Mothering Sunday

This busy mum has her hands full, leading her ducklings safely across the road. Female mallards like this one start to nest in March, preferably near water in vegetation-strewn nests. But if it’s too crowded lake-side, they may nest further away, which can mean a perilous first walk down to the water for her little ones when they arrive. Expect to see a steady stream of fluffy ducklings being herded to lakes, ponds and rivers throughout the spring and summer period. In their early days, they depend on their mother for warmth and protection. Once they reach two months, they’ll be ready to fly off to independence, maybe quacking a ‘thank you’ to mum before they go.
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