Henderson – Ducks on a pond rarely register any attention, but on Thursday television cameras, news reporters and photographers jostled for a glimpse of nine ducks at a private lake north of Denver.
The ducks were among dozens of birds rescued this year from wastewater treatment facilities, where for some reason they were dying.
Biologists are continuing to investigate why more than 600 ducks died at four Front Range wastewater facilities and Sunfish Lake in south Denver.
Duck feathers were losing their waterproof capabilities, and the birds – mostly northern shovelers – were dying of hypothermia.
Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary in Longmont rehabilitated 61 birds, 44 of which survived and will be released.
Sanctuary workers cleaned the ducks with dishwashing detergent and cared for the birds until their waterproofing returned.
“You could tell when they got better,” said Libby Osnes-Erie, animal care manager at the facility. “They started preening a lot. And they were flying around, trying to get away from us.”
The die-off has slowed as temperatures have warmed, said Jennifer Churchill, Colorado Division of Wildlife spokeswoman.
“We still have to get to the root of why this happened,” Churchill said.
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer can be reached at 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
