16/06/2025
Hey Team, it's been a while since I've made a post. I just want to address an incident that happened today to help raise awareness of the work some of the smaller animal rescues do here in Christchurch. The actual incident starts about 2 paragraphs down this post for those that don't want the extra details.
When it comes to rescuing ducklings we have a couple guidelines we follow. First we make sure the ducklings don't actually have a mother duck looking after them as It's very common for mother ducks to fly off for a few hours and leave their babys in a safe spot. If you message our page you will get a auto response on how to deal with ducklings which explains that if they are not in immediate danger, then leave them alone and observe as the mother will often come back to collect them. Secondly, we check if the area is safe enough for the ducklings to look after themselves. E.g. they have plenty of food, water, shelter, other ducks/ducklings, old enough to stay warm without mothers heat and are relatively safe from hazards.
A big thing with ducklings that alot people look over if you haven't rasied them is how quickly they can get cold. Ducklings are really small and dont produce much heat on their own. When they are huddled together at night without a mother they can generally keep each other warm, but with winter coming and the negative temperatures at night, these littles ones most likely wouldn't make it on their own. The ducklings picked up today are about 2-3 week old and still have their very first set of "fluff". Over the next fortnight they should start developing teenage feathers and in about 2 month time have their first "adult" feathers, start to become flight capable and is also when they have their down feathers for warmth. This means these little ones would be out in mid winter without a full set of feathers and no mother to help with warmth.
The Incident:
Earlier today I got a message about a group of ducklings over in Yaldhurst near the Delamain park that haven't been seen with their mother for a few days. This lot had originally started at 11 strong but had slowly dropped down too 7 ducklings as of today, with resident's reporting that some had been hit by cars (intentionally hit aswell!) and others attacked by cats.
I managed to get down to the area and locate the ducklings, intercepting them as they were crossing the road alongside the creek. From here I started the rather standard/awkward process of trying to wrangle ducklings in a public creek (for those that know... its abit of effort).
As I caught the fifth duckling and was securing it, a nearby resident suddenly began yelling and swearing at me from their property. I tried to explain the situation, that I was rescuing the ducklings, from Christchurch Duck Rescue and had been called out by a concerned local. However they continued shouting over me for around 30 seconds, showing no interest in what I was saying. It was overly aggressive and unnecessary, given the context.
It was a tough and unexpected encounter, especially when I was just trying to help. After securing the captured ducklings, I returned to the house to calmly explain the situation and show the phone messages to the resident’s partner, who was more receptive and willing to hear me out. From what I gathered, they had been frustrated with others in the area interfering with the ducklings/park animals, including children. That frustration was understandable —and from a distance, I probably looked like another teenager up to no good (for those who know me, I'm 31 and have a full beard, that's graying)... But I do think it’s important to pause before assuming the worst, especially when someone is clearly trying to help. Sadly, her husband refused to come to the door or acknowledge the situation all together, even after I made the effort to return and speak respectfully, but I still think we can do better than lashing out at someone while not knowing the situation.
At the end of the day though, this isn’t about drama or finger-pointing — it’s about doing what’s right for vulnerable animals who can’t help themselves. Most of us working in duckling rescue are just regular people volunteering our time, fuel, and resources because we care. I personally sacrificed another pair of boots to the creek gods today for these ducklings... so this work comes at a weird price.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, there’s a clear legal and moral responsibility in New Zealand to act when an animal is in distress, suffering, or at risk, even if it’s not your pet. Section 10 of the Act outlines the "duty of care", which means that if you are aware of an animal in need and can help prevent unnecessary suffering, you're empowered — and in many cases expected — to do something.
In this case, the ducklings were vulnerable, orphaned, and facing real dangers — freezing temperatures, predators, and vehicle traffic. That’s why we stepped in!
Overall we will be taking this as a learning experience, obtaining some hi-vis vests with a logo and contact cards 😅 I do feel the vest will hinder future duckling rescues.
If you ever see ducklings and aren’t sure what to do, feel free to message the page or reach out to one of the many wonderful rescues here in Christchurch. We’ll always do our best to guide you. And even if you’re not part of a formal rescue group, your compassion and common sense do matter. Every small action can make a big difference, even if it’s just choosing kindness before judgment.
Thanks for reading, and for continuing to look out for our feathered neighbours. 🦆💚
