Visit 13: June 15, 2010, 11:00 am

OBSERVATIONS:
--Saw ducks on east side of main pond in a group of approximately nine; we guess that the mother and four ducklings have joined with the new group of mallards
--The mother and original four swim off into a group; we notice that one of the four has a ring around his neck, so we suspect that one of the four is male and the other three are female
--Mother is still protectively quacking away ibis birds
--Did not see young muscovy or alligator

Visit 12: May 23, 2010, 5:30 pm

OBSERVATIONS:
--Saw two females on south canal bank as we approached pond.
--Spotted both groups of four ducklings each from south pond bank (looking across at north and northeast banks).
--Approached mother mallard and four ducklings, all healthy, on northwest bank.
--Four ducklings are getting distinct markings and are much more aware of oncoming visitors!--Mama and ducklings stopped to preen and then crossed 'Alligator Creek' into safer cover.
--Spotted newly released group of four older ducklings swimming from north pond bank to northeast pond bank. Saw alligator in middle of pond. No imminent danger to ducks.--Approached new group of four looking for food on northwest pond bank.
--Still curious as to the relationship of the one Muscovy to the three mallards. All appear to be about the same age, all a bit older than the original group of ducklings we've been observing.

Visit 11: May 18, 2010, 4:30 pm

OBSERVATIONS:
--Saw three people on southeast pond bank with ducklings. We knew these weren't the ducklings we'd been watching as they were considerably bigger, so we asked about them. The people had brought them to the pond to release them. A mother mallard had nested at their place of business and hatched 14 ducklings. Of those, seven survived. The woman who took care of the mother and ducklings said that one day they were crossing the road near her business and a speeding motorist killed the mother. Of the remaining seven, these four survived. Banyan and I are curious and didn't understand, however, why one of the four is a Muscovy.
--One of the three people releasing the ducklings asked me, after learning that we visit the pond often, if the alligator warning signs were legitimate. I told him I had never seen an alligator in the pond, and no sooner had the words left my mouth did we spot one. This photograph doesn't show his(?) size well, but I'd estimate he's probably 3 feet or so, a young gator.
--As we were watching the gator, we saw the mother duck and her ducklings in the same spot we had seen them on Saturday, the northwest pond bank. We quickly made our way to their resting spot just as they were entering the pond.
--Sadly, we noticed immediately that there are now only four ducklings. We couldn't definitively tell if the duckling with the hurt leg was the one missing. Banyan hypothesized that it was.
--We also noticed that the mother duck seemed to be favoring her right side. Not sure if her wing or her leg is injured.
--The mother duck and now four ducklings began to cross the pond and were heading directly toward the alligator. I was unable to photograph their VERY close encounter, but mama came within a few feet of the gator, and then realized the impending danger and took off, as Banyan said "like Hot Wheels," toward the east pond bank.
--We walked back over to the southwest pond bank to report our findings to the three people releasing the four new ducklings, who look to be a few weeks older than the ones we've been following (they are beginning to get adult feathers).
--We were able to see imprinting in action as the woman who had cared for the ducklings tried to release them and was followed.
--She asked her friend to help chase them toward the water while she quickly left the park. It worked, and when we left the pond, there were two groups each of four ducklings on the eastern pond bank, about twenty yards apart from each other, seemingly unaware of each other's presence.
--Banyan and I wondered if the alligator had anything to do with the mother duck's injury or disappearance of the fifth duckling. We also wondered if there was a mother alligator nearby, as this alligator was still very young.

Visit 9: May 14, 2010, 9:30 am

OBSERVATIONS:
--Saw two females on canal bank.
--Looked for mama and ducklings on canal bank where we'd seen them last few times. Suspected they were there, because the muscovies were on guard...but did not see them.--Circumnavigated pond, then once again, saw mama and ducks climbing down bank into canal. Where were they hiding? Mama is an expert camouflager.
--Morning feeding. I think the canal has been a healthy food source for the ducklings; they appear to have grown overnight! The injury to the one duckling's left leg is improving.
--Played at park for a bit, circumnavigated pond again, and headed home westward alongside canal; spotted mama and five babies sleeping, nestled, on north side of canal.

Visit 3: May 11, 2010, 10:30 am

OBSERVATIONS:
--Saw one female duck alone sitting in sun. Thought it might be ducklings' mama but facial markings were different. (Curious: nesting?)
--Walked further and saw the 5 ducklings and mama resting on bank on northeast side of pond with other ducks of different varieties nearby. Muscovies quacked protectively then approached for food.--Mama appeared protective and babies curious as they approached, hoping for handouts.
--As the ducks moved north (clockwise around pond), we noticed sadly that the fifth duckling in the row has a hurt left leg.--He seemed to remain separated from the other ducks as they entered the pond.
--Mother duck watched as five babies dug their beaks voraciously in the mud for food. Mama protected them from a snapping turtle by using her body as a barrier.
--Baby duck with hurt leg swam differently than other ducks. --We left as the ducks continued their clockwise swim around the pond.