Why the ducks are gone

  I had a chat with AI on Google, asking why the sudden loss of all wildlife in the entire neighborhood since the 4th of July. Below is the answer and the chat I had with AI.

The sudden disappearance of wildlife in your Florida neighborhood is most likely due to the severe panic and disruption caused by the 4th of July fireworks. Explosions and bright flashes trigger a "fight or flight" response, causing birds, ducks, and mammals to flee, abandon their nests, or go into deep hiding for several days while recovering from the stress. [1, 2, 3]

Here is why they are likely laying low:

• Blind Panic & Hiding: The loud booms and vibrations make wildlife feel as though their habitat is under attack. Animals like rabbits, raccoons, and possums will bolt into unfamiliar territories and hunker down in dense brush, burrows, or attics until they feel safe again. [1, 2, 3]
• Nesting Abandonment: July is peak breeding and nesting season for many local Florida birds. The terror caused by fireworks can cause parent birds to temporarily or permanently abandon their nests, leaving them to forage for food elsewhere in quieter, less populated zones. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Disorientation: Flashing lights disorient both resident and migratory birds, causing them to fly miles away from their usual daily routes or hide out in heavily wooded areas. [1, 2]
• Extended Recovery Time: Unlike humans, animals do not understand that the holiday has ended. The residual smoke, debris, and disruption can keep them in a state of high alert, meaning they will only emerge at odd hours or stay completely out of sight. [1, 2, 3, 4]

To provide more insight into the local ecology around your area in Bradenton, FL, could you tell me:

• Are you seeing a lack of wildlife in a residential backyard, a wooded area, or near a waterway / pond?
• What specific types of wildlife do you normally see on a day-to-day basis?

My Answer to above question from Chat:

I am in Bradenton FL neighborhood, our back yard was full of at least 20 birds at a time, 2 mottled ducks had been there for 3 months, raccoons and possums at night and rabbits. in our yard and all the streets I walk my dog on, no wild life including squirrels

1. Extended Dispersal to Major Preserves

When intense, prolonged backyard fireworks or illegal mortar shells explode directly over residential streets, wildlife doesn't just hide—they enter a blind panic and flee for miles. Your local wildlife likely fled to major nearby natural sanctuaries like Robinson Preserve or Perico Preserve. Because these preserves provide safety, abundant food, and zero explosions, the animals (especially the mobile mottled ducks and birds) have no immediate reason to rush back to a suburban neighborhood that terrified them. [1]

2. The "Missing Safety Cues" Domino Effect

Wildlife relies heavily on environmental cues from other species to determine if an area is safe. Squirrels listen to bird calls, and birds watch squirrel behavior. When a neighborhood is completely cleared out, the total silence itself acts as a massive red flag to any animal thinking about returning. To a passing bird or squirrel, a completely quiet street signals that a predator or danger is still actively present, prolonging the vacancy. [1]

Hoping all these will share the news, the yard is safe. I filled all 4 water pans and the Duck Haven Pond and 4 oasis are ready..
we have lots and lots of weeds and seeds and dirt.

I Love Missy

Missy, Mama's Girl 

I Love Missy, the female mottled duck that dropped into my life on April 4, 2026 and on July 4th left and has not been seen since.

She and her fellow Mister, gave me 90 days of Fun and love. 

Can your find the ducks? look in the center by the rocks. This is the Bird Buffet, caused by 6 years of drought. The perfect environment for birds. 

You might not know, that wild ducks follow a routine, the same exact routine every day. At sundown, they float huddled in the middle of Duck Haven Pool Pond

At first Light, they chase each other around the pool, and just before daybreak, they stand on the top step, Staring at the spot the sun comes up, and when the sky is white, they waddle to the Oil Pan Oasis and  eat seeds of the grass, dip beaks in water pan, and wander to the other end of the yard, to graze eating, grass, seeds and dirt. 

Next they jump in the pool, bathe and wave wings, climb out on steps to preen and are gone until some time around 10 they come home for lunch and siesta by one of our 4 duck/bird oasis pans.

They were in and out, at 10 and 2 and gone till dark.

They joy and laughter they brought came from their daily antics. Missy would come to the door and peck and then jabber talk, Bob would yell, your girl is at the door and when I went out to talk to her, she chattered back. She had 3 different calls, she chattered to me, making prrrp prrp  prrp sounds. A long loud QUACK was a call for Mister to come to her.. He would leave the yard and a Quack would bring him right away.

We found that ducks do not land in the pool, they drop out of the sky butt first, with a splash like a rocket returning from space, one day while I was clearing debris from the pool

Missy was alone and had been, standing in the oil pan oasis she emitted 3 Reall Loud Quacks! Mister had been gone for hours.

I was shocked and splashed with water when suddenly Mister dropped from the sky like a rock, Swam to the lip of the pool, climbed out and walked over to her and put his wings on his hips and said WHAT! I know it because I saw it and heard it.

I burst into laughter, since I recognized the same Attitude Bob used to use on me when he was in his workshop and I called out to him to come.

 Bob was sitting in his wheel chair by the pool, Mister did his drop from the sky, he just materialized and dropped, we never saw him coming. Bob burst into laughter too

3 weeks ago, we got a 15 minute hard rain, 2 inches

the backyard flooded to the edge of the deck, dirt floated, it was a huge mud puddle.

 This photo was taken out the window and the water had gone down a little and I could not find them. Looking out the window, I realized that they were laying down in the mud, and diving their heads under the sludgy mud.  I stood for half an hour watching them in their mud spa/bath describing to Bob what they were doing.

Yes, they washed off in the pool which was a real floor show for me.

Two weeks before the 4th of July, everything changed, before that week, they came and went together. 

For 10 weeks,

The ducks were at the door, 

sitting on the lip of the pool, 

view from our breakfast bar at lunch

they were always standing/sitting on the lip to the pool, 

and for 3 weeks she did not leave the yard. 

Mister came and went, gone for hours at a time, but came if she quacked.

she sat on the fake nest, with no eggs and waited. 

She would QUACK and he would come.

He came home each night to sleep in the pond with her.

The week before the 4th, she called and called and he would not come, he came at night to sleep, but no matter how she called he did not come.

My heart hurts for her and I spent a lot of time talking to her.

One day, I said, Missy I am thinking he is cheating on you. I came inside and asked AI  Do Mottled Ducks mate for life?

NOPE! just for 3 months, while she has Babies, then the Male moves on, never to return, and yes, if he finds another female he starts all over again. It is my opinion that Mister was cheating, before he got his divorce.

The night of the 4th of July One of our neighbors chose to do fireworks in his yard that sounded like D Day,  of WWIII for 5 hours.

Since that night, we have not seen Missy or Mister, or seen any birds or other wild life. Even the lizards are gone.

I am sad for me, glad they are off doing whatever they do.

They were a huge part of my life. AI says they maybe come back home, next year in January. They have been known to remarry.

Missy and Mister Duck Update

 

Since the last update on MissyMister 6 days ago, Missy and Mister our resident Mottled Ducks, disappeared for 48 hours and I thought she was somewhere sitting on eggs, since she appeared to be in broody setting mode, the day before, spending 5 hours hiding in the grass the day before they vanishes.

On June 16, they appeared and have now been HOME for 48 hours. The above photos taken yesterday, June 17, she spent most of the day in that tall grass. Mister came and went. There is nothing in the grass but grass and duck. She is in setting mode but has no eggs. Fine with me, the ducklings would not survive, because they are favorites of raccoons and we have three in the yard next door, sometimes in our yard.

I have said before, I don't feed them, we have plenty growing for them to eat. But unable to leave the yard, I feared they would not have enough and this morning, on our walk, I saw many weeds next door that they love. 

I picked the seeds off the grass that has gone to seed, they love it, and put a few stalks and one flower in a bowl, you can see it in the first photo today.

I was over joyed when Missy was first at the seed dish, and Mister quickly followed. They would pick a seed, dip in the water pan, go back for another and each ate 4 times. per the internet, it says to remove the pan after 15 minutes from the time they stop eating. I place all the ones I cut in a glass jar with lid, and we will see how this goes.. Yesterday they disappeared and I found them behind the rain barrel eating the tips off my aloe plant, almost all the tips are gone. 

The flowers are safe, they are Indian Blanket wild flowers.

Lest you think I think of nothing but ducks, 😏😏😃 Update on the Humans and Canine, is the same old same old which is a good thing. 

Ducks, Crows and Woodpeckers

I laughed out loud when a  7 inch crow slid down the aluminum pool ladder railing and hopped off onto the lip of the pool

Hearing a weird noise outside the bedroom window I found a very young tiny female downy pecking on a living tree, the weird sound was it is not a tree they peck on, it is green and  soft, not hard and rotted.. Totally different Sound

Found this little one on a Blog HERE

I saw a sweet, gentle Mourning Dove attack a blue jay and a Male Mocking Bird attack a fish crow. 

I laughed out loud as I walked Beau. The silly loud mocking bird sitting on the top of the street light singing  about 20 songs. Over and Over.

I watched Daddy Dove teaching baby dove to eat from the ground and practice flying. Once Daddy Dove was on the roof, ON GUARD, the nest in outside our gate in a stump with tall grass. I waved at him and HE DID A DOUBLE TAKE. He really did.  June 13 I saw the baby on the ground and Beau walking that way and the baby lifted up to the roof with no problem. I guess training is over now.

Yes, Missy and Mister are still here. They have been here 9 weeks now.

She dropped 2 eggs on the pool lip.

Research found, she is a juvenile and probably not aware of what to do with the eggs yet. They are called OOPS eggs. She is supposed to make a nest, and deposit them but so far has not built a nest. Yam says duck eggs taste better than chicken, but I can't eat my grand ducks, ha ha People do raise ducks for the eggs.

I found Mottled Ducks are protected species in Florida because they are native ducks to Florida. We are not allowed to touch or move or destroy a nest. If there is a problem we call Fish and Wildlife.

It is OK to toss eggs found on a pool deck in the trash, because they will not hatch unless she sits on them in a nest. She will not move this egg, but does move with her beak if she has eggs in the nest.

They have plenty of food, the above weeds are growing in 2 pots that I planted grass in for Beau to eat. The grass went to seed and I watched her strip the grass seeds off two blades of grass gone to seed. the grass looks like the front weed, and the two back weeds the seeds have been eaten, and the dirt you see, picked up by beaks, dipped in their water bowl and they swallow the mud to process the seeds in their gizzards.

Missy, the one on the left below, hat bonded with me. She came to the door and called me by making chirping and  funny sounds and when I   came to the door and go out, she walked beside me making the noise, wagging her tail and bobbing her head. I am love by ducks and love the ducks.

I have turned into a bird watcher. Thank you David G.

for those interested this is from AI on affection. 

Physical Signs of Affection

Excited Head Bobbing: Mottled ducks will bob their necks up and down rapidly when they are happy to see a trusted human. This is an acknowledgment of a positive social bond.

Gentle Nibbling and Dabbing: They will use their bills to softly nibble at your hands, clothes, or shoes. This behavior simulates the natural mutual preening that closely bonded ducks perform within their flock.

Shadowing and Following: An affectionate or imprinted mottled duck will follow you closely around the yard, viewing you as the leader or a safe member of their flock.Tail Wagging: Similar to dogs, ducks will rapidly wag their tail feathers side to side when they feel content and relaxed in your presence.

Miracle Missy N Mister Photo Dump

Missy May 20th at Duck Haven pond. fully healed and beautiful

Miracle Missy and Mister, Photo Dump from 5/20/2026 to 5/25/2026
 

Missy and Mister appeared on April 4th 2026 in our front yard, they greeted us each morning when we returned from walking Beau. They took a few dips in the pool and wandered the yard and since the pool was a mess from lack of care, I let them swim and did not shoo them away.

On April 27th, I found her injured so badly, I thought she would die, on that day the two young ducks, and I bonded. Since that day they have slept all night in Duck Haven Pond, AKA pool except for 1 night.

The daytime hours, they have routines and come and go, several times a day

Missy and Mister spend Siesta Time from 10 to 1, snuggled in the dappled shade next to the water bowl. Don't worry about the dirt in the water, they put it their as soon as I put fresh in it. Root dirt and weeds and drop in the water.

Mister is in the first 3 photo, but hard to see, the second one below you can see his head. Where ever Missy is, he is on guard or sleepy next to her.

In this photo she was looking me straight in the eyes and I was within touching distance, but I restrain myself, I want them to be wild and wise, not everyone loves them

Missy's Bodyguard, Mister, ON DUTY, watching for danger, while she bathed and fluffs and flutters her wings. He love her as much as I do. 

On May 24th I had been watching them out the kitchen window and telling Bob she is 100 percent normal, walking, running, flying, swimming, and she healed in 25 days. All I did for her was be sure they were safe and not harmed, a Safe Haven to heal.

I burst into laughter when I checked out the window and she was in one of her FOUR water bowls, asleep with head under wing, on one leg.I needed these ducks, they needed me, we had the perfect Pond, it has algae, bugs, leaves for them to eat, no human gets in the pond, Beau is one in a million because he doesn't bother them. He only tries to sniff them if they are in his  path, and they run to the pool and wait for him to go back inside.

Our yard is a perfect bird haven. Observing that they take dirt and put in in the water bowls, I googled to find out why ducks eat dirt and found that All birds, from chickens, duck and crows, eat grit. they swallow food whole, it goes to gizzard and they need grit mixed with water and mud to swallow to process their food.

the reason we have 4 bowls, 2 for Birds and 2 For my Babies. I observed a red wing black bird and a crow, sitting on her only bowl of water, dipping dirt in like she did and researched again, and Yes, all birds need access to grit and water.

We are in a 6 year drought! the pool level is not high enough for birds. I added plastic flat containers of water for the birds and now I can watch the birds dip dirt in those. The drought turned out Backyard into weeds, dirt, small rocks, and the pool is green with algae, which makes a perfect Duck Haven Pond.

I do not let other ducks stay, only Missy and Mister. I do not feed them, the yard is a smorgasbord.

I am happy they appear to be to young to have little ducks, because, not for lack of trying, their are still no eggs in a nest. I believe they are juvenile male/female and too young to make me a grandmother. 😁😁😁

Today is May 27, 2026 and five weeks, three days since she was injured and she is my miracle duck. They will leave someday and I am fine with that. I don't want them to have babies here because we have huge raccoons and they eat small birds. Yes, the food chain may get them elsewhere, but I don't want to see or know it. Twice I have held my breathe and prayed as they run across our busy street.

Mottled Duck Tales-Day 15 update Safehaven

 

Day 1 of injury 4/27/2026

Missy, injured female Mottled Duck,flopped down  April 27, 2026, they had been in and out of pool and front yard for a couple of weeks, I thought she might die and/or lose her leg. 

Missy, Day 12 of my caregiver duties, May 7th. 

Missy has recovered all her feathers and though her leg will never function, on day 9 she took 2 steps, using the injured leg like a peg leg on a person. Day 10  she walked 2 feet, Day 12 she walked 3 feet, just like Chester, in Gunsmoke. 

the three of us have bonded, I do not feed them, they have all the food they need.

they love grass, our yard is perfect, they love sand and leaves, weeds and grass and algae to eat, its a duck buffet. 

Since I grew the grass tall for Beau, he has eaten no grass, which is our good news, for a month now. The grass is in the shade and Missy lays down to eat, Mr. does his bodyguard thing.

you can see them better if you pinch your screen out. Hard to see with cell phone pics. A good pic of Beaus Grass, now known as Duck Buffett

they love the sandy soil, which is our back yard, dirt, weeds. They bath in the pool and eat algae for dessert. ha ha

the photo above and below were taken Sunday May 10, Day 15 of MY ducks.

 I left Bob's chair outside to dry out the seat and Missy was so thankful. I may start a Duck Go Fund Me to buy her own wheel chair.

THE BIGGEST NEWS.

Today is May 18, 3 weeks yesterday since I wondered if she would live, or ever walk again.

She actually can spread her orange foot flat now. It does move  a little when she swims. and now she walks with it flat and has a slight limp. but, and she is flying, walking, swimming. they come and go, they have a schedule, just like we do. They sleep in the middle of the pool, (a sight that melts my heart seeing them in the moonlight, roosting in the middle in their Safe Place, they e eat breakfast, bath, dance on their tails, get out dry off and preen their feathers and fly off around 8 and come back at 10.. they spend the heat of the day in our shade and leave for dinner about 5ish.. She has healed and is 98 % healed.. I have to fight the desire to pet them/feed them, I could if I wanted to. I can walk up to one foot of them and put down a water bowl.