Easter Ducklings

Now three weeks old, the harbour ducklings and their yellow siblings in care are thriving and chances of long term survival improving by the day. 

Their parents have stuck to the harbour, avoiding the dangers of the river and all the single Drakes looking for vulnerable female ducks. 

The thrice daily feeding, means they can avoid the river meanwhile. 

The four yellow ones are now able to waterproof  their own feather down, something the harbour ducklings get from their mothers feathers. At three weeks, the oil gland starts to work and they can all waterproof themselves. Yellow ducklings having a bath below.

Easter Eggs

Saffron and Disco are both sitting on eggs. Disco has chosen the same spot as last year, and is a few weeks ahead of Saffron, who has just nested for the first time at 8 months old. 

Will be fascinating to see how many yellow ducklings we get...if any. Disco's should hatch in 10 days time, and Saffron's around the 8th May. 

Meanwhile the 4 yellow ducklings rescued from the river, are thriving and growing faster than their siblings in the harbour.

It's an ill Wind -That Saves Ducklings

Near disaster for the ducklings in the harbour on Wednesday evening. A boat had sunk in the harbour causing severe pollution. A film of Diesel oil covered the water and the mother duck and her ducklings were being contaminated as they swam through the pollution. I was expecting the Harbour to be polluted for days, and feared the loss of the brood I have been nurturing for the past 2 weeks. 

                  Incredibly, a strong gale force wind blew up during Wednesday night from the north west, and blew the surface oil film through the harbour entrance and away into the fast flowing river. 

Thursday morning revealed an almost clear harbour and all 6 ducklings with their Mum. 

Two of the ducklings were showing signs of poisoning along with their Mum, and did not show much interest in eating, no doubt having ingested some oil. 

By Thursday evening they were recovering and started eating again. Today- Friday, they were all back to normal and fully recovered. 

This was a classic case of a bitterly cold ill wind blowing some good ! The weather is still bitter, and today we had heavy hail showers.

 The Trust 3 daily meals for the ducklings is proving to be a life saver, along with the care of the mother duck!

Staying Alive

A return of Winter weather adds a new threat to staying alive on the riverside. Slim has been very attentive on the nest, while Sue continues to seek out Algae and nutrients to produce the eggs. 

While Saffron and Ebony ignore the snow. 

The Trust has been busy trying to assist the mother duck with her 6 remaining ducklings. 

Having started with 15 she has lost 5 to the Crows and Gulls, and of course her 4 yellow ones are in the care of the Trust. 

They are thriving and have now been moved into the coop with heat lamp to keep them warm along with suitable soft toy and straw ! 

The Mother with the 6 in the harbour has 3 visits a day, where I give them high protein Mealworm as an alternative to insects which are non existent at this time of year. With the Arctic conditions I know they would not survive otherwise.

 The mother has done a great job so far and I saw her chase off a gull yesterday that go too close to her brood. However I think there is an Otter doing the rounds, for I found the carcase of another duck this morning in the harbour.

 Staying alive is not easy, even for adult ducks!      

Not So Dumb Ducks

The 4 yellow ducklings are enjoying all the comforts of the Trust, warm cosy brooding box, with plenty of food and water, also daily trips to the bath for a proper swim.

 Meanwhile their Mum and 7 surviving siblings are in the Harbour. She lost 4 to the harbour Crows the first day after I caught the yellow ones.

                           I think she is learning to cope with the harbour Crows, and also how to keep the ducklings longer in the water. Ordinarily taking them onto land frequently to warm them up and oil their downy feathers. 

Yesterday I witnessed her taking the ducklings to the stern of a white yacht, and realised the sun was reflecting the heat onto the ducklings ! 

What a novel way of keeping them warm and safely in the water ! I feed them all twice a day with all the dried mealworm they can eat. The real test will come in the next week, with winter weather returning day and night. 

Meanwhile another duck was showing off balancing on the wildlife sign !  Short video of yellow ducklings bath, below.  

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TRUST 4 - CROWS 0

Was astonished to spot a mother duck with 15 ducklings this morning. This was the earliest hatching I have ever seen on the river. 

What was even more astonishing was the fact that 4 of them were little yellow beauties! 

The Crows were already gathering, waiting for a chance to pounce.  I had to wait until after the tide went back before I could make an attempt to catch them. Slim and Sue were equally astonished.

 They would not stand a chance of survival this early in the year, with further winter weather on the horizon too. 

With the help of Ian, and much out witting of the mother duck, I managed to net all 4 in one go. 

The Trust will care for them for the next 9 or 10 weeks until fledged and release them back to the river. They will at least have a better chance of survival. 

Spring Weather Arrives

Another Spring arrives on the riverside. 

Slim and Sue are contemplating the prospect of nest building as the creative hormones kick in. 

We finally have a sunny settled spell of weather in prospect for the coming week.

Sue And Slim Chill Out

 After a full 9 months rearing their seven cygnets, Sue and Slim are having a well earned rest. I doubt if any other cygnets have had such a full start on life's journey. The Trust can also take some credit, by providing them with food throughout the winter months. The whole family are in tip top condition and spring is almost here. 

Today, Sue and Slim were in their precious moat, conserving their energies and chilling out.

Slim and Sue - Peace at Last

Looks like Slim and Sue have learned from last year, on how to expel the Cygnets in a week. All gone, and Runty was the last to go yesterday, after a farewell feed from me. 

Weather conditions have been ideal, with High pressure giving calm seas and sunny skies. Spring appears to be earlier this year, and some ducks are already starting to nest. 

This includes our disabled resident duck, Disco. She has already laid 3 eggs a week earlier than last year. Saffron the rescued yellow duckling has also started to build a nest, but no eggs as yet, she may not be quite mature enough, until late spring. Hopefully Ebony has been able to fertilise Disco's eggs - it would be nice to have some yellow ducklings hatch safely in the care of the Trust.

WARNING NOTICE : Was informed by our Chairman today that some warning notices posted at the east Culbin, about Bird Flu in the area. Anyone finding dead birds should not touch them and report them to DEFRA. 

Wild migratory geese have been found dead along the shore ! Lets hope our cygnets don't contract it !  

Sunny Slim

 Slim and Sue are heaping on the pressure to expel the cygnets from the river. Today only 2 cygnets dared the wrath of Slim and Sue, who have made it clear they must start life's journey. 

Runty was scared to come off the island into the moat for some food, as Slim arched his wings ready to attack. 

                          I have a real soft spot for Runty, as it's had a continuous raw deal as the last one to hatch. I'm sure Runty is a male and he knows if he gets close enough to me, I'll shelter and feed him.. 

                    exactly what I did today, it may after all be his last day in the river.  

Slim was looking resplendent in the Sunshine, and in perfect condition to sire yet more cygnets this spring.

 Meanwhile I spotted Doris again, with her mate close by.

 We are so lucky to have uplifting wildlife to view.. in contrast to human inhumanity on our TV screens !