Strangers unite for incredible Woolworths car park rescue: 'I think everyone was definitely concerned'
- Replies 12
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the small wonders of nature that surround us.
But for a group of Woolworths shoppers and staff members in Canberra, a seemingly ordinary Friday morning turned into an extraordinary rescue mission that brought them together in a heartwarming display of community spirit.
The drama unfolded when a mother duck was spotted wandering the busy car park, with her distressed calls echoing off the concrete.
However, she was not alone.
On a nearby rooftop, her newly hatched ducklings were stranded, unable to make their way down to join her.
A local named Miki was among the group of strangers who quickly banded together to help.
'I had just come out of Woolworths, and I saw a couple of people standing next to my car looking up at the roof. As I got closer, I saw a duck and her two ducklings walk out from under my car,' she recounted.
The mother duck, with just two of her brood by her side, eventually made her way through the bustling car park, escorted by two kind-hearted men, to a nearby pond.
But the remaining ducklings were still stuck on the roof.
'The car park was pretty busy, as you can imagine being a Friday morning. Right below the roof were car spaces that people were constantly pulling in and out of, and that’s where the ducks were trying to land,' Miki shared.
'I think everyone was definitely concerned.'
As the situation unfolded, Woolworths staff and bystanders alike sprang into action.
A cardboard box was procured to house the ducklings, and one employee even climbed onto a balcony above the roof to provide guidance.
'There were probably five or six bystanders as well…they made sure others knew what we were doing, they kept an eye out for us so we didn’t walk into traffic,' Miki said.
Miki used a blanket from her car to catch the ducklings as they leapt from the roof, their tiny bodies tumbling through the air.
Inga Schwaiger, a wildlife rescuer, identified the ducks as Australian wood ducks.
'They don’t nest on the ground like all the other ducks do…they typically nest in hollows of trees,' she explained.
However, due to urban development, these ducks often nest in less ideal locations, like rooftops.
Inga also shared an interesting fact: ducklings can leap from a height of about 15 metres without harm.
'When they hatch from the egg, they just jump down and walk off…they don’t usually hurt themselves and off they walk to the closest waterway.'
She advised people in a similar situation to simply leave the ducklings alone and 'keep an eye on them'.
'None of us knew that so I think that's another reason we were so motivated to stick around and catch them,' Miki said, reflecting on the day's events.
She was deeply moved by the kindness and teamwork displayed by the group of strangers who had come together to help.
'I was definitely impressed at the number of people who were willing to take time out of their morning to help,' she said.
'Canberrans are awesome, and the teamwork of all these random people was just fantastic.'
The story quickly spread on a local Facebook group, where it was met with an outpouring of praise and admiration for the impromptu rescue team.
'This has made my day! Thank you, everyone involved!' one Facebook user replied.
'What a beautiful story for a change. Thank you for sharing,' another added.
As for the ducks, photos shared online showed them swimming off happily with their mother, ready to begin their new life.
Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Have you experienced something similar? Let us know in the comments below!
But for a group of Woolworths shoppers and staff members in Canberra, a seemingly ordinary Friday morning turned into an extraordinary rescue mission that brought them together in a heartwarming display of community spirit.
The drama unfolded when a mother duck was spotted wandering the busy car park, with her distressed calls echoing off the concrete.
However, she was not alone.
A mother duck and her ducklings were stranded in a Woolworths car park. Image source: Facebook.
On a nearby rooftop, her newly hatched ducklings were stranded, unable to make their way down to join her.
A local named Miki was among the group of strangers who quickly banded together to help.
'I had just come out of Woolworths, and I saw a couple of people standing next to my car looking up at the roof. As I got closer, I saw a duck and her two ducklings walk out from under my car,' she recounted.
The mother duck, with just two of her brood by her side, eventually made her way through the bustling car park, escorted by two kind-hearted men, to a nearby pond.
But the remaining ducklings were still stuck on the roof.
'The car park was pretty busy, as you can imagine being a Friday morning. Right below the roof were car spaces that people were constantly pulling in and out of, and that’s where the ducks were trying to land,' Miki shared.
'I think everyone was definitely concerned.'
As the situation unfolded, Woolworths staff and bystanders alike sprang into action.
A cardboard box was procured to house the ducklings, and one employee even climbed onto a balcony above the roof to provide guidance.
'There were probably five or six bystanders as well…they made sure others knew what we were doing, they kept an eye out for us so we didn’t walk into traffic,' Miki said.
Miki used a blanket from her car to catch the ducklings as they leapt from the roof, their tiny bodies tumbling through the air.
Inga Schwaiger, a wildlife rescuer, identified the ducks as Australian wood ducks.
'They don’t nest on the ground like all the other ducks do…they typically nest in hollows of trees,' she explained.
However, due to urban development, these ducks often nest in less ideal locations, like rooftops.
Inga also shared an interesting fact: ducklings can leap from a height of about 15 metres without harm.
'When they hatch from the egg, they just jump down and walk off…they don’t usually hurt themselves and off they walk to the closest waterway.'
She advised people in a similar situation to simply leave the ducklings alone and 'keep an eye on them'.
'None of us knew that so I think that's another reason we were so motivated to stick around and catch them,' Miki said, reflecting on the day's events.
She was deeply moved by the kindness and teamwork displayed by the group of strangers who had come together to help.
'I was definitely impressed at the number of people who were willing to take time out of their morning to help,' she said.
'Canberrans are awesome, and the teamwork of all these random people was just fantastic.'
The story quickly spread on a local Facebook group, where it was met with an outpouring of praise and admiration for the impromptu rescue team.
'This has made my day! Thank you, everyone involved!' one Facebook user replied.
'What a beautiful story for a change. Thank you for sharing,' another added.
As for the ducks, photos shared online showed them swimming off happily with their mother, ready to begin their new life.
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job well done.
love this story. I wanna see fluffballs please mum.
hater they are out there unfortunately or just psycho.one has to be careful these days the worlds becoming a scary place.
