The day-old duckling I posted on mom’s back yesterday is one of four in Brood 8 of the 2012 season. Three of the four ducklings are marked as typical mallards, but one is a showstopper (above). I was thrilled the moment I found him because I thought he would be easy to spot in the future since he’s a one-of-a-kind and beautiful. I decided I’d call him Butterscotch.
All four of the brood looked healthy, alert, and scooted around with their mother searching for tidbits on the pond embankment (left). Unlike most of the other hens, this mom brought her first day babies to the most public part of the millpond near Main Street. She seemed unconcerned with humans and knew how to protect them. Sadly, I photographed Butterscotch on the only day of its life. By the next night, he had vanished either by predation or the cold night. Only three ducklings remain (bottom).
