Duck that

By Bridget Brady
Animal rescuer Nigel Williamson last week spent about eight hours over three days catching the native wood duck in Burwood.
Mr Williamson was called upon to rescue the duck after it was spotted with a nail through both sides of its head near lakes in Burwood.
“On Monday I spent six and a half hours trying every trick I know trying to catch the duck, but to no avail,” Mr Williamson said.
He then returned on Tuesday, but was unable to locate the duck. Mr Williamson finally caught it at dusk last Wednesday after he set up a snare, eventually trapping one of its feet.
Incredibly, the duck is making a full recovery at Mr Williamson’s animal rescue property in Devon Meadows and is expected to be released in a few days.
“It’s walking, behaving, feeding and swimming exactly the way a duck should.”
Mr Williamson said it appeared a nail gun was fired at the duck during what he described as an appalling attack.
“It is a disgusting, barbaric act on a poor, defenceless duck. We don’t need cruelty like this going on.”
The duck was taken to a nearby vet clinic where the nail was removed during a 15-minute procedure, Mr Williamson said.
The nail came within millimetres of taking the duck’s eye out and Mr Williamson said it was incredible that it was still alive and showed no signs of brain injury.
Mr Williamson said it was a successful rescue and recovery story after a terrible act of cruelty.