CARLA TALBOT
Joy for Bernadine and George as Maisey moves in and lays eggs in garden
Maisey makes herself at home
A Paisley couple have welcomed an unusual visitor to live in their garden during the lockdown.
Bernadine and George Wilson, were surprised to look out their living room window to see a mother duck had made her home in their flowerbed.
Living in a housing estate in the east end of the town, it was the last thing they expected to find in their garden.
The couple have now grown fond of the mother-to-be who arrives at their home every morning - and they have even affectionately named her Maisey.
Bernadine - who originally thought it was a pigeon who was destroying her plants - got a shock when she found a nest with four eggs in amongst the flowers.
Bernadine said: “I shooed her off at first before I realised she was a duck and she has been back every day since.
“She has dug a big hole in my raised flowerbed and ruined all my plants to make her nest.
“But I’m not annoyed as she has laid her eggs there so it is quite nice to see.”
Bernadine and George have now been keeping a watchful eye on their lodger, and Bernadine has been keeping a log of her activity each day.
A male duck, which they named Marley, has also made an appearance at their home.
Bernadine and George are now waiting patiently to see if any more eggs appear before Maisey hunkers down for a month until they hatch.
Social worker Bernadine has also been doing some research on how to help the mum and her ducklings get safely to some water once they hatch.
She added: “I called the Scottish SPCA for some advice and I have bought her some duck food as we expect her to be here for another month and we don’t want her to have to venture off too far while she has her eggs here.
“I have been up at 6am every morning to see her arrive and we are just waiting to see if she hatches any more eggs.
“I’ve been doing a bit of reading about it all and I’m looking forward to seeing the little ducklings when they arrive.
“It’s been a nice thing to focus on just now.”