Your Comments - TX
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Wood Duck nest boxes: Jennifer.
06/11/07 19:21
Thank you so much for your response. I put the one WD. box that I have in an area that was so PERFECT, like in a wildlife painting; in a quiet cove near a marsh with many dead trees and the water was never more than 3 feet deep. As the years went by it became difficult to monitor the box every year to clean out or repair. Also the box was in a public hunting ground so I placed it in a "hidden" place. The fact that your nest box was on dry land but near water gives me encouragement to provide more boxes. Thanks!
Jennifer
06/11/07 15:27
Great stills.....thanks for posting them so we could relive the day!!! Any word yet on moving the camera?
Thanks!
MA/GA
Thanks!
MA/GA
Jennifer
06/09/07 21:41
How's the kitchen coming?! Once again, thank you for such an exciting day! Your earlier post stated that the duck family has moved on from your pond...you've mentioned in the past that earlier moms and babies also have not stayed around....where do they go? I mean, I know, they have to go to another body of water..but, are there other bodies of water very close to your pond?
MA
ps...sorry I missed the pix of you and your pup!!! He was probably thinking--thank goodness those ducks are gone...now I can have my yard back!!
MA
ps...sorry I missed the pix of you and your pup!!! He was probably thinking--thank goodness those ducks are gone...now I can have my yard back!!
Replies to this comment
Hit a wrong key????
06/09/07 21:33
I did not get a chance to proof read what I had typed before I hit a key that sent my post into cyber space. I have to log in the data from the 300+ boxes we monitored today on ATV's in 95 degree heat, but I will post about my most unfavorite cavity nesting bird, the starlings tomorrow.
Steve, CA
Steve, CA
Just got home!
06/09/07 21:24
I was glad that the cameras were rolling and everyone got to see the ducklings leaving the nest box. I saw five hatchees in nest boxes today and went over 300 wood duck nest initations for the season today. I hollered out at my woodie hens to stop initiating new nest, but they've never listen to me for 34 years, but I keep hollering.
Jennifer you mentioned that you had a pair of great crested flycatchers checking out a wood duck box. I have not looked on a map to see where you live in Texas, but if you live in the western half of Texas, you have ash-throated flycatchers and on the eastern half you have GCFL's. I would assume that in some areas of Texas they would have both. I have 17 ATFL,s nesting in my bluebird boxes and have only had them nest in a wood duck box 3 times in 34 years. The great crested are a little larger than my ATFL's, so you will have to make the entrance on a bluebird box a min. of 1 9/16", but since you do not have starling problems in your area, you could make the hole 1 3/4" dia. The flycatchers are neat cavity nesting birds but very shy and will leave their nest if you monitor it. They are also one of my latest birds to start nest initations, mid May to mid June. I can not catch the females to band until they have young in the nest box or I run a 50% chance the female will desert her eggs. As soon as they have hatched their young, I have inbox traps and will catch both male and female when they are feeding the young and then I will band the young when they are old enough. Waiting to band the adults with young in the nest box, my desertion rate is zero. It has always amazed me how the flycatchers and tree swallows that winter in Mexico and Central America can find there way back to the same area they nested the year before and in many cases nest in the same box each year. Banding birds has many advantages, and solves a lot of puzzles but it also creates many new unanswered questions.
Jennifer you mentioned that you had a pair of great crested flycatchers checking out a wood duck box. I have not looked on a map to see where you live in Texas, but if you live in the western half of Texas, you have ash-throated flycatchers and on the eastern half you have GCFL's. I would assume that in some areas of Texas they would have both. I have 17 ATFL,s nesting in my bluebird boxes and have only had them nest in a wood duck box 3 times in 34 years. The great crested are a little larger than my ATFL's, so you will have to make the entrance on a bluebird box a min. of 1 9/16", but since you do not have starling problems in your area, you could make the hole 1 3/4" dia. The flycatchers are neat cavity nesting birds but very shy and will leave their nest if you monitor it. They are also one of my latest birds to start nest initations, mid May to mid June. I can not catch the females to band until they have young in the nest box or I run a 50% chance the female will desert her eggs. As soon as they have hatched their young, I have inbox traps and will catch both male and female when they are feeding the young and then I will band the young when they are old enough. Waiting to band the adults with young in the nest box, my desertion rate is zero. It has always amazed me how the flycatchers and tree swallows that winter in Mexico and Central America can find there way back to the same area they nested the year before and in many cases nest in the same box each year. Banding birds has many advantages, and solves a lot of puzzles but it also creates many new unanswered questions.
Thankyou
06/09/07 20:10
Now that I have time [and recovered from this AM.] I want to thank the cam host and Cornell for the great job you are doing. This morning with the Wood duck nestlings made me think a lot about a box [Wood duck] that I have not been able to check on in a few years. Also I would like to build a few more boxes to put up this winter to be ready in the spring. Thanks, W. in WI.
Replies to this comment
Jennifer
06/09/07 16:52
...when you have time, could you give us an update....are the little ones still in the pond? How many eggs did you find in the box....I can pretend I'm from Cornell and give you the go ahead to move the camera to the second box...will that help? ha ha
MA
MA
Starlings in Woodduck boxes
06/09/07 15:38
I couldn't believe that it was true that you couldn't get rid of these starling parasites from the Wood Duck boxes, so I went hunting information. I asked at our Audubon group. Starlings are not Federally or State protected, or are their nests, eggs or young. On the internet it always said to check by State. I looked at your state laws (CA). Unless there is a newer revision, which I can't believe. Starlings and House Sparrows are exempt from the law that protects the destruction of nests once eggs or young are present. So Steve - get rid of those pests! I'm not saying you don't know best, but if you have more information, please share it - I am so curious why you say you can't get rid of those nests. Here is the law with the inclued Starling and House Sparrow exemption: (Jo Jo from WA)
Reminder: Bird Nests Are Protected by Law
WASHINGTON, DC, April 22, 2002 (ENS) - Even when nesting birds make a mess around houses and buildings, it is illegal to harm them, warns the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Hundreds of species of neotropical migratory birds - those that spend the winter in Central or South America or Mexico - return to the United States each spring. Most birds raise several broods of young in spring and summer.
When natural habitat has been altered or destroyed birds will sometimes build nests on houses, buildings or bridges. For example, barn swallows often build nests made of mud pellets under porch eaves or on sides of houses, and chickadees will build nests almost anywhere they can find a safe cavity.
Most birds take about a month to raise a brood, including laying eggs, incubating them and raising chicks until they are strong enough to leave the nest.
Native birds such as warblers, swallows and hummingbirds are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Even birds that do not always migrate, such as robins and wrens and woodpeckers, are protected under the Act.
The Act prohibits destruction of nests with eggs or young, or possession of migratory bird parts. Violations can carry maximum penalties of $15,000 and/or six months in jail.
It is not a violation, however, to prevent the birds from constructing their nests, and non-native birds such as starlings and house sparrows are not protected under the Act.
"A bird must be just beginning to build it's nest - just a few sticks or pieces of mud," said Anne Badgley, director of the UFSWS Pacific Region. "However, sometimes people wash down a nest and don't pay attention to the site for a week or so, only to find the nest has been reconstructed and has eggs in it. Once the nest has eggs, it is protected and its destruction or removal is illegal."
An active nest - one with eggs or young - may be removed only under a special permit issued by the USFWS. These permits are issued only if the USFWS determines that a nest poses a hazard to human health or safety.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was created in 1918 to address the mass killing of birds for their feathers, which were used in the hat business and other decorative clothing. Today, many native bird populations are declining because of habitat loss, toxins, domestic cat predation and other hazards.
More information about migratory birds is available at: http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/homepg.html
Reminder: Bird Nests Are Protected by Law
WASHINGTON, DC, April 22, 2002 (ENS) - Even when nesting birds make a mess around houses and buildings, it is illegal to harm them, warns the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Hundreds of species of neotropical migratory birds - those that spend the winter in Central or South America or Mexico - return to the United States each spring. Most birds raise several broods of young in spring and summer.
When natural habitat has been altered or destroyed birds will sometimes build nests on houses, buildings or bridges. For example, barn swallows often build nests made of mud pellets under porch eaves or on sides of houses, and chickadees will build nests almost anywhere they can find a safe cavity.
Most birds take about a month to raise a brood, including laying eggs, incubating them and raising chicks until they are strong enough to leave the nest.
Native birds such as warblers, swallows and hummingbirds are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Even birds that do not always migrate, such as robins and wrens and woodpeckers, are protected under the Act.
The Act prohibits destruction of nests with eggs or young, or possession of migratory bird parts. Violations can carry maximum penalties of $15,000 and/or six months in jail.
It is not a violation, however, to prevent the birds from constructing their nests, and non-native birds such as starlings and house sparrows are not protected under the Act.
"A bird must be just beginning to build it's nest - just a few sticks or pieces of mud," said Anne Badgley, director of the UFSWS Pacific Region. "However, sometimes people wash down a nest and don't pay attention to the site for a week or so, only to find the nest has been reconstructed and has eggs in it. Once the nest has eggs, it is protected and its destruction or removal is illegal."
An active nest - one with eggs or young - may be removed only under a special permit issued by the USFWS. These permits are issued only if the USFWS determines that a nest poses a hazard to human health or safety.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was created in 1918 to address the mass killing of birds for their feathers, which were used in the hat business and other decorative clothing. Today, many native bird populations are declining because of habitat loss, toxins, domestic cat predation and other hazards.
More information about migratory birds is available at: http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/homepg.html
she must have got the go ahead!!
06/09/07 13:23
to move the cameras............weeeeeee!! here we go again, ready or not haha wendy :)
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Jennifer
06/09/07 13:16
Ya'll go stand in front of the camera and wave!!!! You deserve a standing ovation.
MA
MA
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Now I'll clean the box, send movie clips,...
06/09/07 13:09
And move the camera if Cornell gives the go ahead.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
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Are those new eggs?
06/09/07 12:21
or are they leftovers that didn;t hatch?
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On to the woodpecker cam, just kidding!
06/09/07 11:59
That was great, glad I didn't leave to take the dog out, it happened so quick! BH/OH
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Congratulations
06/09/07 11:52
To all you aunts out there! I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm exhausted!!! Jennifer and crew, thank you so much for sharing this experience with all of us....now will you incubate the remaining eggs?!...kidding....
MA
MA
all15ot and on the pond
06/09/07 11:50
15th duckling reunited and all ducks on the pond
cam host
cam host
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Whew
06/09/07 11:48
I panicked too soon! Jennifer, I'm glad you're the grandma and not me!!!!! congratualtions!!!!!!!!!!
MA
MA
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SIGH!!! WHEW!!!!!!!!!
06/09/07 11:48
Well that was exciting!!!!!
yippee!
06/09/07 11:47
all made it out!
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This is killing me
06/09/07 11:47
come on little guy...You can do it...is mom still around? Jennifer...go get him!!! aaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhh!
MA
MA
15 total
06/09/07 11:46
all out
cam host
cam host
there he goes again!
06/09/07 11:45
what a trooper!
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last fledge
06/09/07 11:44
He's breaking my heart!
come on little fella
06/09/07 11:43
don't give up!!!
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come on last lil ducky!!!
06/09/07 11:42
you can dooooooo it!!!! wendy :)
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cam host
06/09/07 11:31
6 out
Oh my gosh
06/09/07 11:30
are they going?
Boy
06/09/07 11:25
She's really got her head out!!
MA
MA
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Third times the charm?
06/09/07 11:24
She is up again...maybe we will get lucky this time.
News flash
06/09/07 11:08
mom's checking again....as if nobody noticed, right?
MA
MA
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thank you for the postings
06/09/07 11:04
This is how I have been able to keep up with the action. I appreciate the information so very much.
Another wooduck box w/eggs close by?
06/09/07 10:57
mmmm......
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egads!
06/09/07 10:53
Look at all the posts in the past 30 seconds!!! Are we on it or what?
MA
MA
Looking out
06/09/07 10:52
She usually looks out several times searching for predators before she actually jumps out to call them down for the first time.
--Jenn and the rest
--Jenn and the rest
I just noticed
06/09/07 10:51
outside view not refreshing itself lol i need more coffee to keep up with refresh button! Wendy :)
Not safe outside?
06/09/07 10:49
The mother duck hopped up to the entrance but is back down!
Mom started to leave ...
06/09/07 10:48
... then changed her mind. My blood pressure can't take this! ~Kara
Peek-a-boo
06/09/07 10:48
She jumped up on the threshold to take a look, but hopped back down.
There she goes!
06/09/07 10:47
I see mama heading to the door.
Web cam link
06/09/07 10:17
(not to be used until after jumping!--hee hee)
www.beakspeak.com
MA
www.beakspeak.com
MA
Hoping for the best--for us, too!
06/09/07 10:02
I know that so many of us are hitting the refresh button that this webpage is going to need a lot of band width!
And on another note, about 30 minutes ago, I saw one of the little ducklings already climbing on the notched "ladder"--I think some of them are getting hungry and impatient, even more than we are!
And on another note, about 30 minutes ago, I saw one of the little ducklings already climbing on the notched "ladder"--I think some of them are getting hungry and impatient, even more than we are!
16 to 18 little ones
06/09/07 09:58
Can you imagine trying to take care of that many little ones at one time, yikes! Probably half will make it to the 8 week period????? Beth/Oh
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Non duck related
06/09/07 09:27
I'm happy to report that all the CA owlets are home safely....I have so many pop-ups open on my desk top....I'm just waiting for my computer to freeze!!!
MA
MA
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Another pair of ducks nearby
06/09/07 09:26
We have a box about 60' from the cam box with eggs. That mom and pop are out there right now. Pop is escorting mom back to the nest after her morning meal I guess.
There are also some crows across the pond. I hope they stay over there! There is a family group of crows that often feeds in our back yard. The other day there were 6, and I watched a juvenile playing tug of war on a worm with an adult. The juvenile still had a partial yellow gape in the corners of it's bill. Anyway, we don't want them feeding on the babies!
Jennifer
There are also some crows across the pond. I hope they stay over there! There is a family group of crows that often feeds in our back yard. The other day there were 6, and I watched a juvenile playing tug of war on a worm with an adult. The juvenile still had a partial yellow gape in the corners of it's bill. Anyway, we don't want them feeding on the babies!
Jennifer
I made it home in time!!
06/09/07 09:06
I just got home at about 7:30 and have been put in charge of hitting the record buttons.
No fair if ya'll nap later, we're renovating our kitchen and I have to work on it later! We're having a little duck watching party here. I've got two neighbor kids, my brother-in-law, neice and nephew, here with my husband and I.
I wish we could do streaming video, it's so much neater to see the little guys moving around. I wish ya'll could see it.
The momma always takes them away to raise them because there's too much human activity in our yard.
Have fun, thanks for your interest!
Jennifer
Cam Host
No fair if ya'll nap later, we're renovating our kitchen and I have to work on it later! We're having a little duck watching party here. I've got two neighbor kids, my brother-in-law, neice and nephew, here with my husband and I.
I wish we could do streaming video, it's so much neater to see the little guys moving around. I wish ya'll could see it.
The momma always takes them away to raise them because there's too much human activity in our yard.
Have fun, thanks for your interest!
Jennifer
Cam Host
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I cannot believe
06/09/07 08:28
that I have been sitting in front of my computer for the past 2 hours and 15 min...I think that is the #1 symptom of an "addict"...I think I may need an intervention of some sort....;-)
MA
MA
Outside picture
06/09/07 07:22
Looks wonderful, thanks so much. You guys have done a great job! BH/OH
Is everyone ready
06/09/07 05:30
to watch the "leap"? Wish the little ones good luck over the next 6-8 weeks, it will be hard for momma to brood 18 or 19 chicks. BH
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Exodus in AM
06/09/07 00:41
Thanks Jennifer for bring one of my favorite cavity nesters to the web for other people to enjoy. It is sad that the exodus happens in such a short period of time, but the hen has to get the brood to the nearest water as quickly as possible for their safey.
I will be in the field all day monitoring nest boxes, but will check in when I get home in the evening to see how it all played out.
Steve, CA
I will be in the field all day monitoring nest boxes, but will check in when I get home in the evening to see how it all played out.
Steve, CA
Replies to this comment
OK you duck watchers
06/09/07 00:30
Time to hit my nest.....see everyone bright and early in the am...Beth, don't forget the popcorn!!
MA
MA
Back at daybreak
06/09/07 00:21
If I'm going to see them jump I will have to rest my eyes for a few hours. Be back soon...MA (Beth)
Wood duck movies
06/08/07 23:50
I've been watching the wood duck film clips and they are well worth anyone's time who wants to know more about what will happen tomorrow morning!
I just have one question. When the ducklings start jumping, trying to make it up to the door, it looks utterly impossible. Then, their wee little feet start sticking to the sides of the box, like they're made of flypaper or something.
How do they do that? Anyone know?
I just have one question. When the ducklings start jumping, trying to make it up to the door, it looks utterly impossible. Then, their wee little feet start sticking to the sides of the box, like they're made of flypaper or something.
How do they do that? Anyone know?
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So many babies - had no idea no eating
06/08/07 21:17
Jennifer, thanks for sharing on texbirds. I wouldn't have missed this for the world. I had no idea they don't eat till after they leave the nest. How does mama know they are ready to leave the nest?
Thank you!
06/08/07 21:16
I just want to thank the cam host, this has been a great box to observe. All of those eggs, two different ducks, so much drama and finally a happy ending! I wish all the nest boxes could end this well.
About 10 ducklings
06/08/07 20:15
When the mother duck was off the nest I used my magnifier and my estimate is that there are "about" 10 ducklings. Anybody want to start a "pool"?
Replies to this comment
Outside box
06/08/07 19:50
Thank you for the outside picture of the box, is it just my computer or does everyone have lots of squiggly lines going down the picture. Beth/OH
so cute
06/08/07 19:14
They look like tiny fuzzy balls! I wish I could reach my hands through the computer screen and hold one!
I can see at least 7
06/08/07 17:47
But I'm sure there are more underneath her. Right now they are all facing the same way--ducks in a row! Har har, couldn't resist. ~Kara
All those babies!
06/08/07 17:21
Wow...just checked in and saw all those little babies! She's not going to have room to move. I'm not at all familiar with the box,,,how does she come and go and what about trying to feed all of the little ones? Is there room for all of them to grow? Someone fill me in please! Thanks
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I just got home...
06/08/07 17:07
and did not even speak to anyone as I walked thru the doors!!! I had to check on the "babies"!!! (yes my family thinks I'm weird...but whatever) This is sooo exciting. Thanks Jennifer, Wendy, BH, and others for holding down the fort til I could get back on line!!! I'm setting my alarm tomorrow for dawn!!!! Happy Birthday little ones!!!
MA/GA
MA/GA
Feeding
06/08/07 14:53
Will they eat today?
I see a duckling!
06/08/07 08:30
Mommy has company! A duckling and more company coming. I see pip marks in a few of the other eggs!
Such excitement
06/08/07 08:04
I'm feeling like an expectant father (?) in the waiting room....ok, how about an aunt...anyway...this is so exciting!!! And I have a confession....I just realized the picture of the box outside is live....duh! Jennifer, do the little ones have a preference of the time of day they jump?
Thanks oodles!
MA/GA
Thanks oodles!
MA/GA
Replies to this comment
HATCHING!
06/08/07 07:46
They'll probably jump tomorrow morning, which is perfect for us to be able to video.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Webbed foot or duckling?
06/07/07 22:39
I can't tell if that is her foot or a hatchling, she keeps tucking something back underneath her. I've never observed her sit this way before, and she has been moving around a lot today!
When and If
06/07/07 22:17
They all hatch, will they stay in a pile under her, 19!! Thanks for holding down the fort Jennifer, MA, Wendy, she waited for me. Now Mrs. Duck do what Grandma Jenn says.....Beth/OH
OK
06/07/07 18:32
...like I'm really an expert (ha ha)...but,she's sitting differently on the eggs....I think something's up (or out)....she didn't read my note...:-D
(but, of course, I'll wait for Miss Jennifer to give us the word.)
MA
(but, of course, I'll wait for Miss Jennifer to give us the word.)
MA
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it looks so different than i imagined.
06/07/07 18:25
Thanks for getting the outside. I am so excited thinking about the ducks hatching. She was scratching her head when I checked in, the still was pretty cute!
OK MRS DUCK
06/07/07 17:10
...this is your fan club speaking....BH, Wendy, Jenn, and now MA have left posts for you!!! Tell your babies they must hold off on the hatching! We all have boring tasks to attend to and we don't want to miss the "get me out of this egg" party. Now, if you have no control over your children's coming out party, tell them they may not fledge until Jennifer gives you the go ahead...I don't think this is too much to ask. You've only been sitting for....how long now?
Love,
MA
Love,
MA
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Thank you thank you.........
06/07/07 17:10
for the view of the outside of nesting box............definately very exciting!!! Wendy :)
I see a cracked egg!!
06/07/07 15:22
I can see one egg that looks like it is cracking, if so we they all hatch at once?
sorry if you already gave that info., so excited!!
sorry if you already gave that info., so excited!!
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Jenn, MA, Wendy
06/06/07 22:20
Do not let her have chicks tomorrow 6/7. I will be gone most of the day to a Eagle banding. I counting on you gals! BH/OH
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Entrance hole/hens entering nest boxes
06/06/07 20:00
Audubon in his early accounts of wood ducks once observed a wood duck hen fly into a natural cavity and said, "that hen flew right through the hole and the tree at the back of the cavity must have stopped her."
The very first wood duck nest boxes were put up in 1936 by the US Bureau of Biological Survey (Fish & Wildlife Service now) and were call slab nest boxes made from side cuttings off a tree collected at a saw mill. Unfortunatey they made them with a 6" Dia. entrance hole and the raccoons had a field day killing hens and eating their eggs when they discovered the slab boxes. In 1938 two young men seeing the problem with the slab boxes set out to build a safe economical nest box for wood ducks. Frank Bellrose and Art Hawkins were the two young wildlife biologist that developed the wood duck nest box that we still build and use nearly 70 years later. The two most important parts of a wood duck box is the entrance hole size and depth of the box. They developed the 3" X 4" true elliptical entrance hole that permitted a hen to enter the box, but prevented a raccoon to enter. In areas where raccoons were so numerous, preditor proof guards had to be put below the nest boxes so the raccoons could not get near the nest box. If he got on top of the nest box and the hen tried to leave the box, he would grap and kill her the majority of the time but if she got away, she would not return to her nest.
The 3" X 4" elliptical hole is a bit of a tight fit for the larger hens, but Jennifer's account of a hen flying straight into the box is correct. The hen will hit the nest box with her feet and breast to slow her down, but will still have enough forward mometum to pop into the hole making it look like she flew through the hole. They are very quick and if you blink, you will miss seeing her entering the entrance hole.
I was doing some vido taping from a blind one morning and observed a hen fly from the water and land on top of one of my nest boxes. She was trying to look into the nest box from the top of the box when she jumped off the top and hovered like a hummingbird in front of the box until she got a little forward momentun and in the hole she went. I had no idea they could do anything that acrobatic in midair, but I got to watch it over and over on video tape.
Steve, CA
The very first wood duck nest boxes were put up in 1936 by the US Bureau of Biological Survey (Fish & Wildlife Service now) and were call slab nest boxes made from side cuttings off a tree collected at a saw mill. Unfortunatey they made them with a 6" Dia. entrance hole and the raccoons had a field day killing hens and eating their eggs when they discovered the slab boxes. In 1938 two young men seeing the problem with the slab boxes set out to build a safe economical nest box for wood ducks. Frank Bellrose and Art Hawkins were the two young wildlife biologist that developed the wood duck nest box that we still build and use nearly 70 years later. The two most important parts of a wood duck box is the entrance hole size and depth of the box. They developed the 3" X 4" true elliptical entrance hole that permitted a hen to enter the box, but prevented a raccoon to enter. In areas where raccoons were so numerous, preditor proof guards had to be put below the nest boxes so the raccoons could not get near the nest box. If he got on top of the nest box and the hen tried to leave the box, he would grap and kill her the majority of the time but if she got away, she would not return to her nest.
The 3" X 4" elliptical hole is a bit of a tight fit for the larger hens, but Jennifer's account of a hen flying straight into the box is correct. The hen will hit the nest box with her feet and breast to slow her down, but will still have enough forward mometum to pop into the hole making it look like she flew through the hole. They are very quick and if you blink, you will miss seeing her entering the entrance hole.
I was doing some vido taping from a blind one morning and observed a hen fly from the water and land on top of one of my nest boxes. She was trying to look into the nest box from the top of the box when she jumped off the top and hovered like a hummingbird in front of the box until she got a little forward momentun and in the hole she went. I had no idea they could do anything that acrobatic in midair, but I got to watch it over and over on video tape.
Steve, CA
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19 eggs
06/06/07 18:46
When we counted last week.
Jennifer
Jennifer
Replies to this comment
Egads
06/06/07 17:27
..she must have left in a hurry...since the eggs are uncovered...and soooooooo many eggs! How can she possibly incubate them all?! Some look a different color...or maybe its just shadowing in the box....
MA
MA
Anyone know how often view is updated?
06/06/07 12:18
I am wondering if I MIGHT be seeing a couple of hatchlings to Mom's right (lower part of screen). However, I keep waiting for an update to see if there is movement or if it really just nesting materials.
BL in CA at 9;12 PST
BL in CA at 9;12 PST
Replies to this comment
5:49 am ducky time
06/06/07 06:52
She just left box! Wendy :)
Question for the host or anyone who knows
06/05/07 23:50
First, thank you for always keeping us updated. The videos are great, my question is: how does the wood duck get into the box without a platform to land on?
Replies to this comment
Box description
06/05/07 22:52
Someone asked questions about the box and I answered them below by replying to their comment. I forgot to add you can see the box and it's relation to the ground in one of last years video clips, the one titled "Fledging, Mom chasing off crows". This nest is in the same box but the blind is not up this year.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
Duckling popcorn
06/05/07 20:06
Check out the videos newly posted under next cam movies. Fantastic. Thanks TBN, great addition.
Replies to this comment
My, My
06/04/07 22:41
How does she keep all those eggs in that perfect circle. She is a beauty!
Hen survival the first year
06/04/07 01:44
I do not want to make this sound like the wood duck ducklings are not going to make it to their first birthday, but many are not. In a three year span I web- tagged 2700 day old ducklings which was 93% of my total hatch those three years. Biologist figure that 45% are females and 55% are males in a hatching brood. So 45% of 2700 ducklings is 1215 total females that I web tagged. There is a 40% or less chance that they will reach flight stage eight weeks after exiting the nest box, so that takes us down to 486 females left. Factor in the 50% adult mortality factor each year and we are now down to 243 females. 50% of the remaining females will pioneer to new areas to nest up to 15/20 miles away from there natal site. So that means I should have had 121 females return to my wood duck nest boxes in the following years, but I only had 105 that did return. That means that my duckling/flight stage or adult mortality was a bit higher than the biologists predicted would happen. The good news is that I would have pioneering hens from other areas coming to my research area to nest. I did not catch some of my web tagged hens until the second year and only a few the third year after they were web tagged. They were either involved with nest paristism or may have nested in a natural cavity.
Again, if I could only get them to talk to me, they could answer several thousand questions I have.
A couple of other footnotes on this nesting season: I had two hens incubating side by side in the same nest box for only the sixth time in 34 years. I had two hens back nesting with me for the ninth year this season which is now a total of three nine year olds in 34 years. My woodies are having a good nesting season this year and my predicted hatch will be between 2200 and 2300 ducklings or higher if they don't stop initiating new nest.
Steve, CA
Again, if I could only get them to talk to me, they could answer several thousand questions I have.
A couple of other footnotes on this nesting season: I had two hens incubating side by side in the same nest box for only the sixth time in 34 years. I had two hens back nesting with me for the ninth year this season which is now a total of three nine year olds in 34 years. My woodies are having a good nesting season this year and my predicted hatch will be between 2200 and 2300 ducklings or higher if they don't stop initiating new nest.
Steve, CA
Replies to this comment
cam seems to be froze
06/03/07 15:17
will check back in a bit! Wendy :)
FYI--video
06/03/07 11:24
For great video of the "Leap of Faith" go to the following web page!!...or just go to National Geographic and "search" video for the segment. Its amazing...enjoy!
MA
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals.html?bclid=269000820&bctid=269000568
MA
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals.html?bclid=269000820&bctid=269000568
Replies to this comment
Jennifer
06/02/07 21:27
Thanks for keeping us so up to date!! You're a great "grandmom"!
MA
MA
Replies to this comment
Is she sitting
06/02/07 17:59
weird on the eggs since she came back? I don't remember having so many exposed. BH
Mom has returned
06/02/07 07:00
ok...I confess...I'm a worry wart!
MA/GA
MA/GA
Replies to this comment
5:33 am duck time
06/02/07 06:37
Mom away from the box...hope she's just out for an early breakfast...from the posts, looks like she was gone at 1:00, also...missed her curfew...again, I see...hope she's ok.
MA/GA
MA/GA
12:00 AM
06/02/07 01:00
Female still gone. I hope she is o.k.!
The picture
06/01/07 23:41
of her face all lit up..........so beautiful!! Thank you, Wendy Can't wait to see all the lil faces!!
Where's mom?
06/01/07 22:30
has she been gone for long?
When should the hatching begin?
05/31/07 11:02
I scrolled down through posts but didnt see any approximate hatching date, sorry if I missed it, just loving watching this duck and don't want to miss anything lol Wendy in Maine 11 am eastern time :)
2 ducks sitting on the nest?
05/29/07 21:50
I checked on the duck at 8:41 p.m. cam time and saw 2! Does this happened because of so many eggs?
Replies to this comment
Question for California Steve
05/29/07 17:00
Thanks so much for all the extra info you've been giving. The long term banding studies you've done is something I wish I could do. Do you know anything about what happens when two different species of ducks use the same box? I volunteer at the Heard Museum (Prothonotary cam host) and we sometimes get Hooded Merganser and Wood Duck eggs in the same box. I've often wondered what happens with those nestlings, especially since they use different feeding strategies. Do you know of anyone who has studied that?
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Internet problems
05/29/07 16:58
Sort of. The hen has been in most of the time. We've got family staying and my son and nephews are playing an internet game with three computers. The internet ban width is struggling to upload the pictures with all the activity. Sorry.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Hen gone
05/28/07 19:14
It is 6:12PM. Midwest time; the hen is out of the nest.
Longevity
05/27/07 12:11
There is not to much excitment in watching a hen wood duck incubating her eggs, so I thought I would throw in some woodie info. How long do wood ducks live! In the last 33 years I have only had one hen that came back and nested with me the ninth year. In Illinois a few years back a good friend of mine that had been studying wood ducks all his life (70 years) said they had only had one hen that returned the ninth year to nest that he knew of In Ill. The longevity record for a banded wood duck at the Bird Banding Lab is 22 years 6 months and I do not know where that bird was banded.
This nesting season I have caught two of my hens back for the ninth year on one of my research projects which was a bit of a shock. Both were adults birds when I banded them, so I did not know there age when they were first banded. I have had lots of birds that have returned the eigth year to nest, but getting to that ninth year seemed impossible.
In wood ducks, there is a 50% mortality each year on the adults even if thay are not hunted. When I first heard that, I was in disbelief and could not accept that as being true. Well, as I went back through my banding data, only 50% of my hens return the second year to nest in my boxes and I banded an average of 85 new hens each year. As the birds get older the odds improve slightly for there survival. They have learned to stay out of harms way and avoid trouble.
Another way to look at the big picture is the wood ducks being cavity nesters have such a high nest success rate compared to ground nesting waterfowl. Here in California, mallard nest success rates are 10-12% and if it gets up around 20% on a given year, that is a banner nesting year for them. Over the past 33 years on my wood duck projects (275 nest boxes) my nesting success rate averges 59% on nest that had one or more eggs laid in them. With that high success rate, the wood ducks should have the largest populations throuth out the lower 48 states, but they do not!
Well I think this is getting a bit long winded and I will continue this another time and include duckling mortality in another post.
Steve, CA
This nesting season I have caught two of my hens back for the ninth year on one of my research projects which was a bit of a shock. Both were adults birds when I banded them, so I did not know there age when they were first banded. I have had lots of birds that have returned the eigth year to nest, but getting to that ninth year seemed impossible.
In wood ducks, there is a 50% mortality each year on the adults even if thay are not hunted. When I first heard that, I was in disbelief and could not accept that as being true. Well, as I went back through my banding data, only 50% of my hens return the second year to nest in my boxes and I banded an average of 85 new hens each year. As the birds get older the odds improve slightly for there survival. They have learned to stay out of harms way and avoid trouble.
Another way to look at the big picture is the wood ducks being cavity nesters have such a high nest success rate compared to ground nesting waterfowl. Here in California, mallard nest success rates are 10-12% and if it gets up around 20% on a given year, that is a banner nesting year for them. Over the past 33 years on my wood duck projects (275 nest boxes) my nesting success rate averges 59% on nest that had one or more eggs laid in them. With that high success rate, the wood ducks should have the largest populations throuth out the lower 48 states, but they do not!
Well I think this is getting a bit long winded and I will continue this another time and include duckling mortality in another post.
Steve, CA
Are those new eggs?
05/25/07 16:54
She is off the nest and I can see the eggs, usually she leaves them covered. Did another duck enter and lay eggs on top of the ones being incubated, and if so what will happen now?
Replies to this comment
anyone know
05/23/07 09:45
the ETA of our multitude of chicks ? It sure is gonna be crowded in there :)!!!
Replies to this comment
"Eggs on the ground" = Red flags
05/21/07 22:45
If you readed my comments on having a successful wood duck nest box even if it is only one nest box, you should check your box during the nesting season. If you can get to your nest box on a ladder, be as quiet as possible, plug the entrance hole with a sponge, towel or your hand and peek in the box top. If you nailed the top on, I hope you have a side opening box. All of my boxes open through the top. If the hen is in the box, just quietly put the top back on and remove the plug and leave the area quietly. If she flys out, she will return. If the box needs service, more shavings added, starling nest or starling nest with eggs removed, now is the time to do it. How often should you service your nest box, every two weeks or sooner. I have to live with checking my wood duck boxes every two weeks because I am monitoring close to 850 nest boxes for all cavity nesting birds here in California.
Your hen that nested both years may have been successful??? I do not know if you were finding whole eggs or just the membranes on the ground below the box. If it is the membranes which could still have egg shell attatched to them, you could have had a successful wood duck hatch and a starling was cleaning just cleaning house. I saw that scenario 3 or 4 times today after a hatch. Eggs on the ground whole, broken or may have been eaten after hitting the ground is more than likley a flicker. Eggs missing from the nest box with no eggs on the ground can be a snake or even a hen wood duck stealing eggs from another hens nest. The hen will fly off with the egg in her bill and land and eat the egg, which is a great way to build up the protein in her body for egg laying. I have even had some hens eat the eggs in the box, but hens stealing eggs and eating them in the nest box is rare and sometimes hard to prove. Everday I am in the field, I feel like a detective when I open a nest box that has had a crime committed and I have to try to solve the mystery. In many cases all I can do is theorize what happened and then compare notes with other wood duckers when we get together.
I have never solved some crimes!
Steve, CA
Your hen that nested both years may have been successful??? I do not know if you were finding whole eggs or just the membranes on the ground below the box. If it is the membranes which could still have egg shell attatched to them, you could have had a successful wood duck hatch and a starling was cleaning just cleaning house. I saw that scenario 3 or 4 times today after a hatch. Eggs on the ground whole, broken or may have been eaten after hitting the ground is more than likley a flicker. Eggs missing from the nest box with no eggs on the ground can be a snake or even a hen wood duck stealing eggs from another hens nest. The hen will fly off with the egg in her bill and land and eat the egg, which is a great way to build up the protein in her body for egg laying. I have even had some hens eat the eggs in the box, but hens stealing eggs and eating them in the nest box is rare and sometimes hard to prove. Everday I am in the field, I feel like a detective when I open a nest box that has had a crime committed and I have to try to solve the mystery. In many cases all I can do is theorize what happened and then compare notes with other wood duckers when we get together.
I have never solved some crimes!
Steve, CA
Replies to this comment
Keeping wood duck nest boxes successful
05/21/07 22:02
I have always told people that building a wood duck nest box and putting it up is the easy part, checking and maintaining the nest box during each nesting season is the hard part. I have guesstimated that if I stopped checking my wood duck nest boxes for a three year period, only 2-4% of my boxes would be suitable for a hen to nest in the 4th year. During the early part of the nesting season, European starling males will remove all the wood shavings from your wood duck nest box, so keeping a good 4"-5" of wood shavings in the bottom of the nest box is a must. I go through 5 to 6 cubic yards of shavings each season, yes, that's a lot of shavings going up the ladder and in your face on a windy day, but that one of the reasons I produce an average of nearly 1900 ducklings a season over the last 34 years
here in California.
When the starlings start building their nest using large amounts of grass up to 12" deep, they need to be removed. They will also build their nest on top of wood duck eggs, but let the hen come in and lay an egg a day until they lay one little blue egg. They then become so aggressive that they will cause the hen to abandon her clutch of eggs. How agressive, people have observed starlings knocking a hen wood duck in mid flight to the ground. It is legal in all states to remove a starling nest with eggs from your nest box. If I did not have starlings on my project sites, I figure that my wood duck production would increase by 10-15%. If any of you do not have starlings in your area, you are very lucky. Some bioligist are starting to predict that starlings are going to cause some of our native cavity nesting birds to become extinct in the future.
A final note, do not put up more wood duck nest boxes than you can maintain during the nesting season, or you may just be propagating starlings.
Steve, CA
here in California.
When the starlings start building their nest using large amounts of grass up to 12" deep, they need to be removed. They will also build their nest on top of wood duck eggs, but let the hen come in and lay an egg a day until they lay one little blue egg. They then become so aggressive that they will cause the hen to abandon her clutch of eggs. How agressive, people have observed starlings knocking a hen wood duck in mid flight to the ground. It is legal in all states to remove a starling nest with eggs from your nest box. If I did not have starlings on my project sites, I figure that my wood duck production would increase by 10-15%. If any of you do not have starlings in your area, you are very lucky. Some bioligist are starting to predict that starlings are going to cause some of our native cavity nesting birds to become extinct in the future.
A final note, do not put up more wood duck nest boxes than you can maintain during the nesting season, or you may just be propagating starlings.
Steve, CA
Replies to this comment
If there continue
05/18/07 19:18
to be 2 moms about the nest, Do they split the babies up after hatching. Half and half? Maybe whichever ones follow, those are the ones that go with each mom.
Sorry!
05/17/07 22:59
I had to clean the area around the computer. When I plugged things back in, I did it in the wrong order and momentarily put a Titmouse family on line instead. When I got the duck back on, the female happened to be out, with the eggs covered. There are still 19 eggs today.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
What now?
05/17/07 19:52
o.k. now the duck box is back, but I do not see the mother or any eggs, what happened?
Ducks MIA
05/17/07 18:39
Um, what happened to the wood duck(s)? These look like titmice to me!
Replies to this comment
19 eggs
05/15/07 18:53
I had my son count the eggs while she was out.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
Great picture
05/14/07 21:29
of the two ducks in the box together! would they actually share a nest box?
Two Females 5/14 9:15AM
05/14/07 10:28
Saw two females in box briefly. Couldn't tell if they were fighting or preening but the intruder left after only a few minutes...maybe long enough to lay an egg?
Nice shot
05/12/07 15:27
of the eggs. Surrounded by her fluffy down. It just looks perfect !!!
14 eggs
05/10/07 18:10
She just left a few minutes ago. It was fun to watch her carefully cover the eggs and jump up to the door. Then I can look out the window and see her looking around. I guess she waits and tries to make sure there are no crows or anything watching. Anyway, after she left I counted the eggs.
The cam will be off and on for a little while because I'm trying to get my other camera going and doing some trouble shooting.
Jennifer
Cam Host
The cam will be off and on for a little while because I'm trying to get my other camera going and doing some trouble shooting.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
Looks like incubation!
05/10/07 16:56
She's in at 3:45. When I see her off the nest I'll try to get a count.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
Female in box all night!!!
05/09/07 23:17
Females will often stay in the nest box all night and then spend the day out of the nest box. Actually they stand on top of the eggs all night with their web feet which do not warm the eggs starting incubation. Not all hens do this all night vigil, but it is not uncommon for a hen to do it for several nights. When you get two hens or more parasitizing a nest, the egg count can get quit large. Keep in mind that a normal clutch of eggs from one hen is 12 eggs. Each hen will lay equal her body weight in her clutch of eggs in those 12 days.
Parastized nest are also call "dump nest" and "compoud nest". In the last 34 years I have only had five different times that two hens incubated side by side during the 28-30 day incubation period. The parastized nest are very successful, one hen can incubate 30+ eggs and I have even had a few hatches in the 30's. I have also documented as many as six hens laying in the same box a per morning. The largest dump nest that I have had was 62 eggs in one nest box. The dump nest are very successful as long as the majority of the eggs were laid before a hens starts incubation. Many hens that are involved in dump nesting that do not incubate their first clutch of eggs will recharge and lay a second clutch of eggs and in many cases she will incubate the second clutch of eggs. I have documented this through banding of all of my incubating hens and many hens in the boxes laying an egg before incubation starts.
I also have an aveerage of 16 hens that will bring off two successful broods a year, but they have to start their nest initations early in the nesting season to have two broods. I had one hen that nested with me eight years in a row and five of those eight years she had two broods. If all my hens through the years were like her my production through the years would be 30-40% higher.
Steve, CA
Parastized nest are also call "dump nest" and "compoud nest". In the last 34 years I have only had five different times that two hens incubated side by side during the 28-30 day incubation period. The parastized nest are very successful, one hen can incubate 30+ eggs and I have even had a few hatches in the 30's. I have also documented as many as six hens laying in the same box a per morning. The largest dump nest that I have had was 62 eggs in one nest box. The dump nest are very successful as long as the majority of the eggs were laid before a hens starts incubation. Many hens that are involved in dump nesting that do not incubate their first clutch of eggs will recharge and lay a second clutch of eggs and in many cases she will incubate the second clutch of eggs. I have documented this through banding of all of my incubating hens and many hens in the boxes laying an egg before incubation starts.
I also have an aveerage of 16 hens that will bring off two successful broods a year, but they have to start their nest initations early in the nesting season to have two broods. I had one hen that nested with me eight years in a row and five of those eight years she had two broods. If all my hens through the years were like her my production through the years would be 30-40% higher.
Steve, CA
Duck staying longer today!
05/09/07 10:50
Maybe incubation is starting for real. I wonder how much the ambient temperature effects incubation.
Jennifer Maxwell
Cam Host
Jennifer Maxwell
Cam Host
Update
05/08/07 21:42
Sorry I haven't updated, our internet was down.
There were 11 eggs yesterday and 13 today. I think there are just 2 females laying eggs and neither one is really incubating yet. As they get closer to incubating they put the down in the box. They usually cover the eggs when they leave the box even after incubation starts. There has been a female in all night the last 2 nights and I see she's back tonight. I suspect she will soon be incubating during the day also.
Jennifer
Cam Host
There were 11 eggs yesterday and 13 today. I think there are just 2 females laying eggs and neither one is really incubating yet. As they get closer to incubating they put the down in the box. They usually cover the eggs when they leave the box even after incubation starts. There has been a female in all night the last 2 nights and I see she's back tonight. I suspect she will soon be incubating during the day also.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
nest or dump?
05/08/07 20:58
a female (can't tell if it's the same one) tends to be sitting in the nest every morning around 9am, but gone for the rest of the day. is this "incubation" or just dropping off duds?
Down..
05/08/07 15:15
I see what appears to be down covering the eggs ( mother left the box ) does this mean the eggs are now being incubated?
I hope she can!
05/08/07 00:10
the female looks like she is serious about incubating, it also looks like some eggs are pushed off to the side, will she try just to incubate her own eggs?
Replies to this comment
Eggs?
05/07/07 15:58
I know there were eggs in there..and a female on the next. What happened? Did it become another egg dump? or did she bury the eggs? Anyone know?
oh, 3:57pm EST
oh, 3:57pm EST
Replies to this comment
Exciting!
05/07/07 11:42
Too exciting to see a duck in the box...I was getting worried it was too late in the season. Can't wait to be watching this one!
A light.
05/07/07 00:52
Is there a light on in the box at night?
Replies to this comment
a duck in the box
05/06/07 21:06
from what I've read from this site (mostly the comments section), it's good that we see a duck in the box.
I saw it there last night when I was here and I see it right now when I checked a few minutes ago.
I saw it there last night when I was here and I see it right now when I checked a few minutes ago.
ducks in general
05/05/07 22:23
Do ducks lay eggs and then only incubate after they are all laid (like falcons). Or do they incubate as they are laid (like the owls)?
Watching web cam for ducks, owls and Falcons are new to me this year. (Got the computer after nesting season last year.)
Watching web cam for ducks, owls and Falcons are new to me this year. (Got the computer after nesting season last year.)
Replies to this comment
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have an EGG
05/05/07 10:20
hOORAY!
Replies to this comment
It's really nice...
05/04/07 23:50
to be able to see in the nest box during the night.
Replies to this comment
cam host
05/04/07 23:11
can you please share with us what wood ducks eat? I know they get up and go as soon as they hatch, but do they eat the same thing as adult wood ducks? thanks for any info!
Replies to this comment
8:00 pm Friday, May 4- she's in
05/04/07 20:56
This is the first time I've seen her in the box in the evening. Maybe she is getting ready to incubate!
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
She's there again!
05/04/07 10:56
I sure hope she's the one and only female . Will she stay on the nest alot? Surely the eggs have to be kept warm. Usually she's not in the box when I check in ,several times a day. So I'm glad for this glimpse,At 10:55 eastern
Replies to this comment
6 eggs this evening
05/03/07 20:47
My husband checked when he got home. I guess that was just one female in this morning. It seemed like she was in there a long time!
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Don't know how
05/03/07 20:45
you can see the eggs so far? I just see wood chips or other nesting material. Does the cam make noises. ? In both still shots the duck is looking right into the cam . At least that's what it looks like.
Replies to this comment
Finally saw her in box..
05/03/07 11:37
this morning around 9ish eastern time, I was so excited, she was there for long time and I believe she was incubating, am I right? Also want to thank the host for keeping us updated as to everything going on, so interesting!! Wendy in Maine :)
5 eggs.
05/02/07 14:52
5 eggs today.
Jennifer
Jennifer
she is here
05/02/07 11:51
the female is in the box! is there a lack of nesting spots for these ducks? I don't understand why they all try to use the same box
Replies to this comment
Four eggs today
05/01/07 13:29
Two females must have laid yesterday or today. If there were only one duck laying there would only be 3 eggs. Hopefully we won't get more than two females laying. That's when you start getting so many eggs, so quickly, that sometimes no one incubates the eggs.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
Same female?
04/30/07 09:40
She's been in there a long time. I hope there are not multiple females getting in and laying. I'm not home today so I'm not watching the outside.
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
She's back!
04/30/07 09:14
She's in there now, the first time I've seen her (I just found the website a few days ago).
Lynne
Lynne
Tufted Titmouse gathering nest material
04/29/07 11:43
Around 10:00 I happened to see a Titmouse go in the box. I watched on the camera and she gathered nest material for several minutes.
Jennifer
Jennifer
1st egg!
04/29/07 09:28
There's finally an egg under the wood chips!
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
Female duck was in on Saturday!
04/29/07 08:02
I was having problems getting the image to send. She did not lay an egg. She's back now, hopefully laying the first egg!
Jennifer
Cam Host
Jennifer
Cam Host
empty the box?
04/27/07 12:33
Whew! I sure wouldn't want to be the one removing those eggs from the box.
dumping
04/24/07 09:38
The nestbox being easy to see and get to, for us humans, seems to be reason that most wood duck nestboxes are not in the shelter of the trees as is where the nestboxes mostly would be in a natural situation.
The easily seen nestbox is very convenient for several female wood ducks to claim ....... which leads to egg dumping.
The easily seen nestbox is very convenient for several female wood ducks to claim ....... which leads to egg dumping.
I think it's abandoned.
04/23/07 09:13
I don't know why that female was on it the first day.
Cam Host
Cam Host
Replies to this comment
Anybody home ?
04/23/07 08:04
I never see the adult. Only the 1st day that the cam was on, did I see an adult duck. Are these eggs abandoned, or can they go without brooding them for long periods?
Replies to this comment