Wild Ducks Respond to Whistle

Occurred on May 4, 2021 / Glencoe, Ballachulish, Scotland

: "First started feeding ducklings during first lockdown in 2019. I was part of a continuity team for the Kingshouse Hotel in Glencoe. I remembered Pavlovian Theory and tested if I could train local wildlife to recognize my whistle as a sign of food being given. Soon the sparrows, robins, pheasants, ducks and even local deer started to recognize my whistle and they would approach me looking for food. This went on for months and my favorites, the ducks, grew up and flew away in September 2019. I see some of them around the Highlands and they did come to visit at the end of winter. This Spring, one of last year's ducklings returned here again to have her own babies. I know all of this because of the whistle! She came to me looking for food. She had 14 ducklings, then 2 died. I helped her raise and feed 12 ducklings for the next 6. Unfortunately last week the mother and one duckling disappeared, I suspect a pine martin attack which fatally injured the mother as she protected one of her babies. Since then the 11 remaining ducklings have been more cautious of the world around them and are very anxious when they come to me for food. Poor wee things. I will do everything I can to give them the best start in life."