Unfortunately, these five little ducks did not find their way home with poultry owners ditching their ducks in the regions waterways and parks as they grow to full size and loose their fuzzy, wuzzy feathers. 

Shoalhaven City Council (SCC) said this is an ongoing concern and has urged the community to stop.

Ranger services manager Michael Jarman said domestic poultry are routinely left on public land despite signage to advise the public to contact the Shoalhaven Animal Shelter if their feathered friends need to be rehomed. 

“More than 450 abandoned poultry have been removed from local parks since 2000,” Mr Jarman said.

“While there hasn’t been too many dumped in last couple of years, it has started again of late.”

Common areas for poultry to be abandoned include Harry Sawkins Park and Marriott Park in Nowra, Mark Radium Park in Berry and Sussex Inlet Keys.

Mr Jarman said they receive poultry complaints from the public for a variety of reasons including concerns for the birds’ welfare, aggressive behaviour, traffic hazards, droppings and the impact on the natural environment. 

“If residents have ducks, chooks or any other poultry they want to get rid of, they should contact the Shoalhaven Animal Shelter or their local poultry club for assistance with rehoming them,” he said. 

“It takes a lot of resources to catch abandoned poultry and there is also the animal welfare component, as domestic poultry are used to being fed regularly and should never be abandoned.

“Animal ownership should be taken seriously for all creatures great and small. While ducklings and chickens are often cute and fuzzy at the beginning, they require a lifetime of care just like any other animal.”