Orphaned ducklings find safe haven in Dunedin
IT is a quacker of a story — complete with a happy ending. On Thursday, the Otago Daily
Times published an article about a family of ducks — two adults and about nine ducklings — feared dead, after a redcoloured 1996 Subaru Legacy mowed through some of them on Robins Rd, near Queenstown Primary School, on October 10.
The incident was captured on a security camera, attached to a nearby business, and sent to the ODT by Rolf Liechti who was furious the driver of the vehicle did not slow down, despite a woman in a purple jacket attempting to help the family of about nine ducklings and two adults across the road.
Mr Liechti suspected none of the ducklings, which numbered about nine, would have survived after the incident.
Readers were outraged — some commented they had been in tears after watching the disturbing footage on the ODT’s website.
However, the paper was contacted on Thursday morning by Robins Rd resident Helen Cassidy, who wanted to let Mr Liechti know most of the duck lings had lived.
Ms Cassidy said her property was located by a creek and visited regularly by ducks and their families.
The family involved in the hit and run ‘‘used to come to my house daily’’, but that afternoon nine ducklings turned up without any adult supervision.
She had already seen a post on social media about the inci dent and once she confirmed their mother had been killed she ‘‘spent all night trying to catch ducklings’’.
‘‘Unfortunately, I only managed to get eight of them.’’
Ms Cassidy cared for them at her home for a week, ‘‘but it was really fullon’’, so she contacted Sue Cook, who coordinates a bird rescue website in Dunedin, and took them on a roadtrip.
Ms Cook told the ODT so far this season she had adopted 62 orphaned ducklings.
She estimated the ‘‘wee fellas’’ from Queenstown were about 2 weeks old. They are normally released at 8 weeks old, when they are fully feathered and can fly.
They remained at the sanctuary until Wednesday when Chimene Sword, of Dunedin, adopted them.
A stream runs beside her large Northeast Valley property, already home to some wild mallards, which meant the ducklings could fledge without having to be moved again.
‘‘I just love animals . . . I couldn’t believe what had happened. It was just so sad.’’
Mr Liechti was thrilled to know his fears were not realised and the orphaned ducklings now had a new, safe, home.