according to a photographer friend of mine - who also frequents the little lake i do... he hasn't seen ducklings there in almost 10 years. really? how exciting then when i arrived the other morning - all caught up in the goslings entering their 'tween phase already... when he stated he'd spotted ducklings the night before... "cool beans," i replied... 'cuz i've never seen baby ducks before. well, maybe in a zoo - but certainly not in the wild - ever! so this would be a first... but he mentioned that mama duck seemed rather hesitant to parade her babies about - unlike our geese friends have been... off he sauntered to the other side of the lake to check things out - and within short order, i could see him giving me the high sign... sure enough as i watched - i noticed mama duck come swimming out, while behind there appeared tiny bobbing things i assumed were her babies... oh boy, oh boy... i set off on the trail for the other side of the lake.
when i got there... this is what greeted me...
a lone duckling - momentarily separated from mama and siblings... bobbing in the water - the cutest little creature ever...
the siblings then joined him - coming up from the rear... always good to know someone's got your back!
mama then corralled them together... trying to keep them in line, i'm sure... but ya know - kiddos will be kiddos... and soon they were transfixed by the lady with the black box who was trying to sweet talk them into posing for pictures...
i was fascinated by these tiny bundles... barely visible above the water, almost blending in - between the color of their downy feathers and the sun reflecting off the water... additionally, there was no sign of papa being helpful - all the male ducks were keeping their distance out in the very middle of the lake... huddled up in a circle, acting somewhat delinquent. unlike goose daddies who are very hands-on with fathering techniques, duck dads appear very aloof and uncaring - it's interesting behavior to observe and not one i claim to understand...
while i pondered these things... mama duck decided she'd tolerated human interaction long enough - gathering her crew together once more into an obedient line, herding them away...
happy day.....
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