Rescued Ducklings Development

Final development stages of the rescued ducklings is now underway, with the wing flight feathers starting to grow. 

                      It's hardly surprising that so many ducklings never reach maturity, they take so long to fledge - about 8 weeks.

The wings are the very last part to develop, and I don't release them into the wild before then, otherwise they fall prey to Black backed gulls and other predators. 

Without a mother, they need to be able to fly away from danger within days of going back to the river.
I've given them the best possible start, short video below.