Abandoned

Since discovery of the mallard's nest, we were curious as to how we were to trim our bushes. Since Mama duck came, laid an egg, and left for the day, we figured we could carefully trim the bushes while she was gone. Shagga-fied bushes in the middle of June after planting pretty annuals is not an option, trimming had to happen. Boxwood bush trimming was successful and the nest was left intact and untouched. The next morning, one egg was kicked out, in the flower bed and cracked. Probably eaten. Then the next day another egg was out of the nest. Mama and Daddy were nowhere to be seen. Gone, abandoned. No more egg laying or incubation initiation. Abandoned nest. Which allows for more egg trauma. Norah keeps stating they are hatching. Simon stated maybe they are like eggs in our refrigerator to cook. Doesn't help that we noticed duck eggs for sale at $6 a dozen at our farmers market on Sunday. Sunday, the culprit revealed himself. A fence-sitting, egg-eating squirrel was sighted on our front porch rail just above the location of the nest.

We are a bit sad for the ducklings that aren't to be. We were looking forward to the waddling out of our bushes . . . .

But, such is nature. My theory? Maybe this was Mama duck's first egg laying experience and she learned something from it. Not a good sitter, this time. Perhaps a nest next year?