Muscovy Ducklings Rescued At B.B. Clarke Beach In Madison
A rescue mission took place Monday afternoon at a Madison beach when six Muscovy ducklings that are native to Peru were captured by Four Lakes Wildlife Center. The agency has knowledgeable staff that will insure the ducklings continue to grow in a healthy environment. The ducklings would not have survived the cold Wisconsin winter weather that is just around the corner.
The ducklings after being surrounded by fencing on Madison beach.
How the ducklings, which are suited for the warm Amazon River region in South America, ever found their way to B.B. Clarke Beach is the heart-breaking part to this story. When James and I discovered the ducklings five weeks ago we were able to tell at once they were homeless and without a parent.
Ducklings at end of September chirp for their food.
In early October I was hoping for Indian summer to allow these guys perfect weather in which to grow. We sure were blessed with ideal weather, and they did grow, but it was also apparent they were not fully maturing at the rate to match the change in seasons.
It was only this past weekend we discovered they were Muscovy ducklings, and will only reach full maturity early next spring. Up until about a week ago we thought them to be some native type of duck species. A larger one for sure, but yet we thought native to the area.
My favorite of the group, like all the rest, soon was eating out of my hand at meal time.
That someone dumped the ducklings near the beach area is not in dispute. According to wildlife specialists there is no way that these ducklings were born in the wild. The same way a turtle gets onto a fence post is the same way these precious ducklings found their way to Lake Monona. That to me is absolutely unconscionable. Whomever dropped them off knew full well they would not be able to survive on their own.
From the start I have fed the ducklings at least twice a day, and often three times. Within days the ducklings were coming towards me at a waddling gallop when they heard me call for them. James would make sure the other mallard ducks were kept away during feeding time so the young ones would not feel threatened, or have their food consumed by others. In time it was obvious they knew we had their interests at heart, and they trusted us.
I fell in love with this clutch of ducklings and was determined that they would reach maturity.
With the kind and thoughtful advice of Lynn Lee, former duck owner and neighborhood resident, I learned what food was best for the clutch. Soon I was purchasing fifty-pound bags of duck feed, with the running joke as the ducklings headed for the lake to drink after eating, “What? You could not have brought a little gravy along?” Poultry food is dry!
At the start there were eight of them. Within a short time one disappeared. A second one had a leg issue that Lee assisted us with by taking the duckling to the Humane Society.
This injured duckling has since recuperated.
The leg just required some stress-free time, and the duckling has since recuperated and will be rejoining her siblings which were rescued today. I think this reunion part of the story is just beautiful.
That there is a happy ending to this whole story is something for which I am most grateful. I was prepared to do pretty much whatever it took to see them survive. Over the weeks both the Humane Society and Animal Control have been great listeners and provided sound advice. My sincere thanks to these agencies for caring about animals on a daily basis.
But when it turned chilly and wet this weekend I reached out to the Four Lakes Wildlife Center and stressed that something needed to be done sooner rather than later.
One of their professional and big-hearted staff, Patrick, told me that he would be happy to help out and see that they were picked up from the beach and provided with the right living conditions on his farm.
Patrick ushers the ducklings into a transportation pen.
In the near future as the holidays approach and people reach out in an attempt to make the world a better place I will be reminding folks of the truly caring workers at Four Lakes Wildlife Center. It is because of them that this story has a happy ending.
Off to a new and better home. Goodbye little fellas.
.gif)
Dear Jennifer,
Thanks so very much for taking one of these ducks and making a home for it. It meant so very much to me to hear that you had done this. The ducklings were a truly special part of my year, and I can not express my pleasure with your kindness.
Feel free to update this blog with pictures!
Have a wonderful Holiday Season!
Hi! I adopted one of the ducks from Four Lakes Wildlife Refuge after reading about it here! I’ve had a muscovy girl as a pet (along with three chickens) for a year and a half now and have been looking recently for a companion for her since she seems lonely sometimes. I adopted a black one with some white on her head. She’s a very pretty little girl. We named her Zell and she and Saxby (my other duck) got along very well right from the start. She’s still a little distrustful of the chickens and, of course, she doesn’t like being picked up very much, but she seems to be settling in very nicely. On Monday I gave her her first bath in the bathtub (something I did with Saxby last winter too, since she can’t use her pool in the winter). Zell was delighted and splashed all over the place enthusiastically and spent a long time preening herself afterwards. Here’s a picture of the two of them: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27114946@N00/5245734210/
Heather Roberts Wow! Those are some Lucky Ducks to have been found by caring and nurturing people such as yourself!
Aha! I always suspected the wood duck with all those flamboyant colors was in the closet LOL.
Incidentally, even with a tame muscovy the way you are holding it in the photo can easily lead to trouble. Unlike mallards muscovies have massive claws (as young used to climb out of nest cavity) and even a very tame bird that feels unbalanced can suddenly lash out trying to get a foothold on a branch (your arm). They can easily tear you up pretty good. Best to pin legs between your fingers on one hand just below the drumstick muscle with palm and forearm under for support with TAIL POINTED AWAY LOL OR BOMBS AWAY! For a big duck put its head under your armpit. Cover top of bird’s back with other arm. Even the most flighty bird will calm down once its eyes are covered. Don’t try to control wings except on the way to grabbing legs. You won’t succeed very well and its a good way to get bashed. Tame birds can be balanced on one or two palms held horizontally (careful about the claws – if it feels unbalanced it can try to get a grip with those claws) or better with crooks of legs slid into space between index and middle finger and weight held by palms of hands held together. The bird may feel like its swimming in air and try to “step up” but in this position the claws can’t get you.
The wildlife expert that was here to help rescue the ducklings stated that the wood duck was the closet ‘relative.’
whatbird.com has a good summary however the illustration could be a lot better. Note that all 8 of the photos are of domestic birds. The Muscovy Duck Voice recording is a spectacular fail LOL – what is that? – a sandpiper?? Also the “Related Birds” is rather puzzling, they must mean “Bird that looks somewhat similar if you have trouble telling a robin from an oriole”. Genetically the North American Wood Duck appears to be its closest living relative.