After 8 weeks in the safe care of the Trust, it was time to release Disco's 15 ducklings, plus 2 fostered ones.
With the help of the Chairman and Secretary, we corralled and transported them down to the riverside. Their chances of survival are as good as we could make them, ability to fly is already at hand for some.
The weather and river conditions are ideal, allowing them to make the adjustment from a wild garden, to the wide world in the coming days.
Short video below.
Hi Joe, what a brilliant video! Those ducklings are loving being on the river! Thanks for saving the eggs, incubating them and caring for the hatchlings. I pray they all keep safe.
ReplyDeleteThe Swan Greetings cards have arrived and they are absolutely lovely! The design is great and the customer service from The Nairn Bookshop was exemplary!
I have just returned from visiting Vulcan, Beatrix and their six huge cygnets. They have devoured two curly lettuces, sweetcorn and spinach leaves. They depend on supplementary feeding as there are so little nutritional resources in the disused canal. Vulcan was busy chasing the ducks away from his family.
Best wishes, Wendy x
Hi Wendy, I'm so pleased you are delighted with the cards, I know Iona who designed them will be pleased too. Sounds like you are doing an exemplary job down there caring for Vulcan and Beatrix and their huge cygnets, they do grow fast up here too ! You are certainly giving them the right diet and costly as well Our lot get a dose of plain fresh green grass, and young dandelion leaves as well, cheaper than lettuce and spinach ! They need and like the greenery and our river is poor for river weed this year. I also feed them Wheat grains, and spratts game pellets. Slim does exactly the same with our ducks too.
ReplyDeleteAs for the ducklings released, half of them are missing but I suspect they have moved up river or elsewhere.
Enjoy your beautiful birds
All the best Joe x