Cold damp Arctic air combined with drizzle makes for gloomy winter weather conditions. Even the ducklings headed back into the coop today for the warmth of the lamp and straw. They are growing fast and the shafts of their primary wing feathers are forming. Meanwhile down on the river, the ducks are clamouring for their food when I show up. The 4 Call ducks are still together and are as tough as any Mallard. Today I watched as one of the call drakes watched by his mate, took on a mallard drake, he was barely half the weight and eventually lost, but what a fight !
The ducklings have grown so quickly Joe, when will you release them?
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, The ducklings will not be able to fly until after mid January. It will be prudent to wait until then, possibly into February when Spring is on the way. They need to be able to escape predators, so no point putting them back to the river until they can fly.
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