{"id":10709,"date":"2018-04-02T06:30:47","date_gmt":"2018-04-02T10:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=10709"},"modified":"2018-03-29T13:40:28","modified_gmt":"2018-03-29T17:40:28","slug":"take-5-mallards-on-the-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-mallards-on-the-move\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Mallards on the Move"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ducks are a familiar sight in our urban and suburban parks, having adapted over time to thrive in developed areas.\u00a0There are dozens of species of ducks, but thanks to Robert McCloskey’s popular children’s book\u00a0Make Way for Ducklings<\/em>, most folks are familiar with the Mallard<\/a> species, the most abundant waterfowl in Massachusetts and, indeed, the United States.<\/p>\n

Mallard males are easily recognizable, with their glossy green heads, bright yellow bills, and white neck rings. Females are a bit more demure, with mottled brown coloring and orange-brown bills, but both males and females sport a blue patch bordered by white in their wings.<\/p>\n

In spring, female mallards search for good places to make their nests<\/a>: dry ground close to water, preferably concealed by grass or shrubbery. Occasionally, their nesting spot of choice may be a fenced yard, a swimming pool, or the courtyard of a building.<\/p>\n

Fences and walls are not much of a problem for the mother duck, who can fly right over the top, but once her ducklings hatch, they may be trapped as they are unable to fly for their first 60 days. If you encounter a mallard nest in such a problem area, this story<\/a> of a local Newton family and their resident mallard, “Quackie”, should offer some solutions (and warm your heart!).<\/p>\n

Here are five great photos of mallards from our Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest to celebrate some of our favorite feathered storybook heroes. Submissions for the 2018 photo contest open in early summer, so stay tuned!<\/p>\n

\"Female

Female Mallard with Ducklings \u00a9 Virginia Sands<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Mallard

Mallard ducks in flight \u00a9 Richard Antinarelli<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Mallard

Mallard Duck \u00a9 Sandy Selesky<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Female

Female mallard swimming with ducklings \u00a9 Hien Nguyen<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Female

Female mallard with ducklings \u00a9 Derrick Jackson<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ducks are a familiar sight in our urban and suburban parks, having adapted over time to thrive in developed areas.\u00a0There are dozens of species of ducks, but thanks to Robert McCloskey’s popular children’s book\u00a0Make Way for Ducklings, most folks are familiar with the Mallard species, the most abundant waterfowl in Massachusetts and, indeed, the United […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":10718,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[214,213,83,84],"class_list":["post-10709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-ducks","tag-mallard-ducks","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/1293HienNguyen4387_fi.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-2MJ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15924,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-get-your-ducks-in-a-row\/","url_meta":{"origin":10709,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Get Your Ducks In a Row","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"As spring gives way to summer, young ducks that were but mere hatchlings a few weeks ago are growing rapidly. Mallard ducklings remain with their mother after hatching for about 50\u201360 days until they can fly on their own. Mother Mallards keep their fluffy little ducklings together for protection against\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mallard mother and ducklings \u00a9 Hien Nguyen","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/06\/1293HienNguyen4387-2-Copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/06\/1293HienNguyen4387-2-Copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/06\/1293HienNguyen4387-2-Copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/06\/1293HienNguyen4387-2-Copy.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11917,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-bottoms-up\/","url_meta":{"origin":10709,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Bottoms Up!","author":"Ryan D.","date":"November 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Waterfowl exhibit a whole host of different feeding behaviors, like diving, grazing, or foraging. The most common, however (or at least the most commonly recognized) is \"dabbling\" or \"tipping\". Dabbling ducks like the Mallards pictured below will simply \"tip up\" in shallow water\u00a0to forage on the aquatic plants along the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"\u00a9 Glenn Rifkin","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/1456GlennRifkin4943_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/1456GlennRifkin4943_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/1456GlennRifkin4943_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/1456GlennRifkin4943_1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4406,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/odd-ducks\/","url_meta":{"origin":10709,"position":2},"title":"Odd Ducks","author":"Rosemary","date":"December 3, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Some of nature\u2019s most colorful waterfowl visit our lakes, rivers, and shores during the colder months. Here are five stylish ducks to watch out for. Northern shoveler Anas clypeata One glance at this duck\u2019s enormous spatula-shaped bill \u2014used for straining prey from the water\u2014and you\u2019ll see why people call it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Northern shoveler \u00a9 Kristin Foresto","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/11\/shoveler-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11751,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-migrating-waterfowl\/","url_meta":{"origin":10709,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Migrating Waterfowl","author":"Ryan D.","date":"October 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Fall is a great time to see a\u00a0variety of waterfowl as they pass through Massachusetts on their way to their wintering grounds. Brant, Surf and White-winged Scoters, and Red-breasted Mergansers are best viewed along the sea coast, while Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, and Ring-necked Ducks are more likely to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Green-winged Teal \u00a9 Matt Filosa","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/10\/3417Matt_Filosa16547.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/10\/3417Matt_Filosa16547.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/10\/3417Matt_Filosa16547.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/10\/3417Matt_Filosa16547.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7524,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/make-way-for-ducklings-what-to-do-when-you-find-a-nest-in-your-backyard\/","url_meta":{"origin":10709,"position":4},"title":"Make Way for Ducklings: What To Do When You Find a Nest in Your Backyard","author":"Ryan D.","date":"May 2, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"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 \u201cQuackie\u201d by five-year-old Dylan) laid a clutch of eggs right beside their back door. 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Pour yourself a cup of something warm, grab your fuzzy socks, and tune in with us online to learn about winter birds, stars, animal tracks, plants, weather,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wood Ducks \u00a9Matt Filosa","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/01\/3417Matt_Filosa23878-750x500-7f642d41-6624-45b5-8ba1-7c03065f4cd3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/01\/3417Matt_Filosa23878-750x500-7f642d41-6624-45b5-8ba1-7c03065f4cd3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/01\/3417Matt_Filosa23878-750x500-7f642d41-6624-45b5-8ba1-7c03065f4cd3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/01\/3417Matt_Filosa23878-750x500-7f642d41-6624-45b5-8ba1-7c03065f4cd3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10709"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10759,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10709\/revisions\/10759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}