Many young naturalists, just beginnersto study the inhabitants of the wild, often fed with bread ducks swimming in the near pond. Moreover, most of them do not even realize that instead of caring for the birds, they cause irreversible harm to these waterfowl. After reading this article, you will learn that they eat ducks that live in the wild.
Habitat
Since the most common in our countryMallards are considered, then we’ll talk about them. Those who want to know the name of the grass that the duck eats will certainly be interested in the conditions in which these birds live. Shallow open reservoirs of artificial or natural origin are considered to be the traditional habitat of wild mallards. These can be stakes, rivers, lakes or ponds, around which thickets of reeds or bushes grow.
Wildwaters ignore rocky and nakedcoast, because there is no place suitable for the arrangement of nests. In winter, the mallards migrate to regions with a warm climate. However, they can live peacefully throughout the year in non-freezing reservoirs.
Lifestyle features
Before moving on to what wild ducks eat,it is necessary to deal with the main nuances of their lifestyle. These waterfowl live in northern America, Europe and Asia. In October-November, birds, huddled together in huge flocks, fly off to warm lands. A favorite place of wintering are countries such as Italy, Greece and Spain. Colonies of mallards arriving in the southern water bodies often stretch over several square kilometers. The sound emitted by such a flock of take-off, remotely resembles the sound of the sea surf.
In February or March, wild ducks go tonesting in the northern and temperate latitudes. Interestingly, mallards rarely appear in open water. Most often they try to hide in the midst of aquatic vegetation. These birds love to wander through the shoals and delve into the mud. Mallards have well developed sense organs. These cautious, intelligent and cunning birds are able to adequately assess the circumstances and are quite easily domesticated.
A few words about nesting
Those who want to find out what they eat ducks do notIt will prevent you from finding out that birds arriving at the nesting are divided into pairs. The pairing taking place on the water is accompanied by loud cries. Females lay eggs in a sheltered dry place. Simple nests built of dry leaves and carelessly twisted stems are covered with duck down.
One female lays eight to sixteenoblong eggs of a greyish-white shade, in appearance do not differ from poultry eggs. On incubation takes 24-28 days. Females selflessly incubate their offspring, leaving the nest only when absolutely necessary. Hatching chicks literally the next day go to the water. Young growth is growing quite quickly and by the six-week age begins to fly.
What is the diet of waterfowl?
Those who are interested in eating ducks will not hurtlearn that the weight of these birds is directly dependent on the amount of food available to them. As a rule, they are forced to take care of their own food. The basis of their diet consists of small amphibians, insects and aquatic plants.
It should be noted that eating ducks with the sameappetite frogs, worms, small fish, snails, grasshoppers, duckweed and sedge. Often they make night raids on nearby farmer fields where cereals are grown. With regard to the amount of food, females that incubate, require twice the amount of food. It is worth noting that in the summer, the basis of the bird's diet is vegetable fodder. At this time, they feed on the fruits, leaves and stems of plants.
What can feed wild ducks?
Waterfowl living in the immediateproximity to human housing, often fed by people. In order not to cause irreparable harm to waterfowl health, it is important to know what geese, ducks and other inhabitants of natural and artificial reservoirs eat. Those who really want to help birds, you need to remember that they can be fed with grated cheese, oatmeal, soft vegetables and fruits. All of these products are especially useful in the spring when females hatch chicks.
Кроме того, существует еще один список, в который includes so-called neutral products that are not capable of harming ducks, but also not bringing them particular benefits. These include small fish, cabbage and potatoes.
What can not feed wild ducks?
Paradoxically, but feathered categoricallyIt is forbidden to feed white bread. It does not contain any valuable for poultry ingredients. This product fills the bird's stomach, creating a false sense of satiety and forcing the duck to abandon the search for more wholesome food. If, despite the prohibitions, you still want to feed the ducks with bread, leave it on the shore. Otherwise, you risk to pollute the reservoir and provoke the death of some of its inhabitants. Also, the list of non-recommended products includes milk, peanuts, and any food that contains saturated fats.
Those who do not know how much ducks eat will beInterestingly, birds should not be given too much food. This is explained by the fact that the feathered inhabitants of water bodies, who are used to regular feeding, begin to lose some of their food search instinct. In addition, such birds refuse to fly to warm regions in a timely manner and often die in the winter cold.
