This page is the last of the 2014 family stories. By the time this momma mallard had her little ones in early June much of the water in the area evaporated. One swamp completely disappeared! This highly unusual occurrence affected the entire food chain. While some animals moved to other areas for food, this momma had to stay near her little ones. Critters which once would have ignored the fuzzy ones darting through the water now saw them as a means to survive. Made me wonder what it must be like to see your kids snatched before your eyes and not be able to do anything about it because you're doing your best to make sure the rest survive.

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I first saw this family the evening of June 7th. The seven ducklings must have been quite fresh from the egg based on their energy levels.
[Four ducklings swim in front of Mom and feet from the shallow water while another three are behind her doing the same where the water met the grass.]

They are bundles of energy at this age as they dart here and there for food and work on figuring out how to use feet for walking.
[All the ducklings swim in front of Mom with six off to her left and one a bit further out off to her right.]

By the next morning they were sticking much closer to each other and to Mom. One of the siblings had disappeared overnight.
This Momma mallard had a distinctive whitish patch behind her eye so I knew it was the same brood even though the duckling count changed.
[Mom is in the water with six ducklings just off her right side feeding in the water.]

Momma is keeping her eye on me as the little ones nap.
[Momma has her head turned back so her bill is tucked under her feathers. Her eye is straight to the camera. The six ducklings beside her all have their eyes closed as they sit huddled together.]

Three evenings later she's down to three ducklings.
I had to crop a telephoto image to get this as she was keeping the little ones on the move from big creatures.
[Momma stands in the grass at the water's edge as three ducklings feed in the grass on a hillside in front of her.]

Another image of Momma and her three ducklings. Their coloring and size do help them blend in with the surroundings which is why I think Momma was keeping them out of the water.
[Momma stands in the grass at the water's edge as three ducklings feed in the grass on a hillside in front of her.]

I last saw this family 13 days after the original sighting. Momma was down to two ducklings. She must have found safer eating spots because I hadn't seen her in the interim nor did I her again before I left town.
[Momma stands in the grass with two ducklings feeding in the vegetation in front of her.]

Continue to page 4 to meet the 2015 family in which Minnie Duck was raised.

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All photos © S. M. Garver