Keeping a watchful and documented eye on a newly born Muscovy clutch

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 6th: (Day 25, 7 ducklings)


I really think this is whole family here. Mama, papa, and Aunt. The male will not peck the babies. Auntie will but softly. Shes still healing from losing her eggs to the racoon attack but is making it.

Once again my camera got pecked

First on todays agenda is training. Feather and fluff upkeep!

Soldiers being briefed on the adventure ahead.

Mama takes babies off to an adventure across the lake. I also saw them return a few hours later

 

[Canadian Wind]

Thank you for the smile you put on my face every day! Well, except when they got attacked...

 

[tlcmurphy]

Thank you for the smile you put on my face every day! Well, except when they got attacked...

Agreed, they are absolutely adorable! Your pictures and narrative are wonderful, thank you!

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

Thank you for the smile you put on my face every day! Well, except when they got attacked...

Im thrilled and feel very blessed and lucky to be following a clutch whom for the most part has had it better than most. They've gone through some tough trials like a hurricane, Eagle attack, Mama duck injury, and even being scattered due to an unknown predator. The sad truth is that very very few make it.

I recently connected with a guy in my area who also documents Muscovies and also lives near a huge lake with them. He said hes counted around 300 something ducklings born and only five TOTAL have made it to adulthood this year. So far I've tracked 9 out of 39 this year for my neck of the woods.

So when we have a good day filled with positivity I aim to extract all I can from it. Documenting their journey in a small way makes their lives more meaningful since they do put smiles on peoples faces that see them hundreds of miles away.

Agreed, they are absolutely adorable! Your pictures and narrative are wonderful, thank you!

Thanks! I like to add a little flair to their journey but even the smallest of narrative are grounded in truth. For example, Todays update about the "soldiers being briefed on the adventure" was mama duck chirping at them an hour before she sat off with them across the lake. Of course I told them to be careful and be alert and take care of each other.

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 7th: (Day 26, 7 ducklings)


This duck family is getting fast. I was walking around the lake and spotted them across the way and by the time I got to where they were.... they were already back on the side I came from . Eventually I caught up with them and everything seems status quo

Bad storms coming in soldier. It won't be as crazy as last time but stay vigilant.

I sat down on the grass with my powerade. One of the babies was curious and tried to jump on it. Instant wipeout.

Getting big!

 

[Canadian Wind]

Please stay safe with the coming storm!

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 8th: (Day 27, 7 ducklings)


Sorry no pictures today as it has been a very busy day. For those wondering, The hurricane should not affect us much but we will get some basic storms/wind. Not really worried for our duck family.

I am however extremely concerned for the people in the direct path of that hurricane. Its going to be a record setting hurricane and I pray everyone affected makes it out okay and follows their local guidance.

As for the duck family, I found them a few hours ago. They were as happy and cheerful as ever. Mama and the ducklings are in tip top shape!

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 9th: (Day 28, 6 ducklings)



Damnit! Im gonna kick myself for awhile for this one. So we lost a duckling in the middle of the day. I had a clue something was wrong when I went out early morning and saw them by some of the community areas. One duckling in particular had some fluff missing on their head and was acting a little funky. (Clearly by their crops they were fed by someone before i got there lol)

Anyways, I kept an eye on it and saw how it did. It kept up with the pack but was a bit wobbly. Something told me to grab it and go ahead and rehab it for a day or two. I ignored it because it felt like an emotional reaction.

Well I came back in the afternoon and there was only six. The one with the injury was gone.

Due to the rain and wind today I couldn't get better pictures but today was unfortunate. Trying to strike that balance of not interfering unnecessarily and also identifying when a duckling is about to die without intervention is just tough. Then you have morals, laws (Gonna vent here, Please forgive me. **** Fish and wildlife Governing organizations), and your own perception of the situation to consider.

A hundred possible actions but very few are correct in all the ways that matter.

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 10th: (Day 29, 6 ducklings)


Its been frustrating at times but its been more happy days than not. The ducklings turn one month old tomorrow! Thank you for following along and seeing their story and resilience/Will to stay alive despite the overwhelming odds against them. We lost four along the way unfortunately but I was expecting much more. These soldiers have a great and experienced mama who overcame her own trials to keep these babies alive.

Then fueled by the warm and cheering response here I felt motivated to help as much as I could. So you reading this now also had an impact. Thank you for reading their story. As such, I decided to spend most of the day collecting some very special pictures to share with anyone following along.



Soldiers on the move!!!!!!

GROUP FORMATION! ATTACK!!!

Looks like this old bird still got it. You strut mama!

Proud of all these soldiers and the ones that we lost along the way

We all look at the sunset on the lake giving thanks to what we have and honoring what we lost. Even the babies step brothers/sisters from an earlier clutch stopped by with Auntie. The day felt special.

Quick bath before well earned rest.

We made it mama

Tomorrow will be my last "daily" update and I will post a summary of notable events but I will continue to periodically give updates every few days showing what they've been up to and how they've grown. We still have much more to look forward to. Seeing them start to get that dirty fluff as their feathers begin to grow, First flights, and maybe even their full colors at adulthood.

Thanks again! Let me know if this is something you enjoyed seeing. I might make another documented clutch in Spring 2025! Maybe we will follow mama again? Or perhaps one of her older daughters?

 

[tlcmurphy]

October 10th: (Day 29, 6 ducklings)


Its been frustrating at times but its been more happy days than not. The ducklings turn one month old tomorrow! Thank you for following along and seeing their story and resilience/Will to stay alive despite the overwhelming odds against them. We lost four along the way unfortunately but I was expecting much more. These soldiers have a great and experienced mama who overcame her own trials to keep these babies alive.

Then fueled by the warm and cheering response here I felt motivated to help as much as I could. So you reading this now also had an impact. Thank you for reading their story. As such, I decided to spend most of the day collecting some very special pictures to share with anyone following along.



Soldiers on the move!!!!!!

View attachment 3962358

GROUP FORMATION! ATTACK!!!

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View attachment 3962361

Looks like this old bird still got it. You strut mama!

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Proud of all these soldiers and the ones that we lost along the way

View attachment 3962362

We all look at the sunset on the lake giving thanks to what we have and honoring what we lost. Even the babies step brothers/sisters from an earlier clutch stopped by with Auntie. The day felt special.

View attachment 3962363

Quick bath before well earned rest.

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We made it mama


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Tomorrow will be my last "daily" update and I will post a summary of notable events but I will continue to periodically give updates every few days showing what they've been up to and how they've grown. We still have much more to look forward to. Seeing them start to get that dirty fluff as their feathers begin to grow, First flights, and maybe even their full colors at adulthood.

Thanks again! Let me know if this is something you enjoyed seeing. I might make another documented clutch in Spring 2025! Maybe we will follow mama again? Or perhaps one of her older daughters?

View attachment 3962377

Great photos and commentary, and yes I’d love to watch another clutch story