DUCK
Worldwide, ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the Alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks’ nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls.
Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which regularly uses its speed and strength to catch ducks.
The ducks here had 8 young. Today, there were only 2 left.
July 16, 2020 I was rounding the bend at the end of an island when I saw the ducks screaming across the fairway. I had never seen them move so fast. Allen said that a dolphin had come right under his dock where the ducks were!
One other time I was watching a mother and six babies. There was a tiny splash and then there were only five ducklings. Something below had a snack.
2. One of the two ducklings left. Mostly grown up.
3. Another duck by the oyster bed.
4. Mom and young.
5. Out in the bay.
6. Junior
7. “Quack”
8. A flock!
9. Interesting blue feathers.
10. Curious about me.
11. Female.
12. Scooting along.
13. Finding food down there.
14. Posing
15. Female Mallard
16. Get that top of the head.
17. Feels so good!
18. Get the side of the head. Oops lost a feather.
19. Get the underside as well.
20. While I was rescuing birds for the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
(I rescued over 400 for them) I was called to pick up this guy and his brother.
This photo was taken by a film crew that had come all the way from France to make a documentary about the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. They asked what I had named the two ducks. I had not, but afterwards named them Huey and Dewey.