Oh I do love a story with a happy outcome, I’m shamelessly sentimental.
Canon 5DIII, Canon 100-400mm L IS USM II
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 1600
This beautiful Hardhead is the duck I mentioned briefly in last week’s post. They are mainly a chocolate brown colour with a white undertail, white tummy patch and a blue-tipped bill. Female and juvenile Hardheads have brown eyes while adult males have white eyes which give the species the nickname White-eyed Duck.
Nalini, from Boobook Wildlife Shelter, was called to see if she could pick up a duck that was tangled near the top of a 25 metre high golf course fence. She thought it would be a quick collection but it took three hours. The MFB were already there but the fire engine’s tower lift could only reach to 17 metres. They called for a larger vehicle but when it turned up they were concerned that the ground was unstable. JM Tower Hire was called and the owner, Jim, turned up in his truck as everyone else had gone home. As Nalini said, ‘What a legend!’
For a few scary moments Nalini thought she might need to be in the basket rather than photographing it from a safe distance.
Looking at the photographs above makes me wish I knew who reported the trapped duck – thank you whoever you are.
Nalini kept the duck in care overnight. Hardheads are listed as a Vulnerable species in Victoria which means the duck had to be taken to the vet at Healesville Sanctuary within 24 hours. That was my job. It did make me smile when the lovely staff at the wildlife hospital mentioned that the duck would have to be released where it was found.
Our lucky little duck was xrayed and found to have no breaks. It was too sore to fly for a few days so was kept in a pen until it was mobile again. I’m not sure who brought it back to Nalini, thank you to whoever made that trip.
And then it was time for the release. Off we went to a nearby golf course where we got to drive a motorised golf buggy which was great as it was drizzling and about half a kilometre to the lake.
Nalini didn’t think I should have all the fun so she took a turn at the wheel too!
The lake is surrounded with reeds which is ideal for waterbirds. There was a small group of Australian Wood Ducks (Maned Ducks), a Eurasian Coot and a lone White-faced Heron, hopefully the large group of Hardhead that often frequent the lake would arrive soon.
I took the first image in this post just before we clambered carefully down the bank to release the Hardhead as close to the water as we could.
Releasing rescued wildlife is truly magical and testimony to the extraordinary skill and dedication of carers.
Canon 5DIII, Canon 100-400mm L IS USM II
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 1600
The Hardhead took off across the water too quickly for photographs. Most of the Australian Wood Ducks flew away but the Eurasian Coot that had been skulking in the reeds came straight to the Hardhead and the pair headed across the lake together.
Canon 5DIII, Canon 100-400mm L IS USM II
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 1600
The Hardhead looked ecstatic as it splashed and ducked and splashed some more.
Canon 5DIII, Canon 100-400mm L IS USM II
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 1600
And then, just before we left, the sun peeked through the clouds and shone on the Hardhead, who was still happily splashing.
When I think about all the effort that went into rescuing this bird I’m astounded with the loveliness of it. Right from the person who first reported its plight, through to both MFB teams, JM’s Jim, Nalini, the Healesville vet team and the golf course owners. Which makes it all the more preposterous that the species is a game bird that can legally be shot in Victoria for up to three months each year. We are still waiting for news of this year’s season and my appointment with Deputy Premier James Merlino is now scheduled for next week.
I hope the ray of sunshine that fell on this little bird means it will have a bright future (I did admit I’m sentimental).
Happy birding
Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
We can only hope the duck doesn’t get tangled again
It would have to be Daffy Duck to do it again. It’s a beaut story though isn’t it, of people who care about ducks… unlike the Premier and the shooters 🙁
[…] near the top of a 25metre golf fence. A huge rescue operation took place which I wrote about in Crazy Rescue, Crazy Release. It astounds me that so much care and expense can be willingly put into place to save one of these […]
Thank you for sharing this story and photographs! A wonderful ending and enormous effort by so many people, for this one precious one duck.
I too had tears in my eyes.
I wish you every power needed, to help James Merlino understand that this cruel practice must not go on and that to allow it this year, in the face of the horrendous loss of Victorian animals, including bird life, it will be a cynical pandering to the local chapters of the NRA and to buy the stupid argument, that the people are doing this to put food on the table, for their families.
They’ve had to make it a regulation or requirement the at least breasts must be taken from birds, to stop carcasses being dumped.
It’s being treated by the government as a sport and the Sporting Shooters Association has been a prime mover.
It is not sporting! The shooters are not sports when they are ready to disturb and immediately shoot ducks startled out of their sleep!
Well said Ros. It’s cruel, archaic and unnecessary and is hopefully on its way out, the sooner the better.
A very entertaining and eventually happy ending . You have a great gift in your writing Kim 😊.
I applaud the efforts of Nalini , you and all others involved in the saving , care and release of this duck 👏👏
Thanks for your kind comment Bill. It was a fabulous effort for sure and so good that it turned out so well 🙂
What a lovely end for a great story. Thank you to all involved in the rescue and release 🙂
I still smile when I think of all that effort for one small duck 🙂
Amazing story; to know that so many people cared and took the time to ensure the happy ending. These beautiful acts of compassion help to balance our all too often feelings of despair.
We need some days to be good news only days don’t we! Or preferably weeks, months or even years…
Great job!
Thank you Stephen
What a beautiful story! Well done to all involved. It is outrageous that a vulnerable native bird that is so clearly valued by the community can be shot for recreation three months of the year. I hope Deputy Premier Merlino will be a strong advocate for native waterbirds. Thanks for all you do for our wonderful ducks!
It really is a beautiful story, lovely to know how many people care about one small duck – such a shame our government doesn’t share the sentiment
Fantastic effort. However, now something needs to be done to ensure nothing else can be trapped in the same way. Humans are negligent in this regard and rarely consider the safety of wildlife when designing and building infrastructure.
That’s a good point Ali. We’ve been talking among ourselves about some kind of sighter wire as a ‘feature’ but I wonder if it would help as birds could theoretically be caught in any part of the fence.
Beautiful bird, beautiful photos and beautiful words! Really heartwarming true story
Thank you Catarina, I’m so glad it warmed your heart
What a fabulous outcome Kim. Well done to all and 🤞for the high flying Hardhead👏😍
It was especially great to see so many people caring for one small duck
Huge thanks to everyone involved. And to you.
I am also a sentimentalist and have no shame in admitting that this post brought some happy moisture to my eyes.
A wonderful start to the day.
It was lovely to be able to share such a happy story