Posted by sylvia ivory on June 12, 2008

Q: Hi, I am new to this web site and have been reading some of the postings reagrding nesting mallards. WE have mallards that visit our bird feeders every day and had ducklings last year that came with mum from a neighbouring pond. This morning we have discovered one nesting in the bushes at the front of the house. We are in a fairly new sub division. She was frightened away by a neighbours dog but did come straight back. There are twelve eggs in the nest at the moment. My question is, can I keep mowing/watering as usual as she seems to be at ease with me as I am the one that feeds them.

The path is used infrequently apart from garden maintenance and there are no dogs/young children to disturb her. the neighbours are moving with dog tomorrow.

WE are about 1/10 mile from water. Would you put corn out near the nest or just continue to place where we normally do which is about 500 yrds away from the nest?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: Ohio

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: Nice to hear you've had ducklings raised before that you could observe - really fun to see, isn't it? The best thing you can do for the duck is create as little activity around her as possible. Mallards are especially adaptive ducks and will tolerate a fair amount of human activity but I'd do my best to keep it at a minimum. Guess I wouldn't mow near her but I can't imagine the watering (with you moving the sprinkler) would be much of a problem. Keep in mind that predators often "check out" where people have been and this can lead them right to a bird's nest so try to stay away from the nest, even when she's away for water/food. Your idea of feeding at the original location of 500 yds away is good - don't feed near the nest as this will only attract predators. If you do want to keep tabs on her, I'd use a binocular so you can see from afar. Incubation takes 26-30 days so if you know when she began incubation (not egg-laying) you'll know when to expect the young.

I know how exciting it can be to have a nesting bird where you can watch but the less you interact, the better her chances of hatching her young. Mallards often nest quite some distance from water so don't worry about her ability to get her young to the water. Thanks for writing and best of luck.

John Wiessinger ( June 12, 2008)