Baby Gadwall at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area | Mareca strepera | Canard chipeau
On July 14 mother Gadwall brought six downy babies out into the harbour at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada.
A week later on July 21, five of the ducklings remained, which rates as really good success in the duck world. It can be heartbreaking to monitor the progress of such families, counting fewer and fewer youngsters as the days go by.
Today, July 28, two weeks later, five are still alive and growing bigger and stronger, their chances of making it to adulthood increasing with each passing day.
I took this photo on July 21, so the duckling is eight days old. I was holding well back, attempting to secure a portrait of the whole family, but the group moved resolutely towards my position, showing no wariness. They eventually came ashore next to me, huddling up almost on my boots. The harbour is not very busy, but I guess the birds had had enough positive interactions with humans to lose their fear.
Ducklings of different species can look fairly similar and can be tricky to identify without the parent immediately visible. If you are doing a writeup on the Gadwall and need an image of a young one, get in touch for permission to use this one!
July 30 Update - Mother and five ducklings still going strong!
August 9 Update - Five ducklings now 2/3rds size of mom.
August 26 Update - Five ducklings still going strong (although not really ducklings anymore)!
Baby Gadwall at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area | Mareca strepera | Canard chipeau
On July 14 mother Gadwall brought six downy babies out into the harbour at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada.
A week later on July 21, five of the ducklings remained, which rates as really good success in the duck world. It can be heartbreaking to monitor the progress of such families, counting fewer and fewer youngsters as the days go by.
Today, July 28, two weeks later, five are still alive and growing bigger and stronger, their chances of making it to adulthood increasing with each passing day.
I took this photo on July 21, so the duckling is eight days old. I was holding well back, attempting to secure a portrait of the whole family, but the group moved resolutely towards my position, showing no wariness. They eventually came ashore next to me, huddling up almost on my boots. The harbour is not very busy, but I guess the birds had had enough positive interactions with humans to lose their fear.
Ducklings of different species can look fairly similar and can be tricky to identify without the parent immediately visible. If you are doing a writeup on the Gadwall and need an image of a young one, get in touch for permission to use this one!
July 30 Update - Mother and five ducklings still going strong!
August 9 Update - Five ducklings now 2/3rds size of mom.
August 26 Update - Five ducklings still going strong (although not really ducklings anymore)!