It’s hard to ignore the adorable charm of baby birds, which is why I couldn’t resist taking some photos of these precious Mallard ducklings yesterday.
Urban Mallard ducklings in grass – Nikon D500, handheld, f9, 1/250, ISO 640, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 155mm, natural light
Their fluffy feathers and tiny beaks were simply irresistible, drawing me in with their playful and curious nature. Even in this busy neighborhood, these little ones managed to capture my attention and reminded me of the beauty that surrounds us every day.
At this age these seven baby ducklings can’t fly so they follow their mother around and stick pretty close to her. I hope these ducklings survive the outdoor cats in the neighborhood until they learn to use their wings.
Baby Mallards in dappled light – Nikon D500, handheld, f9, 1/250, ISO 640, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 155mm, natural light
I was having a bit of a stressful, busy day before these ducklings were pointed out to me. Photographing the baby Mallards was just the touch of nature I needed.
Did you know…
That baby Mallards are great swimmers from the moment they hatch and can swim underwater by their first day? Or that they can find their own food within hours of hatching?
Now you do!
Mallards are abundant in North America and this is probably the first duck species I saw and could easily identify as a child. I enjoy seeing them in my neighborhood, local parks, or out in the marshes that surround the Great Salt Lake.
I will be keeping a look out for more Mallard ducklings close to home and out in the field. I truly can’t resist having them in my viewfinder or watching them learn about their world. They are just that cute.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mallard photos plus facts and information about this species.
Beyond cute. Thank you – and I hope today is MUCH better for you.
Adorable, I hope things get better for you!
Adorable!-Jeri
Awww they are so precious! I’ve been dying to see some babies! Where are they?
Hope your day is a bit better today!
Kimmy, they were in Ryan’s yard yesterday morning, they should be heading down the hill to the pond. At least I hope so!
They are too cute! I don’t see our neighborhood Mallards anymore, but a friend of mine stood guard while a family crossed the street in front of his house a couple of days ago. Hope you get to take lots of shots of these littles as they grow and mature.