PITA ducks

[frogman3]

I had Mallards last year just a few. This year it looks like the O'Hara airport landing strip. I didn't mind much when they land in the big pond but as you see they walk up the yard to my small preform pond and totally terrorize the fish. So much so I had to put the net back on. Does that stop them heck no they walk on the nets and weight it down till their butts are in the water. Here are two leaving the scene of the crime.

[tlc]

Was that the dinner bell I heard? Are we having roast duck for dinner perhaps :batterup:

They are cute though aren't they (as long as they are in your pond)?

Your pond is looking pretty good there Froggy. I see lily pads!!

In that one shot there with the duck swimming away from the camera, it looks like he is swimming in a river or lake.

[whisper]

Do they bother your fish at all. As in eating them?

[frogman3]

I think they would Whisper if they could catch them. I noticed most of my tads, all but one disappeared in the small preform pond once they invaded it when the net was off. The fish would not come out for days even for food untill after night fall they spent the days hiding in their drain pipes.
They would not have a chance in the deeper pond. In fact I some time watch the fish following the ducks around the big pond.

[whisper]

WOW!!!

[frogman3]

Look who showed up this past weekend! They stayed for about four hours going from pond to pond.

She was not too happy when I had to help the little ones out from under the net.

[Its Just Don]

They might be a PITA, but you have to admit they are cute.

DP

[frogman3]

They sure are. When I took these shots I could not appreciate how well they would turn out. I get a kick out of the shot of the ducklings looking down into the water trying to imagine what is going through their little brain. Since it's the only water around in the neighborhood is it "who is that guy" when they see their reflection or "what is that stuff, can I play in it". The wild ducks that succeed in hatching a clutch of eggs at my work ponds only seem to move them to water for one day then disappear into the undergrowth for safety I suppose, never to be seen again, unlike the geese which stick much closer to the ponds leaving the water only to forage.
It will be nice when all the adults stop coming in so I can remove the nets from the smaller ponds. It has already slowed down a lot. The frogs will sure appreciate having free access.
One of the maintenance men here at work found a live snapper with a 20 inch shell crossing our access lane in front of our buildings yesterday and returned it to the pond for its safety. A discussion ensued about how they over winter. I said they live underwater in holes in the bank. Am I correct?

[tlc]

I like the 4th shot down where they are all lined up like they are going to get on the school bus.

Nice shots Froggy :thumbup:

T

[Its Just Don]

As far as I know, snappers hibernate by digging into the mud in water deep enough to not freeze to the bottom.

DP

[koikrazy]

OMG they are the cutest things ever! I want them at my pond!! What on earth was that silly Mom thinking when she took them in that net, lol. Ohhhhhh thanks for sharing, they are so adorable and of course my favourite duck ever! I haven't seen any ducks in the clay pond yet this year but of course I spend most of my time at work :-( We got snow this morning too, which makes me mad as I wanted to spend my two days off on the pond! I did get the upper pond and falls up and running, I just have to put in the fountain and little filter.

[frogman3]

Oh no not he S word! :po_ed:

[koikrazy]

Yes the dreaded S word, lol. Good news though, it is gone again this morning and we are supposed to be on a warming trend :thumbup:

[anitapond]

They sure are cute, Froggy! Your pond looks HUGE in these pics!

Well, if I were a duck, I'd come to your pond too! :thumbup:

[frogman3]

Now it seems she liked the place so much she close to start another brood amongst the spent Forget me knots by my falls. I discovered the nest yesterday with 5-6 chicken sized eggs and today found what had laid them. Guess I will have to put off the modifications to the planting area for awhile. I really do discourage the ducks since it's hard to feed the fish with them around plus they can devastate a marginal area. Lately they have smartened up since they land on the neighbors roofs waiting for me to go to work.