19 replies to this topic

[Anka]

Every Spring the same mother duck visits our backyard. Sometimes she lays eggs and sometimes they hatch.

 

The last couple times we have left the ducklings under the care of the mother duck. However, there are plenty of crows in our neighbourhood and so the number of ducklings diminishes.

 

Now I'm not sure whether they are usually all eaten or whether some of them make it. We haven't seen them fly away before. Last time they hatched they were gone all of a sudden - including the mother and this was only a few days after them hatching. So we are not sure whether they usually live.

 

Should I leave them be (without human interference as nature intended) or should I call DEC, NativeARC or the local rangers?

[FrontyKwal]

Hahaha man the exact same thing happens at my mrs house, happened 4 years in a row. We catch the ducklings and the mum and take them down to carine open space and let them go in the lake

[Androo]

Is there anyway you can leave them be but put up a scarecrow of some description. Are they in a contained yard where the only exit is through flight?
I know a lot of fellow poultry breeders keep crows and hawks away by running ropes around with cd's hanging from them. I know it's a little unsightly but just until the ducks can fend for themselves

Edited by Androo, 19 August 2013 - 10:50 AM.

[Anka]

FrontyKwal, I don't want to scare off the mother. If I approach her she will probably fly away and then putting ducklings without their mother in the lake will be a death sentence. How do you manage to catch the mom without her flying away?

 

Androo, we have fake owls which we put up to keep the crows away from our fig trees. However they can be quite brave and cunning and therefore the deliciousness of a duckling might tempt them too much. The yard is contained (high brick walls) and the only way for them to get out is to fly or crawl under the gate which is far away from the pool. They are unlikely to find the gate. Why do you ask if it is contained? To ascertain the level of their safety from dogs, cats etc? Being the suburbs I have no doubt that there will be cats around and the walls are not tall enough to keep them out. I will put up some of the CDs - sounds like a good idea.

[Jules]

My grandad had this problem in his old place, and I recall as a kid, hed scoop all the ducklings up into a net and walk to the local park, then the mother duck would simply follow my grandad (didn't appear aggressive or distressed that her babies had been scooped up) to the lake where they'd all unite again happily.

[slink]

I would leave them I reckon they will go in their own time if you don't want to do that call a wildlife refuge and they maybe able to assist in what to do.

[smirq]

Odds are they've come from Lake Joondalup, which is part of Yellagonga Regional Park., and managed by the Dept. of Parks and Wildlfe (formerly DEC). You could contact a Ranger from the council (http://www.joondalup...ve/Rangers.aspx), but unless the wildlife is threatened by traffic, I'm not sure if they would do much.

 

The best people to contact would be the The Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park (http://www.yellagonga.org/), a group of local conservation volunteers.

 

Good luck 

[FrontyKwal]

My girlfriends dad called RSPCA and they don't do anything about ducks but they told us if you catch the ducklings and put them in a box, take them inside and make them chirp. The mother will hear them and always follow their sound to save them and once the mother is inside close the door and throw a towel over her to catch her

[malawiman85]

Call a Chinese Restaurant... 

[Anka]

Why? Is their native wildlife conservation program good?

[MUZZYBEAR]

tank busters in the pool?????lol

[Anka]

This is a pic of the aforementioned ducklings.

 

I believe they are Pacific Black Ducks - Anas superciliosa

Attached Files

•  photo (2).JPG   158.84KB   0 downloads

[malawiman85]

Yeah great Anka, im sure they will go to "A Better Place".

 

They are cute. To bad they make such a mess.

[Anka]

Pity I can't keep them

[smirq]

Why? Is their native wildlife conservation program good?

 

I'm not sure to be honest (I've had no interaction with them), but if your location is Kallaroo, they look after the largest local water body in your area, which I assume is their regular habitat. Given they are volunteers, I assume they would be more interested in helping out than the local council.

[Anka]

Ok I will give them a call. Thanks mate.

 

I was going to call Native ARC in Bibra Lake because they specialise in birds and reptiles. Will try your crowd as well.

 

The thing is they are simple Pacific Black Ducks and are very common. Not sure whether any organisation would want to employ their resources on them

[Kleinz]

Being an ex-keeper of ducks, if their mother is not around, they will very quickly fall prey to ravens (not crows!), or cats. The ravens can corner them against the fence and the rest is rather nasty. This cannot happen in the open.Your pool is a body of water, but has no sustenance, and there is likely not much in the garden. The mother will try lead them to a lake if there is one close and she can get through your fence. Catching the ducklings is easier and the mum will try follow. A propped up box with food under it will often work if you have left food before.

 

The ducks nesting in gardens are usually wood ducks, but black ducks do it as well. Yes that is a black duck.

 

Surely the council ranger will be able to advise on who to call.

 

If you can build a pen with a roof, it will help with the ravens/cats. If not then best ship them out soonest. It takes a fair while for them to fledge and unless protected they are cactus in a yard. If you can just get them to a lake or swamp, they will likely be fine.

 

MAKE SURE AND PUT SOMETHING IN THE POOL SO THEY CAN CLIMB OUT. If they cannot get ground under their feet, it only takes a small ledge to get them stuck in the pool and when their fluff becomes saturated they will drown.

 

If you are going to feed them, you can get duck and chicken feed from CF. Go for high protein.

 

Good luck.

[Anka]

Hi Kleinz,

 

I know that what we call crows and actually ravens. Ironically my family's creed is deus pascit corvos which means "God feeds the Ravens".

 

I'm going to sort out something when I get home in regards to shelter. We put bodyboards in the pool as ramps for them to get out.

 

We feed them corn and poultry feed which we got from CF.

 

I can't wait to get home and see them myself - the pictures I have received were taken by my sister and emailed to me at work.

[Kleinz]

Shelter they can find. Keeping the ravens out is harder.

[bigjohnnofish]

dont worry bout the ducks... nice pool... whens the next pool party at ankas ???