New Hatchlings 'First for Species' in Zoo History

The Hottentot teal ducks at at the Lincoln Park Zoo may be shy, but that didn't stop them from unexpectedly producing two tiny ducklings.

The new arrivals, which hatched April 13, are rapidly growing behind the scenes at the McCormick Bird House, according to zoo officials. The pair started their incubation in a grass nest built by their mother.

Given the predatory instincts of other birds sharing the teals' space—Abdim’s stork and hadada ibis—the zoo's animal care experts opted to move the eggs to the McCormick Bird House for incubation before the hatch.

The hatch is the first for the species in Lincoln Park Zoo’s long history, said Zoo President Kevin Bell.

"It’s an exciting milestone," he said, in a written statement. "Native to Africa, Hottentot teals feeds on seeds, plants and insects they find in the water. The adults represent the smallest dabbling duck species … and as you can imagine, the ducklings are even smaller!"

The tiny ducks are very active and vocal, spending lots of time following each other around their little habitat. They’ll continue to grow behind the scenes for the next few months, at which point they’ll find new homes in other accredited zoos.

"It’s fun news, especially for a bird enthusiast like me," Bell said.

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