Please, don’t hurt them! They’re just little ducklings. I know the crocs refer to them as snacklings, but please! Oh, you’re just curious about the whistling. What a relief! Us Whistling Ducks are different like that, none of that quack quack nonsense. I think it naturally came to us because we like to hang out in large flocks when it’s not breeding season, and whistling is just a more efficient way to coordinate the flight paths and feeding plans of the flock. But when it’s baby raising time, we always separate into our mating pairs and look after the kids till they’re strong enough to join the flock. The little ones are quite capable of swimming and feeding themselves as soon as they hatch, but still they do need protection and guidance in the first few weeks. Whistling helps there too!

My husband is flying around scouting for a safer lake. Recently a nasty croc crawled into this one, so we don’t feel safe anymore. It shouldn’t be hard to find a nice lake, we’re not too fussy about what we eat. We are quite content feeding on aquatic plants, seeds, and small invertebrates. Actually, our feeding patterns are very beneficial to the ecosystem. We control plant overgrowth, contribute to better nutrient cycling and eat the little pests that bother farmers. Unfortunately, we do have a soft spot for rice, so the farmers have a love-hate relationship with us. Oh, do you hear that? It’s my husband whistling for us. He’s found a nice new lake, got to go, bye!

The Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Wilpattu is surrounded by lots of lakes and waterholes. Dilum captured this cute image of a mum and her ducklings just outside of the camp premises.