For reasons I don’t understand, Miss Duck left Botany Pond three days ago and has not returned. There are no signs of a predator attack, and my best guess is that she just felt it was time for her to leave. Unfortunately, she leaves behind the brood of four, who seem quite discombobulated without their mom around. The only good part is that they’re seven weeks and one day old, and will be flying on their own very soon.
The brood hangs around together as they have all along, but seem aimless, and their appetite is definitely down. I am not too worried, but I do feed them as much as they can handle and I talk to them as they do know my voice. (I learned today they can recognize it over the telephone.)
I don’t know if I’ll ever see Miss Duck again, but she proved to be somewhat of a worse mother than we thought. Maybe she’ll return next spring; if she does she’ll get a stiff lecture (but after a big meal). I have some duck pictures left to post, but that will be later. For the time being, here is Miss Duck (when she was on the Pond):
OMG!
She may not have left on her own
Why do you say that? Do you think somebody stole or shot her????
A predator might have gotten her.
Sadly I think the same. She was a great mom. I think it is more likely that a predator got her than that she instantly and completely changed her personality.
I searched all around the area and saw no remains o a predation event. That does not mean there wasnt one, but I do not want to think that. The day before she left for good she left for over an hour, which she had not done in weeks and she was spending more time at the pond not with the brood.
It makes me sad to think that she is dead.
Well, your observation that things began to change the day before voids my premise. May be she is alive. I hope so.
What a shock, but I am glad they have their hooman around to take care of them.
Let’s hope she decided to follow a new adventure and was not eaten. Sigh, I really liked her
Maybe she had to leave now to get where she needs to be to moult? I remember you saying she was starting to moult. I am hoping that the regal Miss Duck is well, and graces the pond again next year.
Perfidy by Ms. Duck!
Wasn’t another duck mother absent without leave only turn up a few days later? I seem to recall such an incident. I hope this one returns. But the young ones have someone to look after them even if she doesn’t. Being a single parent is tough.
I hope Miss Duck is OK.
It occurs to me — I remember you saying, Professor CCe, that she had her brood much later than is usual. Maybe she just responded to whatever cues — weather, changes in the length of daylight, whatever — normally prompt a duck mom to move on? She probably wouldn’t be able to reason that her children are late bloomers and still need her.
Lady Mondegreen, your consideration seems to fit and it provides a bit of solace. The young ones will, hopefully, start flying soon and be able to make the great migration. They have a special guardian in the background to help them. Perhaps Mrs. Duck, who has responded to the call of nature, will even return to Botany Pond and have her wee duckies earlier in the season.
I hope that that is true. And as there is no evidence of a predator, I would not accept the hypothesis that she is dead.
I hope that Jerry will have the bittersweet pleasure of seeing the fledglings fly, and I hope that Miss Duck will return soon. And who knows? Maybe the fledglings will recall their time at Botany Pond with fondness (and why not?), and return to U of C as adults someday.
I hope she is a mom who will remember the pond and return with new ducklings for many years to come. Safe travels, Miss Duck. You’ll be remembered and missed.