A common little backyard buddy will be falling from the trees at the moment. The wood duck likes to keep its babies safe high up in a tree hollow but soon they will have to leave the only way they know how... so if you're walking under a tree and someone yells 'DUCK', they may be speaking literally.
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Backyard Buddies is a free program run by Australia's Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. Each month, you get a Backyard Buddies email (B-mail) with tips to make your backyard inviting and safe for native animals.
Wood ducks featured in September's B-mail.
Sign up for B-mail and download a free fact sheet about wood ducks at www.backyardbuddies.net.au.
CEO of the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, which runs Backyard Buddies, Susanna Bradshaw said during early spring the mother wood duck sets up her home in a tree hollow where she lays on around 10 eggs.
"Wood duck dad takes his role very seriously," Ms Bradshaw said.
"While mum is diligently incubating the eggs, he will stand guard at the base of the nesting tree and make sure they are safe."
"When the ducklings are ready to leave the nest, the only way out is by jumping and plummeting several metres to the ground. But don't worry if you see fluffy little chicks falling from the sky as this is very normal for wood duck babies and they will just bounce and waddle off as if nothing happened."
"Male and female wood ducks are very easy to tell apart once they are fully matured," Ms Bradshaw said.
"The males have very distinctive markings and a dark brown, maned head, whereas the females are more mottled with less obvious markings."
Wood ducks don't really like to get their feet wet but they will still stay close to water so they can eat the yummy plants that grow in moist environments and swim away from danger if they need to.
They are predominately herbivores, feeding on small grasses and herbs but they will also eat the odd insect, which makes them good buddies to have around your backyard.
"Wood ducks aren't always as well liked as some of our other Aussie animal visitors," Ms Bradshaw said.
"They sometimes get in trouble for pooing in backyards, particularly around swimming pools, and nibbling on lawns."
"While the wood ducks love hanging around pools, their presence doesn't have to be looked down upon.
"They're also helping by eating up your weeds and insects while 'fertilising' your garden at the same time."