Baby Ducks at the Mirage

[crubfrush]

[ QUOTE ]
To aggravate the situation, the other adult ducks were constantly nipping at the little guys.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does anyone know the evolutionary purpose of adult males picking at or killing their own offspring?

It seems like it could be selecting for toughness or whatever, but there are many animals where the male just eats his own kids, so it's not like it's really weeding out the weaklings, it's more or less random who gets eaten.

BTW, I [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] ducks and this thread is making me sad.

[M2d]

[ QUOTE ]


These baby ducks either have a high mortality rate or the Mirage removes them from the pond.

[/ QUOTE ]

what else is in the pond? any largemouth bass? ducklings are particularly yummy to a number of higher predators. basically anything that can get one it its mouth will eat them. one of the most awesome sights I've seen while fishing is a duckling getting taken by a largemouth bass. first, the mother is swimming with five ducklings trailing behind her. then, there's an explosion at the end of the line and all the feathered ones scatter. when the line up again, it's mama and four trailers.

[kyleb]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


These baby ducks either have a high mortality rate or the Mirage removes them from the pond.

[/ QUOTE ]

what else is in the pond? any largemouth bass? ducklings are particularly yummy to a number of higher predators. basically anything that can get one it its mouth will eat them. one of the most awesome sights I've seen while fishing is a duckling getting taken by a largemouth bass. first, the mother is swimming with five ducklings trailing behind her. then, there's an explosion at the end of the line and all the feathered ones scatter. when the line up again, it's mama and four trailers.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is not awesome you jerk [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[Dynasty]

There are no fish in the pond. It's just the mallards, coots, and a few other non-water birds that live in the area.

[Dynasty]

I would like to introduce you to one of the coolest ducks in the world. About a year ago, a female duck at the Mirage was unusually trusting of me. Whenever she saw me near the pond's rail, she would immediatley run in my direction. She had absolutely no fear of apporaching me.

One day, she lept in the air and grabbled a cracker out of my hand (about waist high) when I wasn't prepared. Soon afterwards, I could easily get her to leap as high as I wanted for food. She's the only duck who behaves this way.

She seemed to disapear from the Mirage after a couple months. But, just a week ago, she reappeared at the pond and was just as friendly as ever.

A tourist took these pictures and was kind enough to e-mail them to me.

[Dynasty]

[ QUOTE ]
All you duck haters should realize that I don't care about the facts. Just picture ducks the size of pigeons hanging out on street corners.

[/ QUOTE ]

You don't need to imagine.

[Ray Zee]

really neet picture, thats stuff is what makes the world stay sane.

get a 50 lb. bag of cracked corn at the feed store for 8 bucks. the white bread crap is no good for them.