Duck pond work didn’t ruffle feathers

The feathered friends simply moved a little bit along the river and settled down there.

The reassuring news was brought by Rachel Bain who is Biodiversity Officer for the four Councils in the new ‘super’ council - Ballymoney, Moyle, Coleraine and Limavady.

During a presentation to Moyle District Council last Monday, Cllr Joan Baird enquired about the status of the wildlife and particularly the ducks which are a popular featured of the pond.

Cllr Baird was also concerned about reports that ducks’ nesting places had been disturbed due to ongoing work at the sea front in Ballycastle where a mini golf course is being created.

Aidan McPeake from Moyle Council said that the ducks moved away during the work but, like Ballymoney, they fully expected them to return once the work was completed.

Rachel Bain explained that even during the period when diggers were working at the duck pond, the ducks were not particularly disturbed by the work.

“We did a bit of electrofishing in the stream in Ballymoney before the work started,” said Rachel, “Then we put the fish back in further up the stream. The ducks are still in Ballymoney and even stayed there while the diggers were working.

“Any that moved, simply moved for a short while or moved just up the river a bit.”