The mother mallard duck does many things to care for her many ducklings. To begin with, she patiently sits on the eggs before they hatch. Once the ducklings hatch, she keeps them warm by covering them with her warm body. She also teaches them to paddle by using their webbed feet and to catch food. When they are old enough, she teaches them to fly. This is important because in every winter, they migrate to warmer places. The mother duck has such an important job.