When I first started walking near the Brighton millpond, I thought ducks came and went from pond to pond a lot. That’s usually not the case. Now that I recognize many of them and their family groups, I realize they rarely leave their turf if they can find adequate food and can live in peace. This duck family is an exception. I spotted them for the first time in the dark on June 16 (below right) even though the ducklings are at least 5-6 weeks old. While it’s possible they were hidden on the far side of the pond, I suspect they walked to the millpond from another location. There are many ponds in the area.
The north end of the pond has room for many more duck families so I think they’ll find it to their liking although I saw some of the resident ducks be aggressive with them on June 17 when the other two pictures were taken. When I tossed them a handful of duck chow, it was obvious they have never tasted it before. They just looked at it for a while until one of the kids nibbled and found it delicious. Soon, the hen found it tasty, too.
