Walkers and residents in Old Cwmbran are upset at the news that a popular duck who lived on the canal was found dead last week.
She was known as Freda to many but one local family said they called her Marvin as “she was always starving”.
The cause of her death isn’t known there were no visible marks on her body. A local resident said:
“The stretch from Ty Coch to Old Cwmbran is always busy with dog walkers, cyclists, families and anglers. People take this route to shop in town, walk to the train station or visit the newly refurbished Cwmbran Park.
“At this time of year, the hedgerow flowers appear, the trees explode in leaf and the birds are chirping loudly.
“But last week we lost a great character on the canal – Marvin also known as Freda. She stood out amongst the ducks as being the only resident Muscovy amongst the Mallards and Moorhens.”
Freda would walk up to people she recognised
“She was a beautiful bird who had lived on the canal for around three years. She would recognise the people that fed her with wild duck food every day and would waddle or fly up the canal to greet them – eating eagerly out of their hand.
“She had even been known to waddle through the gardens and up to the front doors of nearby houses in search of a snack.
“Perhaps it was her trusting nature that led to her undoing. She had been sat on a nest of eggs for more than a month but this year, the spot she had chosen was quite a vulnerable one.”
She was found last Thursday morning by some residents who took her home and buried her in their garden.
Freda was funny and friendly
“Marvin was such a character – bold and brave, funny and friendly – always happy to stop and chat. On mourning the passing of this endearing little duck, I wondered why she had meant so much to so many? Perhaps it is because she displayed some of the same qualities that we look for in our human friends.
“We’ve planted some little wildflowers in the spot where Marv once sat on her nest. And pledged to carry on caring for the wildlife on our doorstep by picking up the litter and keeping an eye out for nature so we can share it with our children and grandchildren.”
