In early June there was a very big storm. The surfaces of the bay and the beach were covered with dead marsh grass. Birds hopped around on top of the grass searching for food. Mr. and Mrs. McMahon worried about the ducks. The last time we had seen them, the babies were doubled in size, but they were still too small and young to survive if they ever lost sight of their mother. We hoped the babies had not blown away in the storm!
Two days later, the grass had been carried away by the tide, and we spotted the mother duck on the beach. Four babies were peeking out of the shell of a sailboat that had washed up against the bulkhead. We were sad that six babies had been lost, but relieved that any had survived. Most duck mothers lose most or even all of their babies while they are still so small and delicate. There are so many predators and other dangers facing them! Mom began to swim off, and the babies hopped out of the boat to swim with her. After the first four moved out of the way, more babies, who had been hiding in the bottom of the boat, jumped out, too. Mr. and Mrs. McMahon began to count. We were amazed to find there were now ELEVEN babies. This excellent mother must have picked up an orphan duckling during the storm!
As the summer went by, the eleven ducklings grew. In late July, Mrs. McMahon finally got the idea to have Mr. McMahon try to take a picture. The camera lived on the porch table until he was able to snap a group portrait. Mr. McMahon also began giving the ducks some treats. By now they had gotten too big to be in danger from gulls. Mom allowed them to eat the goldfish crackers Mr. McMahon broke up for them. The duck family would swim over to the dock whenever they saw the McMahons, eager for more snacks.
The babies got so big that the only way to tell them apart from Mom was by looking for her longer wings. Even adult sized ducklings can't fly because they still have stubby baby wings. In mid August the babies started to hop onto the steps of the dock and jump off for awkward glides back into the bay. One morning the family came by for goldfish crackers, and that same afternoon, Mom was gone. She must have flown away before the babies were able to follow her. They need to be on their own so they can have their own families next year. We can't wait!