make way for ducklings

Mrs. Mallard will probably choose a different location for her next nest. There’s been no sign of her and that last egg.

It was great learning about the behavior and possibilities.

Mrs. Mallard had been promptly making her morning appearance at the nest for the past week, and yesterday she was on the nest in the evening as well.

I’m not sure exactly what happened, or when it happened, but Mrs. Mallard was not on the nest this morning as I peeked through the kitchen curtains.

When I walked past the nest I saw the broken shells off to the side of the nest. It looked like maybe four eggs were consumed.

“Nature, red in tooth and claw.” Alfred Lord Tennyson

And yet another whole egg sat in the middle of the nest, and was still there when I arrived home this evening.

Fully 80-90% of all nests fail due to predation. My guess is a squirrel or a raccoon.

Well, I’m letting nature take its course. I’m fascinated to see what happens next.

I had no idea. Here’s what is going on.

So maybe another egg is appearing each day. But last night it got really cold.

What an education.

Update: Yesterday I could tell that there are two eggs. Maybe there are more.

I can see the ducks from the kitchen window. This morning Mrs. Mallard detected me peeking through the curtains (yes, both times). No sign of Mr. Mallard this morning. Off getting some chow I presume.

_{...for such a great title to a wonderful book.}

News flash: We have Mr. & Mrs. Mallard living near our garage! A few days ago, I came out the front door and saw Mrs. Mallard for the first time. She waddled away in front of me. I saw that she left an egg. Just one. I was worried that she might abandon it, but both Mr. and Mrs. Mallard were back yesterday afternoon, with Mrs. Mallard so nestled in that I could barely spot her against the wall. Mr. Mallard was on serious sentry duty.

It’s exciting and yet a little sad, that there isn’t a more remote place for them to attempt to raise their family.