Eastern Spot-Billed Ducklings Without Their Mothers: Inter-Family Refuge, Juvenile Flight Attempts, and Vigilance Toward a Chinese Softshell Turtle ```

 Eastern Spot-billed Duck ducklings are often described as inseparable from their mothers, yet long-term observation reveals a more complicated reality. On this day, four separate groups of juvenile ducks were observed moving without an accompanying female. Their situations ranged from nearly fledged juveniles exploring independently to 12-day-old ducklings temporarily left behind while their mother was apparently away feeding.

The most remarkable sequence involved six unattended ducklings that approached another Eastern Spot-billed Duck family and remained close to them while waiting for their own mother. Although the resident female initially displaced the younger birds from her resting place, she did not pursue them aggressively. Later, the missing mother returned, reunited with her six ducklings, and immediately showed an unusually intense reaction toward a Chinese softshell turtle beneath the water.

These observations provide a detailed field record of temporary parental absence, inter-family proximity, juvenile independence, predator awareness, and age-related changes in aggression among Eastern Spot-billed Ducks.

This article is not a formal scientific study. It is a chronological field record written from the perspective of a non-specialist wildlife observer. The interpretations presented here are based on repeated observations, individual identification, video evidence, and comparisons with footage recorded on surrounding dates.

Recording Video




Main Animals Observed

- カルガモ — Eastern Spot-billed Duck — *Anas zonorhyncha*  
  A common East Asian dabbling duck. Females raise their ducklings without assistance from the male. This record includes several individually identified families and juveniles at different stages of development.

- スッポン — Chinese Softshell Turtle — *Pelodiscus sinensis*  
  A largely aquatic freshwater turtle with a flattened body, a flexible shell, and a long neck. It is an opportunistic predator and scavenger capable of taking fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and other small animals. The mother duck’s sustained attention suggested that she regarded the submerged turtle as a possible threat.

- アオサギ — Grey Heron — *Ardea cinerea*  
  A large wading bird that hunts fish and other aquatic animals. Grey Herons may also attract defensive attention from adult ducks and alert responses from young waterfowl.

- カワセミ — Common Kingfisher — *Alcedo atthis*  
  A small, vividly coloured fish-eating bird. Several brief appearances occurred while the duck families and heron were being monitored.

- ハシブトガラスまたはハシボソガラス — Large-billed Crow or Carrion Crow — *Corvus macrorhynchos* or *Corvus corone*  
  A crow family was observed handling and apparently playing with a discarded plastic cap. The exact species could not be confirmed from this sequence alone.

- ムクドリ — White-cheeked Starling — *Spodiopsar cineraceus*  
  A familiar East Asian starling that often gathers in family groups. Several individuals bathed together near the end of the observation.

- コイ — Common Carp — *Cyprinus carpio*  
  A large freshwater fish. One sudden duckling reaction may have been caused by a carp moving beneath or beside the group, although the exact trigger could not be confirmed.

- 淡水エビの一種 — Freshwater Shrimp — unidentified species, possibly *Neocaridina* sp.  
  A small shrimp was seen swimming in open water. It resembled a freshwater atyid shrimp, but the video did not provide enough diagnostic detail for a reliable species-level identification.

Four Juvenile Ducks at the Weir

At 03:01, four similarly sized juvenile Eastern Spot-billed Ducks were found near the weir without an adult female. Their identity could not be confirmed immediately. Two plausible possibilities were family Lf4 and family イf4, whose young were of similar ages.

At 04:06, one juvenile descended the weir with a short wing-assisted movement. Its body briefly lifted as it moved down, suggesting that the developing flight feathers were already producing noticeable lift.

The estimated ages of the two candidate groups were:

- Lf4-62: four juveniles, approximately 62 days old
- イf4-58: four juveniles, approximately 58 days old

Either age would be consistent with a bird approaching functional flight. However, Lf4 was considered the more likely identification because this family had been recorded at the same site on the previous day, whereas イf4 was rarely observed below the weir.

This identification remains provisional. Similar-aged juveniles can be difficult to distinguish when their mother is absent, particularly after their plumage has become increasingly adult-like.

The Reappearance of カf1-30

At 05:41, family カf1 was encountered again after a relatively long interval. The single duckling was exactly 30 days old according to the accumulated family record.

This family had recently been observed more often farther downstream, making its appearance at this location especially valuable for confirming the duckling’s continued survival and development.

At 06:22, the カf female reacted aggressively toward a Grey Heron. She later drove away another duck at 08:14. These defensive responses occurred while her single duckling remained nearby.

During this period, the calls of other ducklings could already be heard. They were probably the two オf ducklings that had again been left without their mother. However, because カf1 was an infrequently encountered and individually valuable family, the camera remained with it temporarily before the calling ducklings were located.

Two オf Ducklings Waiting Without Their Mother

At 09:39, two unattended ducklings believed to be オf2-24 were found. They were approximately 24 days old and had repeatedly been detected by their calls before their mother became visible.

The two ducklings moved toward the same vegetation where they had waited on earlier occasions. Their repeated use of this location may indicate that it functioned as a familiar waiting or reunion site.

At 10:38, they entered the vegetation, but their mother did not appear during the subsequent observation period.

By 21:57, the two ducklings were still wandering without her. A duck later arrived at 32:46, but it was not the オf female. Eventually, the young birds were lost from view, and no reunion was documented on this day.

It is important not to describe this automatically as permanent abandonment. The same family had shown comparable temporary separations before, and the ducklings had survived them. Nevertheless, the absence of a recorded reunion leaves the outcome of this particular episode uncertain.

Grey Heron Hunting and Reactions from Other Birds

While waiting for the オf female, a Grey Heron was observed for an extended period.

At 12:57, it moved into an unusually deep section of the channel. At 27:40, it captured and swallowed a fish whole. The strike occurred unexpectedly after a long period in which no successful capture had been recorded.

This was a typical difficulty of wildlife filming: after maintaining a wide view in anticipation of a feeding event, the camera had just moved to a close view of the heron’s head when the bird suddenly caught its prey.

At 30:08, a crow family was seen interacting with a plastic cap. A Grey Heron then approached them. The crows appeared alert, and one bird suddenly flew at 31:58, initially giving the impression that a conflict might begin. Instead, the heron and crows subsequently remained together in the shade at 32:14.

This peaceful proximity was notable because the earlier body language had suggested possible tension. It also illustrates why a continuous recording can produce a different interpretation from a brief isolated clip.

Three Juveniles Hesitating at the Water Gate

At 35:19, three young ducks reacted to the Grey Heron. Their voices still sounded immature, confirming that they were juveniles rather than fully mature adults.

The group repeatedly extended and lowered their necks. At first, this movement appeared to precede a possible flight attempt over the water-control structure.

This site is especially useful for evaluating flight development because another family, Ac, had previously been recorded practising flight here. A duck that can cross the structure directly by air has clearly reached a different developmental stage from one that must climb, swim around, or retreat.

At 39:23, the three juveniles approached as though preparing to cross. However, they did not fly. At 39:36, they withdrew, and by 41:38 they had abandoned the attempt.

During later review of the footage, an adult-sized duck was noticed above the gate. This individual had not been recognised while filming and may possibly have been their mother.

The three juveniles were most likely Yf3-57. Their number, estimated age of 57 days, usual location, and developmental stage all support this identification more strongly than the alternatives Lf4 and イf4.

Their behaviour also resembled a pattern observed during difficult family movements: juveniles approach an obstacle, hesitate collectively, and then refuse to follow the route. A comparable “duckling boycott” had been recorded in other families, including ケf2.

Because the identifying female was not clearly confirmed in the same sequence, Yf3-57 should be regarded as a highly probable identification rather than an absolute one.

Lf3 Resting and the Probable Identity of the First Four Juveniles

At 42:38, the Lf female was found resting with three juveniles at an estimated age of 62 days.

This observation raised an interesting possibility concerning the four juveniles seen at the beginning of the recording. If three Lf juveniles were now resting with their mother, the earlier group of four may still have been Lf4 before one individual became temporarily separated or moved out of view. Alternatively, the first group may have belonged to another family.

The available evidence favours Lf4, but it does not resolve the identification completely.

Six 12-Day-Old Ducklings Approach an Older Family

At 43:47, the Tf family came ashore to rest. The family was recorded as Tf8-54, meaning that its eight juveniles were approximately 54 days old. Recently, however, all eight had not always been visible together.

The location was also a familiar waiting site used by family シf6.

At 46:13, six very young シf ducklings appeared without their mother. They were approximately 12 days old. This was the third consecutive day on which they had been recorded in this area without an accompanying adult.

The age difference between the two groups was striking:

- シf6-12: six ducklings, approximately 12 days old
- Tf8-54: eight juveniles, approximately 54 days old

At 47:04, one シf duckling climbed onto the resting area. The Tf female displaced it, but she did not continue with a prolonged chase.

This restrained response was important because the same Tf female had behaved far more aggressively toward unrelated ducklings earlier in the breeding season. At this exact location, she had previously attacked a Cf duckling with considerable intensity.

Her reduced aggression may reflect a change associated with the age of her own offspring. A female guarding very small, vulnerable ducklings may respond rapidly and forcefully to any approaching bird. Once her young are larger and more independent, the immediate defensive value of such aggression may decline.

This is only an observational hypothesis. Individual condition, familiarity, available space, recent disturbances, and the behaviour of the approaching ducklings may also have influenced her response.

Inter-Family Proximity as Temporary Refuge

The young シf ducklings continued trying to use the resting area occupied by Tf.

At 49:19, they attempted to climb ashore again, and the Tf female responded immediately. Even so, the interaction did not develop into the violent pursuit that might have occurred earlier in the season.

The シf ducklings then remained close to the older family for an extended period. At 51:33, they waited together in a nearly straight horizontal line, producing an unusual mirror-like visual effect on the water.

Several small disturbances followed:

- At 53:21, one duckling fell from the edge.
- At 58:13, another appeared to be pushed or displaced.
- At 59:25, a duckling suddenly fell after being startled, possibly by a carp.
- At 1:01:06, the six ducklings crowded and moved around one another.
- At 1:05:07, they suddenly ran as though seeking emergency shelter, although their mother had not returned.
- At 1:05:42, one older Tf juvenile threatened them, causing the smaller ducklings to retreat.

The Tf female remained largely unresponsive during the juvenile’s threat display. She stood for much of the sequence but did not initiate a major attack.

The younger ducklings may have gained some safety simply by remaining near a larger duck family. There is no evidence that the Tf female adopted them or intentionally protected them. Nevertheless, proximity to several larger ducks could potentially reduce their visibility or vulnerability to some threats.

From a human perspective, the behaviour appeared “clever,” but caution is needed when interpreting intention. The ducklings may have been seeking social contact, using a familiar resting site, responding to the presence of other ducks, or simply avoiding isolation.

Waiting, Wandering, and Crossing Without an Adult

At 1:08:10, the シf ducklings gradually began to leave.

At 1:11:08, they were again wandering without their mother. At 1:16:50, all six crossed to the opposite bank by themselves. At 1:17:21, they returned toward their usual resting place while calling.

Their coordinated movements showed that even at approximately 12 days old, the group could make short collective journeys without immediate adult guidance. However, their repeated calling and return to the familiar site strongly suggested that they were still waiting for their mother rather than behaving as independent juveniles.

The シf Mother Returns

At 1:17:39, the シf female finally returned and reunited with all six ducklings directly in front of the Tf family.

Aquatic vegetation was attached across her face and head. This provided visible circumstantial evidence that she had recently been feeding or moving through a vegetation-rich area, possibly nearby rice fields.

Similar temporary absences had occurred repeatedly in this family. The consistency of the pattern raises the possibility that the female was deliberately leaving the ducklings at a familiar waiting site while feeding elsewhere.

That interpretation remains unproven. The vegetation on her face supports recent foraging in dense aquatic plants, but it does not establish exactly where she went or whether leaving the ducklings was planned.

An Intense Reaction to a Chinese Softshell Turtle

At 1:18:56, immediately after the reunion, the シf female’s behaviour changed.

She stared downward into the water and maintained concentrated visual attention on a submerged Chinese softshell turtle. Her posture differed from ordinary feeding or casual underwater inspection. She appeared tense and closely tracked the turtle’s position.

This was one of the rarest behaviours recorded during the day.

Chinese softshell turtles are opportunistic aquatic predators, but the level of danger posed to healthy Eastern Spot-billed Duck ducklings in natural conditions is difficult to determine from this observation alone. No attack occurred, and the turtle’s intentions could not be assessed.

The mother’s behaviour is therefore more securely described as vigilance toward a large submerged animal than as proof that the turtle was actively hunting her offspring.

Even so, her sustained gaze suggests that she detected and evaluated something beneath the surface that she considered potentially relevant to the safety of her newly reunited ducklings.

Peaceful Contact Between Tf8 and シf6

The Tf and シf families had fought two days earlier, yet at 1:20:17 they remained in the same area without a major confrontation.

The シf female later bathed, removing the vegetation from her face. This made the earlier plant material a temporary but useful clue to her recent movements.

At 1:24:46, she began resting, while her ducklings—having already rested during her absence—remained active.

At 1:29:35, the Tf family approached from behind. At 1:31:37, a Tf juvenile came close enough for the シf female to drive it away.

On the previous occasion, a similar interaction had caused the Tf female to respond aggressively. This time, she tolerated the displacement of her juvenile and did not escalate the encounter.

The Tf female may have been delaying her movement while waiting for one of her own juveniles, a pattern observed repeatedly in this family.

A Day Dominated by Motherless Juveniles

Reviewing the full recording revealed that juveniles without a visible mother had been encountered in four separate contexts:

1. Four nearly fledged juveniles near the weir, probably Lf4-62
2. Two unattended オf2-24 ducklings waiting in familiar vegetation
3. Three older juveniles, probably Yf3-57, hesitating at the water gate
4. Six シf6-12 ducklings waiting near the Tf family until their mother returned

These cases should not all be interpreted in the same way.

The oldest juveniles were approaching the age of flight and may already have been moving separately from their mothers for short periods. The 24-day-old and 12-day-old groups, by contrast, were still strongly dependent on maternal protection and guidance.

The シf sequence ended with a confirmed reunion. The オf sequence did not. However, because the オf ducklings had experienced similar separations on previous days, their survival beyond this recording remained plausible.

Value of Continuous and Cross-Date Video Records

Many individual events in this article would be difficult to interpret from a single short clip.

The probable identity of the juveniles, the repeated absence of the シf and オf mothers, the changing aggression of the Tf female, and the usual resting locations of each family could only be considered because related footage had been recorded on previous and subsequent dates.

The next day’s observation record can be viewed here:

https://youtu.be/F03mNBMpgKY

The videos are recorded primarily with Nikon P1100 and Nikon P950 superzoom cameras. Most footage is presented with minimal editing and minimal narration so that the animals’ movements, surrounding sounds, timing, and spatial relationships remain available for later review.

Publication dates are also used as supporting chronological evidence for the filming records. Some material is released to channel members first, and public release may be delayed when immediate disclosure could attract excessive attention to sensitive wildlife locations.

About the Observation Codes

The date code for this recording is 0730F:

- 0730 indicates July 30
- F indicates the year 2025

Duck family codes combine an individually assigned mother identifier, a year marker, the number of ducklings, and their estimated age in days.

Examples from this record include:

- カf1-30: カ mother, year f, one duckling, approximately 30 days old
- オf2-24: オ mother, year f, two ducklings, approximately 24 days old
- Yf3-57: Y mother, year f, three juveniles, approximately 57 days old
- Lf4-62: L mother, year f, four juveniles, approximately 62 days old
- Tf8-54: T mother, year f, eight juveniles, approximately 54 days old
- シf6-12: シ mother, year f, six ducklings, approximately 12 days old

Katakana identifiers such as カf, オf, イf, and シf are independent identification symbols. They must not be converted into Latin-alphabet forms such as Kf, Of, If, or Shif.

The mothers are distinguished mainly through individual differences in their plumage, especially the patterns of the tertial feathers, together with location, family composition, behaviour, and continuous records from surrounding dates.

A detailed explanation of the date codes, duck family identification system, and the purpose of this long-term observation project is available here:

https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/p/welcome-to-wild-duck-diaries.html

Observer’s Note

I am not a professional ornithologist, zoologist, or behavioural ecologist. The behavioural interpretations in this article are observations and hypotheses developed by an independent wildlife enthusiast through repeated filming of the same animals.

Where an identification or interpretation remains uncertain, that uncertainty has been retained rather than replaced with a definite conclusion.

This project aims to preserve every day of field recording as part of a continuous chronological archive. By comparing footage across multiple dates, it becomes possible to document survival, family composition, developmental changes, recurring separation patterns, individual behaviour, and rare interactions that might otherwise appear meaningless when viewed in isolation.





00:00 Highlights (unordered)
03:01 Four ducklings that look like siblings! Staring intently—they might go down the weir.
* Either Lf4 or イf4, but without the mother it’s unclear…
04:06 ★ They went down the weir—and one slightly flew!!!
* It was exciting but unexpected! With Lf4-62 or イf4-58 both being possible, either family could do this. My guess is Lf4 (saw them here yesterday, and イf4 is rarely seen below the weir).
05:41 !? カf1-30 safe! Long-awaited reunion 
* I thought the duckling looked about a month old, and checking now—it’s exactly 30 days. Usually seen downstream, so seeing them here is a rare treat.
06:22 カf mother threatening… ah, a grey heron 
* At this time, I could hear duckling calls—almost certainly オf2 left behind again—but カf is precious, so I prioritized filming here.
08:14 カf母 chasing off another duck 
* カf1 started moving downstream… wanted to see more, but the duckling calls had me worried, so I went searching.
09:39 Two ducklings without a parent – almost certainly オf2-24.  
* Every time, it’s the ducklings’ calls that lead me to them—mother always absent.
10:38 オf lost 2 moved into their usual bushes (the spot the mother always returns to)
11:31 Kingfisher perched quietly
12:07 Grey heron moving a lot, so I observed for a while
* オf母 always seems to suddenly appear from downstream, so I waited, thinking the same might happen today.  
* The original 4 ducklings didn’t come down… probably climbed back up the weir. I wanted to see them, but with カf1 and the オf2 strays, I couldn’t follow—frustrating.
12:57 Rare to see a heron in such deep water
21:57 オf2 strays still wandering… mother hasn’t returned…
27:40 ★ Grey heron swallowed a fish whole
* Aargh… had been waiting and filming for ages, but when I zoomed on its face instead—it suddenly caught one. Classic bird photography.
29:09 Watching swimming shrimp—so soothing. Probably Neocaridina (Japanese swamp shrimp)?
30:08 Crow family playing with a bottle cap!?
30:28 ★ Grey heron approaching the crow family 
30:48 The crows finally looking cautious?
31:58 Crows suddenly flew—thought they were fighting the heron, but…
32:14 ★ …they ended up resting together in the shade 
32:46 A duck flew in—but not オf母…
* The オf2 strays had been here, but with the crows and heron I got distracted. Mother never showed, and I lost sight of the ducklings. Time passed quickly.
33:21 Lid crow enters “season 2”
35:19 ★ Three juvenile ducks reacting to the heron! You can faintly hear their young voices.
37:19 Their reaction right after the heron flew off
* It was an amazing reaction but I missed filming  Today my timing with the heron was off   
* Wonder which family these juveniles belong to…
38:28 Juveniles bobbing their heads—about to fly? Watching nervously.
39:23 Will they fly over the floodgate?
* I’ve recorded fledging training here before with the Ac family. Easy place to see flying progress, and their movements had me excited.
* There was a duck above the floodgate but I didn’t notice while filming… might have been the mother—missed opportunity.
39:36 About to fly? …but they retreated 
* Thinking back, this movement is just like the “duckling boycott” during reckless moves (saw it this year with ケf2).  
* Possible families: Lf4, イf4, Yf3… (ﾟдﾟ)ﾊｯ! Yf3-57! The location and age match perfectly! I think we can confirm Yf3.
41:38 Likely Yf3-57’s 3 juveniles ended up retreating without flying
* Kept searching for オf2, but never found them or saw the mother return.
42:38 Lf母 with 3 juveniles resting – 62 days
* Searched for イf4 too but no luck… the original 4 ducklings were likely Lf4 after all?
43:47 Tf8-54 landing for a nap (lately the 8 ducklings don’t gather together)
* This is usually シf6’s favorite sleeping spot…
46:13 Tf napping…!? シf6-12 showed up again without their mother  Oh no!!
* シf6 ducklings have been in this “motherless” state for 3 consecutive days. (Incidentally, オf2 has been for 3 times as well.)
47:04 ★ シf ducklings came ashore… Tf母 chased them out but no attack
* This is the same spot where Tf母, when she was aggressive, violently attacked Cf ducklings.  
Hard to believe it’s the same mother—shows how they calm down as ducklings grow.
* A rare two-family crossover moment. I wanted to zoom in on シf ducklings but was too nervous.
48:37 Size difference of the ducklings  12 days vs 54 days
49:19 ★ シf ducklings tried coming ashore again; Tf母 immediately reacted
49:58 Even a kingfisher showed up 
51:33 シf6 ducklings waiting for their mother’s return
* The perfect side-by-side water reflections looked like optical illusion art!  
* It’s a long scene but cute—enjoy with a café au lait.
53:21 ★ Duckling fell in 
58:13 ★ Duckling pushed off 
59:25 ★ Duckling startled and fell  Scared by a carp?
1:01:06 ★ Chaotic ducklings 
1:05:07 ★ Emergency dash!? Ducklings suddenly bolting—mother not there
1:05:42 ★ Tf duckling threatening! シf6 startled
* Tf母 remained unreactive. She stood the entire time.
1:08:10 シf6 calmed down and gradually started moving
1:10:27 Tf duckling preening (loosening pin feathers?) then nibbling grass
1:11:08 シf6 still wandering… mother hasn’t returned…
1:16:50 Ducklings crossing to the opposite bank alone
1:17:21 シf6 returning toward the sleeping spot while calling…
1:17:39 ★ シf母 returned! Safe reunion!! Right in front of Tf.
1:18:31 シf母’s face covered in duckweed—proof she came from the rice fields…
* Always the same pattern of abandonment. Is she foraging each time?
1:18:56 ★ シf母 suddenly acting weird… there’s a softshell turtle underwater!!!
1:20:17 Tf8 and シf6—two days ago they fought, but today was peaceful
1:22:14 Starlings bathing as a family 
1:22:54 シf母 erased the rice field evidence
* After her bath, I thought they’d sleep here and was about to wrap up filming when they emerged…
1:24:46 シf母 started resting, but the ducklings were full of energy and didn’t settle
* Wanted to film their sleeping faces, so I waited, and then…
1:29:35 Tf mothers appeared from behind 
1:31:37 Tf duckling approached; シf母 chased them out 
* Two days ago this exact flow made Tf母 furious, but today it was allowed.  
* Strange Tf母 didn’t show up—it’s probably her usual pattern of waiting for the straggler.
▲▲▲ End of timestamps
*

Looking back, I saw four separate groups of motherless ducklings today.  
Especially missing the Yf3 realization during filming was a big miss…  
Not sure if オf2 reunited with their mother, but given the pattern over several days, they’re probably okay.  

キf, which climbed yesterday, wasn’t seen—maybe moved back downstream?  
シf6 keeps ending up abandoned in the same area as the once-aggressive Tf母, which worried me, but judging by today it seems okay.  

The reaction to the softshell turtle was especially rare.

* 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/2025/07/0730f.html