Mother Duck Finds Her Lost Duckling: Reunion, Temporary Abandonment, and an Early Weir-Climbing Attempt
A newly observed Eastern Spot-billed Duck family provided an unusually detailed sequence of parental decisions, separation, reunion, movement through riverside vegetation, and an unsuccessful attempt to climb a weir. The most significant event occurred when one very young duckling became separated inside dense vegetation and apparently fell into, or was trapped among, cavities in the concrete riverbank. After the mother began searching the area, the missing duckling eventually emerged and called, allowing the family to reunite.
Later that day, the same mother quickly abandoned an attempted ascent of a weir after only two of her seven ducklings managed to climb the first section. She subsequently flew away from the resting site, temporarily leaving the ducklings alone before returning and gathering them together again.
These observations were recorded on July 14, 2025, as part of my continuing daily documentation of urban wildlife and Eastern Spot-billed Duck families in Japan.
A New Eastern Spot-billed Duck Family Appears in Midsummer
At approximately 04:06 in the recording, I noticed a duck resting near a familiar riverside sleeping area. I initially focused on the adult because I had not noticed any ducklings nearby. After zooming in, however, several extremely small ducklings became visible beneath and around her.
The pattern of the mother’s tertial feathers differed from the other females I had already identified, confirming that this was a previously unrecorded family. I designated the family キf7-3: mother キf with seven ducklings estimated to be approximately three days old.
Estimating the age of newly discovered ducklings is not always straightforward. Their apparent size can change considerably depending on posture, distance, lighting, wet plumage, and camera angle. Because this was the first day on which I encountered this family in the river, I provisionally recorded the ducklings as approximately three days old.
This became the 33rd Eastern Spot-billed Duck family I had documented during the 2025 breeding season.
Ducklings Shelter Beneath Their Mother
At 04:47, the seven ducklings gathered closely around the mother, with some disappearing beneath her body feathers.
Very young ducklings commonly seek warmth and protection beneath the female. Although ducklings are covered in insulating down, their ability to maintain body temperature is still limited compared with that of an adult. Sheltering beneath the mother may therefore serve several purposes, including thermoregulation, concealment, rest, and protection from rain or nearby animals.
During the original filming, I could see only six ducklings clearly at certain moments. Dense grouping beneath the mother often makes an accurate count difficult, especially when the ducklings overlap or remain hidden under her plumage.
An Immediate Response to a Grey Heron
At 07:00, a Grey Heron passed close to the resting family. The ducklings immediately moved into a more protected position near or beneath their mother.
It is impossible to determine from a single observation exactly how the family assessed the threat. However, the rapid change in posture suggested that the passing bird was noticed and treated cautiously.
Grey Herons mainly feed on fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and other aquatic animals, but they are opportunistic predators capable of taking small birds under some circumstances. For a newly hatched duckling, remaining close to the mother when a large bird approaches is likely to be an important survival response.
A Softshell Turtle Moving on Land
At 08:56, I observed a softshell turtle moving across exposed ground. It appeared to investigate a layer of straw or dried vegetation and may have been attempting to push beneath it.
I have frequently observed softshell turtles swimming or resting near the water, but this was one of my first opportunities to study their natural terrestrial movement at close range. The animal moved differently from the hard-shelled freshwater turtles commonly seen in the same river system. Its flattened body, flexible shell margin, long neck, and broad limbs appeared well suited to moving through mud and shallow water, although its progress over dry ground seemed more deliberate.
The possibility that it was trying to conceal itself beneath the vegetation is only an interpretation. The available footage does not establish whether the behaviour was related to shelter, moisture, temperature, or simple exploration.
A Lone Duckling Waits Without Its Mother
At 10:37, I encountered a single duckling believed to be カf1-14, approximately 14 days old. It was moving without an adult nearby.
I waited and searched the surrounding river, including an area farther downstream where wildlife frequently gathers, but I could not confirm the location of its mother. When I returned at 15:28, the duckling was still apparently alone.
Temporary separation does not necessarily mean that a duckling has been permanently abandoned. Mother ducks may move out of sight, fly temporarily, respond to another animal, or become separated by vegetation, current, river structures, or human disturbance. Nevertheless, an isolated young duckling remains vulnerable, and without continuous observation it is often impossible to determine exactly what happened before or after the recorded period.
For that reason, I record such events as observed separation rather than assuming permanent abandonment.
Searching for the Newly Discovered Family
When I returned to the resting place of キf7, the family had disappeared.
Because the ducklings had been sleeping only a short time earlier, I expected them to remain nearby. I searched repeatedly but could not find them. On an earlier occasion, I had lost track of another young family after it entered vegetation along a tributary, and I regretted not continuing the search more thoroughly. Remembering that experience, I remained in the area and continued looking.
After approximately two hours, I finally located キf7 again at 19:33. The mother and all seven ducklings were active together.
At 27:40, the family crossed the river and entered dense vegetation growing around a section of perforated concrete blocks. I have recorded duck families entering this general area before, but movement deep inside this particular patch is relatively unusual.
The site concerned me because the blocks contain openings and uneven cavities. On previous occasions, small ducklings have fallen into similar structures or become temporarily separated from their families.
One Duckling Disappears
At 29:57, the family emerged from the vegetation, but only six ducklings were visible.
I did not recognize the loss while filming. The mother repeatedly moved downstream and then returned upstream. At the time, I interpreted her movement as possible hesitation about climbing the river wall or choosing a route.
Reviewing the footage later changed the meaning of the scene. Her repeated movements were consistent with a search for the missing seventh duckling.
The family then began to move downstream. As I prepared to cross to the opposite bank and continue following them, the mother suddenly reversed direction.
At 32:13, she moved rapidly upstream and began calling.
A faint, high-pitched sound could be heard from the vegetation. During filming, I mistakenly thought it might have been the call of a Zitting Cisticola, a small bird frequently heard in grassy riverside habitat. Because I had not yet realized that the family had been reduced to six ducklings, I did not immediately identify the sound as a separated duckling.
At 32:23, I finally counted the family carefully and realized that only six ducklings remained.
The Missing Duckling Emerges and Rejoins the Family
At 32:45, the missing duckling appeared.
The seventh duckling emerged from the riverside vegetation and moved toward the calling mother and siblings. The family was once again complete.
The exact mechanism of separation was hidden from view. Based on the location, the duckling may have fallen into one of the openings between the concrete blocks or become trapped behind dense vegetation. This remains an inference rather than a confirmed fact.
The sequence visible in the footage suggests the following possibility:
The family entered dense vegetation around the perforated blocks.
One duckling became separated and could not immediately follow the others.
The mother emerged with six ducklings and moved repeatedly through the surrounding area.
She eventually began moving downstream, perhaps searching along another route.
The missing duckling escaped from the obstructed area and called.
The mother heard the call, answered, and returned upstream.
The duckling followed the sound and reunited with the family.
The separation appears to have lasted longer than I realized during filming. The mother’s movements were not random wandering but were likely connected with the missing offspring.
Describing the event as the mother “finding” the duckling does not necessarily mean that she visually located it from a distance. Acoustic contact may have been the decisive factor. Contact calls can allow ducklings and their mother to locate one another when visibility is blocked by vegetation, riverbank structures, or uneven terrain.
Rapid Upstream Movement After the Reunion
At 33:55, the reunited family travelled upstream at an unexpectedly high speed.
Initially, I thought the mother might simply have changed her intended direction. In the context of the missing duckling, however, the rapid movement may have represented an effort to leave the hazardous area after recovering the separated individual.
This interpretation cannot be proven from movement alone, but the timing is notable. The acceleration occurred almost immediately after the family returned to seven ducklings.
At 35:18, the ducklings found a route through the vegetation and climbed from the river’s edge. Even very young ducklings can display considerable flexibility when navigating roots, stones, low walls, and plants. Their success, however, depends greatly on the height, surface texture, water flow, and availability of intermediate footholds.
Foraging in Small Cavities
Another duckling, Mf1-46, was repeatedly observed investigating holes and recesses in the river structures. At 36:01, it inserted its bill and head into a cavity while foraging.
This individual had previously shown similar interest in holes around a weir. Such behaviour may reflect an individual preference for searching sheltered microhabitats where aquatic insects, larvae, small crustaceans, plant material, or other food items accumulate.
The mother of Mf1 was not clearly present beside the duckling during much of this sequence. An adult believed to be the mother appeared in the wider area, but the footage did not provide enough evidence to confirm a reunion. I therefore cannot state with certainty that the adult and juvenile made contact.
Mud Foraging and the Mother’s Bill
At 42:42, キf7 foraged in soft mud. The mother pushed and swept her bill through the substrate with noticeably greater force than the tiny ducklings.
Eastern Spot-billed Ducks feed by dabbling, filtering, probing, and picking food from water, mud, vegetation, and exposed surfaces. The broad bill contains lamellae that assist in separating edible material from water and sediment.
The contrast between the adult and ducklings was striking. The mother could disturb compact mud and move larger pieces of material, while the ducklings concentrated on shallower surfaces and smaller particles. This difference may affect which food resources are accessible to each age group.
Unpredictable Movement Through a Tributary
At 44:10, the family entered vegetation along a tributary and disappeared again.
I had previously believed that I understood the likely routes used by duck families in this small branch of the river. However, both this family and another recently observed family moved through the area in ways I failed to predict.
At 45:49, キf7 returned by travelling down the tributary, and at 47:51 the family resumed moving upstream in the main river.
This is a useful reminder that repeated observation can improve familiarity with a site without making animal movement fully predictable. Dense vegetation may conceal side channels, resting areas, shallow passages, or access points that are not visible from the observer’s position.
A Very Early Attempt to Climb a Weir
At 58:32, the three-day-old ducklings approached a weir and attempted to climb.
Based on their earlier difficulty with a much smaller step, I expected the initial rock section to be challenging. Two ducklings managed to reach a higher position at 59:42, but the remaining five could not follow.
Very young ducklings are capable climbers under suitable conditions, using their feet, claws, wings, bills, and body momentum. However, steep wet surfaces can exceed their physical ability, particularly where there are few footholds or where water flows directly against them.
The two successful ducklings demonstrated that the route was not completely impossible. It was nevertheless unsuitable for the group as a whole.
The Mother Quickly Abandons the Climbing Attempt
At 1:00:05, the mother turned away from the weir and led the family downstream.
What made this event particularly interesting was the speed of her decision. In other observations, mother ducks have made repeated attempts, moved back and forth, waited below an obstacle, climbed again, or appeared to hesitate before changing routes.
This female withdrew almost immediately.
It is tempting to describe the decision as an assessment of the ducklings’ physical limits. However, we cannot know the mother’s internal reasoning. The observable fact is that only two ducklings climbed successfully and that the mother quickly selected a downstream route rather than continuing the attempt.
From a survival perspective, rapid route changes may reduce the time that young ducklings remain scattered or exposed around a difficult obstacle.
Preparing to Rest
At 1:06:32, the family reached a resting area already occupied by another duck. The mother displaced the other bird and secured the site.
The ducklings then began settling beside and beneath her. At 1:08:16, they adjusted their positions, preened briefly, and gathered into a compact group.
Resting sites are important for young ducklings because they require frequent periods of sleep and warming. A suitable location may also offer shallow water, visibility, cover, and a route of escape.
The Mother Flies Away and Leaves Seven Young Ducklings Behind
At 1:09:29, the mother’s posture and movement suggested that she might soon fly. Two ducklings were still awake when, at 1:11:14, she took off and left all seven behind.
The ducklings remained together and waited.
I have documented temporary maternal departures in other Eastern Spot-billed Duck families. Possible explanations include feeding, bathing, drinking, social interaction, inspection of the surrounding area, avoidance of another duck, or movement associated with a perceived threat. The purpose of this particular departure could not be determined.
It is important not to equate every temporary departure with permanent abandonment. In this case, the mother later returned.
At 1:16:21, the ducklings became active and moved from the original resting point. They then settled again in a shallow section of the river. Their relocation may have resulted from discomfort, changing water conditions, disturbance, or a perceived threat, but the cause was not visible.
At 1:19:18, one duckling located and swallowed a small food item. Even while waiting without their mother, the ducklings alternated between resting, watching their surroundings, and opportunistic feeding.
At 1:20:22, the group reacted to a duck flying overhead. The passing individual may have been their mother, but the footage does not allow a definite identification.
The Mother Returns
At 1:26:48, the mother returned and the seven ducklings gathered around her.
The reunion was immediate and orderly. No duckling appeared to have left the immediate area permanently during her absence.
This sequence provides useful evidence that apparently unattended ducklings may still be under maternal care. A brief observation of the group during the mother’s absence could easily lead an observer to conclude that the ducklings had been abandoned. Continuous footage before and after the event reveals a different situation: the female departed temporarily and returned approximately 15 minutes later.
Other Duck Families Recorded That Day
Several previously identified Eastern Spot-billed Duck families were also present:
Of2-43 had two ducklings approximately 43 days old. The family appeared to have successfully climbed a weir that had previously caused difficulty.
Mf1-46 consisted of one older duckling approximately 46 days old, repeatedly observed foraging around cavities in river structures.
Tf8-38 had eight ducklings approximately 38 days old and remained active in the rain.
By this point in the season, several other families that had been followed regularly were no longer present as dependent family groups. Their disappearance from the daily record may represent fledging, dispersal, movement outside the observation area, or the end of visible maternal association.
Newly hatched families were still appearing, but more older families were completing or leaving the observable stage of brood care. This produced a strong sense of seasonal transition.
Rainy-Day Observations of Urban Birds
After ending the close observation of キf7, I encountered several other bird species active in the rain.
At 1:35:35, a family of White-cheeked Starlings used a road that was unusually quiet because of the weather. Reduced pedestrian and vehicle activity may temporarily allow urban birds to exploit open paved areas more freely.
At 1:36:01, a Rose-ringed Parakeet was feeding in a tree. I had heard these parakeets regularly in the past, but it had been some time since I had watched their characteristic climbing and hanging behaviour at close range.
The parakeet moved among the branches and occasionally hung in an inverted position while feeding. At 1:41:20, I filmed what appeared to be the fruit or plant material it had been eating, although I could not identify the tree species from the available footage.
Observing a feral parakeet feeding in steady rain was also new to me. The bird continued normal movement and food handling despite the wet conditions.
What This Observation Suggests
The most important sequence of the day was not a single dramatic action but a chain of events that only became understandable through continuous recording:
a family entered dense vegetation;
one duckling disappeared;
the mother repeatedly changed direction;
a hidden call was heard;
the mother called and returned upstream;
the duckling emerged;
the family reunited and rapidly left the area.
During filming, I misunderstood several parts of this sequence. I did not immediately notice the reduced brood size, and I initially interpreted the duckling’s call as that of a small grassland bird.
Only by reviewing the footage and comparing the timing of the mother’s movements, the calls, and the duckling count could I reconstruct the likely sequence.
This illustrates both the value and the limitations of amateur wildlife observation. Long-term familiarity with individual animals and locations can reveal patterns that a brief visit would miss. At the same time, expectations can cause an observer to overlook evidence or misidentify a sound.
My interpretations should therefore be treated as field observations rather than expert conclusions. Where the footage does not provide direct evidence, I have tried to distinguish clearly between what was recorded and what is inferred.
Daily Video Records as Evidence Across Multiple Dates
This article forms part of a continuing observation project in which I record Eastern Spot-billed Duck families and other urban wildlife on a near-daily basis.
The videos are filmed primarily with Nikon P1100 and Nikon P950 superzoom cameras and are published with minimal editing and explanation. The upload dates also serve as chronological evidence connected to the filming dates. By preserving daily records, it becomes possible to compare brood size, development, family composition, individual feather patterns, movement routes, repeated use of resting sites, and changes before and after a particular event.
A single recording can document what happened during one period. Records spanning consecutive days can provide stronger circumstantial evidence about whether a duckling survived, whether a mother returned, whether a family moved upstream or downstream, and whether a behaviour was repeated.
The recording from the following day is available here:
The chronological 2025 observation playlist is available here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7dTQKKqrPzZpmfSA98tn9tXWfkp1jBB
Detailed explanations of the filming-date codes and duck-family identification codes are provided on the Wild Duck Diaries information page:
https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/p/welcome-to-wild-duck-diaries.html
The identification table associated with this observation date is available here:
https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/2025/07/0714f.html
Species Recorded
カルガモ — Eastern Spot-billed Duck — Anas zonorhyncha
A dabbling duck widely found in East Asia. Females raise their ducklings without assistance from the male and may lead them through rivers, concrete channels, tributaries, vegetation, and artificial barriers.アオサギ — Grey Heron — Ardea cinerea
A large wading bird that mainly feeds on aquatic animals. Its size and opportunistic feeding behaviour may cause smaller birds to respond cautiously when it approaches.スッポン — Chinese Softshell Turtle — Pelodiscus sinensis
A freshwater turtle with a flattened, flexible shell and an elongated snout. It is strongly aquatic but may move onto land for nesting, dispersal, basking, or relocation.カワセミ — Common Kingfisher — Alcedo atthis
A small, brightly coloured bird that hunts fish and aquatic invertebrates by diving from waterside perches.ハクセキレイ — White Wagtail — Motacilla alba
A slender, ground-foraging bird commonly found along rivers, roads, and urban open spaces. Japanese populations often belong to the subspecies Motacilla alba lugens.セッカ — Zitting Cisticola — Cisticola juncidis
A small grassland bird known for its repetitive flight call. In this observation, its familiar sound initially influenced my interpretation of the hidden duckling’s call.ムクドリ — White-cheeked Starling — Spodiopsar cineraceus
A common East Asian starling that frequently forages on lawns, roads, farmland, and other open urban surfaces.ワカケホンセイインコ — Rose-ringed Parakeet — Psittacula krameri
A parakeet native to parts of Africa and South Asia. Feral populations are established in several Japanese cities, where they feed on seeds, fruits, flowers, and plant material.
Closing Note
The return of the missing duckling was the most memorable event of the day, but the full record also documented several less dramatic decisions: sheltering from a passing heron, abandoning an unsuitable climbing route, changing resting sites, waiting during the mother’s temporary absence, and navigating unfamiliar vegetation.
None of these actions should be interpreted as proof of human-like intention or emotion. Nevertheless, continuous observation shows that mother ducks and their young repeatedly respond to changing terrain, sounds, group size, weather, and the movements of other animals.
The most valuable part of the record may be its imperfection. I failed to notice the missing duckling immediately and misinterpreted its call. By retaining the full sequence rather than only the successful reunion, the footage preserves both the animal behaviour and the observer’s process of recognition, correction, and cautious interpretation.
Timestamp Notes (for personal use) 00:00 Highlights (in no particular order) 03:07 Pf2-43 (Duck family Of group, 2 ducklings, about 43 days old) Oh! Of2 has finally climbed the weir, which had been a struggle earlier! 04:06 The ducklings are small! A new duck family has been born! 33rd family this year. I didn’t notice the ducklings at first. I zoomed in on a suspicious duck on the bed, and there they were! I thought it was Of7, but the mother’s feathers were distinctive, and I immediately realized it was a new family. The ducklings appeared to be a little larger at first, but still small… For now, I’ll assume this is the 3rd day since I met them by the river. 04:47 Kf7-3: Cute, going under mother! There are 7 ducklings, but I can only see 6? I couldn’t confirm the number of ducklings while shooting. 07:00 Emergency evacuation! (An egret passed nearby) I fell asleep, so I used that time to check downstream. 08:56 Observed the movement of a soft-shelled turtle. Was it trying to hide in the straw? This was the first time I saw its natural movement on land. So happy! 10:37 A lost duckling wandering alone… probably Kf1-14. I waited for a while, but the mother didn’t return. I checked by the cormorant spot but couldn’t find the parent. 15:28 Kf1 is still without the mother… I thought the mother would return, but... I went back to check where Kf7 had been resting, and found that it had disappeared. I couldn’t find it despite searching for a while. Normally, I’d move on, but after losing Of7 in the past in a stream, I decided to stay with Kf7. 16:24 Mf1-46: The ducklings were swimming alone. The mother was nowhere to be seen. 16:47 Of2: I keep meeting it today! 18:53 An egret perched on the bridge, so I enjoyed watching. 19:11 Kingfisher. 19:33 Kf7: Found it! The parent and ducklings are active. I’ve been looking for them for two hours, but I finally found them! 25:26 They returned to the resting spot, but didn’t sleep, just left. 27:40 Crossing the river and entering the bushes. This is a place I often film, but it’s rare for the ducklings to go deep into the bushes (I haven’t seen this many times). The bushes are located near an area with holes in the blocks, where the ducklings often fall, so I feel a bit worried. 28:54 A wagtail came up close, so I was happy to film it closely. 29:57 Kf7: The ducklings decreased to 6. When they came out of the bushes, I didn’t realize the number had decreased. I had seen them going up and down the slope earlier, wondering if they were planning to climb the wall. Later, when I saw them starting to head down the river, I rushed to follow them and thought I might catch up to them. 32:13 Kf6 is heading upstream again, and the mother is calling! I thought the mother was confused, and I mistakenly thought it was the voice of a reed warbler. But it turned out that the mother duck realized it was her duckling and came back. I’m happy the reunion happened, even if I was confused by the sound! 33:55 Kf7 moved up the river at incredible speed. I thought they might be heading downstream, and I felt disappointed as I thought I wouldn’t see them again. But when the 6 ducklings gathered, I realized they were rushing back to meet up. I was surprised at how fast they moved! 35:18 A duckling climbs the bushes. So smart! 36:01 Mf1 and the ducklings are feeding in the hole again. The mother is still separate, but I’m not sure if the mother has met with them. I think I filmed Kf7 when it passed nearby but didn’t realize it at the time. The ducklings seem to like places like the weir hole. I find it interesting. 39:24 Mf mother is waiting alone. Kf7 didn’t rest due to the rain. 41:02 The ducklings are struggling to climb the slope, which is difficult for the younger ones. Heading to the stream. 42:42 Mud feeding. The mother’s beak strength is impressive! 44:10 Entering the bushes of the stream. After this, I lost track of them. I thought I had a good idea of how they moved, but just like with Of7, I couldn’t find them even though I repeatedly checked the stream. 45:49 Kf7 came back from downstream. 47:51 Heading up the river. 52:45 A popular resting spot... If they don’t sleep, they might head to the weir. 58:32 Challenge to climb the weir! Can the younger ones make it? From the slope I saw earlier, it seems like the first rock is too tough. 59:42 Only two managed to climb, but maybe it was still too early... 1:00:05 Kf mother gives up and heads downstream! Quick decision! Normally, they would reconsider or hesitate, but the mother made a quick decision to head downstream, which was impressive. 1:06:32 Heading for a nap! The nearby ducks were chased away. 1:08:16 Getting ready for a cute nap. 1:09:29 The mother duck’s movements... I think she’s going to leave the ducklings behind. Two ducklings haven’t fallen asleep yet, but they might be left behind. 1:11:14 Kf mother flies away, leaving the ducklings behind. Waiting for their return. 1:16:21 The ducklings start moving but rest again in the shallow water (moving the resting spot?). Maybe they sensed danger? 1:19:18 The ducklings find something and feed. 1:20:22 The ducklings respond! (A duck passed overhead, maybe it was their mother?) 1:22:36 Mf mother (ducklings absent) and Kf7 (mother absent). 1:26:48 The mother duck returned! Great reunion! 1:32:14 Kf7 heads downstream again. Today, I visited all the upper and lower stream areas around the popular resting spot. I was hoping to meet other families, but I only encountered Mf. I’ve been following Kf7 closely, but I’m stopping here for now. 1:33:41 Oh! Tf8-38 is still active despite the rain. 1:35:35 Starling parent and ducklings enjoyed the empty road in the rain. 1:36:01 Rose-ringed parakeet feeding in the rain. I hadn’t heard their call in a while, and I met them. It was nostalgic to see them hanging upside down, and I stayed a while to watch them in the rain. 1:41:20 The fruit (or something) that the parakeet was eating? I wonder what tree it is. Final Thoughts: A new group of ducks was born in the peak of summer. It was sad to see one duckling decrease, but the mother worked hard to search and I witnessed their miraculous reunion. It was great to observe their actions, like the swift retreat while trying to climb the weir and the ducklings’ behaviors during moments of abandonment. However, more families are graduating, and it feels bittersweet. Duck Families: Due to the large number of duck families, I track them by the pattern on the mother’s feathers (three primary feathers) and their identification codes. You can see the list of them here: https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/2025/07/0714f.html
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