Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/6/2007

Question
I live in hampton bay,NY.on the peconic inlet. WE had an female/male pair wild ducks who wintered under our deck, she had a broken wing,injured foot. We fed them when they "looked" hungry, etc...we called local rescue group for help etc.ANYWAY, yesterday, when I though out food in back yard, a group of 5 or so other male ducks attacked the injured female, and appeared to be "breading", then chased her into water and drouwned her. Her death was horrable to watch, as the ducks would not stop attacking her.MY question is the male duck is frantic, searching for her, and acting very lost...is there anything I can do for him other than leave him alone?nature is so cruel, its hard to witness, and NOT help. Why did this group of males drown her?.....please respond...thank you

Answer
There is nothing, unfortunately, you can do for the grieving male. The other males were probably trying to mate with the female (or rape, if you will) and since they copulate in the water, drowning is a possibility. Yes, nature is cruel sometimes. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com