Everywhere I went over the last few days, I seemed to find Wood Ducks with
young, varying from newly hatched to almost full grown, but all young in
each family were very much the same size/age.
I eventually found one family with FIFTEEN young - plus the two adults.
Goodness knows how many they started out with before eels, cats and foxes
took their toll! However, the young varied greatly in size. A couple
were quite tiny, whilst a couple were almost half grown, and everything in
between. What is the likely explanation? Perhaps the duck started
"sitting" whilst still laying, or do some ducklings eat more and do better
(too much difference for this, I think), or might it be a combined family
group from different parents, or is this something normal, if not common?
I'd be interested to hear from anyone with experience or knowledge.
Robyn
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