It's getting that I dread checking the ducks on the river in the morning. Our fabulous Superduck Mum who at one stage had 23 ducklings in tow has now only got 3 survivors ! It is heartbreaking to see them all going day after day, particularly since they are so grown up and about 6 weeks old. They have been disappearing night after
night, and I feel it must be Mink or Otter taking them at that size. Certainly she has lost some to the hoodie crows in the early weeks too. This now makes this years hatchings on the lower reaches much less than I had hoped, with about 25 survivors - this is about half last years figure. Hopefully we'll get another brood or two before the season ends.
night, and I feel it must be Mink or Otter taking them at that size. Certainly she has lost some to the hoodie crows in the early weeks too. This now makes this years hatchings on the lower reaches much less than I had hoped, with about 25 survivors - this is about half last years figure. Hopefully we'll get another brood or two before the season ends.
it is very sad we often take walk down not just to see the swans but the duck also...
ReplyDeleteYeah it's sad alright. 3 or 4 years ago the ducks used the island at the road bridge a lot, now they avoid the place, with the proliferation of predators in that area. I think the amount of shingle washed downstream has made it easier for the hoodie crows to get hold of the ducklings - combined with the influx of mink it's a dangerous place for young birds !
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