The same morning that Disco came out of her nest with the newly hatched ducklings was quite something to watch. Although only a few hours out of the shells the ducklings already knew how to respond to Disco's calls. If you watch the short video clip below, you will see what happened when a blackbird flew down for a drink.
Disco's alert was immediate and the ducklings response likewise. Although this was in a garden she's known for 4 years, she was still on the lookout for predators and possible dangers.
For those armchair wildlife experts who claim that our local wildlife is tame, nothing could be further from the truth.
Another example is when I took some pics of disco with her ducklings underneath she showed her open bill as a warning to keep my distance. This was despite the fact that I have cared for her for the past 4 years in the confines of the garden and aviary- she is not tame! This goes for the river Ducks and swans, I am used as a facilitator and benefactor, they know it and I know it. Seeing the ducks in close proximity on the riverside at this time of year is simply because they are nesting and the females in particular will lose half their body weight during egg laying and incubation.
By visiting me as a quick source of food they can leave the nest briefly and retain their health to lay and incubate the clutch. They are not tame, just using their instinctive intelligence. Too bad some of our local humans cant do the same .
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