Duck’s best friend forever
A paradise duck has fallen head over webbed feet for the Enner Glynn School caretaker – and she is not taking no for an answer.
Jemima flew into the school more than a month ago and took up residence on the grounds, mainly anywhere caretaker Nigel Hands was.
‘‘When I arrive in the morning, she normally tries to find me somewhere and she honks her head off until she’s found me.
‘‘I give her a pat or two ... and then she hangs around most of the day.’’ The loyal duck acts as Hands’ security guard. ‘‘She tends to chase people away.’’
It is entertaining to see Jemima in action.
If anyone gets close to Hands, she lets out a tirade of honks before lowering her head to the ground and charging.
Hands said the children had learnt how to deal with the bullying. ‘‘They are really getting good at standing still. She just charges toward them trying to frighten them off but they just stand still and it’s fine.’’
Jemima’s fatal attraction turned into a headache when she flew into a window to reach Hands. ‘‘I was in the staffroom and she went on to a roof looking into the staffroom. She launched herself at me and knocked herself out on the window.’’
That was the last straw for Hands. He said when she came to, she followed him into the shed where he picked her up and bundled her into a box.
‘‘At that stage I decided it was a bit much and I called Fish and Game.’’ The local Fish and Game New Zealand employee lived in Motueka, so he offered to drop the troublesome duck 40km northwest of Nelson, Hands said. ‘‘She turned up the next day.’’ School principal Isaac Day said Jemima was becoming a bit of a celebrity. ‘‘She’s very popular. We’ve got the kids writing about her, she featured in our school newsletter.’’
Day and Hands said they hoped Jemima would find her place in the wild soon with her own species.