Make Way for Ducklings: What To Do When You Find a Nest in Your Backyard

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Ryan D.

What would you do if you discovered a mother duck incubating a nest full of eggs in your fenced-in backyard?

One Newton family found themselves in just such a situation when a mallard (dubbed “Quackie” by five-year-old Dylan) laid a clutch of eggs right beside their back door.

A Female Mallard sitting on her nest beside a back doorstep

Quackie chose a sheltered corner of the yard by the back door to lay her clutch of eggs.

Initially, they were concerned that their golden retriever, Quincy, would bother the new neighbor, but the gentle bird dog, described fondly as “descended from stuffed animals,” showed no interest in Quackie.

But they foresaw a larger issue. Their home is a mile from the nearest body of water, with a busy road in between, and they worried that Quackie would need human intervention to transport her hatchlings to a safe location. They did some research and learned that mallard eggs are incubated for 27-28 days, leaving them about three weeks to make a plan.

A nest of 13 mallard eggs

Quackie will incubate her clutch of eggs for 27-28 days.

What to do?

Should they call Animal Control to transport mother and eggs to a water source? Or wait until the eggs hatch? How should the birds be moved? And where to bring them?
They reached out to Mass Audubon where Joan Walsh, Director of Bird Monitoring, and Marj Rines, of Mass Audubon’s Wildlife Information Line, delivered the answers they needed.

“I always say,” Joan explained, “that these are professional birds, and while we think we know what’s best, really, they do.”

Marj added that it’s not uncommon for ducks to lead their hatchlings for more than a mile to their pre-chosen body of water. Relocating her to the wrong spot could inadvertently make her job harder.

Marj stressed that it’s important NOT to feed Quackie while she’s incubating. Food can attract predators that find duck eggs a tasty treat. Quackie goes off to feed twice a day on her own, a ritual that is actually called recess! Joan walked the family through the hatching process, which can take a couple of days from first cracks to when they leave the nest.

In the end, they all decided it would be best to let nature take its course, perhaps opening a gate once the eggs start to hatch. As a last resort, the family may need to marshal a Make Way for Ducklings-style parade to help with any road crossings or obstacles.

We’re looking forward to an update on Quackie’s progress sometime around May 9-12, 2016!

Quackie incubating her eggs

Quackie poses for an adorable close-up.

UPDATE 5/10/16

Quackie’s eggs hatched on the morning of Sunday, May 8—a wonderful Mother’s Day surprise! The following morning, Quackie led the very antsy chicks away to a nearby water source. A well-placed “Duck Cam” caught the nest departure in action; get ready for some serious cuteness:

We’re wishing Quackie the Mallard and all her hatchlings the best of luck!

For more on what to do if you find a duck nest in an enclosed space, visit our website for Duck Situations & Solutions.

5 Fun Facts About Drumlin Farm

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Hillary T.

If you’re already familiar with Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, you probably know that when you visit, you’ll see farm animals like cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, goats, and a pony. You might also know that we provide a home to rehabilitated injured and imprinted native wildlife. There’s even a chance you or your children have taken a class, attended a special event, or been part of our summer camp.

But that’s not all Drumlin Farm has to offer. Here are 5 things you may not know about Drumlin Farm:

Word Games

Drumlin Saying-640

There are puns and sayings throughout each barn. Keep a list as you go to see how many you can find. Can you find all of them? Hopefully before pigs fly!

You Can See For Miles

View from the Drumlin-640

You don’t have to drive far to get a peek at the mountains—on a clear day, take a mini hike to the top of the drumlin (a tear drop-shaped hill formed from glaciers) for a view of Mt. Wachusett, Mt. Monadnock, and the summits of Uncanoonuc in Goffstown, NH. You can even follow the footsteps of Henry David Thoreau, who recorded the same view in his journal in 1853!

Drop-In Activities

Drumlin Farm Hawk-640

We offer free-with-admission drop-in programs each weekday from mid-April to the end of October at 10 am and 11:30 am, and on weekends year-round at 10 am, 11:30 am, and 2:30 pm! On just about any given day, you could meet native wildlife up close, practice spinning wool into yarn, or feel the pelts of different mammals. Check the board near the nature center and at the farmyard entrance for a list of activities offered on the day of your visit.

Homegrown

crops

When we say our farm is a “working farm,” we mean it! The fresh, sustainably-grown produce you see at our Farmstand, in our Community Supported Agriculture program, at farmers’ markets in Somerville and Watertown, and in many local restaurants is grown right here on the farm.

Take an easy walk to Boyce Field to see what’s growing and maybe even talk to a farmer, too. In addition to vegetables, we also sell eggs and meat from our livestock, maple syrup from our sugar bush, pesto from our basil, goat milk soap from our goats, and yarn spun from our sheep’s wool.

A Natural Place to Shop

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Drumlin Farm is also home to the Audubon Shop, which has all the gear you need for identifying, explaining, and celebrating nature. Here, you can find great deals on binoculars, field guides, children’s toys and games, jewelry, and more. And in spring and summer, grab some ice cream as a sweet way to end your adventures.

Adapted from a post previously published on MassVacation.com