Hi guys, I was looking to get some information about duck nesting behavior since I know very little about it.
A mallard duck laid eggs under a shrub in my front yard and began sitting on her nest about two weeks ago. In the very beginning the male would show up occasionally, which I read was normal for the first few days and I haven't seen him in awhile. A few days ago I noticed that two other ducks have been visiting the female and here nest in the early morning for the past three days. Originally I thought they were both female, but noticed one of them had a small green patch on the back of it's head, so I assume one is actually a male who is molting. Is this normal for a new female and male duck to visit a nesting mother or is it possible that the new ducks are trying to make a nest under the same shrub (I didn't look to see if there was a second nest being built, because I do not want to disturb the existing nest and the mother duck)? I wasn't sure if mallards are territorial and want to make sure that they aren't trying to scare her off her nest.
Any information would be appreciated!
