Thank you, my friend Sgt John H. for posting a wonderful picture of a Mallard hen guarding what may be her last surviving chick.
Over the many years I was assigned to the Pentagon, I became familiar with the Mallards which lay their eggs in the Pentagon courtyard and did their best to guard them from the large rats. Generally 5 or 6 were hatched [by each pair] and at best one or two survived the nightly rat attacks.
FYI LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott Sharon SSG William Jones SSG Donald H "Don" Bates PO3 William Hetrick PO3 Lynn Spalding SPC Mark Huddleston SGT Rick Colburn CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke SP5 Jeannie Carle Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey Sgt Albert Castro

Nice shot.

Great photo and close up Sgt John H. - Great way to start the day!