Luther Burney is still crossing Anahola Stream on foot every night to get to his house after the April 15 flood made it impossible to cross with his pickup.
He doesn’t have running water and the acre upon which his home sits is strewn with overturned vehicles, once waiting to be dismantled and the parts sold online, now rusted and waterlogged.
But in the aftermath of the historic flood, it’s a Muscovy duck that has Burney’s full attention.
“Her leg was broken or dislocated and her tail feathers pulled out,” he said, recounting the Saturday morning in late April when he attempted to feed the duck and found only feathers in her usual place.
After finding the Muscovy, Burney called Kauai Police Department and Kauai Humane Society because he suspected foul play on the part of the neighbors.
Diann Hartman, president of the Kauai Humane Society Board of Directors, said KHS was notified about an injured duck in the Anahola area April 30.
“Mr. Burney stated that a neighbor had tried to capture the duck, injuring her in the process,” Hartman said. “He stated the duck was now in the river. He wanted KHS to send out people to help him capture the duck from the river.”
KHS doesn’t have a rehabilitation program for Muscovy ducks, and Save Our Shearwaters experts recommended leaving the duck alone unless her condition deteriorated.
“Our SOS bird specialists explained that water captures in wildlife rehabilitation are not usually performed for a variety of reasons, and that the duck was likely staying in the water to avoid people and would come out when she was ready,” Hartman said.
Though Burney’s suspected a neighbor was purposefully ruffling feathers — as in pulling them out — an investigation by a KHS humane officer uncovered more information.
“Another resident stated a neighbor’s dog had caused injury to the duck and she tried to pick up the duck but it squirmed and got away,” Hartman said.
The wild, white-and-black duck, with large red patches around her eyes, started living in the stream in early March and waddled her way into Burney’s heart because she was friendly.
She is still hanging out around the crossing and in a pool a bit farther upstream. The Muscovy was nearly healed by early May.
“She’s a wild, free spirit who came to us. She doesn’t belong to anyone; she’s not my duck, but she’s my friend,” Burney said.
As far as flood response to his debris-laden property, Burney is thankful for the help he’s received from residents and officials, especially with access to his home.
“They’ve come out and really helped with the road and the driveway and made it a whole lot better,” Burney said. “People have been coming out of the jungle to help.”
In addition to rearranging the Anahola stream crossing, littering it with large rocks and debris, the flood deposited things that don’t belong to Burney on the property — like a cement mixer.
“That came down the river through the flood along with a bunch of other stuff,” he said. “Don’t know where it came from, but I’m going to have to get it out of here somehow.”
Burney still has no water utilities in his house because the flood debris broke the water line. So he is hauling water through the jungle of albizia and mountain apples, citrus and breadfruit trees for use at home.
“I need some help to get the water taken care of. It’s not too expensive,” he said.
Though he still needs help, Burney said his main priority will remain the safety of the Muscovy duck.
“She’s free. She’s not mine, but I have called her ‘The Anahola Duck,’” Burney said.
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Jessica Else, environment reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com
