Duck and ducklings

Image: © Hywel Williams Taken: 9 Jul 2008

While walking to the car from work I came across this sorry looking scene. Obviously a duck had walked her young down into the flooded foundation level of the Coal Exchange building. Apparently her loyalty to her ducklings had prevented her from flying away for most of the day, attracting the attention of local passers by and they'd spent their time bobbing around with the tin cans, plastic bags, general detritus and apparently a discarded Christmas tree. Sadly, they'd probably have made it back out given time, but someone had called the RSPCA and despite spending 20 minutes trying to capture the unhappy family, the only option left was to capture the 4 ducklings and take them away - the mother was too quick for capture despite repeated attempts with several passers by stopping to help. Eventually, the youngsters were taken away and the plaintive quacking of mum could be heard echoing across the courtyard of the Coal Exchange from where she had retreated to one of the upper window ledges having become increasingly wary of multiple attempts at capture. Had the person who called the RSPCA not mentioned that the ducklings had been hurt (not true from what I saw - they were quite lively) the officer would have left them alone and in all probability would have made their own way back to the nearby pond. As it was she was obliged to capture the ducklings so that a vet could examine them regardless of whether the mother could be captured. They will now be hand reared and released when old enough.

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