Male with more orangish bill
Female with yellowish bill
Mottled Ducks:
A couple of pairs nest on Egmont Key (presumably to avoid the many land predators that are prevalent on Ft D (snakes, coyotes, raccoons, dogs, people)). We saw one adult preening on the beach. When the babies hatch they have enough energy from their yolk sacs for 1-2 days. They need to be in fresh water to feed. Therefore, the mother duck will take the newly hatched ducklings and swim (at one mph) across Egmont Channel the mile and a half to the mainland (though we can’t figure out where there is any fresh water on Ft Desoto??) to find fresh water ponds with food for her ducklings. (Thank you Ann Paul)
Pair (Male on Left)
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