‘Tufty’ The Tufted Duck

Published by Scottish Natural Heritage June 2016ISBN 978-1-78391-476-0A.04K0616

Illustrated by Amanda BatallerWritten by Craig Nisbet

Adapted from original text by Penny Martin for the ‘Growing up with Loch Leven’ Tufty Project

‘Tufty’ The Tufted Duck

It’s spring time...

Two tufted ducks have been flying for a very long time indeed. “Oh, I’m so tired!” complains the black and white duck. “And hungry. There’s nothing but houses and dry fields below and there’s nowhere to go.”

“But look there!” says the brown duck, turning quickly in the air. “Where?” says the black and white bird, grumpily. “There! Look at all that blue water below us. I can see lots of

other ducks just like us. It must be safe.”

the tufted ducks land on Loch Leven...

And with a splash,

fl ip, dip and dive...

All around them are other ducks... Some are black and white, some are brown. All of them have smart, grey-blue beaks and eyes like yellow buttons. “Look, tufted ducks just like us,” whispers Mrs Tufty, the brown duck.

“Hello and welcome!” say the other ducks. “Come feast with us - the food is great! There are lots of juicy snails for snacks and small water beasties for dinner. Remember to flip, dip and dive!”

“Ready to go underwater, my dear?” asks Mr Tufty, the black and white duck. “Ready when you are!” says Mrs Tufty.

quack...quack...quack

... “I can quack too!” says Mrs Teal. “I can whistle,” says Mr Teal. He shows off his bright colours, and tips his head. They swim

off among the quiet reeds to dabble for food.

“We can dive too!” shout Mr Pochard and Mr Goldeneye. Flip, dip and dive. The Tufted Ducks meet them swimming underwater. Mr Goldeneye swims even deeper. He can hold his breath a long time.

The tufted ducks chase and eat some little fish, but they leave the bigger fish for Mrs Cormorant to chase and catch underwater, with her long, bendy neck and sharp, rough beak.

whistle...

fl ip, dip and dive...

Mr Mallard has a smart, green head and Mrs Mallard is brown and speckled. “Will you dive with us?” ask the tufted ducks. “Oh no,” says Mr Mallard. “I don’t dive, I dabble. Like this,” and he tips up, pushes his head underwater and his bottom up in the air, snip snapping at the weeds underwater.

They swim out deeper. Mrs Mallard quacks, “Look - some juicier weed, growing on the bottom of the loch. But I can’t reach it. It’s too deep.” “No problem for us,” say the diving ducks.

“And no problem for me,” boasts a huge, white bird with a long neck. Mr Mute Swan reaches down underwater with his long neck, and with a snip snap, the weeds are gobbled up. Mrs Mallard swims back to the shallow water, in a huff. “Quack, quack,” she complains.

With the days growing warmer and longer, they meet some more of the Loch Leven locals.

Summer is here...The father ducks are busy tipping their heads back, saying, “Look at me! Look at me!” They show off their bright colours and whistle to the mother ducks, who growl back.

The father tufted ducks swim away to the edge of the loch. The reeds grow thick and quiet here, and the trees bend over the water like umbrellas. “This is my place. Go away!” they say to each other, and shake their tufty heads.

Mrs Tufty wants to leave the busy water to find a quiet place to make her nest. She paddles to St Serf ’s island, and then sets off on foot.“Oh dear, I’m so slow,” she says. Her legs and feet are good for swimming, but not for walking.

whistle...whistle...

Mrs Tufty waddle, waddle, waddles across the island on her flat, webbed feet. She chooses a hidden spot in the long grass to make her nest. She pulls the downy feathers from her chest to make her nest soft inside, and then lays her eggs.

They are the colour of water – blue and green. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Ten eggs!” exclaims Mrs Tufty.

says Lesser Black-backed Gull. We only have three to look after. That keeps us busy.”

Other birds have made their nests here too.

“Yak...yak...” “Th at’s a lot of eggs!”

“Yak, yak, yak,” say the lesser black-backed gulls. There are lots of them!

cree

p...c

reep

...

Mrs Tufty sits quietly on her nest.She needs to stay hidden and keep her eggs warm.

But look out! Here comes Jackdaw. Hop, step, step, hop. Jackdaw looks this way and that, and says, “Jack, Jack! I’m hungry!” Jackdaw loves to eat eggs, but doesn’t see Mrs Tufty’s nest. She is hard to spot wearing her brown feathers, and she sits so still.

Mrs Tufty sits. She sits quietly. She sits for a long time. She must keep her eggs warm for 24 days!

Mr Tufty doesn’t have time to help - he’s busy guarding his place in the water among the reeds. She has to be careful when she leaves the nest to find food. Coot or Moorhen might come creeping up on their long, bendy legs to steal her eggs.

“YAK, YAK,YAK! Look out, look out, there are jackdaws about!” “YAK, YAK,YAK!”

Sharp-eyed Jackdaw is strutting about with others from his gang. He is back looking for some juicy eggs or chicks to eat.

There are other dangers too.“Yak, yak, yak!” The gulls are hollering and screaming.

The gulls peck at the jackdaws with their beaks. “This is too noisy for me,” says Jackdaw. “I’m off!”

Mrs Tufty sits quietly on her eggs. “Thank you,” she says to the gulls. “You chased the jackdaws away. You saved my eggs.”

“thank you”

“Jack, Ja

ck.”

“Jac

k, Ja

ck.”

“Jack, Jack.”

“Jack, Jack.”

Crick, crack, cheep, peep. What’s happening to the eggs? Crick, crack. What are those tiny sounds? Cheep, peep. A little wet duckling steps out of the broken shell.

It’s Tufty the duckling!

Then another one. And another one. Soon, Tufty and his nine little brother and sister ducklings are drying their feathers in the sun.

Mrs Tufty is happy that her ducklings are dry, and with soft, downy feathers, they’re sure to stay warm. “Look out, my babies,” says Mrs Tufty. Pitter, patter. Here comes a thunder storm. “Shhh! Take shelter, tuck up together under me and we’ll wait until it gets dark.”

24 days later…

Crick, crack, cheep, peep. Crick, crack, cheep, peep.

“Quick, follow me everyone,” says Mrs Tufty. She walks waddle, flap across the bumpy ground. “Wait for us!” peep the ducklings. “Wait for me!” peeps Tufty duckling, as he trips over a pebble.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. The ducklings follow their mum in a long line. Pitter, patter, waddle, pat.

“I’m hungry, Mum!” shouts Tufty the duckling. “So are we! We’re hungry too!” peep the nine other ducklings. “Shhh!” whispers Mrs Tufty. “Nearly there.” “Nearly where?” peep the ten hungry ducklings. “Near to safety and food, my darlings,” says Mrs Tufty. The family reaches the reeds that stand tall like a forest around them at the edge of the island.

In darkness, it will be hard for their enemies to see them.

Just then, a long tall shadow spreads over Tufty. “Mum! Help!” he shouts. “It’s a tall, scary bird with a beak like a dagger!”“It’s Grey Heron! He’ll swallow you up with one gulp,” whispers Mrs Tufty. “Look out. Hide among the reeds.” Tufty hides as still as can be...

Grey Heron’s shadow moves away. Step, step. The tall bird takes long, slow steps through the water. He’s thinking about fish for breakfast.

It’s early morning and the sun is creeping up in the sky.

Tufty is safe for now...

“Mum, we’re hungry,” they peep. “Well, you have to find your own food,” says Mrs Tufty. “I will keep a look out for danger. It’s time to get wet!” The ducklings’ feet step in something strange. They have reached the edge of the island. “What’s this funny stuff, Mum?” they ask.

“Water, my darlings,” she says, nibbling some weed for breakfast. “Follow me!” She pushes with her feet and off she floats, fast and smooth. The ducklings follow. Hop, jump, splash. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and Tufty jumps in last – ten!

“Mum, my feet work well in the water!” says Tufty. “Yes, you can paddle and dive with them,” says Mrs Tufty.“Mum, there are lots of funny things buzzing above the water.” “That’s your food, Tufty – flies,” says Mrs Tufty. Tufty and the other ducklings patter about on the water. Their tiny beaks peck and snap. Snap, snap. Mmm, flies for breakfast!

Tufty and the other ducklings are still hungry.

“my feet work well in the water!”

Snap! Snap!

Peck! Snap!

DIV

E . .

.

paddle

patt

er

“mmm... fl ies for breakfast”

They have been feeding in the reeds and shallow water. When Tufty and the other ducklings have had their fill of flies, they gather around their mum. “Do you want to meet your dad?” she asks. “Oh yes!” they all cry. “Oh yes!” shouts Tufty. “Does he look like you?” “Well he has a fine, blue-grey beak like mine but his feathers are a different colour. Are you ready for a dangerous journey?” Mrs Tufty asks her ducklings. “Yes,” peep nine. “Oh yes!” shouts Tufty. “Then stay close and follow me across the water, my darlings,” says Mrs Tufty. “There is danger all around.”

The duck and her ducklings paddle across the water. The loch seems as wide as the sea. Shadows move under the water. “What’s that, Mum?” shouts Tufty, shaking. “Stay close. It’s a fish with sharp teeth called Pike. He eats ducklings for breakfast,” says Mrs Tufty. “Stay close and keep together, my darlings. We must reach the other side.”

All the ducklings leave the island safely with their mum.

It’s windy out in the open and the water starts to make waves like mountains for the ducklings to paddle over. The water splashes and makes them wet. Slowly the wind drops and the waves begin to smooth. Tufty tries to shout but he is so tired. The other ducklings peep and struggle, Tufty whispers...

The journey is long and difficult.

Says Mrs Tufty. The shore is in sight. There is safety and shelter under the trees and the reeds. A handsome, black and white duck appears. “Dad!” peep the ducklings. “Dad!” shouts Tufty.

“Are we nearly there Mum?”

“I can hear your dad! ... We made it!”

“Dad!... Look!”

Tufty and the other ducklings have grown fast and have lost their fluffy, baby feathers. Their new, flying feathers have grown and they can swim and dive with their mum and dad.

The days are getting shorter,

The family spend the rest of the summer feeding together close to the shoreline.

Tufty can now fly, but he still has lots of questions.

Flying in the sky are more tufted ducks. “Some are brown like Mum, and some are black and white like you.” “Yes,” says Mr Tufty. “They’re coming to spend the winter here, with lots of other ducks.”

“Mum!” he shouts. “What’s that noise?” They hear quacking and honking...

More and more birds are arriving on the loch. Splash! Splash!

Some are big and grey with long necks. “That’s pink-footed geese arriving,” says Mum. “They’re coming to spend the winter here, and feed in the fields. They’ll fly away in spring.”

“Dad!” Tufty shouts again. “I can see big white birds like Mute Swan with long straight necks.” “They’re whooper swans,” says Dad. “They’ve spent the summer in cold lands. They’re coming to spend the winter here too.”

“Isn’t it going to get too busy?”

worries Tufty, “with all these ducks and geese and swans here?” “Oh no,” say Mr and Mrs Tufty. “The water is big, shallow, clean and full of food,

with shelter, and fields all around.

There’s room and food enough for everyone.”

As part of the Year of Natural Scotland celebrations in 2013, Scottish Natural Heritage recruited artists in residence at various locations, to assist with the delivery and promotion of different aspects of the work that we do. At Loch Leven National Nature Reserve, we recognised Amanda Bataller’s illustrative talents in her portfolio of work, and this particular project was presented to her in the hope that her artistic style would suit the story.

Tufty the tufted duck is part of the ‘Growing up with Loch Leven’ education project and now, with this fantastic illustrated version, local primary schools have an excellent new resource with which to teach their pupils about the life cycle and annual migrations of tufted ducks and other wildfowl that they see at Loch Leven. We hope that all the children who have access to Amanda’s excellent work enjoy it and develop a richer understanding of Loch Leven and its tufted ducks as a result!

For more information go to www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/loch-leven www.amandabataller.com

A short story which tells us all about the life of Tufty - the tufted duck, and the dangers and delights of Tufty’s life experiences at Loch Leven. The book also explains the life cycle and annual migrations of tufted ducks and other wildfowl.