Only three ducks remain on the pond: the two Khaki Campbell cross siblings (drake and hen) and the wild mallard hen.
These ducks are now as wild as any you’ll see at a park pond. When a person approaches they fly into the water and stay there.
I don’t think any of our native predators, save a mink or an otter, is going to waste time trying to catch them in the water.
Unless there is an alligator or bull shark in the pond, I think they are pretty safe.
That khaki drake is as gorgeous as he is wary and wise.
When he was just a duckling, he used to decoy the dog away from his siblings.
I hope he and that mallard hen have ducklings this spring.
But let’s not count the eggs before they hatch.
Aww, I miss Aflac, poor guy.
I’m sure this clever drake will look after his girls and keep them safe with his wariness. Though he might go “have you met my wife and sister” with his sibling in spring as well as with the mallard if she stays.
A livestock guardian dog raised and bonded with flightless birds would definitely have come in handy here.
All power to the LGDs serving humans all over the world, especially to those taking on predators like the beautiful wolves, cougars, grizzlies and black bears.