Posted by Jane Hilboldt on May 20, 2007

Q: During the past two weeks, we have seen one female and 2 male Mallard ducks comming and going from our yard. Mallards are not typical for our area. We have a small pond in our yard, and yesterday we noticed she made a nest in a clay pot next to the pond (right outside our window!). She has 9 eggs in the nest, and one egg was found in the yard several feet from the nest. She is now there most of the day, so we are assuming incubation began.

Our questions are:

1. If our dog or child scares her off, and she returns after a few hours, are the eggs ok?

2. Is there anything we can do for the egg that is outside of the nest...and is it possible that this was a bad egg and she intentionally took it out of the nest?

3. Why would there be 2 males and one female?

4. Is there anything we should be doing to protect the eggs?

Thanks for your help!

State: Missouri

A: >

> 1. If our dog or child scares her off, and she returns after a few hours, are the eggs ok? Ducks leave their nests from time to time during incubation so they can feed and drink. The time away varies and I'm not sure just how long they can be away before it's an issue. I would guess that an hour is OK but maybe not much more.

> 2. Is there anything we can do for the egg that is outside of the nest...and is it possible that this was a bad egg and she intentionally took it out of the nest? It's not uncommon for a duck to lay several eggs in atypical locations before setting up a nest and getting down to incubation. So, I wouldn't worry about that egg. Don't try to place it in the nest as it only means you're more likely to attract predators. Predators often will follow the scent of humans and this may lead them straight to a nest. The less you are around the nest, the more likely that she will be able to complete incubation and hatch her young.

> 3. Why would there be 2 males and one female? I'd guess that the one male has lost his mate or his mate has hatched her young so he is no longer welcome. Male Mallards do not assist in the raising of their young - the female will actually drive him away.

> 4. Is there anything we should be doing to protect the eggs? The less you approach the nest, the less you intereact in any way with the nest, the better. Keep your kids and pets away. If you can find a location to view the nest from afar, that would be a good way to keep an eye on what's happening. I have used binoculars to monitor nests on my property in the past.

Best of luck.

John Wiessinger ( May 21, 2007)