Ducklings saved from gull attacks
Community come to the rescue
A brood of nine fluffy ducklings were saved from swooping seagulls thanks to a community effort rescue mission.
Time was of the essence to save the ducklings at Newton Park, Ayr, from facing a similar fate to their two siblings who were found lifeless in the pond.
Joan Brockie launched an appeal online calling for help to save the out- of- season ducklings from being pecked alive by pesky gulls.
Joan said: “Unfortunately the two dead ducklings may have attracted gulls to the pond and if they ate them, then they might have gone for the live ducklings too.
“After speaking to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue, they advised that the best chance for the remaining ducklings was to try and get them out of the pond and take them to the centre where they can be reared.
“Staying in the pond put them at high risk from the gulls and the low temperatures as ducklings are usually born in the spring.”
Joan called on anyone with a pair of waders to make their way into the pond to remove the dead ducklings with a net to reduce the attraction for gulls.
And it wasn’t long before her plea was answered as residents clubbed together to save the fluffy friends.
Joan said: “After a few wades around the island, much patience and skill, we managed to rescue nine of the ducklings.
“The ducklings were then chauffeured to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue near Beith, in a plastic crate with towels and a hot water bottle, to keep them cosy on the way.”
Mummy duck still has three ducklings with her, which Joan said provided “more room to keep cosy”.
Joan added: “A very big thank you to Iain Robertson, Jamie Glover and family, my own wee team and everyone else who helped to spread the word and co- ordinate this mission.
“People are pretty amazing, giving up their time to help.
“Thank you so much for giving these wee ducklings a much better chance than they would have had.”