Ducks

[Englishbird]

This has been bugging me for ages, I drive mast a village pond everyday and there are at a guess 30-40 ducks.  Last year i only saw 2 family's of chicks, and this year none at all.  There are loads of gosslings and cignets every year.  Is it possible that the ducks are neutered to stop there being too many, or what other explanation would there be? tia x

[Cetti]

Not neutered but many ducklings are taken by predators. In a river the number of goslings as well as ducklings can be decimated just by Pike alone, and then there are the opportunists like Foxes and Mink. Add Rats to this lot and it's nothing short of a miracle that the Duck family raise any children at all!

Only the bravest or hungriest predator would attempt to take a  Cygnet  as they not only grow pretty swiftly but both parents are extremely protective and are usually very close by.