Eastern Spot-billed Ducklings Reunite with Their Mother and Climb a Weir: Two Duck Families, Two Survival Strategies
A group of Eastern Spot-billed Duck ducklings was found swimming without its mother, repeatedly calling, resting, waking, and moving through the river while apparently waiting for her return. More than twenty minutes later, the mother finally reappeared from upstream. Soon after the reunion, the young family climbed a weir in an unusually coordinated way.
On the same day, another duck family with much older ducklings crossed the same type of obstacle using a completely different method. Instead of climbing onto the exposed rocks, all eight ducklings swam directly through the strong current.
This field record documents temporary separation, mother–duckling reunion, duckling contact calls, group resting behavior, weir-climbing strategies, river crossing, bathing birds, interspecific proximity, and the changing independence of growing ducklings.
Field Observation Video
[YouTube video embedded here]
The first three minutes of the video contain a short highlight sequence. The remainder is an almost unedited chronological field record with natural sound.
Main Species Featured
カルガモ — Eastern Spot-billed Duck — Anas zonorhyncha
A resident East Asian dabbling duck. The families in this record demonstrate age-related differences in mobility, independence, group cohesion, and obstacle-crossing behavior.カワセミ — Common Kingfisher — Alcedo atthis
A small fish-eating bird that hunts by diving from waterside perches. Both a male and a female were active in the area, although their mating and diving attempts were not successfully recorded.ムクドリ — White-cheeked Starling — Spodiopsar cineraceus
A familiar bird in Japanese urban and riverside environments. Several individuals bathed near the ducklings, possibly including members of a family group.オナガ — Azure-winged Magpie — Cyanopica cyanus
A social corvid with a long blue-grey tail. One bird still retained pale juvenile plumage on the head, suggesting that it was near the end of its juvenile stage.アオサギ — Grey Heron — Ardea cinerea
A large wading bird that hunts fish and other aquatic animals. Its approach appeared to influence the movements of nearby Little Egrets.コサギ — Little Egret — Egretta garzetta
A small white heron with black legs and yellow feet. Several hunting attempts were observed, together with resting, preening, and scratching behavior.ハクセキレイ — White Wagtail — Motacilla alba
A small waterside bird that frequently walks and runs along exposed river surfaces. A juvenile bathed close to the duck family.スズメ — Eurasian Tree Sparrow — Passer montanus
A common social passerine. Several birds visited the water to drink or bathe, and one briefly became surrounded by ducklings.スッポン — Chinese Softshell Turtle — Pelodiscus sinensis
A highly aquatic turtle found in rivers and ponds. One individual was seen near vegetation used by the separated ducklings. The identification is based on its appearance in the field footage and should be treated as provisional.
Two Duck Families and Two Ways of Climbing a Weir
The principal comparison in this observation involved two Eastern Spot-billed Duck families: Tf8-48 and キf3-13.
Tf8-48 consisted of a mother and eight ducklings approximately 48 days old. At this age, the ducklings were already large, physically capable, and increasingly independent in their movements.
When the family reached the weir, the ducklings did not follow the route that might normally be expected. Rather than climbing onto the exposed rocks, all eight entered the fast-flowing section and swam through it.
Individual ducklings occasionally use this method, but seeing every member of a large family choose the swimming route was unusual in my observations. They appeared strong enough to maintain direction and momentum against the current without needing to stop on the rocks.
The mother’s route was not followed exactly. This may indicate that older ducklings no longer depend entirely on direct imitation when crossing familiar river structures. They may select a route according to their own swimming ability, previous experience, or immediate position within the group.
This interpretation is only an amateur field observation. The footage does not establish what information each duckling used when making its decision.
A Duckling Falls Behind and Approaches the Wrong Family
After Tf8-48 passed the weir, one duckling became temporarily isolated from the others.
Several duck families were present in the surrounding area, including イf4 and Of2. The delayed Tf duckling briefly moved toward イf4, apparently mistaking it for its own family or responding to the nearest visible group.
The duckling soon changed direction and returned toward its actual family.
Short periods of confusion are understandable in an environment where several similarly sized duck families occupy the same stretch of river. Visual appearance, calls, movement, and spatial memory may all contribute to family recognition, but the video alone cannot determine which cue caused the correction.
Three Ducklings Found Without Their Mother
At 39:42 in the recording, three young ducklings belonging to キf3-13 were discovered below the weir without their mother.
The ducklings were approximately 13 days old. They swam together, called repeatedly, moved around the area, and returned several times to rest.
At first, I expected the mother to reappear quickly. Instead, the separation continued for an unexpectedly long period.
The ducklings repeatedly followed a cycle of activity and rest:
swimming and calling;
returning to a familiar resting place;
sleeping closely together;
waking and moving again;
hiding briefly near vegetation;
returning to more exposed water.
The repeated pattern of sleeping, waking, searching, and resting was especially notable. I rarely observe separated ducklings repeating this cycle so many times before the mother returns.
Were the Ducklings Trying to Remain Visible?
At several points, the three ducklings appeared to leave sheltered vegetation and swim through more open sections of the river.
It was tempting to wonder whether they were intentionally making themselves easier for their mother to see. However, several other explanations are possible. They may have been following remembered routes, reacting to sound, seeking the mother’s calls, avoiding something near the bank, or simply continuing normal exploratory movement.
Because intention cannot be confirmed from the footage, this should not be described as a proven strategy. It remains an observational question raised by their repeated movement between concealment and open water.
At approximately 46:56, the ducklings suddenly reacted and changed position. A Grey Heron had passed high overhead shortly before this response, so the movement may have been triggered by the large bird’s silhouette. This connection is plausible but not certain.
The Mother Finally Returns
At 1:01:32, the mother of キf3 returned from the upstream direction.
The reunion occurred quickly. The three ducklings gathered around her, restoring the complete family group.
The mother’s point of return suggested that she had been somewhere above or near the weir. It was not possible to determine why the ducklings had remained below, whether the separation occurred during an earlier crossing attempt, or whether the mother had temporarily moved away for another reason.
The event is therefore best described as a documented temporary separation followed by reunion, rather than as deliberate abandonment.
Young Ducklings Take the Lead
Soon after the reunion, キf3-13 approached the weir.
These three ducklings had crossed the structure before, but the order of movement was unusual. The ducklings became active first and began climbing while the mother followed behind them.
In many weir-crossing scenes, the mother selects the route and the ducklings attempt to follow. Here, the young birds appeared confident enough to begin the ascent without waiting for her to lead.
Their progress was smooth and coordinated. Despite being only about 13 days old, they used the rocks and shallow flowing water effectively.
The contrast with Tf8-48 was valuable:
The 48-day-old Tf ducklings relied on swimming strength and passed through the stronger current.
The 13-day-old キf ducklings used a more structured climbing route across the uneven surface.
The older family did not closely follow the mother’s path.
In the younger family, the ducklings began moving before the mother.
These differences should not be interpreted as a controlled comparison. Current strength, water depth, starting position, familiarity with the site, and individual temperament may all have affected the chosen routes.
Nevertheless, observing two families at different developmental stages crossing similar river infrastructure on the same day provides useful chronological material for future comparison.
Increasing Independence in Older Ducklings
Several other observations suggested increasing independence among older ducklings.
At 06:45, two Xf5-44 ducklings moved onto the weir while their mother appeared aware of them but did not immediately call them back. Earlier in development, a mother may react more strongly when young ducklings separate from the group.
Her reduced response may indicate that the 44-day-old ducklings had become reliable enough to explore nearby areas without constant intervention. It could also reflect familiarity with the location or the absence of an immediate threat.
Xf5 also showed a consistent preference for a shaded area beneath a particular tree. Other ducks frequently passed through this location, but the Xf family often remained there. Repeated use of a specific resting site may reflect shade, concealment, food availability, bank structure, or familiarity.
Feeding Observations
At approximately 10:55, one 30-day-old duckling from エf5-30 appeared to find and swallow a relatively large object.
The object could not be identified from the footage. Its size and the duckling’s swallowing movements suggested that it may have been a solid food item, possibly plant material, a fruit, a seed, or an invertebrate.
At 13:35, the mother duck was recorded tearing and eating a leaf. Eastern Spot-billed Ducks consume a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial plant material, but I do not often obtain a clear recording of a mother actively tearing a leaf from a plant.
The scene was originally filmed because a group of Azure-winged Magpies had entered the surrounding area and the mother appeared less relaxed. The feeding action became an additional behavioral record within the same sequence.
Tf8-48 was also strongly attracted to grass seed heads below the weir. The family spent time feeding around the inflorescences before crossing the river.
White-cheeked Starlings Bathing Near Ducklings
White-cheeked Starlings were recorded bathing near the river. Some appeared to be associated closely enough to suggest a family group, although age and relationships could not be confirmed for every bird.
A 30-day-old duckling from エf5 was filmed close to one of the starlings, providing a useful visual comparison of body size.
Young ducklings often approach or rush toward other birds, but this encounter remained peaceful. A similar association had previously been observed between the Gf7 duck family and White-cheeked Starlings in the same area.
Repeated peaceful proximity may simply reflect shared use of a safe bathing and feeding location. It is also possible that birds regularly using the site become accustomed to one another’s presence. More observations would be needed before drawing any broader conclusion.
Grey Herons and Little Egrets
Four herons were present during part of the observation.
A Grey Heron appeared to watch or respond to nearby Little Egrets. When the Grey Heron approached, one Little Egret moved away. The substantial difference in body size between the two species made their proximity particularly noticeable.
The Little Egret was also recorded hunting, although its attempts did not appear successful during the filmed period.
Close-up footage documented the Little Egret’s white plumage, preening, and scratching behavior. These ordinary maintenance behaviors are important components of a complete field record, even when they are less dramatic than hunting or conflict.
Bathing by White Wagtails and Sparrows
A juvenile White Wagtail bathed near the reunited キf3 family. This was the first wagtail bathing sequence I had recorded for some time.
Several Eurasian Tree Sparrows also visited the water. They may have been members of a family group, although this was not confirmed.
During the breeding season, I often see individual sparrows bathing alone while adults are occupied with nesting or feeding young. Seeing several together was therefore a welcome seasonal observation.
At one point, a sparrow stood between members of the duck family and appeared almost surrounded by the ducklings.
Changes in the Distribution of Duck Families
The distribution of duck families in the breeding area appeared to be changing.
Several families were difficult to locate despite repeated searches. Tf8, イf4, and Of2 were sometimes hidden deeply inside vegetation, even in areas that had already been checked.
In previous years, families resting in vegetation were often visible through open gaps. During this season, they frequently used areas with stronger concealment and more visual blind spots.
Young ducks from earlier families were also becoming less conspicuous as stable family units. Df5, Ff6, and Gf7 had reached stages at which the young birds were beginning to move independently or form loose juvenile groups.
Such changes make daily records important. A family that is easily visible on one day may disappear into vegetation, move upstream, move downstream, or separate into less recognizable groups on the next.
Why This Record Matters
This video is not a controlled scientific study. It is a chronological field record produced by a non-specialist observer who has followed local ducks and other wildlife over many consecutive days.
Behavioral interpretations in this article are therefore presented as observations and questions, not as established scientific conclusions.
The value of the record lies in its continuity. The videos document each family before and after individual events, making it possible to compare:
duckling numbers;
estimated age;
family composition;
preferred resting areas;
changes in independence;
routes through the river;
temporary separation and reunion;
movements between upstream and downstream territories.
The publication dates and filming codes also function as chronological evidence. Individual scenes can be examined together with footage from the previous and following days, rather than being treated as isolated wildlife clips.
The next day’s field record is available here:
Observation Record
Filming date code: 0724F
Calendar date represented by the code: July 24, 2025
Xf5-44: Mother Xf with five ducklings, approximately 44 days old
エf5-30: Mother エf with five ducklings, approximately 30 days old
Tf8-48: Mother Tf with eight ducklings, approximately 48 days old
キf3-13: Mother キf with three ducklings, approximately 13 days old
イf4: Mother イf with four ducklings
Of2: Mother Of with two ducklings
The Japanese katakana identifiers エf, キf, and イf are distinct observation codes. They are not English alphabet codes and should not be converted into Ef, Kf, or If.
Duck families in this project are identified primarily through differences in the mothers’ plumage, especially patterns in the tertial feathers, together with family composition, location, behavior, and chronological records.
A reference table for the duck families observed on this date is available here:
https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/2025/07/0724f.html
Detailed explanations of the filming date codes, duck family identification codes, and the purpose of the long-term Wild Duck Diaries project are available here:
https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/p/welcome-to-wild-duck-diaries.html
This article forms part of a continuous archive of almost daily wildlife observations. The footage is recorded using Nikon P1100 and P950 superzoom cameras and is published with minimal editing and commentary so that the original sequence, natural sound, and chronological context remain available for later review.
00:00 Highlights (unordered)
03:01 Female kingfisher
04:20 Xf5-44 – just waking up from a nap (Duck family Xf: 5 ducklings, 44 days old)
* Even after waking, they stayed scattered—hard to capture them together.
05:21 Xf5 in their favorite shady spot
* Many ducks pass through here, but staying put is characteristic of the Xf family.
06:45 Two ducklings on the weir 
The mother noticed but didn’t call them back. Maybe she’s starting to trust them more?
07:29 Kingfishers
* Both female and male were present… there were attempts at mating and diving, but I missed all the timing. Got distracted between Xf5 and the kingfishers, and ended up half-filming both
09:20 エf5-30 safe – Happy one-month birthday! 
10:55 Duckling found something to eat—struggling to swallow
* From its movements, it seemed like a larger piece… maybe a seed or nut?
12:39 Starlings bathing Looked like a parent and chick 
13:01 Azure-winged magpie – barely still a juvenile (white remains on the head)
13:35 Mother duck tearing and eating leaves!
* I’ve heard they do this but rarely see it—so happy to capture it
For comparison, Eurasian wigeons are often seen tearing grass.
* Actually, this was mainly to record the mother duck acting aloof when a magpie flock approached.
15:06 Starlings with 30-day-old ducklings – the size difference
* Ducklings often charge at other birds, but this time was peaceful
I was glad to see them together (I’ve also seen Gf7 with starlings, so maybe ducks and starlings here are used to each other?)
17:16 Zoomed shots of エf5
17:56 Four herons! Grey heron seemed to be aware of the little egrets?
18:50 Grey heron approaches, little egret flees – the size difference almost looks like parent and child
20:00 Little egret hunting… seemed unsuccessful
21:12 Gf mother duck with 3 nearby juveniles
* Come to think of it, I rarely see big juvenile groups now. Df5, Ff6, Gf7—all starting to go independent.
22:29 Relaxing while watching grey heron and little egret
24:20 Grey heron close-up
24:41 Little egret close-up – beautiful white feathers
25:35 ★ Little egret scratching – adorable close-up
26:01 Light quarrel among ducks
* Still no sign of Sf9 today
26:34 Tf8-48 – obsessed with grass seed heads 
* Below the parenting zone weir. Didn’t see many duck families; while searching for キf, I found them!
28:06 Sparrow drinking?
28:46 Tf8 crossing the river – very dynamic
30:21 Tf duckling got separated! Mother noticed and reunited them!
* A subtle but beautiful moment
33:20 ★ Tf8 climbing the weir! How will they do it!?
33:54 ★ Instead of climbing rocks, they swam through! Amazing!! 
* Occasionally seen, but all ducklings doing it is a first. They even ignored the mother’s usual route.
35:06 At the top of the weir—イf4 and Of2 were there too
* I checked this area earlier—where were they hiding…
* One Tf duckling ended up isolated…
37:47 イf4 and Of2 got extremely close, then separated
38:27 ★ The late Tf duckling mistakenly went to イf4 realized and turned back lol
39:02 Wait!? Downstream where Tf8 was… ducklings! They were napping but woke up…
39:42 ★ キf3-13 left alone… swimming around by itself
* Filmed for a long time. Calling while wandering. Best enjoyed with water sounds and a cup of tea.
42:25 ★ Ducklings return and nap again
43:53 ★ Three ducklings huddled – close-up
46:56 ★ Reacted to something!!… moved location
* A grey heron passed high overhead—probably what triggered it.
53:52 Mother duck still not back… ducklings head out again
54:39 Hid in the bushes… then immediately left. There was a softshell turtle.
55:50 Are they purposely swimming in a more visible spot?
1:01:32 キf mother returned!! Finally, キf3 reunited!
* The mother came back from above the weir. Might climb up after this.
Even checking above, couldn’t spot Tf8, イf4, or Of2. They must be hiding deep in the bushes.
Usually, even in cover, there are visible gaps, but this year they’re really hidden. Maybe more blind spots.
1:03:53 Juvenile white wagtail… キf arrived!
1:04:33 ★ キf3 climbing the weir… ducklings so proactive!
* These 3 have climbed before, but the mother going last is rare.
1:06:08 White wagtail bathing adorable. Haven’t seen one bathe in ages.
1:06:50 Sparrows came to bathe too—several, probably a family?
* During parenting season, sparrows usually bathe solo.
* After this, I went to check for ケf2 but no sign. (Ever since キf4 dropped to 3 ducklings, I haven’t seen ケf2—maybe they merged?)
1:09:32 キf3 with juvenile white wagtail
1:10:59 A sparrow got sandwiched between キf3 ducklings lol
1:12:58 キf3 moving along the wall
* A classic parenting zone movement—haven’t seen it in a while, so it made me happy.
1:16:21 キf3 crossing the river
▲▲▲ End of timestamps
*
So… two families climbing the weir today, and in both cases the ducklings proactively and smoothly made it!
It was great to compare the climbing techniques of 48-day-old and 13-day-old ducklings.
Also, the bathing scenes with starlings, wagtails, and sparrows—the “cute trio”—were a treat.
When I first found キf3, the mother wasn’t there, so I expected her to return quickly and kept filming… but it turned into a long session.
The ducklings repeatedly napping, waking, napping, waking—that was unusual to witness.
* To keep track of the many duck families, I use the mother duck’s wing (tertial feather) patterns and code system. [List here ↓] https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/2025/07/0724f.html
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