Abandoned Eggs Hatch

When a clutch of duck eggs was found abandoned between the lake and the Girls' Boarding houses, the Agricultural Science department were soon on the scene. Once it was clear that the parent birds were not coming back, the clutch of nine eggs was divided between the school incubator and one belonging to Henry Mills. Mr Hepworth-Taylor thinks that the parents were scared away by an animal, and that splitting the large clutch into two would maximize their prospects of survival.

Four of the five eggs kept at St Bede's have now hatched, with the fifth expected tomorrow. Three of the resulting ducklings are shown enjoying their first swim. It is hoped that all nine will be reunited in the school lake when a little older, and that the parent birds will reclaim them.