July 19, 2025—what a day it was for the wild duck families along the river!
From emotional flight attempts to heartbreaking separations and determined mothers, today's observation offered a spectrum of life moments in the duck world. Let’s dive into each family’s story, as witnessed through the lens of a compact super-zoom camera.
🟡 Xf5-39 & Af3 – Human Interference and Separation
The Xf5 family experienced a major disturbance when someone threw food nearby, sparking a fight between Xf5’s mother and Af3’s mother. Both adult ducks flew away, leaving Af3 ducklings behind. Though Xf5's mother eventually returned, Af3’s did not. The young Af duckling cried out, but was sadly left alone.
The ongoing presence of this individual—who in the past disrupted duckling reunions—was a painful reminder of the dangers of feeding wild animals.
🟡 Gf7-65 – The First Flight
A breathtaking moment unfolded: a Gf7 duckling took flight while climbing a dam!
This may have been one of its very first flights, and the joy of watching it soar briefly was unforgettable. Afterward, the family napped beside the Ef5 group, offering a unique chance to compare the size of a 65-day-old duckling (Gf7) to a 25-day-old (Ef5).
🟡 Ef5-25 – Courage, Struggles, and Mother’s Resolve
The Ef5 family presented a full drama of their own:
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A duckling unexpectedly climbed a dam ahead of the group, leaving the mother behind. She flew to reunite with them.
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Later, a major struggle began as the ducklings attempted to ascend another dam. Three couldn’t make it. The mother returned, encouraged them, and even tried to bring the upper ducklings back down. Eventually, she jumped down herself—and the others followed.
Despite the challenges, the mother's patience, strategy, and loyalty were awe-inspiring.
🟡 Ke f2-7 – Missing, Possibly in Hiding
This family was not seen today, though faint duckling calls were heard near the thickets. They may have remained hidden for safety.
🟡 Ki f4-8 – Traumatized Return and Gentle Warnings
Returning to a spot where ducklings were previously lost to predation, Ki f4 approached the area with visible caution.
Their behavior—huddling, freezing in place, and responding to koi and herons—showed both memory and instinct at play.
Ki f4 also attempted a dam climb but hesitated and retreated. Even after some success, coordination faltered, and eventually the group gave up.
Later, they were seen foraging and then disappearing into thickets again—a common way to avoid predators.
🟡 Of2-48 – Progress Through Persistence
The Of2 ducklings—now with nearly fully grown feathers—faced their own dam challenge.
Initially, one duckling was swept downstream. The mother didn’t return, but later, the remaining ducklings successfully ascended in a curious new style. This was a rare success for a group that had struggled repeatedly.
🟡 Lf4-50 & Others – Calm Among the Chaos
The Lf4 family blended into a large duck group without conflict.
Several unidentified juvenile ducks (likely Df5 and Ff6) were seen napping or moving through the area without mothers nearby.
🟡 Kingfishers – A Rare Courtship Scene
A bonus sighting: a kingfisher pair, vocalizing and mating near the dam—an unusual behavior at this location. The female's posture and timing were noteworthy, though not easy to predict.
🌤️ Final Thoughts
From near-flightless ducklings to those taking off for the first time, today was full of inspiration.
Though some young ducks remain unidentified, their continued growth and the families’ strong bonds leave hope for the season ahead.
The struggles of Ef5, Ki f4, and Of2 made their successes even more meaningful. And the soaring leap of Gf7 may well become one of this summer’s most unforgettable moments.
今日は本当に濃密で、感動と驚きに満ちた一日となりました。
堰を飛び越えるヒナの姿、母カモの献身、そして人による思わぬ介入まで――カルガモたちの世界の、光と影の物語が広がっていました。
🟡 Xf5-39 & アf3 – 餌やりによる分断と悲劇
Xf5の母カモとアf母が餌を投げた人に反応して喧嘩を起こし、どちらもその場を飛び去ってしまいました。残されたアfのヒナは、母を呼んで鳴き続けましたが、母は戻らず…。
人の餌やりが、ヒナの命運に関わってしまう現実を突きつけられる場面でした。
🟡 Gf7-65 – 飛翔の瞬間
堰を登る途中で、Gf7のヒナが飛び立ちました！
これが初飛翔の瞬間だったのかもしれません。
65日目のヒナらしい見事な羽ばたきは、まさに感動的でした。Ef5との昼寝で並んだ姿からは、成長の差も明らかでした。
🟡 エf5-25 – 苦戦と母の奮闘
エf5親子の一日は、ドラマそのものでした。
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勝手に堰を登るヒナ、飛んで合流する母
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苦戦続きの堰登りで、登れない3羽に対し、母は何度も戻って励まし、上にいた兄弟を誘導し…最後には母自身が飛び降り、全員が再集合。
母カモの柔軟さと粘り強さが光る場面でした。
🟡 ケf2-7 – 今日の姿は見られず
姿は確認できませんでしたが、茂みからヒナの声が聞こえた気も…。安全のために隠れていたのかもしれません。
🟡 キf4-8 – 記憶と本能、そして警戒
3日前にヒナが捕食された場所に戻ってきたキf4。
ヒナたちはじっと動かず固まる姿を見せたり、鯉やアオサギに反応したりと、警戒心の強さを感じさせました。
堰登りにも挑戦しましたが、ヒナの足並みが揃わず途中で断念。後に茂みに入り、再び姿を消しました。
🟡 Of2-48 – 登りへの一歩
堰登りに苦戦続きだったOf2の親子が、ついに成功。
最初はヒナが流される場面もありましたが、後に2羽が独自のスタイルで堰を登ることができました。この日は、彼らの進歩を感じる貴重な記録となりました。
🟡 Lf4-50・若ガモたち – 穏やかなひととき
Lf4の親子は群れの中に自然に混ざり、平和に過ごしていました。
また、Df5やFf6と思われる若ガモたちが木陰で寝ている姿も確認されました。
🟡 カワセミ – 貴重な交尾シーン
堰近くで、カワセミのつがいによる交尾が確認されました。
求愛や給餌の記録はあったものの、交尾は非常に珍しいシーンで、まさに偶然の贈り物でした。
🌤️ まとめに
Gf7の感動的な飛翔、エf5の母の努力、キf4やOf2の挑戦…。
今日もまた、カルガモたちが見せてくれる「生きる力」に心打たれました。
前半生まれの多くの子たちは生後2ヶ月を超え、巣立ちの時期を迎えています。
一方で、Sf9など確認できていない家族もおり、時間との戦いも感じています。
明日もまた、出会えることを願って、探し続けます。
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