Where are all the ducklings? 🐥

[TheFieldOfStars]

I live in a semi-rural area with several lakes with waterfowl on, quite close to my house. Usually there are lots of ducklings and goslings around by now, but I've only seen three ducklings this year and they were on a pond in a town. The more rural ponds have plenty of adult ducks and geese swimming around in pairs, but no babies.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is it bird flu? Could the warm weather have somehow affected breeding success?

Lots of ducklings near me! It seems to be the second hatching in fact. But are you being tricked by the warm weather? Last year I didn’t see any til May

I'm sure I have usually seen more by this time of the year agree there seems to be a lack of them.
I did see a Canadian Geese family yesterday with 7 little fluffy wuffies 🥹
On the same lake the boy mallards still seemed to be fighting each other for the attention of the girl mallards - who all seemed very unimpressed.
No baby swans yet this year 🙁

There is a duckling watch website. You can record if you do see any.

So fluffy....

I hate to break it to you, but as of today, it is May.

Wondered the same as there are none on the water way near me, down to 2 females visible but lots of boys, and even the swans made a nest then abandoned it unused.

I'm happy to report that a few ducklings and goslings have now appeared on the lake!

@TheFieldOfStars good to hear.
It's still lacking round my way 🙁