Wild Duck Feeding Areas

 It has been difficult to find a good name for breeding areas that are intensively managed to increase the mallard population. The word 'sanctuary' is not always apt, because in certain places the surplus ducks can be shot without affecting the value of the area for high-density nesting.

Our original experiment in producing more ducks by developing the right habitat, nests, rafts and management went through several stages. For some years trials were carried out on a flooded brick pit, badly overgrown with reed mace. The actual water area was very small, but, without rearing, the breeding population was raised from one resident pair to 28/30 pairs in five years. This breeding nucleus colonised at least half a dozen other small ponds in the district which had previously been untenanted.

Plenty of mistakes were made. The adults became too tame. And, because the experiment was only a spare-time venture, predator control and nest management were inadequate and the survival rate of young birds was very low. It did, however, show the potential of various forms of management, described in the following sections.

 

 To the Home Icon owners page.