Gathered up some ducks today and got them back with Mama. They had absolutely scattered under cars by main street and mom got spooked and ran off, but some locals and I got em all back and found mom down an alley. They ran right back to her!
This happens relatively often. And I overheard people nearby talking about how the mom will reject the babies because of our human scent if we touch them. Of course, this is not true. Most birds hardly have a sense of smell at all! More likely if you're close enough to have touched a duckling the mama will be weary and stay away from YOU- the big scary human, so if you need to handle babies, get them to safety as near mom as you can and then back off and relax. Watch from a distance if you must, but being over protective and staying by the babies for too long could make her prioritize the safety of the ones that she already has with her. And wash your hands after!
It's baby duck season and they will often need human help getting over curbs, out of window wells (remember to cover yours or have a way for creatures to climb out!), and across streets. Keep an eye out, and don't be afraid to help out, if needed, safely! Happy helping, everyone!
