The Waterfowl Sanctuary

The Waterfowl Sanctuary We are a registered charity that provides rescue, rehabilitation and life sanctuary to waterfowl We have always loved nature, birds, but ducks especially.
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How the Sanctuary was hatched

The Waterfowl Sanctuary is our home that we’ve engineered into a haven for our web-footed friends. The property was purchased specifically with this in mind - although we hadn't imagined it would escalate to become so busy or so well known and shared amongst the rehab and wildlife caring community. Our previous property had ducks nesting each year but it would sadden

us when they would hatch, they'd spend a few hours on our pond and then the mum would take the babies to the water course behind our house where they would be picked off by a variety of predators. I know it's nature - but we love them and needed to do something to help their cause. So, we found a place near Huntingdon that had a large pond next to the house with other ponds close by within the boundary fence. We began to acquire new ducks from folk that needed to rehome them. The property at the time was not predator proof and so we set about building a large fence enclosing the main ponds but with the intention to keep it looking natural. The posts were painted green, green mesh fencing was used and electricity applied to the back. The resident fowl soon had 5.5 acres of predator proof environment which would attract more ducks, and more geese, and more hens, sorry, moorhens. The property came with an abandoned swimming pool which we renovated to become a suitable pond for keeping ducklings safe. This is covered with netting and hundreds of ducklings have lived here along with their mums until they're about three weeks old which is when they're safe from other birds attacking. We have become the permanent home for several injured and disabled friends that would otherwise suffer in the wild thanks to the many people out there that call rehab groups to help them. They all have very special personalities - unique and interesting and all deserve the opportunity to live safely. We like to think we have given them that opportunity and it’s a pleasure to assist them all.

13/06/2026

Our little angel wing patient from the post last week has been fixed.

I don't mind labouring the point about this condition as it's such a simple fix yet unbelievably there are places that put them to sleep for this!!

A bit of vet wrap - folded nicely so that the wing sits exactly as it should. Not tight, not loose - just right! Remove after 5 days and leave for a day to ensure it remains put.

The last part of the wing rests on the leg muscle as they sit down and I'm of the opinion that the condition comes from sitting wrongly which can affect one or both wings. Some start to show the condition and it reverts back to normal whilst generally it continues to push outwards requiring repositioning - otherwise it will be set permanently once the wing bones calcify at the fully grown stage.

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

Sleep - drink - eat. Life's good.We're close to having cared for 400 ducklings this season. 22 goslings and 10 fluff whi...
08/06/2026

Sleep - drink - eat. Life's good.

We're close to having cared for 400 ducklings this season. 22 goslings and 10 fluff whistles. The latter have all come in over the last week or so - brought in from near and far via rescuers, vets and members of the public - including our own pickups of course.

This lot will progress to the swimming enclosures soon. They presently reside in one of our wet rooms trying desperately to turn the floor to a textured shade known as 'Frequent Bottom.' Not to be found in any Farrow and Ball chart.

Easily cleaned (and often) fortunately.

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

As the youngsters grow up please keep an eye out for those developing flight preventing angel wing/s.This greylag goslin...
07/06/2026

As the youngsters grow up please keep an eye out for those developing flight preventing angel wing/s.

This greylag gosling was spotted in London and brought in yesterday. We've demonstrated and discussed each year about the ease for which this can be corrected. Please make your local wildlife rescues aware if you see any young ones with the last part of their wing sticking out at 90 degrees. It's a simple cure to return their gift of flight and takes as little as 5 days.

Ducks and geese require a simple wrapping with cohesive bandage whereas cygnets require the thermal plastic. videos showing each method are available on our YouTube channel as below:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWVay6d2EUA&t=316s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwnTgPii1-g&t=203s

Top tip! - The gosling has the 'sock of sedation' in this picture which works wonderfully at keeping them calm.

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

04/06/2026

The rowing in Cambridge causes a lot of upset to the waterfowl and those that care for them. Tuesday evening a swan was seen hit in the head by an oar and we were called to help.

Emma and I went to retrieve the injured swan and its partner so they weren't separated.

We were shocked at the amount of rowers steaming past - mainly before we arrived to assist the swans. We felt increasingly unwelcome in what should be a shared resource - but most notably the home for these swans and other creatures. Whilst remaining close to the edge at all times we were repeatedly heckled to move over there - and then over there and time and time again we hear about and deal with injured swans and cygnets killed by rowers. Not on purpose of course - but without proper consideration for the river dwellers as they go about their activity.

Rescue work can be stressful and requires a lot of concentration. Having to watch out for the rowers and contend with their shouting made this situation exacerbated and we were pleased to be out of there. Sorry for the need for the expletive bleeper.

The swan's eye was cleaned, dressed and wrapped and should close well over the next week. Sadly this is their home and I don't look forward to having to take them back to this unpleasant environment.

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

24/05/2026

Attacked by a greyhound in London - this 10 year old goose was rescued locally and brought to us to be given the best chance to recover. We did right by him!

Wounds are bread and butter work for those involved with wildlife. I often say that where there is blood flow, it will try to mend. Meds are often needed especially when dogs teeth and claws are involved but proper wound management is vital to allow each stage to progress swiftly. I find it fascinating watching wounds shed the unwanted decaying flesh and begin filling in with new granulation tissue. To see a recumbent patient begin to stand and then make a concerted effort to walk and recover is quite euphoric.

I hope these videos give an insight to others and so learn from our techniques - and hopefully more of these beautiful birds will be given the chance they no doubt want.

A brave goose - and a privilege to help him.

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

The parents received a ticket from Bedfordshire Police for walking without due care and attention near Marston Moretaine...
18/05/2026

The parents received a ticket from Bedfordshire Police for walking without due care and attention near Marston Moretaine this morning.

An early call but fortunately a local helped coerce them down the road into their garden so I could simply bag and crate them up and carry them to the lake.

I often say - it's called bird brain for a reason. Unsure why they decided to go on manoeuvres but hopefully they'll stay home now.

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

17/05/2026

This video demonstrates and discusses our approach to casting a simple fractured leg using thermal plastic.

This goose was discovered limping with an obvious break just above the ankle. He was brought here and the x-ray clearly showed a clean break - as well as evidence he had historically been shot as he also had several pieces from shotgun blast about the torso. These were not removed as they will have likely been walled off and removal will cause more problems. They were tiny and his leg was why he came in. Goes to show what a torrid time our wildlife endures.

There are many ways we hear of fractures being repaired ranging from vet wrap around something rigid to external skeletal fixators with intramedullary pins - which is from the very simple to the very complex. Our approach works wonderfully for a straight forward break that typically just needs to be kept immobilised. The thermal plastic is reusable and many of our pieces have helped numerous birds.

Legs are very much simpler to repair and often do so with remarkable results - unlike wings that invariably require amputation due to the propensity for the hollow bones to shatter.

Thermal plastic can be purchased via the following link if your rescue would like to try and you're in the UK. https://thewaterfowlsanctuary.company.site/

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

08/05/2026

And they're off!! - but has the last one been left behind?

3 Mums with every one of their babies - plus the older group of orphans, released into a giant reserve aged 3 - 4 weeks.

It's a great sense of relief to observe this stage of our work. Duckingham Palace is a superb place for them to develop in safety and at this age they will spend most of their time on the water and will very likely make it to adulthood. It's nature - but at one day old most of them normally won't see their second day. If we're called to help them from walled gardens or courtyards etc then they come back with us until they're a more suitable age to avoid the majority of the pitfalls tiny fluff whistles have to contend with.

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

Meet Ryan, Ryan, Ryan... and the other gosling may as well be called Ryan as well. All convalescing in casts from a comb...
06/05/2026

Meet Ryan, Ryan, Ryan... and the other gosling may as well be called Ryan as well. All convalescing in casts from a combination of breaks to their legs. They'll all mend well now they have had the fracture site immobilised.

We have a strict policy here for original and well suited names and I simply won't allow another gosling that's named Ryan - so there!

Goosifer - now that's a proper name. She's sitting on eggs for the 4th year with her indomitable husband Beaky! Ankles beware.

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

03/05/2026

Ducklings ducklings ducklings.........

Yesterday was glorious and our ever growing gang of bumblebees got to enjoy a day in the sun before coming inside at night.

Today doesn't look so nice so they'll rampage within the ward until we have some reliable warmth outside.

Everyday kind people find ones, twos, tens of ducklings that are abandoned or separated for one reason or another. They'll all receive a high level of care until they can be released along with a mum or two with their respective babies, circa 4 weeks old.

Please consider a monthly donation to keep this charity proactive and capable and enable us to grow. Bank details and PayPal options can be found on www.thewaterfowlsanctuary.co.uk - Thank you!

Address

Huntingdon

Telephone

+443333442260

Website

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