🔍 Duck Surveillance: Operation Nest Watch – Field Report #3

The neighborhood has been busy. Nest #1 has hatched. The ducklings have departed. And Nest #2 is still very much under surveillance. This is Field Report #3. I have a lot to report. 🔍🦆

5:30am: My human looked out the back door and said, “There was a duck going crazy outside.” Other human said, “Maybe they hatched.”

Other human was correct.

6:04am: Human went outside to investigate. Mama was loud. Very loud.

A hatched egg was confirmed. Chirping was heard. Video footage obtained – visibility limited due to darkness, but audio evidence is compelling. The neighborhood inspector reviewed the footage. It checks out. 🔍

6:18am: It got slightly lighter outside. Human went back out for a better look. Photographic evidence obtained. Mama was in her nest. She had been broadcasting to the entire neighborhood that her babies had arrived.

My human spoke to her. Mama did not respond. My human continued talking anyway. This is acceptable. 🦆

7:09am: Another nest check conducted. One hatched egg shell confirmed visible. Mama remained in nest. Temperature: feels like 30s. Windy. Ducklings were sheltering under mama, staying warm. Surveillance continued from the window. 👀

This was acceptable. She had the situation under control.

4:44pm: Human approached the tree for an afternoon surveillance check. The duckling chirped at her. Mama did not make a sound.

Duckling count: still under investigation. But at least one was confirmed. 👀

We see you, little one. 🦆

Photographic and video evidence obtained. Mama and duckling confirmed snuggled together under the pine tree. The neighborhood inspector reviewed this footage. Several feelings were experienced. They are classified. 🐾

6:39am: Human conducted morning nest check. Nest #1 is empty.

Several hatched egg shells remain. Approximately 5-6 visible. One egg may be unhatched – still under review. Mama and ducklings were not located at either nearby water source.

Current whereabouts: unknown. 👀

This is not a cause for alarm. I have researched this. It turns out mallard ducklings leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching. All of them. At once. Mama leads them out at dawn and does not look back.

Additionally – and this detail is important – mama mallards eat their own egg shells after hatching. This provides a rapid boost of calcium for her recovery. It also removes evidence of hatching to protect the nest from predators.

She thought of everything. The neighborhood inspector respects this. 🔍🦆

Mama and her ducklings are almost certainly nearby – tucked under a bush, posted by the water, living their best lives. Surveillance is ongoing. 👀🐾

Nest #1 has been under surveillance since March 10th. That is 42 days. Through a snowstorm. Through rain.

Mama did not move. Not once. Well, aside from getting food and water, but she hid her nest really well.

She hatched her ducklings, kept them warm through a cold and windy morning, and led them out into the world the following dawn. She ate her own egg shells for calcium because she is efficient and practical and does not waste anything.

I have filed my report. Nest #1: MISSION COMPLETE. 🦆🐾

Nest #2 is still active. 🥚

Nest #2 was discovered on April 9th – though given how well hidden it is, it may have been there much longer. The neighborhood inspector has opinions about this. 🔍

If the eggs were laid around that time, the hatch window is approximately May 5th–7th. The neighborhood inspector is recalibrating surveillance accordingly.

Operation Nest Watch: still active. Still ongoing. The field reports will continue. 🦆🐾

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🦆Operation Duck Surveillance