Mallard duckling in garden - advice please

[gecko]

Hi,

A mallard duckling has arrived in our garden today. It's not a tiny young duckling, it's quite big (about 8 inches tall when standing, maybe more) and has a mixture of flight feather and down. It has spent the last few hours wandering around, sitting in our small pond (about 4 feet by 3 feet) and calling loudly. It has been preening itself and dabbling in the pond. I assume it flew into the garden with mum and siblings but was left behind.

I'm just leaving it alone, but am a bit concerned that it will be ok. Without a parent bird, will it fend for itself and eventually fly away, or will it expect to be mothered? Without interfering in any way, what kind of bed could I provide for it, as it is lashing it down here today.

Thanks for any tips

[RKB]

Can it actually fly? They don't tend to grow their flight feathers til quite late, so it probably only has very stubby wings.

If so, then you're best off waiting til morning and then trying to catch it, and taking it to a wildlife rescuer so they can release it when it's fully grown.

It may have become separated from its family as they walked between waters.

[gecko]

Thanks for your reply. I realised after I'd posted that it wouldn't be able to fly.

I planned on bringing it inside overnight if it was still present, and then arranging for someone to take it tomorrow, however it seems to have wandered off. Ah well