This afternoon a Musk Duck family were enjoying the high water
levels at Tin Hut Dam. The male was diving by himself at one end,
while in the middle the female was swimming with three very young
ducklings in tow.
This would seem to be a very late brood? Pizzey and Knight (1997
edition) say "mostly Aug-Nov" for breeding. The COG Birds of the ACT
Atlas has dependent young only into early December. A number of
online sources describe a longer period..."The Musk Duck breeding
season varies with rainfall and water levels, but is typically
between July and January, with the greatest number of clutches laid
in September or October"
So this brood presumably related to the last few months high
rainfall and high water levels?
Robin Hide
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