Urban Safari with Ducklings: A Guide to Assisting Duck Families in the Heart of the City
Navigating Ducklings' Journey: Guidelines for Aid to Duck Mothers and Their Offspring Securely - Guidelines for Safely Aiding Duck Familiars
Headlines like "Police rescue stranded ducklings" are becoming a common sight. Recently, the police in Wiesbaden bravely saved ten ducklings from the A67 motorway near Büttelborn, Hesse. Similarly, ducklings were spotted waddling on the hard shoulder of the A5 between Hemsbach and the Weinheim motorway junction, as reported by the Mannheim police last week. New-born mallard ducklings, following their parents' lead to the shore in search of food, sometimes find themselves in harm's way when navigating city traffic.
So, what's prompting the exodus of our fine-feathered friends?
Ducks generally inhabit bodies of water, where they find food and protect their young from predators such as foxes, minks, and cats. Torsten Collet from NABU Rhineland-Palatinate shares that the mallard breeding season kicks off around mid-March, and we can expect the first batch of baby ducklings in April or May. Being brood parasites, the mother leaves the nest 6-12 hours after hatching, guiding her young to the nearby water's edge. This journey often involves crossing one or two roads.
In an unexpected twist, these adaptable creatures have learned to coexist with our infrastructure, using it for protection from predators. For instance, a mother duck recently nested on a fifth-floor balcony in Frankfurt, with no water source in sight but safety from potential danger. After a successful move to a suitable location, the duck family was reported by Kostadin Georgiev from the bird protection station of the Hessian State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG).
Why do these animals seem unfazed by the urban jungle's noise?
Collet explains, "Over time, animals living in cities adapt to the city's noise. If they realize that the noise is not an immediate threat, the commotion of cars no longer startles ducks." Georgiev adds that the mother knows the safest route to the water, even if it means braving traffic-filled streets.
Can the ducklings survive without their mother, or will they require human intervention? Could another mother duck 'adopt' the ducklings?
As brood parasites, the ducklings don't depend solely on their mother. Georgiev explains, “They feed themselves from the start but are protected from danger by their mother. In the early days, they are kept warm under the mother's feathers." During their joint food hunt, the ducklings learn from their mother what's edible. In theory, another mother duck could potentially accept orphaned ducklings.
What should you do if you encounter ducks on your path? What are your options for assistance?
Georgiev suggests avoiding any intervention. The law forbids taking ducklings, and if the ducklings are near a water body without heavy traffic, no human intervention is necessary. On motorways and busy roads, contact the police due to the increased risk of accidents. If the birds are far from the nearest water body and need to cross bustling roads, they must be caught and transported to the nearest suitable body of water.
- Police
- Mother
- Wiesbaden
- Mainz
- Büttelborn
- Groß-Gerau
- Weinheim
- Mannheim
- Nature Conservation Association Germany e.V.
- Rhineland-Palatinate
Insights:
- Mallard ducks and their mothers adapt to urban environments, nesting in unexpected locations like parking lots or school courtyards.
- They choose areas with a degree of safety and food availability, such as parks and lakes, which are common places to find them during the breeding season.
- Mother mallards are very protective of their ducklings and tend to avoid high-traffic areas.
- Sometimes, they select routes that avoid major roads or try to cross at safer times, such as early morning or late evening when traffic is lighter.
- Human assistance, such as setting up warning signs or cones near nesting sites, can help alert pedestrians and drivers to the presence of nesting ducks.
- Rehabilitation for orphaned ducklings may be necessary if the mother is lost or unable to care for her young, until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
The exodus of ducklings in urban areas can be attributed to their follow-lIntent of their mother to the nearest water body, even if it involves crossing busy roads. In such situations, the Mother's instinct permits her to select routes that minimize the risk of danger, adjusting to the city's lifestyle within the home-and-garden of urban environments. If you come across ducklings at a potentially hazardous location, avoid intervention, but in case they are on motorways or busy roads, contact the police for assistance.
