Unlikely 'Mom' Keeps Eye On Duck Egg Until He Safely Hatches

Apr 19, 2019

Laurie Wolf took a walk around her backyard one day to check out the many birdhouses she and her family placed in the yard. The sight of a mother wood duck transferring an egg from one birdhouse to another caught her attention.

Wold explains it was apparent the first box had been raided by another animal.

Laurie thought it made sense for the bird to move the egg to a safer location but did not see which birdhouse the wood duck chose for the egg. Her only hope was that the egg was safe. The matter of the egg slipped from Laurie's mind until about four weeks later when she was met with an amazing sight.

Laurie remembered the day the wood duck moved an egg from one birdhouse to another. But she would never have guessed an owl would be living in the egg's new home. But then she saw an extremely odd couple poke their heads from within one of the birdhouses.

Laurie explains she saw something moving behind a hole in one of the birdhouses. She assumed it was time to welcome an owlet to the yard and kept an eye on the birdhouse. But then, a duckling appeared in the door of the birdhouse standing next to the owl that lived there.

The owl must have instinctively known the egg was in need of assistance. She took care of the egg until it hatched. And now it seems the owl was keeping the duckling company until the youngster located its family.

Wolf ducklings are known to exit their nests a day or so after hatching. They leave as soon as they hear their parents calling for them. Laurie continued to watch the birdhouse as the owl and the duckling periodically made their way to the door. The duckling chirped each time.

What Laurie saw next could only lead her to believe the duckling heard its parents return the call. The duckling leaped from the box and headed for the back fence. Just over the fence was a pond and Laurie had seen adult wood ducks there.

The owl and the duckling went their separate ways as the youngster ran to meet its family. But it is sure the duckling will never forget the kind stranger who took care of it.

What did you think about the owl's willingness to care for the wood duck egg? Send this article to your friends and family to brighten their days!