Day 2 Filming the Duckling Family

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Mallard Duckling ©Kim Smith 2015The Mallard Duck family that I have been filming during the early morning hours this past week is allowing me to get very close, venturing to within two feet from where I am tucked in amongst the reeds by the water’s edge. The ducklings mirror the parent’s every action and they are are especially adorable learning how to oil their feathers. Although the female attempts to stay close, and the male is always hovering nearby, one is becoming increasingly independent, a little too independent if you ask me. I can’t get over the ducklings vulnerability–its a miracle any survive to adulthood.

Female Mallard and Ducklings ©Kim Smith 2015

The mixed flock of ducks is comprised mostly of Mallards, with several pairs of American Black Ducks mixed in. A single pair of Blue-winged Teals was spotted for several days.

Blue-winged Teal adult male breeding ©Kim Smith 2015

Blue-winged Teal Adult Male Breeding Plummage

American Black Duck ©Kim smith 2015American Black Duck

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Published by Kimsmithdesigns

Documentary filmmaker, photographer, landscape designer, author, and illustrator. "Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly" currently airing on PBS. Current film projects include Piping Plovers, Gloucester's Feast of St. Joseph, and Saint Peter's Fiesta. Visit my websites for more information about film and design projects at kimsmithdesigns.com, monarchbutterflyfilm.com, and pipingploverproject.org. Author/illustrator "Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! Notes from a Gloucester Garden."

7 thoughts on “Day 2 Filming the Duckling Family”

  2. Hi Mary,

    Yes part of a larger project, thank you for asking! Will be finished editing Monarch film this summer, and editing Feast of Saint Joseph and bird project this fall/winter. Will try to post a few clips (after Liv and Matt’s wedding).

    I hope you are having a beautiful spring in your garden!

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  3. Dear Kim: ALL your photos are simply beautiful. They rotate regularly as screen savers on my Mac. We live in Ohio but are lucky to have a place in Gloucester. When in Ohio, I look feverishly for your photos in GMG 😀 and they enrich my day every time. Thank you!!

    Juana

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  4. beautiful! where is this? My mother has seen a mother duck and ducklings go up Plum Street. I also did early one morning. I was wondering if you knew where they were headed.

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    1. Hi Valerie, Maybe the pond by Swenson’s? Also, in some years, there are vernal ponds on Mount Pleasant but i don’t know about this year because it has been so dry.

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