In our neck of the woods... summer youngsters

Mallard Ducklings - Most mallards migrate to the northern US and Canada to breed, but some skip the whole exhausting migration ordeal and decide to breed right here in Missouri.

Mallards are the most abundant species of duck in North America. Hen mallards make their nests on the ground (usually near water, but sometimes as far as a mile from water), and lay an average of 7 to 10 eggs. Although the hen and drake stay together before the eggs are laid, the drake usually leaves the hen once she lays the eggs.

The hen incubates the eggs for about 28 days before they hatch. The ducklings can walk, feed, and swim as soon as they hatch. After all the eggs hatch, the hen leads the young to water (yep, even walking a mile if necessary), and they never return to the nest. The ducklings stay close to the hen for about two months, until they can fly.

By the way, mallards are the ducks that make the classic quack sound. Most other ducks make sounds that are decidedly unquacky (my new made-up word for the day).

Photo Credit:
Mallards - Stan C. Smith