Duck Dilemma

 

This is the view from across the street from my house. We have no houses built in front of us. Just the road, then the river and the park beyond.

This morning as I was going out I noticed some movement under my car. I bent down to look and there was a young duckling, or gosling. It was a young something; I'm not good at identifying birds. It was obvious it came from the river opposite and got lost from its mother and baby siblings. It came running out from under the car and stood on our driveway. 

If I drove away it's a sure thing this duckling would have made a nice meal for a cat. So I had to do something. I remember reading that if you ever find a baby duck or goose or swan you should never handle it. If you do, then the mother will abandon it. 

From where the duckling was standing and the river across the road is about 20 yards or so. There are some trees in the way but enough of a clearing to make a straight direct path. I brought out my golf club and thought if I hit the duck hard enough it is sure to land in the water and I would have scored a birdie. 

I brought out some golf balls and practiced first. The first ball hit a tree, bounced back on the road and was run over by a passing car. Would the duck have bounced back on the road do you think? Probably not.

The second ball flew a little higher and landed on the concrete path by the river. From such a height the duck would have splattered all over the path, I think.

The third ball flew at an appropriate height, straight through the trees and into the water. Encouraged by my success I got ready to despatch the little creature to its mother.

But then I thought ... could I risk it? I'm a bit of a coward you see.

Then I had a thought. I have behind the front door of our house a large net in case I ever have to catch someone that comes to visit us. What if I bring the net and throw it on the duckling and then take it to the river? 

But then I thought again ... the net is quite heavy. What if it kills the duckling by its weight?

What if I use the glass and paper trick to catch spiders? Place the glass on the spider, slide the paper or cardboard underneath, pick up both and take the spider out of the house. What if I did this but with something bigger. A pan perhaps and a large newspaper to slide underneath.

I got in the house to find an appropriate pan and something big to slide underneath,

When I got out, the swan you see in the photo was slowly crossing the road followed by six of its young; including my baby duckling. I discovered later it was not a duckling but a cygnet - a baby swan.