Candy -- The Reluctant Mallard "Octomom"

Candy and her six of her eight scattered babies last week.

On their own again.

Mom finally shows up.

Candy and some of the kids this morning.

While one swims off.

Taking a breather.

Mom with one of the kids casually watching as the others take off.  "What me worry?"

 

No sooner had it been predicted in this blog that the last, remaining goose family would leave the Central Park Reservoir, that they actually did.

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Hansel, Greta and their three goslings in fact vacated their nesting and child rearing location the very day I posted the last blog -- forecasting they were about to depart.

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"Eleven weeks" appears to indeed be the developmental period in goslings that, for whatever reason, compels the families to stretch their wings and seek new horizons.

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It is likely that neither of the two goose families will be observed back at the Reservoir until next March. That has been their pattern over the past several years. If there is one thing we have learned about geese it is that they are creatures of set patterns and rigid time schedules.

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Though there are currently no geese at the Reservoir, that is not to say it is entirely without a water bird family.

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For the first time in many years, there is actually a mama duck with 8 ducklings.

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I noticed "Candy" and her eight tiny hatchlings nearly three weeks ago.

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Or, rather I first noticed eight frantic ducklings who were wildly swimming and crying out in the water. They were desperately seeking their mother who was apparently no where to be found!

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I thought the mama was among a small group of mallards in the water who often come to me for treats. But, why wouldn't the ducklings simply stay with her?

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After a few minutes, the ducklings moved to the north side of the Reservoir, still crying out loudly and still searching their absentee mother.

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It was only when the hatchlings were nearly a quarter of a mile away, that a female mallard finally left the ledge where she had been greedily gulping treats from me to fly back to her wayward and frantic brood.

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I could not believe a mother duck would prioritize treats over protecting and staying with her newly hatched ducklings (hence the name, "Candy.")!  What kind of "dutiful" mother was this?

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The following night it was the same story. But that time, I immediately recognized the irresponsible Candy and gave her a swift pat in the butt with the back of my hand (instead of treats). That was to send her back to her distressed babies who were loudly squawking and panicked in the water.

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As someone so used to observing the devoted and extremely protective parental behavior of Canada geese towards their young, it was truly shocking to note the nonchalant and devil-may-care attitude of a mother mallard towards her young.

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Candy was by far, the worst animal mother I had seen in years! Everything about her screamed, "Whatever! If they make it, they make it. If they don't, they don't!"  

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Granted, eight babies were a lot of mouths to feed and worry about. Human "octomoms" aren't apparently so great either.

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Considering the high mortality rate of ducklings (under normal circumstances with good mothers), I was determined not to "feel" too much for this particular batch of little ones as I was sure few, if any of the ducklings would ultimately survive.  Though the Central Park Reservoir doesn't contain abundant predators, there are many raccoons, some hawks and maybe a snapping turtle or two.  I figured the ducklings were doomed.

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Low and behold however, it is now three weeks later and all eight ducklings are still hanging in there!

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Don't ask me how, as Candy's behavior towards her brood has not changed in the least.

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A few days ago, I thought she had lost five of her babies as I only saw her with three. But continuing to walk along the Reservoir, the other five ducklings were spotted 30 or so feet away from the mom and other siblings.

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"If they make it, they make it. If they don't, they don't."  Candy is obviously not one given to worry.

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This morning, Candy and her brood were to the north side of the Reservoir. Her babies are big enough now to climb along the rocks and scoop up some treats with their mom. But a few got quickly bored and returned to the water to swim off on their own.

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If mom has "taught" them nothing else, she has taught her babies early independence.

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Nevertheless, the fact Candy still has all eight ducklings might suggest she is not such a "bad mom" after all.

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Either that, or she is simply extremely lucky. -- PCA

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