A Malverne man is hoping to rescue abandoned ducklings and stop hatching projects in schools.

John Di Leonardo, President of Long Island Orchestrating for Nature, says he recently found baby chicks and ducklings abandoned in boxes alongside local roads.

The leader of the animal advocacy group says many birds are abandoned after Easter and school hatching projects. 

"They are very complex animals and very loving animals just like a dog or cat," Di Leonardo said. "We are encouraging people to stop live hatching projects."

Di Leonardo says he is taking the rescued animals to sanctuaries throughout the country because many Long Island facilities can't house them.