Posted by Bridget on May 12, 2005

Q: At my office, a Mallard Duck (I think) has made a nest under a bush just next to my parking space. I have been watching her sit on her eggs since the last week of March. It was still pretty cold then, so she rarely left them, except when startled by me getting into and out of my car. Now she only leaves them to eat, etc. and doesn't leave when I walk to my car. I am just wondering if the eggs are going to hatch at all because it's been much longer than 28 days when I first saw the eggs. Will she still sit on dead eggs? Thanks.

A: Bridget:

Thanks for describing the situation so well. A couple of questions though:

Is there a male on the scene? An "unattached" female may lay a clutch of eggs even if she has no mate. This of course would lead to clutch failure.

Did you begin your incubation day count from when the last egg was laid? Incubation starts the first day after the full clutch is laid. This ensures the chicks will all hatch at the same time.

The coolness of the weather shouldn't matter in this situation unless the eggs temperature was allowed to drop to near freezing for an extended period of time.

If there is a male present and she's been incubating for more than 25 days, then it's likely this nesting was a failure.

I hope this helps.

Jim Berry ( May 12, 2005)