A Duck Family's Enduring Struggle: Dwindling Ducklings and Disrupted Lives

Have you ever found yourself captivated by the sight of a duck family, their adorable ducklings trailing faithfully behind their mother? Our "Duck Family" series on YouTube aims to share these intimate moments of wild Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, offering a raw and unfiltered look into their daily lives. Today, we delve into another challenging chapter from our latest video: "Duck Family 0617F🦆Caution: Ducklings not following mother... too many lost. Unable to relocate. Pond drained, leading to strange behavior. | Wildlife Documentary."

Like all videos in our series, this footage is an unedited observation log, typically released on the same day it was filmed. It serves as "situational evidence" of the day's events. While this means some scenes might be raw, it allows you to witness nature as it unfolds, complete with all its hardships. You can also simply enjoy the natural sounds as environmental footage!

Understanding Our "Duck Family Code"

In our videos, you'll see codes like 【Vf2-5】. This is our "Duck Family Code" to help you identify each family and their ducklings. Let's break it down:

V: The initial letter identifies the mother duck (from A-Z, or even Japanese characters).
2: The number indicates the number of ducklings in the brood.
f: A lowercase alphabet letter denotes the year they were born (e.g., 'd' for 2023, 'e' for 2024, 'f' for 2025).
-5: This indicates the number of days old the ducklings are at the time of filming.

So, Vf2-5 means "Mother duck V's family, with 2 ducklings born in 2025, observed on their 5th day of life."

A Glimpse into the Lives of Eastern Spot-billed Ducks

The ducks featured in our series are Eastern Spot-billed Ducks (Anas zonorhyncha), known in Japanese as "Karugamo." These beautiful birds are common throughout East Asia, recognizable by their dark bodies, white patches on their wings, and a distinctive yellow tip on their dark bills.

Like other dabbling ducks, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks are precocial, meaning their ducklings are relatively mature at birth. They can walk, swim, and feed themselves almost immediately, instinctively following their mother for protection and guidance. However, these tiny ducklings are incredibly vulnerable during their first few weeks of life, facing threats from predators like crows, raptors, and even large fish, as well as environmental hazards. While a naturally low survival rate is part of nature, significant disturbances can drastically impact a brood's chances.

June 17th's Record: A Heartbreaking Decline

The video "Duck Family 0617F" captures events on June 17th, following the struggles of the Vf family (Vf7-4 at the beginning of the previous day's video). The observer returned to the pond with heavy hearts, hoping for the best but fearing the worst.

From the observation log:

A Drastic Drop in Numbers: The previous day, the Vf family had dwindled to 5 ducklings, with one appearing very weak. On this day, a devastating discovery was made: only two ducklings could be found. The observer named the family Vf2-5.
Unusual Behavior: The mother duck Vf was frequently vocalizing, seemingly calling for her ducklings, but they were not consistently following her. This behavior was highly unusual and indicative of stress and disorientation within the family unit.
Human Intervention Continues: Preparation for a children's school event involving over 100 students entering the pond began. The pond's water level was intentionally lowered. This repeated human disturbance added immense pressure to the already struggling duck family, preventing any chance of relocation to a safer area.
A Tragic Find: The lifeless body of a duckling was discovered. Disturbingly, its head was missing, suggesting not merely a death by weakness, but possibly a predatory attack. This contrasted with another duckling's body from the previous day, which had disappeared, likely taken by crows.
Mother's Desperate Search: The mother duck Vf continued her frantic search, responding to the faintest calls of her ducklings, yet frustratingly, a reunion remained elusive.
Fears of Annihilation: The observer voiced deep concern, "Given that only two were confirmed initially... I predict they will be completely wiped out. I have a feeling that this pond event affected them in an unusual way." The repeated human presence and alteration of their habitat were clearly taking a toll.

Other Duck Families: A Contrast

Amidst the Vf family's sorrowful plight, the video also offered glimpses of other duck families, providing a stark contrast and a reminder of nature's varied outcomes:

Sf9: The Sf9 family was seen safely following their father, having seemingly overcome their own relocation struggles earlier.
Gf7 and Df5: Other duck families, Gf7 and Df5, were also observed, seemingly in better condition.

The Observer's Anguish

Observing such a difficult situation takes an emotional toll. The observer's notes reveal a profound sense of helplessness and sadness.

From the observation log:

"I had hoped to reunite with Vf6, but four more ducklings have been lost... Considering it took less than a day for them to go from 7 to 2, I don't think I'll see them again..."
"Usually, I'd push my limits and search upstream, but this year there are so many pond activities that filming is taking more time than expected, and I'm really pushed to the brink. I might have to find ways to take breaks, like skipping days when the sun is too strong, or I won't be able to continue observing..."

This video is a poignant reminder of the inherent challenges in the natural world and the profound impact human activities can have on wildlife. While the fate of the Vf family remains uncertain, the resilience shown by other duck families continues to offer a glimmer of hope.

We invite you to subscribe to the "Duck Family" YouTube channel to continue following the ongoing stories of these remarkable birds.

What are your thoughts on the challenges faced by these duck families? Share your comments below!

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