Someone to Watch Over Me

It's baby duck season, and the best mothers are those who know how to protect their offspring. They keep them close along the lake banks, find them safe places to sleep at night, and watch over them always.

This mallard mother and her babies stopped by My Florida Backyard this afternoon. We threw out a little cracked corn, as we sometimes do for duck babies, and the mother stood watch while the babies dined.

 
We see many duck mommies with only one or two babies who survive to this age, but this mother duck clearly knows what her job entails. She has six babies well on their way to maturity, and it won't be long before they're on their own. Well done, Mother Duck!