We had been wondering how these little ones would get out from the bottom of the nest box. It's about a 12" climb to the exit. Surprisingly (at least to us), they wedge their little webbed feet into the grooves on the wall and scale it like experts. Well, they practiced a lot first.
In the end, 18 of the 19 eggs hatched. 17 of the 18 left the nest on their own and the last little one just could. not. make. it. I was watching from outside. After mama and her babies swam away, I went to go check the nest to see how many eggs had hatched and was surprised to find one still struggling inside. Normally I wouldn't hold one of the wild ducklings, but mama was getting further and further away. Last year, the mama duck swam away and immediately left the pond, so I didn't want to take any chances. I pulled little Peep out and (after a quick photo) released him into the pond. He loudly peeped and peeped while swimming away. Eventually Fancy heard him and came back to get him.
Enjoy these super cute videos of the little ones learning to climb, then eventually following Fancy out. (Once she left, they climbed out so fast we couldn't believe it! ) Still photos of what happened outside the box. Until next year...
Practicing climbing with mama's help.
Jump!
Quick clip view from the outside (1).
Quick clip view from the outside (2).
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| The welcoming committee: Fancy waits for her ducklings to join her in the water, along with another mama duck and her older/bigger ducklings. How sweet! |
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| Peep. I rescued him from inside the nest. He could NOT get out on his own. Really, I wanted to keep him! But, I let him go. |
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| Peep reuniting with his mama in the pond. He peeped and peeped until she heard him and came to get him. |
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| Together at last. |
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