RSPCA Victoria, BirdLife Australia and Wildlife Victoria are encouraging the community to be on the lookout for ducklings who have been separated from their parents and raising awareness of how to respond and care for ducks in need.
The Bellarine Peninsula is home to several species of ducks and often come off second best while crossing roads.
Ducks will commonly choose to nest in suburban backyards, especially those with pools and places to nest in safety.
By seeking a nesting site away from her home watercourse and predators, a mother duck increases the chance of her ducklings’ survival. Within just 24 hours of hatching, parent ducks will escort their ducklings back to their home territory, which is sometimes when ducklings become separated from their parents and may require assistance from the public.
With duckling season now upon us, Voice ‘Nature Watch’ columnist Jennifer Carr said lakes such as Blue Waters Lake and Begola wetlands and on farm dams were popular habitats for ducks on the Bellarine.
“They can also nest in backyards or around swimming pools,” she said.
“I saw a family of Pacific black ducks wandering down Hillson Grove in Woodlands Estate a week or so ago. I’ve seen wood ducks nesting in old Ocean Grove, in a large hollow in a yellow gum tree.
“Sometimes the ducks hatch in a hollow or in a nest on the ground and the parent birds walk the ducklings to a pond which can sometimes be located across a road, so the ducks are very vulnerable to being run over by cars.
“A friend was visiting from Tasmania a few years ago and she witnessed a family of ducks being run over on the Bellarine Highway. She took a few surviving ducklings to Jirrahlinga.”
