Are the ducks in the local rivers and ponds dead?

[bikingdad90]

On a number of occasions I have gone out with my children to feed the ducks (not interested in the seed vs bread debate but for the record we use seed) and have more often then not in various locations limped away with our tail between our legs... no ducks to be seen?

Due to the multiple lockdowns have numbers declined as many have died through lack of food as people stayed indoors or have they gone to somewhere new - Debate?

In other news lots of new cyclists out along with a few club boys and families in Great Ayton today. Also saw a few what I assume are sponsored riders (16/17 years old riding expensive bikes with DI2). I’m loving seeing the variety and itching to get out alas young kids preventing a Saturday afternoon jaunt for a few years.

 

[vickster]

There were loads of birds on the Thames in Kingston today (including a dead swan )

 

[Slick]

Both Ducks and Swans have thrived in the surprisingly small pond across from my work. Far too many people throwing bread at them and lots of stale bread around the place.

 

[Drago]

On a number of occasions I have gone out with my children to feed the ducks...

...in this house the ducks feed me!

 

[Mr Celine]

Two of the feckers on my garden pond the other day, I've had to put a net over it to stop them hoovering up the frog spawn.

This morning they were perched on top of the hedge looking really pissed off.

 

[Chris S]

Due to the multiple lockdowns have numbers declined as many have died through lack of food as people stayed indoors or have they gone to somewhere new - Debate?

Perhaps they've caught CORVID?

 

[Chris S]

Plenty of ducks (etc) on Cannon Hill Park lake, Edgbaston Reservoir and the local canals. I've seen a few herons as well.

 

[bikingdad90]

Sounds like they’ve been eaten at Drago Towers or flapped to down-in squawk (I’ll get my coat with that double pun)

 

[tony111]

Maybe they've all gone to a duck do.

 

[stephec]

Maybe they've all gone to a duck do.

Go on then, I'll set it up. 😅

What's a duck do?

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Loads round here - some at the popular areas that live mostly off bread (yes - I know) but also loads on the canals in places where the duck feeders don't go

 

[Accy cyclist]

hoovering up the frog spawn.

Yuk! Imagine eating frog spawn!! Mind you,i had similar the other night.

 

[irw]

I went to our local-ish farm shop the other day whilst I was in the area picking up some baby supplies from Ikea. Amongst other things that I wanted to pick up (which Asda had managed to not deliver the day before) were some eggs. Next to the normal eggs where some slightly larger duck eggs. “Ooooh! I say!”, thought I, so I picked half a dozen of each.

Fast forward to today, and I fancied a bacon and egg sandwich for lunch, so popped a couple of the fancy eggs into a pan. Popped them on my sandwich, but turns out they taste slightly of the smell of a pond. 🤢🦆Needless to say, that’s the last time I try something new!

 

[Slick]

Duck eggs are lovely. They should be slightly bigger and brighter and taste a bit stronger than ordinary hens eggs, but they certainly shouldn't smell like a pond.