Mother Mallad Duck (Kiddos named her Vanilla since she’s a “pale” mallard) had a nest in a bed across the street.

It’s been some time since the eggs were laid, and on a whim last night I went to go check.

The eggs just started hatching! I saw one duckling, still wet. Another egg had a hole and you could see a chick trying to break out.

Squee!

Later that evening tho I went back to check on progress. I saw a duckling in a heap, head on the ground. I didn’t touch (Momma wouldn’t want me near anyways), but after watching for a little bit it was evident it was dead. I couldn’t tell if any other eggs hatched as Momma was hissing and puffing up and fanning everything out as if to cover things. So it’s likely more hatched, but won’t know until I can visually confirm.

My guess? Temperatures in Austin reached into the 100’s yesterday. According to the thermometer in my truck, it was 108 when I was first checking on them. Momma was panting hard… it was hot hot hot. I’m thinking the little one just succumbed to the heat.

Witih temperatures expected to remain so high the next few days, this doesn’t look good for the little ones.

I haz a sad. 😦

Updated: I haz happy.