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Bibby Stockholm duck 'having best life' after move

Derek Davey The duck swimming in a red plastic basket. Derek Davey
The duck was fed by the crew on Bibby Stockholm before it was removed last month

A duck that used to be cared for by staff working on asylum seeker barge the Bibby Stockholm has found a new home and is "having the best life".

The barge was home to just under 500 men from July 2023 until last November and was towed away from Portland Port in Dorset last month.

Wildlife conservationist Derek Davey said he was called to help the duck after she was found waddling around Castletown, a short distance away, searching for food.

Mr Davey said after a short spell with him, she had now been rehomed with a new family and ducks in the Dorchester area.

Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images Closer image of the Bibby Stockholm as it leaves Portland. There is a tugboat at the front of it and a second tugboat to the back of it. The Bibby Stockholm is a red and white rectangular barge, moving through the water and there is a dock platform seen to the left of the image.Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images
The Bibby Stockholm was spotted leaving Portland in January

He was initially called out to help the bird last summer but she could not be caught and was left to live by the barge.

"About two weeks ago I had a call," he explained.

"The duck was picked up by Castletown on Portland. It was the same duck, poor little soul.

"She's now in a lovely new home with other ducks and having the best life. They are domestic ducks and need company.

"She's in very good health, she's loving it."

It remains unclear where the duck had arrived from to take residence alongside the barge.

Mr Davey helps hundreds of birds a year and assisted a tawny owl last month that was trapped and covered in soot when it got stuck in a wood burner's flue.

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