Duckling discover at Perth Stadium a timely reminder ahead of spring baby bird season

A DUCKLING quartet have hatched after builders found eggs at the Perth Stadium construction site recently.

Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre hospital manager Tasha Hennings said workers found the eggs on site and took them to the Lesmurdie centre, warmly wrapped, on August 31.

Miss Hennings said the eggs had to be removed from the construction site, and simply moving them nearby was not an option as the mother duck, which ran away, would not have returned to them.

Caught on video, two of the Pacific black duck eggs hatched on September 4 and the other two ducklings cracked out of their shells on September 5.

After a couple more days of observation, volunteer carer Katrina Anderson took them to her home in Camillo, where they will stay until ready to be released back to the wild in a few weeks.

“They will need about eight weeks in care in total,” Miss Hennings said.

“Ducks thankfully are one of the easiest ones – they already know how to eat; they already know how to drink.”

The centre has already had almost 60 ducklings come into care this spring, the first species in the baby bird season.

“Within the next couple of months we are just going to be full of baby birds,” Miss Hennings said, adding many would be honeyeaters, ravens and magpies.

She said if people found ducklings they should ensure they are abandoned or injured before taking them to a wildlife rescue centre, and avoid cuddling them.

“Ducklings imprint very easily,” she said.

“If someone cuddles them, they will really bond with people then they believe (that person is) mum and forget they are ducks.”

The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) reminded the public to be aware of duck families moving around and to remain cautious on roads and cycle paths this month.

Wildlife officer Karen Smith said ducks and ducklings often crossed busy roads between nesting sites and wetlands.

“Vehicle users and cyclists should exercise caution on the roads at this time of year and slow down, especially on roads close to water bodies,” she said.

“Ducks have been known to bring major highways and even the Mitchell Freeway to a halt.

“While we understand people want to help ducklings in distress, we are asking them not to put themselves in potentially dangerous situations.”

Ms Smith said it was best not to interfere or pick the birds up.

“This can result in the mother taking off and abandoning the ducklings,” she said.

Ms Smith also said it was common to see ducks and their hatchlings in backyard swimming pools.

Call Kanyana on 9291 3900 or the DPaW Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055 to report sick or injured wildlife.