Soon after arriving in Darfield in November we happened upon a drake and hen mallard with 7 ducklings in tow. We watched them grow till early January then the little ones must have fledged as they were suddenly gone. Now 3 month later the original parents (we presume) are back in the same waters where the ducklings were raised. It is along a water “raceway” that is always full of mountain water run off that runs 1/2 block from our house. Maybe they will have more offspring in November, 2023 and repeat the cycle. We are planning on returning for another locum tenems assignment here this coming November so we will look for our neighbor ducks to see if they have a big, new family then.
New Zealand Sabbatical 
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