DUCKLINGS!!!

I follow a lot of bird nerds and bird pages and am a member of many bird groups (including the fantastic Feathered Friends) and have been noticing a lot of photos of ducklings and goslings, all of which are fantastic, and all of which left me wanting to take my own. So I, my dog, and my camera took a trip to Laurelhurst Park to see the babies.

These are Mallard ducklings. I don't know much about ducks other than they like to swim and their kids are cute, so I did a little reading up. I learned that the mothers are the ones who do the rearing once the eggs hatch. However, I did notice the fathers hanging around, so I think they must play some part in duckling rearing as well.

The ducklings acted very independent. They reminded me of very confident little toddlers as they foraged around for things to eat.

I couldn't tell what they were eating, but whatever it was, there seemed to be plenty.

Even though the little ones seemed to know what they were doing, the parents were always close by, watching them...

And watching me.

I was careful not to disturb any of the families.

I hope you've enjoyed these ducklings! I will be posting Canada Goose goslings as soon as I sort through the ten thousand pictures I took of them.

Thanks for birding out with me!