seagull5

September 12 at 11:25pm ·

UPDATE: Please look up Irma Duck page on Facebook Irma Duck @hurricaneirmaduck.
This is "Irma", she is one of the Muscovy ducks that hangs out in the ponds in front of, and behind our house in Plant City, Florida. About a month ago she laid 13 eggs at the base of the Live Oak tree in the front yard. She usually gets on and off the nest multiple times a day to eat and drink. When I got up this past Sunday morning Irma was on her nest. The weather was already turning nasty with high winds and rain. Towards evening as the hurricane was heading towards us, we had torrential rains and wind gusts up to 107mph! Irma hunkered down and never left her nest. We could watch her from our bathroom window as we were lucky and never lost power. When the eye of the hurricane was over our house we went out to check on her and she was still sitting tight. After the eye passed the wind and rain kicked up again and we finally went to sleep around 2:00am. When we woke up Monday morning, there was Irma, still sitting on her nest, covered in broken tree branches and Spanish moss, but alive and unharmed, all 13 eggs still intact. Monday was still very windy and Irma had yet to leave her nest so we brought her food and water which she readily accepted. Today, Tuesday, she finally got up from her nest, stretched her legs and took a quick dip in the pond before heading back to her eggs. So, here's to Irma, super duck, who sat through a category 2-3 hurricane, protecting her eggs, and said "not today hurricane Irma, not on my watch"! Looking forward to having 13 Muscovy ducklings soon, pooping all over our driveway.

(Download)

cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos

What a heart warming story! Good for Irma. And good for you bringing her food and water. :-)

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Let's hope that there are no pythons lurking about. Or any Eastern Diamondback rattlers.

Swede Loc: Trail, BC Canada

Great story, not the prettiest of ducks of seen, hope you get some good shots of the little ones when they hatch, and post them so we can have a look.
Got names yet for the wee ones

Swede

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Great shot and story! There are so many Muscovy ducks here in FL. The record brood I've photo'd so far is 21 ducklings in the pond behind my house, but only about 20% make it to adulthood.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nice shot and nicer story.

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

Really enjoyed this story, there's been so much destruction because of the hurricane that if feels good to read a story like this one. Also thanks for helping her with the food and water, that's what made the story a little more special to me. Pray that you folks fared well through the hurricane and haven't suffered any heavy damage, God bless you for thoughtfulness and help for our feathered friends.

Rich

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

What a FANTASTIC story and what a duck! Such fortitude! I hope all 13 (baker's dozen) hatch and you get to have little ones running all over the place. Cheers.

cessnalvr Loc: West virginia

Good story and pic

Popeye Loc: LifIno

Mom doing what mothers have been doing since the beginning of time.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Fantastic!!!
--Bob