late duck hatch

[icehousebob]

Two days ago, I looked out on the pond early in the morning and there was a newly hatched batch of Wood Ducks. All the earlier duck and goose hatches have already feathered out. How common is it to have such late ducks? Do you think there is enough summer left for them to mature before migration?

[Steve Foss]

Many duck (and other bird species) will re-clutch if depredation or some other factor claims the first brood. The new brood will be at a disadvantage when it comes to maturation before migration, but some from late clutches usually survive.

[icehousebob]

Thanks, Steve. The Woodie hen is taking good care of them little ones and they're feeding like there's no tomorrow. When they rest, there's a few other hens that gather around like aunties. And yesterday I saw a brand new batch of Mallards. I hope we get a late fall.

[icehousebob]

Correction, I was just eyeballing the pond and I just saw another Mallard hen with six young ones. There must have been a great deal of renesting this year. Anyone else seeing any numbers of late ducks?

[dirtking]

On sat (7/21) I saw a flock of wood ducks that could not have been 2 days old - they were tiny. Smallest ducks I have ever seen so late in the year. Saw them north of Hutchinson

[Hammer Handle]

I have seen a lot of late hatchings this year.

May be do to the rising varmits (raccoons, skunk, opposums, etc).

May be due to the early hot weather...that turned cold again this spring.

[mplspug]

I was wondering the same since I have seen a lot of young ducks. I just thought that ducks sometimes raised 2 broods, especially if the spring is early.