Boy Scout Troop 325
By George Denise, Scoutmaster
A few weeks ago, a pair of ducks, male and female, took up residence in our pond in Moreland Woods. They probably were wintering nearby at one of the larger apartment buildings that has a much larger pond. While all of the ducks hang out together most of the year, when a pair mates, they go off to find a private little pond of their own. If you think about it, that helps to ensure their survival. If all of the flocks of ducklings were in one place and a catastrophy befell them (raccoons, dogs, cats, pollution), then the entire flock would be at risk. By each pair going off alone, they increase their chance for survival.
The pair that come to our pond in Moreland Woods had about fifteen eggs. However, they didn’t all hatch, only eleven eggs actually hatched. Within a couple of weeks of their having hatched, five had already died. We are not sure why. They may have been killed by someone or something, they may have been traumatized by our clearing the pond, they may have been the weaker ones, drowned by their mother or siblings. Chances are, they would have died anyway. Ultimately, most or all of them will probably die. One or two might survive. This might seem sad, but from nature's perspective, the one or two that might survive will be the strongest of the group. Like many animals, ducks have very little chance of survival. By laying many eggs, and hatching many ducklings, the ducks are increasing their chances that some will survive to adulthood and have babies of their own. Most won't, the few that do will be stronger, and will contribute to increasing the strength of the species.
It's actually better that way. If each pair of ducks laid fifteen eggs each year for five or ten years, and all hatched and grew to adulthood, and each of them mated and had babies when they were a year or two old, very soon, there would be no room for anything but ducks! But long before we reached that point, they would exhaust their food supply and starve to death anyway. God has a plan. It not only ensures the survival of the species, but it makes the species better.
Thank you. And God be with you.