Firefighters rescue 11 ducklings stranded in a stormwater drain at Burleigh Heads

FIREFIGHTERS have rescued 11 ducklings that slipped down a stormwater drain at Burleigh Heads.

Firefighters rescue ducklings

FIREFIGHTERS have successfully rescued 11 ducklings that fell down a stormwater drain at Burleigh Heads this morning.

Resident Vicky Reihana first noticed the ducklings stranded down a stormwater drain on Sirec Way at about 11am. The distressed mum and dad ducks were hovering nearby squawking.

The drain that the ducklings have fallen through. Pic: Richard Gosling

Firefighters managed to rescue nine of the 11 babies but two ducklings remained stuck — their chirps sounding like they were about 5m down the drain.

“I think what has happened is the adult ducks have walked over the grate and the ducklings have just fallen straight through,” said Ms Reihana.

The rescued ducklings were put in a box down the drain as firefighters tried to use their presence to lure the last two closer.

Eventually the last two were rescued and will be taken care of overnight before being released back into the wild.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Burleigh Heads station officer Kerry Cumner said they considered putting a net further downstream so the ducklings did not go any further into the drain.

“We are putting the rescued ones back down the drain, they are calling the other ones back and we are scooping them up with a net,” said Mr Cumner during the rescue.

“It has been pretty successful and we want to get all of them out.”

The ducklings will be re-released back downstream with their parents..

Wildcare volunteer Ashley Fraser, who was on scene, asked residents to avoid feeding ducks bread because it is unhealthy for the birds and fails to provide nutrition for the ducklings.