… and then there were two
February 23rd, 2008 - Posted in ducks, self-sufficiency, sustainable living, wildlife - by Sarah|
When I walked down to the paddock this morning instead of being greeted by a chorus of quacks there was just a large, white, motionless lump lying on the bank of the stream. One of our ducks had been attacked and killed by an unknown predator. We suspect that it was a New Zealand Falcon as we saw one flying above us yesterday. We hope so as the Falcon is an extremely rare bird (rarer than the Kiwi) and we’d much rather lose a creature to an endangered local than to someone’s uncontrolled pet dog or cat.
I quacked a few times in the hope of locating any still alive and was answered from the sheep paddock by two very tense and nervous ducks. They stuck very close to me while I rebuilt the enclosed pen we used to keep them in and ushered them into their house. The chickens were very upset too and took a couple of hours to settle. The forth duck, Stumpy, is officially MIA but as it would be about a tenth the weight of the large ducks we are assuming it was carried away to be eaten.
Still, it’s not all bad news as the kill was very clean and the wound was on the ducks back. So this afternoon Brendhan spent half an hour plucking and cleaning it and it is currently in the oven roasting for our dinner. Mmmm…..
on February 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I thought you guys were vegeterians?!
Christine
on February 25th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Sarah has never been a vegetarian and I have never had a problem with roadkill! The reason I have avoided meat for the last 15 years because it is farmed using environmentally damaging, unsustainable farming methods. And happy animals taste better too!
on February 25th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
im pretty sure from “wound was on the ducks back” yer duck wasnt too happy at the time of death
its good reading about all your adventures around there.