A Duck in trouble

***Catherine*** · 02-12-2011

Last Saturday we were down at the nearby Ballard Lake to 'feed the Ducks' with our grandchildren. We noticed one bird in trouble - it couldn't eat properly as there was one of those dreadful can-ties stuck over its neck and between its bills.

We called the RSPCA and they said they'd attend to it.

We thought our please had been ignored when, on Monday, the Duck was still in trouble, so we emailed the local Council. The answer said they had had several calls about the same thing, and had also called the RSPCA to ask them to help.

On Wednesday we went back to check, and this is what we saw...

3 RSPCA officers with two vans and a boat had arrived to try to help our poor little Duck. They said they'd called twice at the weekend, had seen the Duck, but couldn't catch it to free it from the trap. Bringing the boat was to allow their last attempt.

Unfortunately, although Aylesbury Ducks are flightless, they are also good swimmers and very wary of humans with nets. So our little friend is still in trouble.

The officer in charge told me that the bird was feeding reasonably well despite the tie problem, but that it would be unable to preen, so would soon lose its waterproofing and suffer in the colder weather. We are to let them know if it gets weaker. The good news is that they should be able to catch and treat it then before it is too late to do so. I wish these plastic ties were banned!

**rolf** · 02-12-2011

A great shame Catherine, hopefully they'll be able to catch it and remove the plastic.

***Catherine*** · 02-01-2012

On a later visit, we were saddened to see there were only two Aylesbury Ducks on Ballard Lake, and the Crested Duck was on his own, looking quite lost and being bullied by the Mallards and Black-headed Gulls. We thought the worst. (There are many Foxes in the area too.

)

However, when we returned with our grandchildren during the week just before Christmas, we were delighted to see 4 Aylesburys swimming there happily (and free of beer-can ties)!

I emailed the council, but neither they nor I know what really happened. However, it seems that the RSPCA had eventually managed to catch the poor Duck (with a 'friend' for company?) and had taken it somewhere for a week's care and treatment before returning both to the Lake.