I am pleased to report that the Gang of Four (now five days old) have made it with flying colors through another day at Botany Pond. Today they are five days old. They are vigorous, healthy, and have a hearty appetite, as does Miss Duck, their watchful mother. She’s proving to be an excellent mom, and I like to think that they’re all content, if not happy. I have high hopes that they’ll all make it to fledging (mid-September at the earliest).
Here’s a video of the ducklings eating. The big pellets are for Miss Duck, the little ones for the babies. Everyone gets crushed-up mealworms.
More lunching with the family. People love to come by at feeding time. It’s at 1:30 pm today (the last of three feedings), and if you’re one of the women from the Regenstein Library or the Dean of Students’ office, be prompt!
After lunch yesterday, the ducklings, who are quite vigorous, jumped up on a big rock abutting the north end of the Pond. I didn’t think they could make it, but they all did. Miss Duck overlooked them from the pond ledge. Below is a passel of photos as well as two more videos:
Mom stretches a wing and raises a leg:
Babies perching and jockeying for position on the rock.
More:
Babies napping:
Now everybody takes a nap. It lasted nearly an hour before the ducklings decided they’d had enough and jumped into the pond. Miss Duck, of course, had to follow.
When Miss Duck preens, the babies do, too. I was doubtful whether babies imitate the mother, but now I have no doubt that they do.
Since she is a mother shouldn’t she be called Mrs. Duck? Those seem like very legitimate ducklings.
I had that same thought. But then I realized that we don’t know her backstory. All we know is that the male who impregnated* her is nowhere to be seen. That suggests she could be a single teenage mom who was knocked up by a fly-by-night drake. Alternatively, she might be a divorcee duck who has chosen to resume her maiden name (“Duck”). Either way, she probably finds it too painful to talk about, so I don’t think we’ll ever know.
*I’m sure that’s the wrong word, but I am too lazy at the moment to look it up.
There was no formal marriage so she remains a “Miss” (or “Ms.” if you will).
Mealworms! Yummy!
Love when they try to flap their stubby little wings!
Ducklings have joined kittens and puppies as the cutest damned things on this planet. They are irresistible.
Nice to see. On the other side of the world in a chilly New Zealand midwinter I have a new brood of seven mallard ducklings on our garden pond. Ducklings certainly brighten a day!
I think everyone now has high hopes for this brood, we are watching them with you. 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆
Hi Jerry, thank you so much for sharing this wonderful experience!