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As I’m sure everyone here at the University of Bath is aware, in recent weeks our duck population has been growing! At this point in time there are three brand new families - the mothers of which are certainly looking frazzled.
The duck mating process begins in October, when the ducks first begin to pair up. Once they have a partner that’s it for the season, and the humans on campus will have gotten used to seeing the familiar couples out and about (Like Miranda and Mercutio, or Mary and Fred, for instance).
It’s not until spring though that the female begins to nest. She’ll usually try and find a quiet spot, slightly out of the way but still close to water. In Cleo’s case, this constitutes a comfy plant pot in the centre of campus! As for the others, they must have found some great spots, because we haven’t seen them. The nest itself is often made up of grasses and other plants, and to top it off, it’s lined with feathers plucked from her own breast. Roughly 12 eggs are laid, but not all of these will necessarily hatch. Then comes the waiting. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to see Cleo will be well aware of the dedication it takes! The duck must incubate the eggs for up to a month, leaving the nest only when absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, the couples separate, and the drake joins the rest of the males to prepare for the summer moult.
After the eggs hatch, it’s straight back to the water. Ducks have an innate attachment process, known as imprinting. The duckling will automatically form a bond to whatever large, moving being it sees, and this is generally the mother. And so begins the familiar sight of a long line of waddling ducklings. For the first few months of their life, the mother keeps her ducklings warm and safe, teaching them what they can and cannot eat. Ducklings can fly from about two months old, and so can begin to start their own journey into adult duckhood.
In the meantime, we can enjoy taking a break from work to witness the progress of these brand new families!
For more information on the topic of nesting mallards, visit the RSBP website