|
Hi Birders,
I would like to take up Brent Stephenson's comments
about Mallard invasions as I believe that maybe it is too late to halt the
invasion!
Here on the NSW Central Coast in
Brisbane Water, I carry out a winter and summer waterbird count around a portion
of the foreshores of Brisbane Water which is known to be the most
attractive areas for migratory waders. However all other waterbirds are counted.
Only about a third of the area is counted that would be suitable for Mallards,
which tend to predominate in the canal estates and foreshores which are the most
adapted by humans, generally as foreshore residential areas.
My counts have been going since July
1997, with the lowest countb in 1998 of 56, but in Feb 2002 I counted 257 pure
Mallards, compared to small numbers of Black Duck, Wood Duck and Chestnut Teal.
Areas around Woy Woy Bay, the waterfront from Koolewong to Point Clare,
Saratoga, Kincumber and most of St Hubert's Island are not counted. I would
conservatively put the population at 600+ Mallards in Brisbane Water. In Wyong
Creek & Ourimbah Creek residential waterfronts, both located
within Wyong Shire (these creeks flow into Tuggerah Lake) I would suggest
that the Mallard population here is 100+
Many of these birds are fed by
locals, they nest in waterfront gardens and in the many retirement village
gardens which often have water frontage and are a common duck in the streets.
They are very much an urban bird in the St Hubert Island canal
estate.
Around Brisbane Water, the Mallards
make you feel that you are in the UK or urban waterfront areas of New
Zealand.
Alan Morris
Central Coast group, Birding
NSW
| 