Tunstall is as much a home for the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) as it is for us. The village ponds, like those behind Street Farm Close are vital habitats where these ducks and other animals can thrive. However, because this area is such a treasure for local dog walkers, maintaining the balance between our recreation and their survival is a community effort.

Life Cycle

For a Mallard, the year begins in late February and March. This is when courtship displays take over the local ponds. By April, May, and June, the focus shifts to nesting.

Unlike birds that nest high in trees, Mallards are ground-dwellers. They rely entirely on dense cover—the thick tussocks of grass, brambles, and reeds just like the habitat areas behind Street Farm. This vegetation is protection; a hen duck needs to remain invisible for 28 days while she incubates her eggs. If the cover is trampled or thinned, her nest becomes a target for predators.

Fast Facts: The Mallard’s Secret Skills

To better understand neighbours, it helps to know what makes them so interesting:

• Quick: While they look heavy when waddling, Mallards are incredibly fast flyers, capable of reaching speeds of nearly 55 mph in a steady wind.
• The Blue "Speculum": Both males and females have a patch of iridescent blue feathers on their wings. This is called a speculum and helps them identify each other in flight.
• One Eye Open: Mallards can sleep with one eye open and half their brain awake. In a group, the ducks on the "perimeter" act as guards, keeping their outward-facing eye open to watch for predators.
• Duck Diet: They are omnivores that eat everything from seeds and acorns to aquatic insects and small crustaceans.

Protecting the Next Generation

When the eggs hatch in late spring, the Street Farm ponds become a nursery. Mallard ducklings are precocial, meaning they hit the water almost immediately, but they are incredibly fragile.

It is critical not to disturb the ducklings over this period. To us, a mother leading her brood looks cute and “Instaworthy”; to the ducks, a human or a curious pet approaching is a life-threatening event. Stress causes ducklings to scatter, making them easy pickings for gulls or crows, and the energy they spend fleeing is energy they need to grow their first feathers.

How you can help

The paths around the ponds behind Street Farm are a great community amenity enjoyed by many, but they require a neighbourly approach to the local wildlife. We may enjoy the presence of wildlife, but wildlife doesn't necessarily enjoy our presence.

• Keep Dogs Under Control: Because Mallards nest in the tall grass right next to the paths, keeping dogs under control (and ideally on a short lead during nesting months) is the only way to prevent accidental nest destruction. A dog’s nose is far more effective at finding a hidden nest than a human's eyes.
• Stay Out of the Water: It is equally important to keep dogs out of ponds where ducks are nesting. A dog splashing in the water isn't just "playing" to a duck; it is a high-speed predator invading their sanctuary.
• Flea Treatments: Most spot-on flea and tick treatments contain potent insecticides. When a dog enters a pond, these chemicals wash off their fur and skin directly into the water. Even if the treatment was applied days ago, it remains on the hair and can be rinsed off.  To give you an idea of the scale, research from the University of Sussex suggests that a single flea treatment for a medium-sized dog contains enough pesticide to kill 60 million bees. When that washes into a small pond, the concentration can become incredibly toxic to the food that ducks rely on.
• Feeding: The best food for ducks includes healthy, natural options like frozen peas (defrosted), oats, corn, rice, and specialized duck pellets. Leafy greens and chopped vegetables are also excellent, providing essential nutrients. Do not  feed them bread, crackers, and junk food, as these lack nutrition, cause malnutrition, and pollute water.
• Watch your speed:  Please drive slowly through the village and be aware that our duck population likes to wander between ponds.

By giving the ducks their space and keeping our four-legged friends on the path and out of the water, we ensure that the Tunstall ducks remain a welcome and much-loved part of our village life for years to come.

Reference List:

British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) (2024) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Available at: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/wetland-bird-survey (Accessed: 10 April 2026).

Perkins, R., Whitehead, M., Civil, W. and Goulson, D. (2021) ‘Potential role of veterinary flea products in widespread pesticide contamination of English rivers’, Science of the Total Environment, 755(1), p. 143560. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143560.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) (2024) Mallard Duck facts and habitat. Available at: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/mallard/ (Accessed: 10 April 2026

The Wildlife Trusts (2023) Ducks and Waterfowl: Disturbance from Dogs. Available at: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/managing-land-wildlife/dogs-and-wildlife (Accessed: 10 April 2026).

University of Sussex (2020) Pet flea treatments poisoning English rivers. [Press Release]. Available at: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/53810