A pair of broody mallard ducks have hatched a super brood of 26 ducklings. Staff said the number of duckings was exceptional - but some might have been adopted by the parents.'Mallards are pretty relzexed parents and often inadvertantly adopt another's duckings by mistake,' said Duane Green, a warden from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire.
'This may be the case in this instance - and she has become a super mum for a super brood.'
The average mallard brood numbers between ten and 15 and females may have up to three sets a year.
'This year, we have seen a number of super broods boosted by some fabulous sunny weather,' added Mr Green.
There are about 150 mallard pairs at Slimbridge at this time of year.
Metro, 16 April 2009, p9.
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