Do mallard ducks feed and swim among several ponds or lakes close to one another in distance? - Ask Extension
Hi, I was wondering where Mallard Ducks frequent? Do they generally feed and swim between a few ponds/lakes within close proximity to one another, fre...
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Do mallard ducks feed and swim among several ponds or lakes close to one another in distance? #435780
Asked December 02, 2017, 9:32 AM EST
Hi, I was wondering where Mallard Ducks frequent? Do they generally feed and swim between a few ponds/lakes within close proximity to one another, frequent one only, or do they fly to ponds/lakes that are far from each other, by miles?
I am studying them and writing about them, and was wondering about this point.
Thanks!
Sharon
I am studying them and writing about them, and was wondering about this point.
Thanks!
Sharon
Lake County Indiana
Expert Response
Mallard ducks will migrate, following their food supplies and breeding locations. Fall migration takes them south where they will eat plants, and crop residues. As spring comes they will return to breeding locations. So they will linger at one pond so long as there is food to support them. Due to the influences of people feeding ducks, some Mallards will become resident, and will not migrate. This can at times prove fatal as their food source may dry up with colder weather, and people not visiting parks to feed. So folks should not feed wild birds, and make them migrate as it was intended. Some extension info on this breed of duck:
https://wildlife.tamu.edu/wildlifemanagement/waterfowl/
https://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/embryology/games/whomallard.htm
And, a great migration map from ducks unlimited with movement reports:
http://www.ducks.org/migrationmap/
Thanks, G.
https://wildlife.tamu.edu/wildlifemanagement/waterfowl/
https://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/embryology/games/whomallard.htm
And, a great migration map from ducks unlimited with movement reports:
http://www.ducks.org/migrationmap/
Thanks, G.