The Ark In Space

A Leap of Faith: 10 Ducklings Jump!

Saturday, 10 June 2017

High rise living has its advantages when you are a duckling but once you’re hatched you have to join the world on the ground at some point and that’s sooner rather than later. In this video by Tara Tanaka, 10 one-day old Black-bellied Whistling Ducks take the leap of faith to join their parents below. They all manage it – although the slow motion dives we see here might make you wonder: grace, it seems, come later in life to these ducklings!

The Ducklings of Spring

Wednesday, 12 April 2017

There is an old saying that no matter how long the winter lasts the spring is sure to follow. With the spring comes new life – a new generation takes its first tentative steps in to the world. Although people associate spring with many animals there is surely something about the sight of ducklings which lifts the heart and puts a hopeful smile on the face. So here they come, the ducklings of spring! And yes, perhaps it is just a reason for a cute fest!

Image Credit Flickr User Bruce..

Image Credit Flickr User RunnerJenny

Spring is nature's way of saying, Let's party! ~Robin Williams

I’m New!

Thursday, 28 May 2015

If you have had a stressful day then grab a drink, sit back and just take this all in. Created by Sander van Schie, this short film simply allows us to watch as new life takes to the water in the form of ducklings and baby coots. That’s pretty much it (except an appearance by a heron!) but that is all you will need – hopefully – to unwind and simply enjoy this marvellous example of what nature has to offer us.

Watch as Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks Save their Ducklings from an American Alligator

Saturday, 2 May 2015

The black-bellied whistling duck makes its nest as high as possible to avoid predators. As you can see here, the bird house wasn’t exactly planned for this family!

Yet when the time comes for the ducklings to leap from the safety of the box in to the water the last thing the parents want is all their hard work to disappear in to the belly of an American alligator. When it looks as if this is likely, the plucky parent leaps in to action and drives away the reptilian onslaught!

This remarkable footage was shot and edited by Tara Tanaka

Two Unlikely Friends at the Bronx Zoo

Saturday, 21 May 2011

The Bronx Zoo is home to many animals, all of which deserve the attention of the photographer. Yet one day in 2010 Tom Warren spotted something different about the gorilla enclosure.

A tiny motherless duckling had wandered in. At first the gorillas were bemused but as they became used to their miniscule visitor their wariness grew in to acceptance.

One of the pictures that Warren took became the winning photo in the 2010 Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards, in the Zoos and Aquariums Category.

The photo will be on display in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. until September 25, 2011. The photos are by Tom Warren. This is the story behind that amazing picture.

The page cannot be found