Duck's Daring Tree Nest Saves Ducklings From Otter

A BBC series, "Secret Garden," is revealing the extraordinary biodiversity within British backyards, with its first episode focusing on a daring mallard duck named Doris. Doris built her nest 10 feet up a tree, an unusual behavior to protect her eggs from ground predators and drowning. This strategy proved vital when an otter later attempted to hunt her nine ducklings.

The series posits that domestic gardens can be nearly as diverse as tropical rainforests, with some hosting around 140 bird species and thousands of insect species. The initial episode, set in a 12th-century Oxfordshire millhouse, includes the first known footage of an otter hunting ducks and features ducklings communicating from within their eggs to coordinate hatching.

Viewers will witness the nine ducklings' dramatic 24-hour-old leap from the tree nest, landing on a soft bed of nettles. Brave Doris then decoyed an otter, allowing her brood to escape to the water, though the series notes only one in three ducklings typically survive to adulthood. Other episodes showcase a pine marten hunting sand martins in Scotland and hedgehogs in Bristol benefitting from human-created 'highways'.

Series producer Bill Markham hopes the show inspires viewers to take small actions to support local wildlife, suggesting simple steps like adding a pond or a camera trap. He emphasizes that these actions can help combat climate change anxiety by offering tangible ways to make a difference right at home.