Duck Update

30 July 2009

Earlier this month cliftondiocese.com brought you news of the wildlife making their home in our Trowbridge parish.  St John the Baptist parishioner John Kelly been back in touch with the outcome of the parish’s duck family. 

After four weeks of incubation what appeared to be initially nine eggs were actually 10.  The next question was: “How did mother duck intend transferring her large family to the nearest waterway?  Was she ‘quackers’?
 
The excitement began one Saturday morning when the first baby fell out of the wall hanging basket. Our parish priest Canon Liam O’Driscoll placed a cardboard box under the other nine on exit, but failed to lay hold of mum. 

However he eventually lured her into the presbytery in pursuit of her chirping babies and there succeeded in reuniting the family in the box. 

All were then chauffeured to Tiny Bridge and safely deposited in the stream.  Mother duck with her ten ducklings in one straight line behind her immediately paddled away - no swimming lessons required!   

John Kelly