31 Wild Mallards Released to Get Air Under Wings

31 Wild Mallards Released to Get Air Under Wings
By Kelly Bass

On September 3rd, while I was walking by the QAC on the way to clean and feed the raptor room, I noticed a big commotion. One of the hot tubs was full of mallards playing in the water. While admiring them splashing I was reminded of the many success stories. The majority of these now healthy ducks came to us as fluffy ducklings just days old and a few un-hatched eggs. With the help of an incubator 7 of the eggs hatched. All the babies were fed and housed in the nursery where care is given to several thousand babies of different species of birds, mammals and reptiles each year.

After insuring good health, the babies were moved to the QAC to stretch their wings and grow while getting accustomed to outdoor life.

Now, several months and many pounds of food later these juvenile ducks were ready to be released. So, I contacted a longtime Wildcare supporter, a local pond owner, to see if she had room. A majority of the ducks will not be permanent residents; they will only vacation on her pond until they are strong enough to choose their own home.

After releasing them on shore, the ducks waddled to the waters edge one by one quacking as they went. The mallards swam out and huddled in the middle of the pond splashing around like they did in the QAC. I stood there for a few minutes watching these orphaned babied from Wildcare that grew into healthy wild mallards enjoy their freedom, on their own for the first time.

This story would not have taken place without the help of Brandie, a private landowner, who graciously allowed Wildcare to release so many birds on her land. For more information about becoming part of the release site program, contact me at Kelly Bass.

Rest Assured the Moore High School Ducks Are Safe
By Rondi Large (date: August 13th, 2002)

Last week the pond at Moore High School was drained for improvements. Wildcare was called to action by people in the Moore community to help the ducks and geese that call the pond home. Wight of Wildcare’s staff and volunteers arrived, and in short order, had captured 34 ducks and geese, two frogs, and one turtle. A few mallards were fully capable of flying so we felt comfortable that they could avoid any hazards if they remained at that location.

After being rinsed off, the frogs and turtle were released that afternoon. The 34 ducks and geese were taken back to Wildcare.

The mother Muscovy duck and her seven ducklings are all together. The other ducks and geese were put in one side of the Quinlan Aquatic Center, a.k.a. the QAC pen. This is a 40’ x 80’ enclosure with three recessed hot tubs for swimming. The ducks and geese were examined one by one and then released into this enclosure. They were all quacking, honking and getting reacquainted when one spied the hot tub. Soon there was a line waiting to get in to swim, dive and just splash around in the clean water.

Once they were all clean they wandered over to the food. Wildcare provides their ducks and geese with several types of grains and duck foods but in addition we provide “greens”. Greens are a variety of leaf lettuce, spinach, collard greens and diced tomatoes. We are currently feeding 30 gallons of greens a day.

It was obvious that many people were attached to these ducks and wanted the ducks to be safe. So rest assured. They are only temporary visitors at Wildcare. Wildcare is planning on returning these ducks to their home after construction is completed and the pond is full again.

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