I had a similiar experience, I had a baby duck given to me as a gift and I figured since it was old enough to be outside I would let it in with the others, which were 4-6 months old. They nearly killed it! I had to separate it again until it was full grown. Then they accepted it fine.

It always amuses me to see what comes up when you do a search on your user name (or on my name). If you do it within the GW forum, it will mostly be posts within that forum, but doing it on a general engine search is like reaching into the magician's hat. There's no logic, no date-order, no reason that I've ever been able to figure out as to what will show up. Granted, I don't post much any more, but why did a 2005 posting come up along with a 2011 post? Search results can be weird. WestG ~ ddgo is just a linking search engine minus the ads. As we've all said many times, anything posted on the internet is open to the public and that includes anything posted on GW.

Thank you, elly, for the ID. Wonderful, varied plumage.

They do use lead, regardless of laws. Rehabbers deal with this regularly. But Wood ducks are not divers or grazers (like Canada geese), so not sure from what source the lead would come. Possible she was poisoned? Or shot, and made it back to the nest? I don't think sparrows would/could kill even a little duck like a Wood duck. Sad to find that. Dirtgirl, may I make a suggestion, though? I say this every spring and summer, and people hate me for it, but I know you will not. I do not think it's ever a good idea to check bird nests that are accessible to predators, or that do not need to be maintained (like bluebirds). I know there was no indication of traumatic injury (like you would with a raccoon attack), but visiting nests regularly leaves a scent trail for mammal predators (like raccoons and even squirrels) and crows watch and figure out something is doing in there. And I am not at all suggesting that's what happened, but you know your stuff, and I know people will probably follow your example more than mine : ) Anyway, happy spring, and good luck with the W. ducks this year.