Seven Ducklings with Their Mom

Saturday morning, May 20, 2023, a female mallard with 7 young ducklings came up from Diamond Springs Park into our backyard, where we've been feeding mallards bird seed for years. Thing is - she wouldn't leave! She took them back and forth to the two patios on the east & west side of our back sun room, slowly ambled with them through our flower garden, and spent most of her time snoozing with them cuddled up around and under her at the foot of our oak tree stump.
A few times she tried to exit out to the front yard - where there's a street - and a couple times I tried to gently shoo her back to the park from whence she came. I thought she was lost, or confused, but it seemed she REALLY didn't want to go back out to the park, and the lake beyond. Perhaps something terrible befell her there?
We've had mother ducks bring their broods up here in years past, but they always made a beeline back to the park and lake, after briefly eating. This was a first.
I sought advice from the FB group, Hampton Roads Wildlife Enthusiasts, and received this reply: "Leave them alone- when she feels her babies are ready she will lead them off- they are probably not ready to get in any water yet. Mama knows where it's safe." Finally, she led them back out.
However, the next morning, yesterday, when we arose we found her and them once again nestled at the foot of the stump. She stayed for THREE HOURS, picking a little food with them now and then, getting a sip of water, going back to rest. Here's a short clip I shot of them. Enjoy!
Music: "Baloo, Lammy (Hush, My Little Lamb)"
Sue Richards, harp, from "Song of Solstice," 2010,
by Jennifer Cutting's Ocean Orchestra.
oceanorchestra...
www.suerichard...