Mallard ducks

Backyard Birds

Bird Watching

Birding Projects

Bird Identification

Site Information

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Mallard ducks

by Fred
(Ohio)

I have a pair of Mallard ducks that visit my front porch every night. They seem to be tame. We can walk up to them and feed them and they do not fear us. I live in a wooden subdivision about 300 feet from a creek.

I'm just curious why they have chosen my house to visit? I do have several bird feeders and they visit my sunflower feeder by my front porch. Tonight I had 4 Pileated woodpeckers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and the 2 ducks at my feeders at the same time. It was nice to sit on my porch and see all this wildlife at my fingertips? 2 summers ago we had 2 mallard ducks take up residency in my neighbors front yard. they had babies and we got to see them walk off together after they were old enough. Could this be the same mallard ducks?

Comment
It is likely the same mallards, or the babies that are now grown. They will return to the same spot year after year.

Our neighbor feeds bread to the mallard ducks,and they walk right up to them and take the bread that they feed them. We tease our neighbors, that we're watching them, in case they lay out breadcrumbs right to their oven door!

Susan

Comments for
Mallard ducks

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

May 31, 2011
Rating

mallard nest
by: mel

i found a mallard nest in my front yard behind some shubbery. the nest is pretty close to my front door and moma mallard has started leaving "mess" on my front porch/drive way.
any suggestions on how to discourage mallards from coming back after babies are hatched?
advance thanks!

Apr 30, 2011
Rating

Lonely Guy Mallard
by: Barbara

I have a lone male mallard duck that has been dropping in to my pool which still has the winter cover on it. He is always alone and leaves if there are sudden noises but the two westies that I have do not seem to bother him. They can not get to the pool as I have a 30" wrought-iron fence alone the edge of the grass. I am wondering why he is always alone. How much water will he need to swim in because my son-in-law pumped most of the water off today but there is still a good 4 to 5 inches on the pool cover. I have put out some corn but I do not know who took it as he does not seem to be interested. Having one duck in my pool does not bother me as he only comes early morning and after 7 in the evening. Does anyone have any answers for me.

Jul 27, 2010
Rating

Baby Ducks in July?
by: Anonymous

Hi Susan,

The female mallard came back last night alone again. Do you think she has baby ducks this late in July? She stayed about an hour and a half and ate a lot of corn. I have to go to the Ohio State Fair this friday and saturday and I'm afraid to leave because of her returning to get her food and water?
What do you think?

Comment
She will be fine. She's wild and your departure for the weekend will be like water on a duck's back.

It is late for babies, however Mallard eggs are incubated for 27 to 28 days. I have new baby ducks swimming in front of my house right now with their mother.

Susan

Jul 26, 2010
Rating

No male
by: Anonymous

Hi Susan,
my female duck returns nightly but no male? She stays just a short time and seems to be nervous and does not enjoy her stay as when her mate was with her. Its been 5 days now and no male but the female returns like clockwork right around 6pm. I put out a bowl of water and corn and we feed her bread. Its neat to be sitting there on my front porch and see her land in front of me within 10 feet. Do you think her mate has been killed?

Comment
She may be nervous because she has left her nearby nest, momentarily. After the female has incubated her 8 to 12 eggs, the male deserts her, and whiles away the summer elsewhere. The babies follow their mother to water as soon as they are strong enough to walk.

So she may be worrying about her babies - not her mate - who is out with the boys.

Jul 25, 2010
Rating

Female Mallard
by: Anonymous

I have a pair of mallards that visit my front door nightly for the past month today she came but not the male? What do you think happened to the male? he was always by her side and always stood beside her and he would watch for her while she ate and took a bath at my front door. they would stay any wheres from 1 to 3 and half hours. Once I put out a trash can lid filled with water and she loved it and they both drank from it and bathed themselves. He always made sure she ate first and got her bath before he would partake in either. What a good spouse he was. We feed them bread and corn and they love it. I fear that something has happened to him? What do you think? Maybe Im just being a concerned parent?

Comment

Let's see what happens tomorrow. Keep us posted if he shows up.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Got A Great Bird Story?

Two Free Ebooks!

My gifts to you when you sign up for my free newsletter: The Backyard Birder, filled with the latest tips to attract birds to your yard.

Homemade Bird Food Recipes

and Ten Biggest Mistakes
In Backyard Birding

Mallard ducks

Comments for Mallard ducks

Two Free Ebooks!

Recommended Birding Journal For Backyard Birding:

Comments for
Mallard ducks