whatdouthink
Well-known member
In the early spring I fed the mallards in my backyard-which ends in a canal. They eat out of my hand, followed me, came when I called. Some were very young. There were 6 that seemed to be siblings. I could tell them from others because one had an odd bump on the side of its face. I fed them seeds of all sorts and other treats-that would be good for them according to what I read. Then the numbers swelled. Yet still the originals were there. Then some went to molt and hide away towards the end of summer. Then, it seemed none knew me any more. A bunch would still come when I called in the mornings but they no longer would come close to me. They kept their distance. The males started to have their new colors etc. But all my hard work (I had visions of training them to dance) was lost on the ducks. I wonder if they have such little memory, my originals left or after they molt and get new feathers they are too cool to respond to humans. This is in the syracuse NY area.
