How do newly hatched Wood Ducklings safely descend from nests situated up to 50 feet high above the water?
Answer
By fluttering down due to lightweight bodies and pliable bones
The descent of a newly hatched Wood Duckling from its high nest, sometimes located 50 feet or more above the ground or water, is a remarkable feat of natural engineering. After climbing to the entrance just a day after hatching, the duckling takes a substantial leap. These young birds survive this fall because they possess pliable bones and a light body covered in down, allowing them to flutter safely rather than plummeting. Often, if the nest is positioned correctly over water, they land directly in the water, where the mother awaits them on a nearby branch or below the nest site to guide the gathered brood to shallow foraging areas.
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