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Yesterday evening the first ducklings appeared on the river. I was unable to tell how many because they were under their Mum. The bitterly cold wind and overnight frost most unwelcome, their Mum managed to keep them alive - at least until today. I don't know how many she started with but currently has six. I would ask all who see them NOT TO THROW BREAD AT THEM - this will only attract crows and gulls to their location, and they will be taken.
At the end of the second day in the River, the rescued Links ducklings have so far lost only one of the Brood.
I managed to get some decent shots and a short video below. The crows have so far killed the entire second brood of 13, plus one of this brood. Hopefully most of the surviving 14 will be too big for the crows in a few days time.
The Mother duck is highly protective and had a fight with a drake today, which she won!
The first River Nairn Ducklings that I'm aware of, have shown up this morning. One of the nesting Mother ducks that I've been monitoring, showed up for her usual feed with 7 little beauties in tow. The inclement weather immediately put paid to my joy, with a tremendous shower of hail that must have seemed like cannon balls to the ducklings.
The hoodie crows may have already claimed some, for they have been watching the nest site for some days now. I can only hope that some of them survive the inevitable onslaught !Update: this afternoon I arrived in time to see two hoodie crows trying to take more ducklings...there is now only 4 left.
