Ducks and Geese Day

It was good to be back with my human and feathered friends at IBRRC. I was paired up with the amazing and talented Laura (married to Monte) to work with the ducks and geese that needed check-ups, tests, and treatments. These are just a few of our patients for the day.

Here I am with "Grand Daddy", a Graylag goose that must have been someone's pet at one time.

He holds his head close to you so you will scratch it. Grand Daddy is quite ill, however, and has difficulty standing and eating. He also is being treated for feather lice, and a possible fluke and tapeworm infection.

Laura enjoying Grand Daddy's wonderful personality.

This is a domestic duck - not a goose! He is the biggest duck you will ever see. He seems to be recovering nicely and should be placed soon. Domestic waterfowl cannot be released into the wild.
Later in the afternoon, we took a young mallard duck for a short trip to be released into the nearby marsh. Most ducks seem to be leary of leaving the kennel, and after a few minutes, have to be gently dumped out. This duck was diagnosed to have been sick from an unknown toxic substance, but after a few days at IBRRC, is good to go.

He lingered for a couple minutes to nibble on some weeds...

and then rapidly took flight, zig-zagging down the stream. We were pleased with his healthy duck performance!

The release was also observed by this praying mantis. Releasing healthy, rehabbed birds is what we live for at IBRRC.