After the soft rain the fabulous warm weather continues, providing insects and heavier cover for the wildlife. One mother duck seems to have timed her hatching to perfection, by turning up today with 16 little beauties ! Looks like all that good winter feeding is paying dividends now. Yesterday evening a woman with a staffie
bull terrier allowed it to run after the ducks right up the centre of the river ! She ignored the fact that mother ducks are now sitting with their broods on the island, and river shingle beds. I would appreciate if people would keep an eye out for such irresponsible behaviour at this critical time for nesting birds. Please follow the Scottish Outdoor access code for dog walking during the bird nesting
season, by keeping your dog on a short lead or under close control.
bull terrier allowed it to run after the ducks right up the centre of the river ! She ignored the fact that mother ducks are now sitting with their broods on the island, and river shingle beds. I would appreciate if people would keep an eye out for such irresponsible behaviour at this critical time for nesting birds. Please follow the Scottish Outdoor access code for dog walking during the bird nesting
season, by keeping your dog on a short lead or under close control.
2 comments:
reckon the jackdaws have picked off 10 of wee ones Joe if they were the ones at Merryton ;( !! Have been throwing stones at the crows and managed to get them to go a few times, but they are just sitting in the big tree across from the our house and waiting on the mother taking them out for a swim. It's horrible to watch!!Doesn't help the mother swam off under the bridge losing a handful of babies and the Jackdaws swooped in!!! What else can you do??? Elaine
Hi Elaine,
Jackdaws are not a problem for ducklings, it's the hoodie crows that are a wee bit bigger than jackdaws. They crows dont like the water but use the shingle beds. The mother duck in question is a skilled operator and uses the cover of the big willow opposite your house. Last year she had about 19 ducklings and ended up with about a dozen.
I have good news for you, I thought she had 16 but has actually got 18 today ! She is still going strong and my next post will give you some pics and quite a story about what a Superduck she is .
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