by Carla Caruso
Fernando isn’t just the name of an ABBA song. It’s also the moniker of a duck with a broken wing, who has become a bit of a celebrity at the Adelaide Botanic Garden (Park 11).
When we reposted an image of him by photographer Fran Mussared on Instagram Stories last month, we had messages of concern from followers about his welfare.
Since then, we’ve learned that Fernando is well-known by staff and customers at the garden’s kiosk and that he’s doing a-okay.
Pic: Fran Mussared.
A representative from the kiosk told us: “There is a very friendly, cheeky duck we have named Fernando, who visits regularly and delights our customers.
“We encourage our guests to say hello and take lovely photos. [Although] please don’t feed him or his friends …
“The Simpson Kiosk has several wild ducks, who frequent the seating area, looking for something to eat. Unfortunately, hot chips and the like are not a suitable diet for them.
“We encourage people not to feed them and have signs posted about the area. We have been told that [their] wings and feather growth can be adversely affected by such a diet.”
Pic: Fran Mussared.
The representative added: “We do let the horticultural team know about injured animals and they do contact the appropriate organisations, who visit often.”
Photographer Fran also assured us that garden staff “watch out” for Fernando. “He’s a happy duck but has had the broken wing for years.
“Not sure that Fauna Rescue could do much for his wing now. It would be awful if they euthanised him. As I said, he’s a happy duck; he feeds himself … He’s a bit of a celebrity.”
“Lots of happy duck families, waddling around the Adelaide Botanic Garden [Park 11],” writes Connie Little.
It seems like for Fernando, a broken wing is just water off a duck’s back.…
Ferrnando is a Pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa). They are outnumbered in your Adelaide Park Lands by the much more common Australian wood duck, also known as the Maned duck (Chenonetta jubata). You can also spot the Australasian grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae).
“Australasian Grebe parents sharing some time together while the kids play,” writes Dr Birdnerd in Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka (Park 14).
Try your hand at duck-spotting and identifying in your Adelaide Park Lands! The best spots to look, of course, are on or near water, such as:
the River Torrens /Karrawirra Pari especially near Elder Park; and Pinky Flat;
the wetlands in the southern part of Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16);
the wetlands in G.S. Kingston Park / Wirrarninthi (Park 23);
Botanic Creek through your eastern Park Lands, including the Rymill Park Lake;
the South Park Lands Creek; and
