Injured duck an amazing rescue

This injured duck has been stuck down a drain for three weeks and is lucky to be alive.  He was seen at the beginning of January by a man walking his dog, but fluttered away and dived down an open drain.   A search proved fruitless, the duck was nowhere to be seen.  It seemed likely he’d been washed away but by an amazing chance, the same gentleman heard a scuffling and a faint ‘quack’ when he walked the same way this weekend.   There was the duck, he’d made it back to the opening and was in reach.   He was hauled out and brought to us, injured but alive after all this time.

He’s in bad shape, with two injuries to one of his wings.   He’s terribly thin and was very glad to have a big drink and some food as soon as he came in.   We’ve patched him up and settled him down in a pen with some hay to keep him warm – and a big dish of water.   Ducks need to dip their beaks in water as often as possible.

He’s a handsome fella and we hope he will soon put weight on and his wounds will heal.   He’s a wild mallard, a mature male with glossy green plumage and when he’s better we’ll release him.  What have we called him?   Donald – not very original but he has a very Disney sort of quack and it suits him!