It's all about family... and some feathery drama!

Ah, it's that time of the year when the water birds start playing matchmaker. Take a leisurely stroll around a nearby lake or pond, and lo and behold, you'll witness some mallard lovebirds paddling around with their adorable ducklings...

 

Aww, aren't they just the cutest?

- Slow down, let's talk family planning!

- Get your wings off me, you cheeky duck!

Meanwhile, this gosling over here decided to play it cool in the bushes, leaving its poor parents in a flap trying to coax it into the water...

But the mallards? Oh boy, they were a different story... They were having a splash-tastic time, diving and swimming like Olympic champions!

While strolling around the big lake in City Park, something caught our attention. We spotted a blur of movement on the surface of a smaller lake. Curiosity piqued, we ventured closer, only to witness a mind-blowing spectacle: a common merganser family! Picture this - a mother duck and her squad of eight tiny ducklings...

They were so tiny, probably only a day or two old. Naturally, they tired quickly, and when that happened, their mom promptly whisked them ashore...

They stayed out of the water for a while, all huddled together like a close-knit family. Aww, heartwarming, right?

But wait for it... a few minutes later, they were back in the water, splashing around the lake. And here's the kicker - the little ones hopped onto their mom's back and rode around like a roller coaster! It was a duck-riding extravaganza, with everyone vying for the best spot. What a quack-tastic show to behold!

After another brief rest on the rocks, they were ready for more aquatic adventures. Back into the water they went, ready to paddle their way to glory.

 

We spent some time marveling at the tireless mom-merganser as she taught her offspring the art of swimming...

Fast forward a few days, and I returned to City Park to check on the little ones' growth. Boy, had they grown! They were larger now, diving with confidence. Yet, they still stuck close to their doting mom, who always had some treats in store for her adorable brood. Talk about a mother's love!

The goslings also grew up and were strutting alongside their parents with the swagger of a toddler in a toy store.

Over by the small lake, I stumbled upon a group of nosy onlookers, all eyes on the merganser family. They were like the paparazzi of the bird world!

The ducklings were taking a nap, while their protective mom stood guard. I decided to return later to see what unfolds and went in search of some other feathered marvels...

Back at the lake, the mallards were up to their usual antics, looking positively quackers!

As I made my way back to check on the merganser family, I witnessed an exciting chase. First things first, the ducklings had practically doubled in size since the previous week. Second, and sadly, only six of them remained. Oops!

But hey, they had become quite the confident bunch. No more piggyback rides on mom's back; they swam and dove with restless energy, emerging victorious with their latest catch!

And what about mom? She had her own snacks and wasn't about to share. She must have been confident in her kids' fish-catching abilities. Go, momma duck, go!

It was an absolute riot watching them darting back and forth, capturing prey, and engaging in friendly squabbles over a tasty morsel...

The next day, we stumbled upon another breathtaking lake for a leisurely walk - Bermar Lake. And guess what? We stumbled upon a mallard family there too! Those ducklings were tiny balls of energy, and we had a grand time observing their playful antics...

And to top it all off, we stumbled upon an old turtle laying eggs! Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime wild turtle sighting, huh?

Stay tuned for more feathery adventures and tales from the bird kingdom!

Oh, how I yearn to claim credit for this masterpiece... Alas, I can only dream... But guess what? The truth shall be revealed! Yours truly, in a glorious collaboration with ChatGPT, has penned this extraordinary tale! Oh, the wonders of modern technology and our dynamic duo of creativity!

Disclaimer... ChatGPT helped me with this phrase too ;)

Pictures were taken from June 01 to 11, 2023.