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| Box #1 on a dead tree, note the baffle |
- April 5th – first ones spotted
- April 30th – mating behaviour on the pond
- May 1 – I found box #1 totally emptied. Eggs eaten, and 7 whole eggs on the ground.
I don't know how the predator cleared everything out of the box.
I refilled it and will hope for the best. It's so sad. It is early in the season. I hope they nest again, maybe in the other box. There are baffles under all the boxes on the trees. Box #2 is empty, as well.
This is nest box #3 and it is full! I flushed her from the nest, not realizing. I had not seen another pair on the pond.
Nutmeg cat, meantime, was off to the vet. One of them has been throwing up. We think it is her. I'm at my wit's end. JB took her off to the vet. They picked her carrier up and took her inside. JB waited in the car. They phoned me, they gave her an x-ray and she has undigested bones in her digestive system. We've got laxatone to give her, to help flush them out. They brought her back out, and gave JB the bill and he paid the $350.
19 comments:
Hello,
Love the wood ducks! I am sorry about Meg, I hope she is recovering.
Thank you for linking up and sharing the post. Take care! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great weekend!
Hari OM
Yikes, the huntress pays - no wait, that's her owners!!! So sad about the duck eggs. YAM xx
...in nature life is rarely fair.
That was terrible what happened to the litter ... let's hope for the best and that the duks will come back!
I will never understand why are the vets so expensive ...? !!
I wish you a nice day, stay safe!
I can well understand your disappointment at the destruction of the Wood Duck clutch, and although it is nature taking its course one cannot help but feel a sense of regret that the Wood Duck pair never got a chance to raise their young. I have every appendage I can cross crossed for better luck with the other nest box!
That's sad about the eggs, and the bill for the cat is kind of sad too.
Life is hard right now, even for ducks. but some predator went away fed.
That's such a shame after the ducks worked so hard. If it was a cat, I'm afraid that unless you are very lucky, cats and birds just don't mix.
Good luck with your op. It's happening here too.
Hello,
the wood ducks are very beautiful.
Cheers to the lovely cat!
It's not a cat, Phil. The baffle would prevent them climbing. They couldn't lift out the eggs, either, or even know there were birds in there.
I hope there is better luck for this clutch of eggs. And I hope that sorts out Nutmeg too!
What beautiful wood ducks! I hope your cat feels better soon but I would think it was a wild critter that raided the eggs. I hope you can figure it out though!
I see now you've already said it wasn't a cat! I just read your comment! Hugs!
Do you have stoats or ferrets? they are nasty predators and long and lean. Hope those bones pass through, an expensive visit, down here any anaesthetic starts at $250, and then anything else is added on. Same system, leave the cat in his cage at the door, they come out with mask, glove and gown, etc, then you pay on the machine, also outside, they might pass it arm arm's length to you in the car!!! Cool and very strong wind here, and more so further south.
I'll be interested to find out hat this predator is. When you work hard and put up nest boxes it's sad to see it ruined.
Oh that is sad about the eggs.
Vets bills are never cheap!
Take care
All the best Jan
It is sad to lose the eggs. Vets are so expensive. Hope the cat is alright now.
Sad about the Wood Ducks, glad the cat will be okay.
Thanks for your visit and comment on my blog
Have a blessed day!
such a sad story. I hope you will get some chicks later on.
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