At the moment we have over forty ducklings at the rescue, fortunately none are on their own as they don’t do well without their siblings. Deals are being struck daily. Calls pour in regarding even more ducklings and as space is at a premium we suggest other bird rescues who sometimes take them in, only to send us another chick or two in return….
Here are a few from a batch of fifteen. So far this year, fingers crossed, we haven’t lost a single duckling and that’s a great result given that most of them were only a day or two old when they came in. The good thing about ducklings is that once they have their mothers’ face imprinted upon them, they remain wild and no matter how much contact we have with them they never become tame.
It’s DEAFENING in the wildlife unit…..chicks are calling all day long as we try to keep up with their voracious appetites. Here are two of a batch of five starlings, they flit about so quickly it’s impossible to get a pic of all of them. All five got out a few days ago….you should have seen us leaping about trying to catch them……what a runaround they gave us!….you have to be agile to catch these birds, but catch them we did! Now they are on the naughty step reflecting upon the error of their ways….NOT!!!
Now when I hear a chick in the garden I automatically go dashing into the kitchen to feed it…only to realize I haven’t got one in the house. I am well and truly conditioned, I even hear them in my sleep!
I think this is the seventh blackbird chick we’ve had in. Several are now self feeding in the aviary along with sparrows, dunnocks and robins… all soon to be released.
Everyone is worried what will happen when all the gulls and crows etc start coming in, we’ll have to get even more creative with space, or split all the garden bird chicks amongst the staff to be cared for at home.
And remember these runner ducks? Well, they are now in the water aviary with the first batch of ducklings waterproofing their feathers. The runner ducks are all reserved and are going to a lovely home soon to live with chickens.
Caring for ducklings is messy work, they need mucking out three or four times a day, and within half an hour of cleaning their quarters it looks as though it hasn’t been done for a week.
These carriers hold the final seven hedgehogs who are going into runs to be hardened off ready for release. That will leave us with four remaining hogs, three have ringworm and one is underweight…..but hopefully they will go in a few months. That’s over forty hogs returned to the wild, a marvelous result.
Along with three birds I released in my garden last week. One shot off straight away while these two thought long and hard before deciding to re-claim their freedom.
And finally…..
This was my homework last week….
Four great tit chicks!
Who did an awful lot of this….
…..and very little of that……
Trust me, they are NOT really sleeping, they’re just lurking, on the alert for the slightest sound or sign of movement!
I did not receive this post; glad I saw it today: Over and over again, I marvel at your goodness and the blessing you offer the earth by caring for her little ones. Thank you, Dina. I know you enjoy it–mostly–but it’s also work and, at times, heartbreaking. How light-filled and inspiring you are. Yes, you are, and you should hear it. Often. 🙂
Sorry my post didn’t arrive Kitty, the website seems to play up at times….how dare it eh?
I only do what I can…..I feel I owe it to the animals as so many of them are injured because of humans…I suppose it’s an attempt at re-addressing the balance and trying to repair the damage we do….I wonder when we will ever learn as a species, if we showed a little more consideration humans and animals could live together harmoniously and share the earth, instead of us dominating and destroying it……sorry, rant over!!!
What a beautiful comment….ahhh…you always make me feel so much nicer than I actually am….lol.
Thanks SO much Kitty.xxx
Awhh !!! Those fluffy little birds are so gorgeous. I am always amazed that you have your camera at the ready in the midst of all the commotion. Lovely post again Dina. I always look forward to reading your blog and am never disappointed. Keep up the good work gal xxx
They are so very sweet aren’t they and it’s lovely to see them up close although a shame they have to be in the rescue. I get my camera out in the afternoon when they are calmer….you wouldn’t get a clear shot in the morning, they are far to active and hungry. Thanks Kegs, lovely to hear you enjoy my posts.xxx
Wow! all of life is there with gaping beaks…… all needing to be fed! What a lot of work but how wonderful they all are and how very sweet and cute. I like the funny very wide sort of wavery mouths of the chicks with the beak sticking strangely out of the middle! I can’t get my head around how it all works somehow!
Very rewarding work but very hard too… must be like painting the Forth Bridge or whatever it is…. but at least there are the nice furry feathery things looking so adorable…. and I can imagine how LOUD it must be!xxxx
Lol….the beaks are strange looking when closed, although they don’t close very often! Sometimes I think chicks are all beak with little body….just long long legs that stretch up when they want a feed…and the racket! Your ears actually do ring! Thanks Arose.xxx
Babies are all the same it seems and are in constant need of food and a change. The sound of young birds is so anxious, I bet you do here them in your sleep. You must feel very proud though Snowbird to have so many successes like the 40 Hedgehogs.
Oh it’s wonderful to see the hogs shuffle off back to where they came from, especially as their numbers are dropping….and they are so big now and healthy. We only have five more to release, and four small sickly ones in the rescue now. Thanks Jennifer.xxx
This has been such a heartening post to read about the many rescues that you and your colleagues are doing. Like other readers, I was curious as to how so many animals find themselves in the rescue and am quite shocked that people are oblivious to wildlife in their cars. When I lived by the sea/country I always drove carefully as I knew I would see hogs, birds and foxes on the roads. Maybe caring for our surroundings and other creatures is something we become more aware of as we get older – but I do try and educate my boy about wildlife, even though he’s town born and bred! (I suspect he thinks I’m a bit barmy about birds and plants!) Have a wonderful week and thanks for sharing more of your work, Dina. C xx
PS Love the runner ducklings; I’m not surprised they’ve all been promised, they have such character!
Thanks Caro, it’s always good to know people are educating their children, I was the same with daughter and she too is careful about wildlife, it’s so easy to just slow down isn’t it? I remember slowing down on a country lane a while back as I saw a brown hare in the road, a sports car overtook me at speed and killed the poor thing….there is no need for it, he didn’t even stop.
Here’s to us always being barmy about plants and animals! Yes!!!xxx
It seems busy there as always. Lovely to see your photos and hear about the good work you all do.
Thanks GG…we have a teeny lull at the moment, most of the chicks are now self feeding and admittance’s have slowed a little.xxx
Goodness, you have been extra busy lately.
Spring is always a little crazy….and summer. Thanks Peter.xxx
So many beaks to feed! At your dinner table, do you find yourself shoving spoonfuls of food in the mouths of your own family 😉 Sorry, I just got that picture in my head.
Wonderful to know that the hedgehogs are out in the world now, thanks to your able assistance. Well done, once again!!
Hahahaha….I’m ok with people when holding a fork, but if I had a syringe in my hand and someone opened their mouth, who knows what may happen!
It is great to see the chubby hogs waddling off to start a new life…..I do love happy endings. Thanks Glo.xxx
<3 Just love!
You do it great… I think you shall get back such a good feeling, dear Dina… That's pure love and sharing…
Kisses 🙂 claudine
Thanks Claudine, it’s a wonderful feeling seeing animals thrive and be released. Big hugs and kisses to you.xxx
Oh my goodness! What a commotion it must be at the rescue! I love the look of those runner ducks. There’s something about them that remind me of terriers — maybe their colouring 😉
Hurray for the homed hedgehogs. And best wishes to the last of them. and to you for the stamina you’ll need for the duration!
Lol….rinner ducks always make me smile, they are a little terrierish colour wise but they seem to be very goofy birds.
It’s marvelous seeing the hogs go and it’s good timing too as there are so many birds pouring in. Thanks Anne.xxx
Goodness me what a lot of birds!
Well done for doing what you do, and you must be especially pleased that you’ve returned over forty hedgehogs back to the wild. xx
Thanks Flighty, it’s marvelous to finally see the hogs go, it always seems like we have them for such a long time over winter. It especially rewarding seeing them go as their numbers are dropping every year.xxx
Those great tits are the cutest thing I have ever seen!! The runner ducks are hilarious! Looks busy busy busy xx
Thanks Scarlett, I love their little green waste-coats! Yes….it’s all rather crazy at the moment.xxx
Ahhh….:yes: The time of year! Nature is so wonderful…..though still needing a ‘helping hand’ from caring humans…..Doing well, D!
Just slowed my car to a halt to allow a little hegehog complete its long journey across the road….into a garden….Marvelous sight!
Hugs! 🙂
Ahhh….so glad you slowed down to let hoglet past, now if only other people would too. It is lovely to see them in the wild isn’t it, they are such strange little creatures. Thanks Bushka.xxx
You must have masses of syringe feeders in your store cupboard.
xx
Lol….I certainly have, and lots of different types of bird food!xxx
If I could spend my life looking at ducklings and all the other beautiful babies that are revealed at this time of the year….I would be very happy:) Keep up all your wonderful work, and continue to enjoy.xxxx
Thanks Janet, you would certainly enjoy working with wildlife.xxx
It’s strange, we have so many birds in our country. I believe we are more blessed in that regard than most places, because a number of common air routes pass over our country… routes between Europe and Africa. But ducks are very few and seldom seen, and I love them so much… is it because they are seldom seen here? I don’t know. Recently, I have gotten to know the songs of the blackbirds, and appreciate them very much. They add a lot to my day. I can’t understand how it is that so many of these birds are brought to the shelter… Do people discover nests that have been disturbed? Are they pruning trees at this time, and they disturb the nests? I do hope they are able to survive the experience and enjoy their lives afterwards. And I do appreciate your never ending contribution to life and peace, Dina.
What a shame that you have so few ducks, it is odd though as they seem to be all over the world, they are such entertaining birds.
I love to listen to the blackbirds, they have such a wonderful song, I always open the kitchen door each morning so I can listen to them, lovely that you have them in your new place too.
Oh….there are so many reasons why the birds are brought in, some are cat and dog attacks when birds are on the ground, sometimes cats pull their nests out of shrubs. Lots have been predated by larger birds. Then chicks are blown out of nests, or fall….or have their nests disturbed by builders and people cutting down trees and shrubs and hedging. Some are hit by cars, or lose their parents, but the most annoying reason is over zealous people who think chicks on the ground have been abandoned. Thanks Shimon.xxx
You do a fantastic job, I’m a bit worried as I haven’t seem Hoppy for a few days.
Thanks Sue, I do hope Hoppy puts in an appearance soon, let me know when he does….I have my fingers crossed for him.xxx
There is a special place in heaven for you. 🙂 So much work! But such joy at seeing them thrive and return to the wild. 🙂
Lol….I don’t think I’m likely to be admitted to heaven….I have a bit of a temper!
Oh it’s lovely seeing them come on and go off, something I never tire off. If only they all made it. Thanks Casa.xxx
Oh wow, so many beaks to feed!
Love the runner ducks and so glad they have found a good home.
We’ve had a Great Tit emergency of our own… our pair of woodpeckers found their nest and started to attack it. Mum and Dad GT moved the little ones out straight away, they were flying so must have been ready to fledge. I hope they have made it, I did my best to keep the woodpeckers away.
I’m glad you helped the great tits, woodpeckers do go after young garden birds, they see them as an easy snack….I do hope they all made it, they are such wonderful little birds aren’t they….thanks Jess.xxx
It is certainly a very busy time of year for you – all those ducks, surely they can’t all have been abandoned? I can imagine the noise they must all be making – maybe you should get some ear plugs whilst you work. It is wonderful that so many hogs are fit enough to be released – a testament to all the care you lovingly give them. Have a good week.
Ha! I would love to wear ear plugs but I need to know who is calling for food! The ducklings have all come in in different size groups, some were found without a mother but the majority saw their mother hit by a car. It’s great seeing the hogs go each week….we got a few new ones in today though. Thanks so much Elaine. xxx
Wow, I feel overwhelmed just reading about all this work. You must count ducklings in your sleep.
Lol….I certainly do…along with all sorts of garden birds! Thanks Jason.xxx
It must be so rewarding seeing the end results when birds and animals are released back in to the wild. Very hard work whilst you’re rearing them, but all worth it in the end. It’s amazing that nearly all the hedgehogs have gone now, I remember so many being brought in because they were underweight.
It’s difficult to remember how small the hogs were, the smallest released has been 1200 grams, and that was 300 when it arrived. They should have a great chance of survival now, the sites they are released on are perfect for them. Thanks Jo.xxx