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Mallard duck family

 

 

The first mallard “mums“ with ducklings could already be seen in Tallinn, in the Schnell pond, a couple of weeks ago.

 

The nest was built already in the end of April either on the ground, in a tree hollow or in a tree, even in an old crow’s nest. The female started incubating after laying the last egg, and the eggs can be up to 12 in the clutch. The ducklings hatched after up to four weeks. Quite soon the mallard mum headed towards water with her ducklings; they will not return to the nest any more. The well developed ducklings are able to swim as well as feed on their own at once. At a young age the plumage of the ducklings is not water-proof. The caring mallard mother covers the ducklings and protects them self-effacingly when needed against threats. The ducklings fledge in about two months.

If the nest should be robbed the female usually lays a new clutch – thus we can still  see female mallards with little ducklings in July.