announced twins or – worse – triplets.
Seven?! You must still be lying on the floor!
I laughed out loud at your final sentences.
Ha!
All babies are ineffably cute, but these ducklings might be the MOST cute! So sorry about the little one who didn’t make it.
Happy Birthdays to the little ones!
Charming & delightful — I especially like the first photo.
Mazal Tov!
I will be happy to smoke a cigar in honor of the hatching.
Go well, Vashti, Armon and ducklings.
Does anyone here know what states in the brain constitute the ‘map’ of the environment? That is, what changes occur when ‘they learn the layout of the pond’?
In many species of birds and mammals, the hippocampus is particularly involved in spatial memory.
So cute. Thank you Peggy for the photos.
Fantastic news, congratulations! Sorry to hear about the poor little “off” duckling, though.
Congratulations, Dad!
Mazel tov (x 7!). I know I’m anthropomorphizing but Vashti looks happy.
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Mazel tov!
https://youtu.be/5SCWFwakEUw?si=ZGWHYeg6l_hQ2DAt
Seven ducklings! Great stuff!