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Martin's earlier comments about Musk Ducks are
consistent with what the COG records show. However I would offer the following
thoughts. Many Australian wetlands are ephemeral as such many are not "old" but
subject to repeated drying and flooding. Most of our ducks would appear to be
adapted to that and are very mobile. Musk Ducks are less mobile than most ducks
and tend to stay in the larger water features. Musk Ducks more than most ducks
like deep water. Deep water is likely to be more long term and so older
wetlands. So the relevant feature is likely to be something else than lake
aging.
Philip
Jack's posting included: "One very interesting feature was that as
the lakes, Isabella, Upper and Lower Stranger etc first filled they were
very attractive to water birds, but became less interesting within about 6
months as they settled."
I have heard other comments about the "aging"
of lakes changing their attractiveness for waterbirds. A local
example is that when we moved to Canberra in 1983 Musk Ducks were very common
at Lake Ginninderra (and I believe bred there in the mid-80s) whereas I
haven't seen a Musk Duck there for more than 15 years.
Is there a
reference which explains what aspects of the changing quality of the water (or
other parts of the ecosystem) are impoortant for which
species?
Martin
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