Fowling around in the marina

Several weeks ago, I put some flower and herb seeds in two tubs of soil on either side of the boat. I was very pleased when I noticed seedlings coming out. Contrary to my husband's belief, I do have a green thumb afterall.

One day, I noticed one tub to be completely messed up, like someone had rummaged through it, making a big hole in the middle. I was baffled, but thought nothing of it. Something in the tub caught my eye the next time I walked by. I decided to investigate. Poking around the soil with a stick, I was surprised to discover two eggs! They were huge. Our boat neighbors and we believed they belong to the pair of mallard ducks that were wandering around our docks a while back. Apparently, they were seeking a safe place to lay their eggs. Now we know the rest of the story.

Since that discovery, I've been monitoring the tub closely. Our duck (we named her Marie) came every morning to lay an egg. She would sit on her nest all morning long. The more eggs she laid, the longer she stayed. On the eighth egg, she stayed from seven in the morning to four in the afternoon. Poor Marie had to endure the hot sun and had nothing to eat during that time. We felt bad for her and tried to feed her without scaring her away.

Anyone knows how many eggs will she lay before she starts the incubation process?

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