Observation of the Mallard nest continued after the discovery on April 13th. A curious sighting took place late afternoon on the 22nd when the female flew away from the nest with an egg clasped in its bill. The egg must have broken or at least had a hole in it. After a short flight the female played with the egg shell in the water and then went to the shore for some feeding. As usual, the male appeared seemingly out of nowhere and joined the female to act as sentinel. About fourty minutes later the pair waddled on shore, the female flew back to the nest and the male returned to the lake. This break for the female with protection from the male was a regular routine early morning and late afternoon.
(Photographed April 22, 2016 on private property, Emily Township, City of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada)