General

Stranded ducklings find the courage to rejoin their mother

A student at the University College Dublin captured an epic struggle when she spotted a group of ducklings caught separated from their mother.

At the edge of a substantial drop to the concrete below, the ducklings hesitate, unsure whether to take the plunge. Some well-meaning students approach the ducklings, but wisely decide not to interfere, as handling the small animals could lead to abandonment.

The story plays out as it probably has countless times in nature. One by one the fluffy birds tumble to the ground, shaken but unharmed. Now armed with the knowledge of their own resiliency, they are one step closer to becoming self-reliant ducks.