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The 9 ducklings taken into care by the River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust prior to the big Bertha flood last month, will soon be released back into the river.
They should be capable of flight in a couple of weeks, and therefore more likely to survive any predator attacks.
Proper care has ensured their good health and growth, and happily 5 of them are females which will go some way to offsetting the predominance of male ducks.
Been a good week weather wise, and long may it continue !
Pigeon with the broken leg made a complete recovery, and today I bade her farewell and let her rejoin the town flock. It was a pleasure caring for her since she was so gentle and not a problem. A few days ago she was standing in her water bowl on top of the book case, so I gave her a bath in the sink. She thoroughly enjoyed the soaking , especially under her wings.
The 9 ducklings rescued prior to the big Bertha flood are almost fully grown after nearly 7 weeks, ( short clip below ) and will be returned to the river in 2 weeks time when they should be on the verge of flight.
The other 8 hatched ducklings from the abandoned nest are growing, and the last two which I had to help out of the shells are finally starting to catch up with the stronger ones.
Nairn swans are also doing well and have frequent trips to the sea, but still come back up river for their vital supplementary feeding.
The autumn evening chill seems to herald the cheery twittering of the Robin, always enjoyable to hear them sing.
As anticipated the remnants of Hurricane Bertha dumped a fair bit of unseasonal weather onto the Moray Firth, resulting in a mini flood....for the moment !
It could have been worse if the wind had been from the north east, pushing the tide more inland.
The waterfowl had to retreat to the only safe area on the lower river, the Swans island and piece of tidal ground behind the seaman's hall.
It's pretty certain that the Swans river weed food supply is now gone for this season, since the force of water and dead trees will have scoured the river bed clean. With further rain forecast, the river is likely to stay high for the coming week.
Meanwhile The River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust gives safe sanctuary to the latest duck brood that would have perished in the current conditions.
