lirralirra

Oh I do love a story with a happy outcome, I’m shamelessly sentimental.

This beautiful Hardhead is the duck I mentioned briefly in last week’s post. They are mainly a chocolate brown colour with a white undertail, white tummy patch and a blue-tipped bill. Female and juvenile Hardheads have brown eyes while adult males have white eyes which give the species the nickname White-eyed Duck.

Nalini, from Boobook Wildlife Shelter, was called to see if she could pick up a duck that was tangled near the top of a 25 metre high golf course fence. She thought it would be a quick collection but it took three hours. The MFB were already there but the fire engine’s tower lift could only reach to 17 metres. They called for a larger vehicle but when it turned up they were concerned that the ground was unstable. JM Tower Hire was called and the owner, Jim, turned up in his truck as everyone else had gone home. As Nalini said, ‘What a legend!’

For a few scary moments Nalini thought she might need to be in the basket rather than photographing it from a safe distance.

Looking at the photographs above makes me wish I knew who reported the trapped duck – thank you whoever you are.

Nalini kept the duck in care overnight. Hardheads are listed as a Vulnerable species in Victoria which means the duck had to be taken to the vet at Healesville Sanctuary within 24 hours. That was my job. It did make me smile when the lovely staff at the wildlife hospital mentioned that the duck would have to be released where it was found.

Our lucky little duck was xrayed and found to have no breaks. It was too sore to fly for a few days so was kept in a pen until it was mobile again. I’m not sure who brought it back to Nalini, thank you to whoever made that trip.

And then it was time for the release. Off we went to a nearby golf course where we got to drive a motorised golf buggy which was great as it was drizzling and about half a kilometre to the lake.

Nalini didn’t think I should have all the fun so she took a turn at the wheel too!

The lake is surrounded with reeds which is ideal for waterbirds. There was a small group of Australian Wood Ducks (Maned Ducks), a Eurasian Coot and a lone White-faced Heron, hopefully the large group of Hardhead that often frequent the lake would arrive soon.

I took the first image in this post just before we clambered carefully down the bank to release the Hardhead as close to the water as we could.

Releasing rescued wildlife is truly magical and testimony to the extraordinary skill and dedication of carers.

The Hardhead took off across the water too quickly for photographs. Most of the Australian Wood Ducks flew away but the Eurasian Coot that had been skulking in the reeds came straight to the Hardhead and the pair headed across the lake together.

The Hardhead looked ecstatic as it splashed and ducked and splashed some more.

And then, just before we left, the sun peeked through the clouds and shone on the Hardhead, who was still happily splashing.

When I think about all the effort that went into rescuing this bird I’m astounded with the loveliness of it. Right from the person who first reported its plight, through to both MFB teams, JM’s Jim, Nalini, the Healesville vet team and the golf course owners. Which makes it all the more preposterous that the species is a game bird that can legally be shot in Victoria for up to three months each year. We are still waiting for news of this year’s season and my appointment with Deputy Premier James Merlino is now scheduled for next week.

I hope the ray of sunshine that fell on this little bird means it will have a bright future (I did admit I’m sentimental).

Happy birding
Kim

~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group  Ethical Bird Photography