Do Mallards sometimes nest in trees

[Barbara]

The reason I ask is that a couple of days ago I saw a female Mallard flying up to what is think is a squirrels dray, the reason I think this is that there are always four squirrels preening, playing right next to it. It is a big clump of brown leaves in the fork of the tree high up, it has been there for a few years. Well yesterday I saw the female fly up to it and plonk herself down and today, twice she has flown up to it. There were a pair of Mallards on my pond yesterday which I disturbed when I walked up the garden. What worries me is what happens if she does have young up there how would they get out of the tree. Are young mallards able to fly from a great height when they leave the nest. It's just that I thought Mallards always nested on the ground. I hope she has second thoughts and finds a nest nearer to the ground.
Maybe she has just gone up there for the view

[brainfarmer]

yes from what i read they will sometimes nest in trees.

[aeshna5]

Mallards do occasionally nest in trees- quite sensible in a way as she will be safe from ground predators such as Foxes, Cats, mustelids, etc- though those Grey Squirrels may be partial to an egg! The ducklings when they hatch just drop down unscathed + follow mum to the nearest water which can be a perilous journey- often see photos in press of policeman escorting them down busy roads. They sometimes nest in window boxes + hanging baskets too.

Quite a few duck species regularly nest in holes such as Goldeneye, Mandarin, the sawbills. Hope your family are successful- always the big aah factor when the brood appear!

[Barbara]

Thankyou brainfarmer and aeshna. So it's not out of the ordinary then. It seems such a long way up. I'm no good with measurements but I've just had a look and she is sitting about 2 houses in height. I think the young may have to glide down from that height. Well there's my pond a couple on the golf course all being well she would be safer going to them. I expect once all the leaves are on the trees I won't know either way. When we first moved into our house and dug our pond it had only been filled with water a couple of days when one late Sunday afternoon I decided to go outside. I didn't look up while I was turning the lock on the patio door but when I opened the door and I did look up, what a sight, I was met by around 12 quacking Mallard ducks running towards me down the lawn and as they were running towards me another flock landed I had a lawn full of Mallards. It was so funny and wonderful at the same time

[brainfarmer]

Originally Posted by Barbara

Thankyou brainfarmer and aeshna. So it's not out of the ordinary then. It seems such a long way up. I'm no good with measurements but I've just had a look and she is sitting about 2 houses in height. I think the young may have to glide down from that height. Well there's my pond a couple on the golf course all being well she would be safer going to them. I expect once all the leaves are on the trees I won't know either way. When we first moved into our house and dug our pond it had only been filled with water a couple of days when one late Sunday afternoon I decided to go outside. I didn't look up while I was turning the lock on the patio door but when I opened the door and I did look up, what a sight, I was met by around 12 quacking Mallard ducks running towards me down the lawn and as they were running towards me another flock landed I had a lawn full of Mallards. It was so funny and wonderful at the same time

i recall some great footage with david attenborough in the life of birds of ducklings jumping from trees and indeed cliffs, they do 'attempt' to glide with varying degrees of success.

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by brainfarmer

i recall some great footage with david attenborough in the life of birds of ducklings jumping from trees and indeed cliffs, they do 'attempt' to glide with varying degrees of success.

Varying degrees of success I'd better go and put some matresses out on the golf course so that they have a comfortable landing

[atrialarrhythmia]

Yes they do. There is a Mallard nesting in a tree in my front yard. Half of the tree is missing from about 6 or 7 feet up and she is nesting in the top of the side that is missing. She has been there for about 3 weeks.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by atrialarrhythmia

Yes they do. There is a Mallard nesting in a tree in my front yard. Half of the tree is missing from about 6 or 7 feet up and she is nesting in the top of the side that is missing. She has been there for about 3 weeks.

Should be another week or so before they hatch then!

[davecatt]

I've occasionally seen them rest on tree branches and assumed they were evading a predator,but I've never known ducks to nest in trees.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by davecatt

I've occasionally seen them rest on tree branches and assumed they were evading a predator,but I've never known ducks to nest in trees.

It's not uncommon for Mallard to nest in trees + some species are habitual tree nesters such as Mandarin, the sawbills+ Goldeneye. Egyptian Geese also use large natural tree cavities + in Ethiopia I even saw a pair using a Hmmerkop nest in a tree.