Going quackers for Reading’s new residents

A duck family decided to make the Council their new home just as the Civic Centre is being improved to create new customer service area and a new Central Library.

The nest of eight eggs plus mum and dad, were discovered by chance inside the hoardings around the Civic Centre in Bridge Street.

The mother duck, which could be a Swedish blue and mallard cross, was seen darting around the undergrowth as some landscaping was about to get underway.

The work was immediately stopped and hidden underneath some foliage our construction partners Morgan Sindall found the nest full of eggs.

The team was given some options by the Council’s ecologist on how to progress with work and protect the fowl long enough for the eggs to hatch. However, Morgan Sindall decided to pause work near the nest, put up barriers to physically protect them, and 'bird nesting' signs until the  ducks decided to leave.

A wildlife camera was also set up and monitored day and night for several days to make sure the family, including a traditional male Mallard, didn’t come to any harm.

When workman came to work one morning, they heard excited quacking then chirping and on further inspection found the clutch of eight ducklings which had all safely hatched, with Mum and dad trying to leave their temporary home with their new family.  An operation ensued, which included helping ducklings up steps, stopping traffic to allow safe crossing of a road, all to give the family safe passage to the banks of the River Kennet. The ducklings then followed their parents by jumping in the water.

Councillor Liz Terry, Leader of the Council, said: “Thank you to Morgan Sindall for looking after our new residents so well and making sure they were safe and well.

“We are in the middle of major construction work with all the disruption that can bring, so it doesn’t feel like it would be a good area to nest. But the nest was hidden well amongst the foliage and perfect protection for the vulnerable eggs.

“Mum and Dad chose a safe area in the busy town centre and then had a little help from Morgan Sindall to get to the water.”

David Shore, Morgan Sindall Project Manager, said: “In construction we are used to being flexible around changes in circumstances, but we were not expecting to find a family of ducks nesting in the middle of our work area.

“The Morgan Sindall team on site here at Reading are committed to protecting the local wildlife and ecology that surround our site and ensured the ducks safe departure from site to the river.

“We are pleased we were able to assist the ducks on their way to the canal and can feel proud that we’re surrogate parents to eight little ducklings.”

The construction work is to create a new Central Library provision and improved Registrars and Customer Service. It includes putting an atrium over the previously empty courtyard, freeing up more space.

The new reception is set to be open by the New Year with the library open in the Spring 2026

The creation of the new facilities has been made possible with £6.6 million from the former Levelling Up Fund and will create an accessible library with larger children’s and teen sections.