Here’s the physics of why ducklings swim in a row behind their mother
By paddling in just the right spots, ducklings save energy by surfing their mom’s waves

Many ducklings, such as these mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) trail their mothers in orderly lines. Such an arrangement gives the little ones a boost from the waves stirred up by their mother.
Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images Plus