Determined

In recent years we haven’t seen very many ducklings grow to become adults. When they are hatched the ducklings are led to water within the first 24 hours. This is when we see them, all nice a fluffy and unfortunately bite size. We try not to get too excited as they only live for a very short time. In other words all the predators show up and it’s just a matter of time.

Well this morning I saw something unusual. Our local mother and her brood swam right up to a night heron and I thought that was stupid. I quickly got my camera to capture the scene. As expected the heron did a quick grab and fly, that’s normally the end of story. What I didn’t expect to see was mom flying after the heron and harassing it for half the length of the lagoon till he dropped the duckling.

I have to apologize for the crappy photos as I didn’t have much time to set things up.

Burd Raising

Last night I heard a thump outside our door. When I opened the door I found 3 chicks in a half destroyed nest. Obviously they were from that stupid punk bird that made a nest over our porch light. Bird crap aside, we spent the evening going to the pet store to purchase bird food that we could inject into their throats with a syringe. We kept them inside a cardboard box a top my orchid heater from the winter greenhouse days. I did not expect them to be alive in the morning but to my surprise they were alive but barely moving. After a messy feeding we presented the nest outside our front door. As soon as they got outside they sprung to life! Sandy spent most of the morning watching as that mother punk bird came by and fed them. By the afternoon they had all gained the strength to fly in different directions. We can only hope they survive.

Of course we ran up with them later today. Two are flyers and one is lame. So Sandy brought it in, so tonight we hand feed again.