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 10: May 15, 2010, 7:00 pm

OBSERVATIONS:
--Our first full family sunset trip to the pond. We circumnavigated, paying extra attention to the canal banks, as we expected the ducklings to be there.
--Benjamin finally spotted the ducklings on the northwest bank of the pond, a place we hadn't seen them before.
--The two females were standing guard very close to the ducklings.

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 8: May 13, 2010, 4:45 pm

OBSERVATIONS:
--We found the ducks again on the bank of the canal, this time very far east, almost to the Hillview entrance. Their camouflage was most impressive.
--We circumnavigated the pond again and found the pair of female mallards on the west side just north of the footbridge entering the water.
--We had another interesting conversation with a frequent park-goer and are gathering enough anecdotal, experiential evidence to estimate the ducklings' age. Based on this park-goer's recalling seeing nine ducklings two weeks ago, and yesterday's recount of seeing approximately 12 ducklings three to four weeks ago, we can estimate that the ducklings are approximately one month old.
--Resident surmised that raccoons were preying upon ducklings.

Visit 7: May 13, 2010, 9:15 am

OBSERVATIONS:
--Walked in from Hillview Street past canal and walked counterclockwise toward eastern pond bank; saw two female mallards (neither the mother) together--Circumnavigated entire pond, then started to head east down Hillview and saw mama and five ducklings walking down the path
--Surmised that they must have been hiding / resting under the cabbage palm cluster just south of the path; other possibility is the south canal bank--Watched as they went down into the canal to feed--Had a very interesting conversation with a resident whose backyard faces the south boundary of Arlington Park. Resident disagrees with county regulations and has emailed them, arguing that this is a man-made park and some species here aren't native, that ending human feeding is making the animals hungry; she also said that some of the black ducks were killed by humans a few years ago, very sad.
--Resident surmised that red-tailed hawks were preying upon the ducklings. Recalled that we had seen one on visit one.

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

OBSERVATIONS:
--Circumnavigated entire pond in search of ducklings.
--Saw one lone female mallard emerge and quack loudly in the middle of the pond near the fountain.
--Saw a second lone female mallard near canal west of pond.
--Asked park visitors if they had seen ducklings. They said they thought they saw the mother peek her head out to check for safety and retreat. May have been one of other female ducks.
--We hypothesized that the duck family was resting in the safety of the northwest pond bank, where the growth is so thick that the bank is hidden from the viewpoint of the path.

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.