Gwent man braves icy water for five hours to rescue duck trapped on frozen pond

First published 04:00 Friday 6 February 2015 in News

Last updated 06:20 Friday 6 February 2015by Ciaran Kelly

YOU might think he's quackers, but a Gwent man was so determined to save a stranded duck that he spent five hours in freezing conditions to free it.

Kris Britton, 25, has been a volunteer at the Owl Sanctuary at Festival Park in Ebbw Vale for three years.

At 9.00am on Tuesday, the sanctuary received a call from Gwent Wildlife Trust following a report that a domestic duck was trapped on Blaina's Cwmcelyn pond, which had frozen over the night before.

Mr Britton and his fellow volunteer, Carl Howells, immediately headed to the scene armed with poles and nets. They believed the operation would only take half an hour but the duck, who was in shock with the cold, could not be coaxed away from the pond.

It meant that Mr Britton, from Abertillery, had to break into the ice, with water up to his shoulders, to rescue the helpless duck.

He said: “This year’s been so cold, and I didn’t really want to go in. I was completely red.

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Prosthetic foot for duckling

There once was a limping duckling, with one foot all shrivelled and curved.

Now Buttercup will be able to waddle and dive for the first time – thanks to a prosthetic created by a 3D printer.

He was born with his left foot facing the wrong way, making it difficult to get around or swim properly.

But soon he’ll be fitting in with the other ducks at the pond after owner Mike Garey came up with a high-tech solution to his lameness. As the foot needs to be flexible, the usual plastics in 3D printing were not viable, so Mr Garey enlisted NovaCopy to create a mould for a silicone replacement.

‘Buttercup was in pain and had constant cuts and infections walking on the side of his foot,’ said Mr Garey, who runs Feathered Angels waterfowl sanctuary in Tennessee, USA.

‘After it was amputated, NovaCopy donated its services to aid in Buttercup’s recovery. Using photos of the left foot of Buttercup’s sister Minnie they designed a brand new left foot.

‘This version will have a stretchy silicone sock instead of the finger trap, which will roll up on his leg and have a fastener in the bottom.’

Mr Garey said the material is similar to the gel-like product used in the 2011 film Dolphin Tale about a dolphin which was given a prosthetic tail. He is now waiting for the final parts to arrive in the next two weeks to complete Buttercup’s transformation.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/06/30/lame-duck-set-to-waddle-for-first-time-after-being-given-foot-from-3d-printer-3863115/

Duck shot with crossbow bolt at Dearne Valley park

The RSPCA is investigating after a duck was seen in a country park with a crossbow bolt through its head.

Barnsley Council reported the incident after the mallard was spotted at Dearne Valley Country Park in Barnsley.

The organisation said officers had attempted to catch the duck without success but were continuing to monitor it.

Anyone convicted of shooting the animal could face a six-month prison sentence and a £5,000 fine, the RSPCA said.

A spokeswoman said: "Obviously as the duck is still able to fly and quite mobile it has been difficult for our officers to catch it but we are continuing to monitor it and hope to catch it eventually."

She added the animal appeared able to still feed itself but officers wanted to treat it before it came to any further harm.

Officers believe the bolt may have entered the duck's head through the ear canal.

The RSPCA urged anyone who had witnessed the shooting to contact officers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-21246928

Council ban tie-wearing duck from collecting for charity in permit row

The popular bird, named Star, regularly dons a red dickie bow and waddles alongside his owner Barrie Hayman to raise money for sick youngsters.

Together Barrie and Star collect on average £200 a day by visiting businesses around Devon and have already raised £6,500 for a local children's hospice.

However the duo's fundraising days could be numbered after being told they must apply 28 days in advance for a single day's permit- restricting them to collecting just one day a month.

'If I was putting into my own pocket, I could understand it, but everything goes to the sick children,' explained the Bideford resident.

'If a permit covered me for a year and I was able to visit a different town each day, that would be fine, but on this basis I don't think I can carry on.'

Council officials told Mr Hayman that members of the public could find his feathered sidekick 'irritating'.

Local businesses have slammed the decision and are calling for Star to be allowed to collect money as often as possible.

'He entertains so many people. They crowd around him, and he does an amazing job,' Sally Shephard, of Blazeys Deli in Bideford, said.

'We all feel very upset because it's such an amazing charity. Everyone's in uproar.'

A North Devon District Council spokesman added: 'All he's got to do is apply for a street collection permit, which is a fairly simple process.

'Our policy is to allow one charity collection per day per parish, so that the streets aren't full of people collecting for charity, which is irritating to the public.'

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/911993-council-ban-tie-wearing-duck-from-collecting-for-charity-in-permit-row#ixzz26v4IzUyg

Golfer injured in bird attack sues the county

WAILUKU - A golfer who says he was attacked by a large bird at the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course is suing Maui County, alleging the county was negligent in failing to remove the animal from the course.

According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in 2nd Circuit Court, Wailuku resident Ray Sakamura was attacked after teeing off on the second hole Jan. 26. He suffered substantial bodily injury, including a compression fracture of his L-4 vertebrae, the lawsuit says.

The animal that attacked him is described in the suit as a "large bird that had taken up residence" at the course pond.

Continued:  http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/564961/Golfer-injured-in-bird-attack-sues-the-county.html?nav=10