I saw this little creature running up Freemont Street on Rocky Neck, all alone and scared. I (with the help of Wanye from Sailor Stan’s) chased him down and caught him. I knew he would be a cat or other critter’s meal in no time if left to his own devices. After a bit of research, I found that he is an eider duckling, probably about a week old. He has an incredible appetite, once I discovered that he loves Mary’s Gone Crackers organic, gluten free crackers crushed up and made into a watery porridge. He also likes shredded lettuce, and loves being in his water bowl and food dish. I don’t know what to do with him/her, as he is too tiny to put back in the cold water by himself and I don’t know what eider he belong to. Their mother’s apparently preen them putting oil onto their down so they can withstand the cold water, so he gets cold and needs to snuggle in my hands or under my armpit after being in the water to warm up. A precious visitor to Hobbit House who loves being held and is very chatty. I make the mother eider’s ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck call to him, and he gets so excited. So great to be back on Rocky Neck, where anything can happen, and the most amazing things do.
E.J. Lefavour
Hobbit House Studio
Good Morning Gloucester 
Good for you, EJ! So precious!
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You are a good person, so cute and welcome back
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I love ducks they are so funny to raise. not sure about eiders. You can contact cape ann wildlife. They specialize in Birds and ducks.
https://www.facebook.com/CapeAnnWildlifeInc?fref=nf
http://capeannwildlife.blogspot.com/p/welcome.html
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Thanks Paul. That was the first place I tried to contact, but they are closed and not accepting any new birds. She lost her space last fall.
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Thank you for saving this sweetheart. He needs mash to eat. DO NOT feed bread or bread products. Can cause Angel Wing.. Essex bird shop has dry mash
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Thanks Kay. I was looking at Petco today, but they don’t carry mash. I don’t eat bread myself so would never feed it to him. He is getting mash made from crackers made of whole grain brown rice, whole grain quinoa, brown flax seeds, brown and black sesame seeds, filtered water, sea salt, wheat free tamari, millet, quinoa seeds, and amaranth seeds. He loves it and gobbles up every bit. He is growing like a little weed and seems healthy and happy enough (in spite of not being with his kind out in the wild where he belongs). His food has to be wet and submerged in water so he can dabble for it. I have to get some mussels, as they primarily eat crustaceans, especially mussels, when grown – eating them whole and breaking up the shells in their gullets. He is too little to manage that now, but a little mussel meat mixed in with his mash might be a healthy and welcome treat.
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Oh E.J He’s so beautiful, so sweet!
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As are the precious little mallards you have been photographing. The cutest thing about this little one is the huge feet he has. He also has a really sweet little personality. I have a little velvet evening bag with a long cord which I wear around my neck and he cuddles up inside and sleeps – poking his head out now and then to peep at me – so adorable.
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E.J., I would love to take your photo with the duckling. Would be beautiful.
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That would be sweet to have as a keepsake of his visitation, and you are such a great photographer to do it.
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I know this number is for marine strandings but they might know where to take him: 866-755-6622. Good save!
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Hi Dimitra – thanks.
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I got one of these guys yesterday, called around to see if any rehabbers had any.
Nope
But was recommended I find a crèches of eiders with duckings the similar age and that’s what I did.
They are prone to all kinds of issues in rehab so that is the best option for him.
If you can’t find any up your way the group I released to was at stage fort park down by the concession stand.
Hold the baby up over your head so he vocalizes, wait till the crèches notices him and let him go and say a prayer.
Btw, I am doing self feeders like ducklings (mallards and wood ducks) goslings and turkey poults this year but that is it.
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Commercial diets will kill him, the eat invertebrates, mollusks, sea urchins, krill and the like
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They
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Hi Jodi, Thanks, that was my plan, but I wanted to give him a little more of a chance of survival by letting him get bigger and feather out a little first, so he doesn’t become a seagull meal. He doesn’t have the oil on his down that his mother preens onto him, so he can’t withstand the cold and wet the way one in the wild would, so I fear that if I let him go into the cold water now, he won’t be able to survive. When he goes into the water bowl here, he immediately wants to be dried off and snuggled in a warm place. I’m glad to hear that you are still able to be caring for some birds. Have you been able to find a new location?
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EJ, You do realize that you are his/her mother now. Birds bond to their first caretaker. You are it. Sure is cute,
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Surrogate for a little while, but they actually imprint on their mothers within the first 12 hours of hatching, so he/she should still know her when/if he is able to connect with her again. There are so many female eiders around, only he could know which one is his mom.
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so sweet. I love imagining the picture of you with your little elder snuggling around your neck. this is indeed the most precious and perfect being to welcome you home!
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He actually has been an amazing gift for my mother who has dementia and is staying with me. He gave her something to connect with so she could stop focusing on wanting to go home and being sad and crying all the time. God sent him running up Freemont Street for a reason, I am convinced.
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EJ you did the right thing being alone out and about chances may go down quickly. If mom or dad were in the area you would have heard from them most times…Good to see you back! 🙂 Dave & Kim 🙂
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You are mom so you need to chew raw mussels then spit them out into his little beak. I’ll be over to take movies this afternoon.
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I just realized you wanted to take a movie of me chewing up raw mussels and spitting them into his beak. I think I might be chopping them up and putting them into the water for him to dabble for himself. I love mussels with garlic and butter, but raw – no thanks!
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Do you think he is lonely? I can also bring over some small rubber ducks he can play with. I see a photo shoot in the making. I can also bring some mussels for you to chew.
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I was planning to pick up some mussels for him today. I know the adults eat them whole and break up the shells in their gizzards, but he is too little for that. He has had some rubber duck companions (I have a small collection here), but doesn’t really connect with them. He would love to be in the movies!
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E.J. Today I am working from home setting up client deliveries and trying to finish the dress. I’ll try you later this afternoon if I get far enough along.
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Welcome back E.J.! The MA Audubon Society is a great resource for help rehabbing injured animals – http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/fish-wildlife-plants/wildlife-rehabilitation.html.
I imagine without assistance that baby would have been a meal for some animal, be it cat or hawk. What a sweet story of the baby duckling providing comfort for your mother.
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If you don’t want to try releasing him into a crèches you should bring him to cape wildlife center.
Being alone is the worst thing for any precocial bird especially those that get hunted.
They are properly set up to raise and address any health issues that will arise with him in captivity.
They have amazing Poole designed for seabirds.
Plus it’s illegal because he is federally protected.
Please don’t keep him and do what’s right for him.
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Pools!
Stupid spellcheck
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He is adorable! Thank goodness you were there to save him! So good to have you back and can’t wait to see you in person!
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