I think it’s easy to take our wildlife for granted! Especially when you see them all the time like the humble duck swimming along the river. So I thought we could take a moment to remind ourselves just how awesome the quacking ducks in the fens are. The
Mallard or wild duck as they are also known is the species of duck we most commonly see on our waterways in England. The males are unmistakable, with a glossy bottle-green head and a white collar that demarcates the head from the purple-tinged brown
breast, grey-brown wings, and a pale grey belly.
The female mallard is predominantly mottled, with each individual feather showing sharp contrast from buff to very dark brown, a coloration shared by most female dabbling ducks. The female lays eight to 13 creamy white spotless eggs in the nesting season. Incubation takes 27 to 28 days and fledgling takes 50 to 60 days. The ducklings are fully capable of swimming as soon as they hatch.
Unlike most of the animals we look at-The mallard is considered to be a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. And Unlike many waterfowl, mallards are considered an invasive species in some regions. It is a very adaptable species, being able to live and even thrive in urban areas which may have supported more localised, sensitive species of waterfowl before development. However despite this, I feel they are very much part of our country side view and it just wouldn’t be the same without the ducks on the river pond.
In terms of predators- In addition to human hunting, mallards of all ages (but especially young ones) and in all locations must contend with a wide diversity of predators including owls, snakes and large fish but the most prolific natural predators of adult mallards are foxes (which most often pick off brooding females) and the faster or larger birds of prey, e.g. peregrine falcons will also take ducks.
Mallards have had a long relationship with humans. Almost all domestic duck breeds derive from the mallard, with the exception of a few Muscovy breeds. They were first domesticated in Southeast Asia at least 4,000 years ago, during the Neolithic Age, and were also farmed by the Romans in Europe, and the Malays in Asia. As the domestic duck and the mallard are the same species as each other, It is common for mallards to mate with domestic ducks and produce hybrid offspring that are fully fertile.
And now for some quick fun facts: Ducks are mostly aquatic birds living in both fresh water and sea water and found on every continent except for Antarctica. A male duck is called a drake, a female duck a hen, and a baby duck a duckling. A common urban legend is that a ducks quack does not echo. This has however, been proven to be false. Ducks have featured as popular cartoon characters over the years, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck and Warner Brothers, Daffy Duck. Mallard ducks live 5 to 10 years in the wild and 8+ years in captivity.
So there you have the duck! Or as I like to put it as I walk past the river…QUACK goes the duck! Enjoy them and let’s not take any bit of our wildlife for granted.
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