(Blue-Eyed White Embden Geese, and a Toulouse Goose, June 2009) *Click collage to enlargeI found it quite interesting to see them swimming together, all lined up in a row! If anyone would care to share your knowledge of them, I'd love to learn more!
These colorful guys are male Mallard ducks. The females are mottled brown. In the world of birds, it's often the case that the male is the colorful one-mainly as a protective measure against the nesting female being noticed by preditors.
(Mallard ducks, June 2009) *Click collage to enlarge
These ducklings are baby mallards, I think...but I'm not sure. Can anyone tell what they are, from my photos?
(Mallard ducklings, June 2009) *Click collage to enlarge
There's a story to share about the baby ducks. Looking closely you will see 4 of them swimming together. We found them alone, in the center of a very large lake, where boats were zooming by in every direction. Apparently, mother duck was nowhere to be found, and we were concerned for them! There's a moral dilemma we face when we come across little creatures who appear to be in trouble. Should we intervene, or allow mother nature to take it's course?
Perhaps foolishly, we tried to get them to move closer to the shore by 'strategically' placing our boat in places designed to herd them that way. Unfortunately, one little one became separated from the others, and continued to swim in another direction, alone. The other three didn't even seem to notice, because they stayed the course that they'd started. We made a couple of attempts to direct the little one closer to his brothers and sisters, but being unsuccessful at that, we decided to just get out of the way entirely. All four of them were still very far out in the lake and were at risk for being run over by a fast-moving boat. After we got involved, not only were they still in dangerous territory without their mother, but they were separated from each other, as well! We felt terrible about our decision to try to help. We didn't stay around to find out if they ever got back together. We wished we'd just kept on going in the first place.
Thanks for your visit! Hope July is going well for you!
--Today I am thankful for geese--and ducks, too;-)
The duck photos are wonderful. I love to watch the ducks on one of our favourite waterfront walks.
ReplyDeleteOh, Jan, these pics are wonderful! Nearly feel as if we are there. TTFN ~Marydon
ReplyDeleteOy, this reminded me of the baby robin that fell out of its nest in our back yard and we had the same dilemma. Everyone told me to let nature take its course. The baby eventually disappeared. But I googled baby robins, and I wish I had done more. Some enterprising person found a plastic box from baby wipes, put the baby inside with cotton and stuff, and hung that from a tree, so that mama could still take care of the baby. I have always regretted not doing this.
ReplyDeleteCute ducks Jan! The little ones look like little Mallard babies. So you vacationed at Lake Anna? Pretty area.
ReplyDeleteJan, it is hard to know what to do when you see an animal in trouble, especially baby ones. But I think it is best to let nature take it's own course as hard as that is at times. Like the people who make the wildlife documentaries. They are there to observe only.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are wonderful! Those geese look like we could reach out and touch them.
It is always hard to know what is best for the critters.
ReplyDeleteThe baby rabbit we rescued two weeks ago, is still alive and doing very well. We have been told this is a rare occurrence, as most baby rabbits die from shock within the first few hours or days.We are calling him our miracle bunny.
Those geese really are pretty. We mostly have the Canada geese here, lots and lots of them.
ReplyDeleteThose ducklings sure are sweet. I always worry about animals too, it is hard to know what to do.
Jan Lovely photos. Yes what a quandery something we often face in life.
ReplyDeleteI often feel in this situation with my efforts to raise awareness of lyme Disease, until I think of the children such as Lewis Jeynes on my blog role.
I hope you had time to read my recent post Lime for Lyme after your recent brush with the illness.
I've been to Lake Anna, beautiful place! These photos are wonderful, Jan!
ReplyDeleteAren't they just beautiful! Maybe one day we can have a pond in the country with ducks. I don't want any geese though, I don't like it when they chase you. Some of them are just mean.--Randy
ReplyDeletelovely captures jan...enjoyed the post very much.
ReplyDeleteJan,
ReplyDeleteVery cute ducks. They are my one of my favorite birds to watch, I enjoyed these photos A lot!
July is going by fast!
Rosey
What awesome photos! I love the one with the geese all lined up in a row! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi Jan
ReplyDeleteI hope the ducks got back with their Mum. I'ts impossible to know what to do for the best.
Lovely photos
Rob
LOVE the geese photos...you obviously have a big heart to take the time and effort to help the baby ducks. I hope all ended well, I choose to believe it did, Kim
ReplyDeleteJan, the geese are beautiful! And so cleverly captured!
ReplyDeleteKatarina
Wonderful family photos Jan! Love the geese especially :-) July is a great month for sightings isn't it. Thanks, we've been enjoying it too :-D
ReplyDeleteI probably would have done the same thing. There is an area not far from my home that the ducks frequent and I have stopped a few times to help them cross the road as I'm afraid the cars will hit them. The traffic was so crazy one time that I actually had to put my flashers on, get out of my car, and pick up the baby ducks and deliver them to mama who was really upset. I received a few honks and mean looks, but the ducks made it safely.
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Lovely photos! The white geese are so elegant looking.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the little ducks were reunited with their mother after the boat activity died down.
Fun pictures !
ReplyDeleteGotta love nature !
Reminds me that I have to get out more...too much work.
Now those charming geese would be much more welcome here than the Candian geese that hang out making messes! No, my purple monarda is not Petite Delight unless it was mis-marked. I'm pretty sure it's Grand Parade. Very well behaved.
ReplyDeleteSuch nice photos. They are as pretty as swans.
ReplyDeleteWe raised some embden geese years ago. They are sweet and make good pets. On the other hand Chinese Brown geese are mean. The male is very aggressive and will chase you down and bite you.
ReplyDeleteI probably would have tried to catch the baby duck and reunite it with the others. If you have bread they will come for that. That could be why they were so far out to begin with. People were probably feeding them and they were following along. Maybe the mom was somewhere eating and would come back for them.