Leave those cute ducklings alone
Hatchlings found alone haven’t been abandoned, experts warn
As nests of chirping baby birds pop up around the city, wildlife rescuers are reminding city residents to leave the birds where they are.
Seeing a nest of hatchlings without the mother bird is normal, said Carly Lynch, education co-ordinator at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton. Like any new parent knows, sometimes a moment away from the kids is necessary. The same goes for mother ducks, geese and other birds.
“We get lots of kidnapped ducklings,” Lynch said. “Everyone has the best intentions in mind. They see ducklings alone and they just assume they’re abandoned, or they approach a family of ducks and the mother just flies away and they think the mom is abandoning them.”
The wildlife rescue centre has received more than 60 ducklings this month, as well as numerous other baby geese, crows, robins, sparrows, and other songbirds from people concerned the birds have been abandoned. It’s the busiest time of year for the non-profit facility, with half of the year’s animal intakes coming in this month alone.
The baby birds look vulnerable with their big eyes and fuzzy bodies, but it’s best to leave the hatchlings alone. A mother bird won’t return until she feels safe, Lynch said.
“Our numbers go way up in the springtime because we’re getting all these babies,” Lynch said. “We’re going to get hundreds and hundreds of intakes this month. They’re probably the cutest things in the whole world.”
The centre has a specific protocol for handling the birds. Ducklings are fed a special “duck grower” diet consisting of grass and dandelions until they reach maturity, about a month after arriving. After being given a clean bill of health, the ducks are released into the wild.
Larger animals also arrive at the facility from time to time. Staff have already cared for four baby fawns this year alongside gophers and poor wills, small birds not native to Alberta.
The baby birds are kept in groups of the same species while they mature at the centre, Lynch said.
“Since they would be growing up with their family out in the wild, we want them to grow up with a family while they’re with us,” she said.
None of the animals are named, with the exception of Cecil, a great horned owl. The longtime resident was raised by a little boy and has become attached to humans, so he wouldn’t be able to survive in the wild. But this situation is one the staff at the centre are trying to prevent, Lynch said.
“We don’t want people to associate wildlife with pets. We don’t want the wild animals to like us.”
If you come across an animal you think might be abandoned, Lynch suggested calling the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton hotline at 780-914-4118.
“Definitely call our hotline first before even picking (the animal) up or anything, because they might be fine,” Lynch said. “We can talk you through the whole situation and tell you if what you’re seeing is natural or not, and then tell you how to capture it safely and bring it to us.”