By Lisa Queen, writer for the local newspaper The Era Banner.
Eddie has finally come home to roost.
The gorgeous one-year-old Mandarin duck, who has been on the lam at Newmarket’s Fairy Lake since the holidays, was caught late morning Jan. 13 at the nearby All Our Kids Playpark.
"I’m so relieved, happy," his owner, Tracey Harpley, said.
Hundreds of people have flocked to Fairy Lake over the last few weeks to catch sight of Eddie, who has been missing from home since flying off with some geese.
Harpley, a foster mom for squirrels and other small animals, who also cares for birds at her property, had been trying to catch Eddie for many days and joked that he would be "seriously grounded" when he was caught. Eddie’s timeout began at about 11:30 a.m. this morning when a team that included Harpley, Sarah Clifton with the Toronto Wildlife Centre, a crew from animal control and residents who have been helping to get the bird back home, managed to finally capture him.
It was Clifton’s day off and she donated her time, a grateful Harpley said.
Clifton found the perfect place to sit near the water and put down food. Harpley and others kept crowds back while a resident coaxed a group of ducks toward Clifton.
" Once they started a feeding frenzy and the ducks realized there (were) not too many people, he was focused on the food, not the people, and boom, Sarah’s quick swipe (with a rescue pole) got him safely," Harpley said.
She’s pleased Eddie brought so much joy to onlookers, but is thrilled he is now home safe and can be reunited with his mate, Wilma.
Love your story, Bruni.