Baby duckies survive treacherous highway crossing

[Leaffan]

Amazing.

I was rooting for them.

[StGermain]

My heart was in my throat the whole time. It's amazing they all made it cross.

StG

[MLS]

Notice how mama duck goes back and "collects" the ones who got literally blown away by the passing vehicles.

[kayaker]

We have mallards that hang out on our pond every spring/summer. One particular hen will lay a clutch of eggs and hatch out 10 - 12 ducklings each year.

But, she is a shitty mom. We watch her march her little brood around, taking them for hikes across our lawn to visit a bird-feeder, etc. Every few days we see her brood decrease in number, one at a time.

Foxes, hawks, etc. Some years she ends up with one or two that survive, but most years she'll lose them all.

[Euphonious Polemic]

The really amazing thing is that they make this trip TWICE A DAY.










(no they don't)

[Machine Elf]

Originally Posted by kayaker

Some years she ends up with one or two that survive, but most years she'll lose them all.

Having just a few that survive to adulthood is probably close to normal; I would bet that most ducks that hatch are killed before they get a chance to reproduce at all. Were this not the case, the duck population would be skyrocketing.

[Lamar Mundane]

When I was a baby duckie, I had to get up at midnight and lick the road road clean wit' tongue!

[purplehorseshoe]

Yeah, kayaker, you're being too harsh on Mrs. MommyDuck. The one in the video, however, deserves a "Mom of the Year" coffee mug.

[Ibanez]

Amazing that they all made it, I hope they only have to make that trip once. I remember one time stopping for a duck crossing. 4 lanes of traffic, both ways all stopped and let a family cross. Faith in humanity restored.

[kayaker]

Originally Posted by purplehorseshoe

Yeah, kayaker, you're being too harsh on Mrs. MommyDuck. The one in the video, however, deserves a "Mom of the Year" coffee mug.

Well, I didn't really explain what a crap mom she is. I find ducklings wandering around our yard pretty often and have to scoop them up, track momma down, and return baby. And she's not a Mrs. Any drake will do.

[Zebra]

They are way better than that Chinese kid.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

Video wouldn't play for me. In fact, I couldn't find any play buttons. Am I doing something wrong?

[Brown Eyed Girl]

Originally Posted by Malleus, Incus, Stapes!

Video wouldn't play for me. In fact, I couldn't find any play buttons. Am I doing something wrong?

You have to put the quarters in first.

[Spoons]

Glad to see that Mama Duck and her ducklings made it across safely!

[Moonlitherial]

In a sad counterpoint to Mama Duck's abilities, on the same highway this morning

SPOILER:

Two pedestrians (why they were walking on that highway is as yet unknown) were struck and are reported to have serious injuries.

[Snooooopy]

The predators on the other side who subsequently ate up all of the ducklings are particularly grateful for such a spirited effort.