Disco's Dark Secret

 Disco, the Trust disabled duck has finally hatched her latest  brood. 

Pleased to announce that one of her ten ducklings is a yellow one ! 

This proves that Ebony the Drake carries the gene responsible, and has passed it on. 

Some of the non Yellow ducklings will also carry the gene which is good news for the future river duck population, as these yellow ducklings will show up for years to come. 

We now have 6, counting Saffron... and she is also sitting on a clutch fathered by Ebony. I fully expect at least half of them should be Yellow beauties as well.

The Trust has given them a chance, all of them will be released to the River in due course.

Easter Eggs

Saffron and Disco are both sitting on eggs. Disco has chosen the same spot as last year, and is a few weeks ahead of Saffron, who has just nested for the first time at 8 months old. 

Will be fascinating to see how many yellow ducklings we get...if any. Disco's should hatch in 10 days time, and Saffron's around the 8th May. 

Meanwhile the 4 yellow ducklings rescued from the river, are thriving and growing faster than their siblings in the harbour.

Not So Dumb Ducks

The 4 yellow ducklings are enjoying all the comforts of the Trust, warm cosy brooding box, with plenty of food and water, also daily trips to the bath for a proper swim.

 Meanwhile their Mum and 7 surviving siblings are in the Harbour. She lost 4 to the harbour Crows the first day after I caught the yellow ones.

                           I think she is learning to cope with the harbour Crows, and also how to keep the ducklings longer in the water. Ordinarily taking them onto land frequently to warm them up and oil their downy feathers. 

Yesterday I witnessed her taking the ducklings to the stern of a white yacht, and realised the sun was reflecting the heat onto the ducklings ! 

What a novel way of keeping them warm and safely in the water ! I feed them all twice a day with all the dried mealworm they can eat. The real test will come in the next week, with winter weather returning day and night. 

Meanwhile another duck was showing off balancing on the wildlife sign !  Short video of yellow ducklings bath, below.