Eight tiny ducklings were picked up in Emsworth, Hampshire, having hatched some four months earlier than expected.
These little ‘early birds’, thought to be just a few days old when found, were rescued from the roadside after their mother and three siblings were struck by a car and killed. They were taken to Arthur Lodge Veterinary Surgery in Horsham, who contacted Tarnya Knight, a local wildlife carer, who works for the Born Free Foundation.
Tarnya will now look after the mini-mallards until the spring. She said: “Normally you wouldn’t see ducklings until around April, but due to the unusually warm weather this little brood has hatched early. Depending on how cold it is outside, I’ll keep them indoors for a few weeks and then they’ll be moved to a duck pen outside where they will stay until they are old enough to fend for themselves.”
The eight ducklings have affectionately been nicknamed: Mike, Carol, Alice, Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bobby and Cindy, For more information about the Born Free Foundation and its work with UK and international wildlife, visit: www.bornfree.org.uk |
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