Ducks- Mallard invasive species

WILD LIVE CORNER

This Month we are looking at the Ducks in our area

Accordingly to the Sasol Bird book the following ducks are found in the Western Cape

Whitebacked Duck (Witrug eend)

Southern Pochard (Bruineend)

Maccoa Duck (Bloubek-eend)

Yellowbilled Duck (Geelbekeend)

African Black Duck (Swarteend)

Cape Shoveller (Kaapse slopeend)

Cape Teal (Teeleend)

Redbilled Teal (Rooibekeend

Hottentot Teal (Gevlekte eend)

I‘ve spotted quite a lot of these birds in our area either in the river, on dams and ponds (panne water) after the winter rains. The Yellow billed is a common site here on our river you can easily recognise them by their beek being Yellow with a black mark on it.

This is copied from Cape Nature’s website

Mallard

This is the mallard duck, an invasive species posing a serious threat to the indigenous yellow-billed duck. (Female left, male right). Yellow-billed duck (note brownish-black legs). Mallard-yellow-billed hybrid. Cape Nature calls on the public, particularly those living in the vicinity of lakes, rivers and dams, to report the presence of these alien birds to their nearest nature conservation office. The mallard is the ancestor of the domestic duck and is originally from the northern hemisphere. It crossbreeds easily with the indigenous yellow-billed duck and the progeny is fertile. As a result, the survival of the yellow-billed duck, a protected species, is threatened. Although control measures have been applied for several years, a considerable number of mallard still occur in the southwestern and eastern Cape. Registered zoos may keep them, but this concession does not apply to the general public. The male has a metallic green head for the greater part of the year, a white ring around the neck and tail feathers curling upwards. This colorful appearance, when breeding, makes them easily distinguishable from most breeds of domestic duck. However, in late summer when they are not breeding, the males and young birds resemble the females - brown, with darker spots and stripes or streaks. Domestic ducks on the other hand occur in a variety of colours combinations, are mostly more heavily built and are more erect. The mallard's ability to fly distinguishes it from most domestic ducks, which can either not fly at all or fly poorly. Information on the unauthorized keeping of mallard, or on mallard that occur in nature, should be reported to the nearest nature conservation office. Your co-operation will be greatly appreciated. Please do not protect these birds. They threaten the survival of the indigenous yellow-billed duck! Cape Nature Offices Porterville: (022) 931 2900/7 Bellville: (021) 945 4701 Stellenbosch: (021) 866 1560 Hermanus: (028) 314 0062 Robertson: (023) 625 1621 George: (044) 874 2160 Oudtshoorn: (044) 279 1739