On June 20, the summer duck census will begin in Moscow parks. Mospriroda specialists will count the individuals, describe their sex, age, brood and mark the nesting sites. Take into account adult ducks, broods of down jackets, partially and fully feathered ducklings.
Mallards are the first to give offspring-the most numerous and one of the largest breeds of ducks. They are found in almost all urban and natural parks. Many mallards winter in Moscow, and nesting begins early in the spring. Nests are arranged on the ground, in dense bushes, dead wood or tall grass near the water. There are cases when mallards settled in wide hollows of trees and buildings.
The mallard nest usually has 7-11 eggs. As soon as the last one is postponed, incubation begins. In less than a month, down jackets are born. Almost immediately, they can run and swim quite quickly. Ducklings mainly feed on small invertebrates, they dive well and can search for food under water.
Mallard is a caring mother. She is constantly on the alert and monitors the safety of the brood. In case of danger, the bird gives a signal to the chicks, and they quickly swim away with it away from the threat.
The duck census will end at the end of summer. Last year, mallards had 732 ducklings in 126 broods. In total, 861 chicks were brought out by waterfowl in Moscow’s natural parks.
