Proud Morning Walk

Early in the chilly morning of Saturday, the mom and her cute little brood emerged from their nest to be introduced publicly to the immense and curious world about them.

Mama Mallard was a bit nervous, trying to both keep her little family together, as well as avoid the amorous attacks of the waiting males.  She managed to show the ducklings the mud puddle nearest the nest, where they all had their first taste of water. 

Then the males got so disgustingly aggressive that she had to shoo her flock deep into the thicket to avoid the horny beasts. The poor babies had a tough time manuevering in the mud and brambles and the cats took up such an avid interest in the peeping critters that I decided to capture the lot of them (with the hissing, snapping mother) and put them in the safe enviroment of the fenced duck kennel.

One BIG family!