Birding/Ducks out of water

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Expert: - 6/25/2006


Question
My neighbor purchased some ducklings hoping to see them swimming on a close pond. They won't get on the water! They will walk around the edges and put their bills in, but they won't get on the water and swim. Why? They are now full grown ducks. Thanks, Jodi

Answer
I'm afraid I do not know. These are domestic ducks, not wild ones, so it depends on the conditions in which they were hatched and raised. Domestic birds often have very different behavior than wild ones. They grew to adults, so they are apparently healthy and I would not be concerned. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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