Going quackers for Reading's new residents

A couple of ducks decided that the council's construction site would be a great place to make their nest. Luckily construction workers found the nest, with its 8 eggs inside the hoardings around the Civic Centre on Bridge Street.

The council's ecologist advised the team that they could carry on with work and protect the ducks and nest for long enough for the eggs to hatch. However our construction partners, Morgan Sindall, decided to pause work until the ducks decided to leave.

A wildlife camera was set up and monitored day and night to make sure the family didn't come to any harm.

One morning workmen heard excited quacking and found that all 8 ducklings had safely hatched. Then it was all go as mum and dad duck wanted to get their ducklings to water straightaway!

Workers made sure the ducks and ducklings got safely up some steps and across a road. The ducklings followed their parents by jumping into the water.