Thread by @EmApocalyptic

Calling all #operationmallard lovelies! I have an update on the current nesting duck on Dad's balcony.

If you just read that and wondered if you were having a Groundhog day moment, you might have missed this thread:

https://twitter.com/EmApocalyptic/status/1396873433628258305?s=20

So Dad and I were expecting the current clutch of 9 eggs to hatch on Wednesday. However, he phoned me this morning to say that Momma duck's behaviour ('OG Mrs Mallard' from 2020) has changed today, so they might be hatching earlier than we thought!

He counted the 28 (+/- 1) day incubation period from the first day that she sat for 22 hours on the eggs. However, the day before that she sat for 12 hours, and the weather up there has been really warm and sunny for weeks, so....

... we may be seeing the ducklings today! She is more agitated, standing up a lot and generally behaving like hatching is imminent.

I will obviously keep you posted!

And if you need to catch up on the previous Operation Mallards, you can find the videos on my YouTube channel.
The first one is here:

And the video for the second Operation Mallard, which took place earlier this year, is here:

[KLAXON] First ducklings sighted! It's happening, my lovelies! #operationmallard 3 is a go, I repeat, Operation Mallard 3 is a go!

I thought it wouldn't be as exciting, third time round. Reader, I was so wrong!

Mini update: So it looks like a couple of the ducklings have hatched but are mostly being kept under Mrs Mallard as the rest are still yet to hatch. Dad expects them to hatch over the afternoon.

Whether they need to be lowered in the 'ducket' this afternoon...

... remains to be seen. Dad always takes his lead from the mother, and she might decide to stay put if the last duckling hatches late in the day. They are born with enough fuel, so to speak, for at least 24 hours, so if she waits until dawn tomorrow, they'll all be fine.

Local helpers are on stand-by waiting for Dad's call. I am, again, gutted I can't be there. But if this happens again next year, hopefully I will be able to watch in person.

Another #operationmallard 3 mini-update: More ducklings have hatched, but Mrs Mallard is still sitting tight on the nest, so we think there's still a couple of eggs left to hatch. Some of the first hatched are getting fidgety, but Momma is staying put for now!

Me anxiously waiting for updates on #operationmallard 3 from Dad:

Well, both Dad and I are starting to think that Mrs Mallard and the ducklings are going to spend the night on Dad's balcony and leave tomorrow morning. He said the nest is much more settled now and it's late evening now, so not enough time to find a new home.

So, bless him, he's going to go to bed at 9:30pm tonight and has set his alarm for 4am. (he's already shifted his sleep cycle to be up at dawn for her) I doubt he will sleep well tonight! Or that I will, for that matter!

Good morning my lovelies! I am delighted to tell you that all 9 ducklings and their momma are now safely swimming about in the water after another successful #operationmallard 😀

There was Drama, but I am very busy this morning with work stuff, so I will come back later to tell you the whole story. I just wanted to put you all out of your misery and tell you the happy ending! (Even though my author brain is telling me off for jumping to the end!)

Just in case you're following this thread and haven't seen the latest one, here is the full story of what happened today (I thought this thread was long enough already!)

https://twitter.com/EmApocalyptic/status/1407323980202139648?s=20