Well one Duck anyways.
I have a female mallard sitting on four eggs at work.
She is up about 8 feet, she is calling a pallet of paver stone her nest, she sits and watches me as I drive the reach truck (fork lift) around that area of outside garden at our local Home Depot.
I have yet to see her mate, she left last night around 1030 pm.
She didn't return until 5 am, I counted 4 eggs.
The last momma duck had a baby running around and she began chasing the customers around trying to keep them away from her baby, apparently some of the employees did get her and the baby to go out the back gate.
This situation is a bad one, what will happen when these baby's get old enough to leave the nest?
That 8 foot drop is sure to hurt them.

You are just gonna have to save them Arty and Rose! GO Arty and Rose!!!!!

I should have placed this thread in the wildlife forum....dang...must be getting old....
Finally, the mate has shown himself last night.
A fellow worker and I were standing to close to the Ducks nesting area, momma wasn't pleased with this, so we moved away.
But I finally got a look at the male, so now I know for sure the eggs are fertile.
I will have to keep a close eye on things, when those eggs hatch, momma will become extremely protective and the Home Depot won't tolerate there customers being attacked.
If all goes well, I will move the babies (when old enough) outside.
I know I will be attacked, Fact is I want to be attacked so momma and papa follow me to see where I place there babies.
There are many Canadian Geese with there young, a low area with a small pond, perfect area for these ducks and there babies.
I took pictures on my cell phone last night, have to figure out how to get them onto the PC.

I moved it for ya Arty.

Thanks girl!

I knew this would happen, someone has took 2 of the eggs and I found one smashed on the concrete.
I informed the store manager that these birds and there nest are federally protected and I am bound by law to report this incident.
I advised the manager to take measures to protect the remaining eggs and the momma duck.
A customer isn't going to take a ladder and do this kind of act.
This is a very sticky situation and I pray I do not loose my job.

Oh Arty! Please be careful, but good for you!! You should NOT lose your job over a duck egg! Bless you heart! Ruby says "karful!"

I hope they leave the rest of them alone. Ken is trying to protect a nest on his construction site. He has it roped off and has barrels surrounding the nest. We're praying it's left alone as well.

Arty - could another employee have knocked the nest without being aware!? - or the birds got frightened?

Could you set up a ramp/board for them to walk down? After this is over the Store Manager should figure a way to prevent it from happening again.

Keep your job & help them Arty - it may be tricky but surely both can be attained without 'problem'?

That would have to be some ramp, the pallet the momma has decided to lay her eggs on is over 8 foot up, not possible for someone to accidentally cause something to happen, these racks are built to hold a generous amount of weight, and the way the bags are placed onto a pallet leaves the middle sunk, I am sure this is why this female decided this was a good nesting spot.
Someone has took 2 of the eggs, this person threw one eggs at least 40 ft away, this was no accident.
A very deliberate cruel act.
The hen will take her baby's directly to water just as soon as they dry off from the hatch.
This is why I have been counting the days to hatch, I was planning on taking the baby's to the pond in the rear of the property.
I did my best to encourage these 2 ducks to go elsewhere when they first arrived, they didn't listen to well...LOL
All I know is whats happening to these ducks is not good, not good at all and those responsible will be held accountable.