The open season for mallards is normally from 1 September - 31 January, with an extension which applies below the high water mark of ordinary spring tides on the coast in England, Wales and Scotland until 20 February. This includes mallards and other wildfowl, but these can also be legally shot during open seasons, subject to certain legal provisions. Wild birds and their nests are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in England, Scotland and Wales, which includes that it is an offence to intentionally (or recklessly in Scotland) kill, injure or take any wild bird, or to take, damage or destroy (or otherwise interfere with in Scotland) its nest, eggs or young. Although ducks may still nest, without access to water, they will be less likely to stay in the garden after the ducklings hatch. If you have a pond but do not want it to attract nesting ducks into your garden, make sure you cover the pond before the breeding season starts. Be aware that ducks and their nests receive legal protection across the UK, so you must allow a duck access to her nest. They are very secretive about a nest, so if you see a pair of ducks hanging around the chances are they're already nesting. It is normally not practical to prevent ducks nesting in a garden.
Put these in an accessible area some distance from the nest.
The female should be able to find food for herself while she incubates, but you could put out a bowl of drinking water, together with duck pellets and cooked potatoes for her to eat. Having a well-stocked flowerbed or shrubby border, or leaving a corner of your garden to grow wild to provide them with good nesting habitat will help encourage nesting. They often choose parts of a garden where the vegetation provides them enough cover in which to conceal the nest. Most people welcome ducks nesting in their garden.
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