Friday feel good: Advocate Sherman Hospital nurses care for 13 duck eggs after mother killed by hawk

A dose of feel good to kick off the weekend.

Duck eggs got some special care this month from nurses at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Ill.

On April 14, a red-tailed hawk swooped down and grabbed a mother duck off of her nest, located outside the hospital emergency department, ultimately killing her, the hospital said.

But nurses who saw what happened rushed to help the duck eggs that were unprotected in the nest outside their unit.

One nurse, Jean Lowe, BSN, RN, took the eggs home for the night to keep them warm before her sister, Donna Kruse, RN, also a nurse at the hospital, delivered them to the Fox Valley Wildlife Center in Elburn, Ill., where she volunteers, the hospital said.

The orphaned eggs are now being nurtured by a wild turkey named Talulah at the wildlife center.  Talulah has been at the wildlife center for more than a year recovering from a severe wing injury.

Since November, Talulah has been laying eggs and won't leave her nest as she waits for them to hatch (which they will not because they are not fertilized), according to the hospital. 

The hospital said the hope is by nesting and hatching the duck eggs, 13 of which are viable, according to the wildlife center, Talulah will be revitalized and the chicks will be saved thanks to their adopted mother, and the care of the nurses at Advocate Sherman.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars