| |
|
|
|
Ducks laying down the law
|
 |
Ducks are a common sight waddling along the banks of the River
Derwent – but one happy pair has decided to set up a love nest in a
more unusual location
The pair of mallards has shunned reeds and riverbanks in favour of making their home on top of an air-conditioning
unit in the car park of a Derby firm of solicitors.
They may look cosy and cute but staff at Flint Bishop solicitors say the birds are proving to be a real nuisance.
One elderly woman has already been surprised by the angry flapping of wings when she got too close to the nest.
And a service check on the air-conditioning unit has had to be called off because it is illegal to interfere with nesting mallards.
Wildlife experts say mallards usually inhabit wetlands, ponds and rivers, and often nest in parks and surrounding areas.
Yet Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's Nick Brown said he was not surprised to hear of the mallards' nesting spot
at Flint Bishop, in St Michael's Lane.
He said: "Mallards nest in all sorts of strange places in towns and cities. A few years ago, some mallards chose
to nest on the roof of the Eagle Centre. It was a silly place to choose because, when the ducklings hatched, they
could not get down to water.
"In the end, they had to be rescued but they ended up being orphans because the mother got scared and flew off.
"A lot are sensible and nest in parks or tucked away near rivers but some choose very odd locations."
Lynsey Bowen, marketing executive at Flint Bishop, said the firm had contacted the RSPCA about the mallards.
She said: "They told us it's illegal to move them so there's nothing we can do. The male has been wandering
around and bossing the car park! "An elderly lady got too near and he got quite angry."
Flint Bishop is about 300 yards from the River Derwent and Mr Brown said he could understand why the mallards
had chosen to nest there.
He said: "Most choose not to nest right next to water because it is dangerous as animals hunting along the river banks could find them.
"But most, therefore, choose somewhere secluded and dry about 100 metres away from water."
Mr Brown said staff at Flint Bishop would have to wait for the ducks to move on of their own accord. He said:
"They will sit tight once their eggs are laid and won't be moved. It takes about 30 days for the eggs to hatch,
so the servicing of the air conditioning unit will have to wait.
"What tends to happen is, once the ducklings are hatched, they will be led down to the water. In the past,
people have stopped traffic to allow them to safely cross the road."
Ms Bowen said the air conditioning unit is in a good working condition and would be serviced after the mallards
had moved on.
|
| |
|
|
|
