Hi Geoffrey,
Well done. One consideration about the variety of Mallard types. Very likely the range of forms has been derived over many centuries of domestication. It makes
sense that some genetic stock input is less old and less distant from other earlier input. Also likely that many different domestic strains are introduced. Were any wild type birds introduced to Australia?
Also in case anyone is wondering, the separate Muscovy Duck (original species) is Cairina moschata, originally of South and Central America.
Philip
From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Sunday, 13 May, 2018 3:15 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] About hybrid ducks
I am using a fresh page to continue this discussion. Recent exchanges are themselves a continuation of a recurring theme. Anyone with a more recently enlivened interest might read the exchanges from May last year, which I have extracted
from the archive, and reproduced below.
The matter of possible eradication is one issue, with several sub-issues, including ‘eradication of what?’ and eradication by whom?’
Another issue relates to identification and recording. Julie recently raised that issue, and, as it happens, also raised it at the beginning of the sequence reproduced below.
May raise a question of terminology, which may be causing confusion? I referred to the bird being presented for an ID on this occasion as ‘a hybrid, probably female, from the mallard group (includes domestic strains)’. That was not intended
to suggest necessarily a cross-species hybrid. I would think most exotic-looking ducks on Canberra’s lakes and ponds are intra-species crosses between different domestic varieties of the mallard type. Most are probably the result of backyard or farmyard
matings of birds kept for laying or ornamental purposes. Whether these warrant high priority for eradication, or any priority at all, is another matter.
FW: [canberrabirds] Mallards? at West Belconnen Pond
