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When: April 17, 2020

Where: Our own front yard, The Netherlands

Our yard's been visited by Ducks since our parents had a small pond put in. It could be months or even years between visits, but not the past year. Starting in winter, we'd get more regular visits by a couple of Ducks. They'd visit in the morning or the afternoon, but starting 2020, they'd visit a few times a week in the morning. Quite the way to start your day, really, seeing them before heading off to work.

It wasn't always pleasant watching them - their mating, especially when another male started accompanyig them - was nothing short of harsh and brutal. Poor girl, really.

Then, she laid an egg on the little dock. And we wondered: Could she be nesting? We didn't know for sure, as during the month after, she kept visiting every week, sometimes multiple times in a week. Mostly by herself, sometimes together with her mate, and sometimes with another male too.

And then, a full month after laying that egg... There she stood at the edge of the little path to our yard (yes, she actually walked the street) together with all 10 babies

This has been by far the most precious and special experience this year. I was so frantic - Ducks are one of my favorite animals - that I kept chattering to M (who was on a video call) that she HAD to come see. She'd regret if she didn't. I still feel bad, pulling her away from her work like that, but this cuteness - she really wouldn't have wanted to miss this epic experience

Aside from later that afternoon (they didn't stay long in our garden, she just seemed to show them off to us) I spotted them one last time. We haven't been sure we've seen them since. Her male came by a few days later, quacking anxiously, confused. He was quacking for maybe 30 minutes, it was actually kind of sad He hasn't been by since either.

I hope they did well. I hope that our pond gave them a good start at life.

Species: Mallard or Wild Duck (Wilde eend)

Latin name: Anas Platyrhynchos

Originates from the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia.

Current status: Least Concern

Did you know:

…Male Mallards are called “drakes”.

© Mouselemur Photography - Portegiesje

Our work is copyrighted. Do not reproduce, copy edit, publish, transmit or upload in any way without our written permission.

Leave a comment or approach us via note if you want to use our work as a reference.

More photos from Mouselemur : DeviantArt Gallery| Instagram | Facebook | WIXsite

Description

When: April 17, 2020

Where: Our own front yard, The Netherlands

Our yard's been visited by Ducks since our parents had a small pond put in. It could be months or even years between visits, but not the past year. Starting in winter, we'd get more regular visits by a couple of Ducks. They'd visit in the morning or the afternoon, but starting 2020, they'd visit a few times a week in the morning. Quite the way to start your day, really, seeing them before heading off to work.

It wasn't always pleasant watching them - their mating, especially when another male started accompanyig them - was nothing short of harsh and brutal. Poor girl, really.

Then, she laid an egg on the little dock. And we wondered: Could she be nesting? We didn't know for sure, as during the month after, she kept visiting every week, sometimes multiple times in a week. Mostly by herself, sometimes together with her mate, and sometimes with another male too.

And then, a full month after laying that egg... There she stood at the edge of the little path to our yard (yes, she actually walked the street) together with all 10 babies

This has been by far the most precious and special experience this year. I was so frantic - Ducks are one of my favorite animals - that I kept chattering to M (who was on a video call) that she HAD to come see. She'd regret if she didn't. I still feel bad, pulling her away from her work like that, but this cuteness - she really wouldn't have wanted to miss this epic experience

Aside from later that afternoon (they didn't stay long in our garden, she just seemed to show them off to us) I spotted them one last time. We haven't been sure we've seen them since. Her male came by a few days later, quacking anxiously, confused. He was quacking for maybe 30 minutes, it was actually kind of sad He hasn't been by since either.

I hope they did well. I hope that our pond gave them a good start at life.

Species: Mallard or Wild Duck (Wilde eend)

Latin name: Anas Platyrhynchos

Originates from the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia.

Current status: Least Concern

Did you know:

…Male Mallards are called “drakes”.

© Mouselemur Photography - Portegiesje

Our work is copyrighted. Do not reproduce, copy edit, publish, transmit or upload in any way without our written permission.

Leave a comment or approach us via note if you want to use our work as a reference.

More photos from Mouselemur : DeviantArt Gallery| Instagram | Facebook | WIXsite