We have a duck nest!

[perplexed ponder]

Hey guys! I started a new full time job, so I haven't been around much.
cleaning up the front garden this afternoon and we found a mallard Duck nest. 4 eggs in it. Looked up info on them since the Mother wasnt' around, it's not unusual. Seems they will lay about 1 egg/day until they have 8-12, then will start to incubate all at one time. I hope they make it! We're supposed to get 6-9 inches of snow tonight. I am really surprised she chose this spot, it's only a few feet from the street. maybe I'll have cute duckling pictures to post soon!

[Esther]

Kathy, I hope you get to watch the process. Ducks get goofy when they are looking for a place to nest. We have seen one in the mulch by a steakhouse type restaurant in the middle of south Grand Rapids, right on the second busiest street in Michigan. Another was in the bushes at a bank out here near where I live but again it was on 28th street and the nearest water was a long way away. I don't know how they get their babies to the water when they nest so far away.

We always have mallard couples come and swim around every day in the spring on the top of the pool cover. They do visit the pond in the front yard but I think they feel safer in the back. Anyway one day I found a duck egg laying on the part of the pool cover that is up on the cement sidewalk. The egg was all cold and it made me feel bad. I wondered if Mrs. Mallard had been overtaken by surprise labor pains.

[Kat]

That is so nice ... hope all goes well with the nest.  My parents had a duck that laid eggs in their raised flower bed right beside where the cars always would drive/park.  We got lucky enough to see momma & her babies leave the nest & waddle down to the pond which was quite a distance.

[Indiana Karen]

When my mother-in-law was in the nursing home, a duck would lay eggs every year in the courtyard.  There was no way out except to parade them through the halls of the nursing home.  The residents loved it.

[jw]

I hope they make it and we get to see the pics. I love ducks...........notice my forum picture? My son took that picture for me and I just had to put it up.
                                             

[miguynmkoi]

My family and I have learned so much watching all God's creatures that decide to make a home in our garden.     Please try to post photos for us!!

[water_sprite]

That is really cool.  I hope you get pictures!

I did notice that in my neighbors pond, there was a pair of wood ducks.  They were gorgeous!  I think they were just passing through.  :'(