Operation ‘Duckling Rescue’
By Uta Wicke
When two little ducklings fluttered down from a high tree in order to join their mother and five siblings on the ground, disaster was looming.
They landed in the worst possible spot right next to a drain. Tumbling and stumbling they lost their footing and made a nosedive through the grating, down into the water.
Luckily, a Busselton couple watched the accident. They forgot their shopping and decided to try whatever it might take to help. There was no way of removing the rusty ingrown grating and the Shire and the Ranger had their answering machines running, so that there was no immediate reply. However, the clever lady had the idea to ring the Fire Brigade while her husband went for assistance from Mabel Bell’s Depot.
To everybody’s delight, the Fire Brigade accepted immediately to come and take on this unusual rescue operation. The grating surrendered quickly to their strong hands and crowbars. When one of the friendly firefighters squatted down, reached deep into the drain and lifted one after the other trembling, fleecy bundle of feathers out, the humans around were even more grateful than the ducks that a big and important organisation like the Fire Brigade would bother to come out in the rain and help.
Everyone greatly appreciated this act of friendliness and helpfulness towards people and wildlife alike. A big thank-you to those three fire fighters for their quick and unbureaucratic response and kindness!
As you can see on the photo, the little ducklings are healthy and well and enjoy Mabel Bell’s loving care.
Sunny Cygnet
by Mabel Bell
One rainy day, just two days after Sunny and her brother Cygnets and sister had hatched from their eggs – so they were very small – their mother and father swan took them away from the nest.
They went away from all the other swans to find a nice big lake
to feed on.
They travelled from one big pond down a long, long creek until they got to a bridge over a road. It was early morning and people and children who were on their way to work and school, stopped to look at the beautiful swans with their five little, fluffy grey babies swimming between them.
Suddenly, six hungry, angry crows flew over them. They dived on the babies - they were hungry! Mother and father swan swam round the cygnets to protect them, but the crows kept coming!
The people and children got out of their cars and ran onto the banks clapping their hands and yelling to chase those awful crows away. But the crows took no notice and soon they took one baby in their beaks and flew off with it. Oh No!
Just then, two FAWNA members came along. Cheryl and Alice ran into the water, just as another crow picked up Sunny and flew into the air. They waved their arms wildly and shouted very loudly. The crow got a fright and dropped Sunny! Down went poor Sunny on the water – splash! She was very frightened and kept calling out “Help, Help!” – In swan language. Cheryl gently picked her up and all the people came to look at poor Sunny. Her neck was bleeding – just a little bit, but she seemed OK. Just in case she was hurt inside, they decided not to leave her with her family.
So they helped mother and father swan to find a safe place for themselves and the other cygnets who are all safe and happy.
But guess what? Cheryl and Alice brought Sunny to us!
So out in the backyard is dear little Sunny. Her neck is better and she comes with me to the schools so that the children can see and touch a soft downy little cygnet. It was the children who named her.
In the backyard, she has her own swimming pool that Peter has made her. She eats a little chick pellet, a lot of lettuce, but most of all grass. She loves fresh grass. So we move her pen every day.
But we never forgot to put the top on the pen – because do you know who else comes into the backyard? ....... the crows!
All this happened quite a while ago. The crows never got Sunny again! She is now an adult and has got little babies of her own.
