Campus community members started to notice a new frequent visitor to the courtyard of the P building at LAC: mallards, or commonly known as wild ducks.
The female duck has built a nest underneath a bush in front of the LBCC Viking News student newspaper office and is vigilantly aware of foot traffic and those in close proximity.
According to Ducks.org, once a female duck builds a nest, eggs will be laid approximately 1-3 days later, then hatch about 28 days after incubation.
While the female has been regularly spotted under the bush, the male mallard leaves early in the morning and doesn’t return till later in the evening.
Jason Casem, the faculty head of the English department, noticed the ducks and their nest approximately three weeks ago.
“I saw the male (mallard) earlier, when they first started nesting. Chris Viola from Journalism brought it to our attention by putting up the sign,” said Casem.
Signage stating “Caution Nesting Ducks” has been placed between two pillars and a seating area built along a barrier wall adjacent to a plant bed, to allow the animals to fulfill their cycle.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife frequently asked questions section, there are many state and federal laws in place to protect the ducks to allow them to complete the nesting cycle.
The webpage also warns that nesting birds are particularly sensitive to human disturbance and may abandon their nest, eggs and/or young due to human presence and noise.
Wildlife has rarely been seen on-campus, other than the occasional squirrel, skunk, or possum.
LBCC’s last ongoing effort to maintain wildlife occurred two decades ago, when the campus was blanketed with rabbits.
Cece Newman, a Religious Studies student who attends class in the P bldg twice a week had seen signage around the building exterior and courtyard, yet never saw the ducks until recently.
When asked if LBCC administration should accommodate the ducks, Newman stated, “Ducks are wild. We had a swimming pool and ducks would come into our pool all the time and we I don’t think they ever nested, but we just let them be.”
While the ducks are currently stationary with the nesting stage, eventually the situation will change once the eggs hatch.
Campus community members need to be aware of their foot traffic to keep the ducklings safe as they cannot fly and will have limited range and opportunities to enter and exit the courtyard.
LBCC’s administration could not comment by the time this article was prepared, but the Facilities Head Groundskeeper was made aware and will be following up.