It’s duckling time – watch out on the roads Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 1, 2021 Duckling season sees lines of waddling ducks alongside, and crossing over, our main roads – keep a look out as you drive. DUCKLING season is in full swing, bringing with it the need for drivers to watch out for waddling families. The Coffs LGA is speckled with lines of ducklings, book-ended by mum and dad, walking along main roads and more alarmingly, across roads where drivers are either keeping their own course and running over them, swerving or, the best option, driving with awareness for the circumstances and slowing down safely. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au WIRES Bird Coordinator for the area, volunteer Alice Baker told News Of The Area, “As humans we imagine because the parents are with the ducklings that they know the dangers of the road, but they don’t. “The parents nest near watered areas and then travel between creeks and ponds nearby, but this could mean they choose a route that takes them across a main road like Hogbin Drive. “They are looking for nice soft grass to feed their young which is why we’re seeing so many duck families around Coffs Creek, near the Uni and opposite Park Beach Plaza…there’s water along the sides of the roads and soft food. “Watch out for them on the Highway near the Clog Barn area, and on Harbour Drive they come over from the golf course heading to the Botanic Gardens. “Ducklings cannot fly until they’re about two months old, so they have to walk everywhere.” If you see ducklings alone, Alice said, “Look around for the parents. “You can pick up the duckling and take it to the parent, but if no parents can be found or it’s badly injured wrap it up warm and phone WIRES. “Keeping the duckling warm is the biggest help you can give the ducklings, otherwise they will die. “Put them in a box with a warm, not boiling, hot water bottle and pop a towel over the top of the hot water bottle and box and keep the ducklings quiet and in the dark until you can get to WIRES or take it to the local vet.” Ducklings are vulnerable, with no road sense, and need to be protected from our own domestic animals. “Please keep dogs on a leash and have a bell on your cat’s collar.” Better to keep the cats inside, if possible. All native duck species are protected, and the most common native species found throughout NSW are the Pacific Black Duck and the Australian Wood Duck. Contact WIRES Mid North Coast on 1300 094 737. By Andrea FERRARI Coffs local Bridgette O’Connor saved this injured duckling from the side of Hogbin Drive after a car ran through its family. Separated ducklings rarely survive on their own in care. Photo: WIRES.
