Anas platyrhynchos: Mallard

Several weeks ago, the local paper published a photo of a mallard hen nesting in the midst of a group of tulips outside an office building in downtown Spokane. The newspaper, in its infinite wisdom, decided to publish the address where the duck was nesting.

Sure enough, while mama mallard was on a constitutional, some less-than-upright individual vandalized the mama's nest.

She came back and laid a couple more eggs. As of this morning, she was still incubating.

The photographer has nicknamed mama mallard "Tulip." Interested parties have taken to leaving small cups of water and duck food for her.

Hopefully, Tulip's remaining eggs will hatch and the ducklings will safely make their way to the river a couple of blocks from her nest.


Mallard duckling doodle based on a photo by Flickr user Raj the Snapper.