Day 232: Broken Duck

Over the last couple of months, I have been watching the unfurling of bird babies in the park.  Started with tiny moorhens.  Then goslings and cygnets.  Finally, ducklings.  The goslings are now definitely gawky and adolescent.  As are the cygnets. 

And the moorhens?  Only seen once.  One morning there they were - six tiny balls of dark fuzz scrambling over a messy nest.  The next morning, the nest was empty.  I hoped they were swimming somewhere nearby, but I had a terrible suspicion they were not...

Last week I saw ducklings.  A string of about seven, fluffed up and floating in a line, like bathtime toys.  No sign of them now. 

Elevenses

Meanwhile, the herons are looking VERY PLUMP...  Today I checked out my suspicions.  A quick internet search reveals that herons will eat ANYTHING.  Rabbits.  Squirrels.  Definitely ducklings.  Whole.  Down in one.  There is some graphic YouTube footage that proves this.  For the herons, the nests are like snack bowls.  And the ducklings are cashew nuts, or Japanese rice crackers.  Very more-ish. 

I know the herons are just doing what comes naturally, but the park is a sadder place for the lack of ducklings.

There are Canada geese in the park.  They stay close to their young, and hiss aggressively if you get anywhere near. 

Makes sense.  When there are herons out there, you've got to stand up for yourself.