DOCSLIB.ORG

Ruddy Shelducks in Britain and Ireland 1986-94

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ruddy Shelducks in Britain and Ireland 1986-94 RUDDY SHELDUCKS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND, 1986–94 K. E. VINICOMBE AND A. H. J. HARROP Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea (Tony Broome) ABSTRACT An invasion of Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea into Fenno-Scandia in summer 1994 coincided with the occurrence of flocks in Britain. The patterns of the records and status in Europe are documented and discussed in an attempt to determine whether wild birds, escapes from captivity or individuals from feral populations were concerned in these movements. ogers (1982) analysed the occurr- more together, including five instances ences of Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna involving five and one flock of eight, all R ferruginea in Britain during 1965- within the period 16th July to 16th 79. He traced a total of about 123 October. There was a strong bias towards individuals (eight per annum), roughly the Southeast. Of the ten parties of three or two-thirds of which occurred in the more, only three were in the North or second half of the year. There was some West, but these included the largest flock: increase in spring, from late March to early eight at Llyn Alaw, Anglesey, on 26th May, including several instances of two or July 1979. Only two groups were reported more together. Most first occurrences, to have contained juveniles. Rogers however, took place from early June and in concluded that the number of records was particular from mid July onwards. The increasing, probably as a result of a largest numbers of individuals (as combination of greater observer activity opposed to records) were present from and a larger number of birds wandering July to late August, with smaller peaks from wildfowl collections. There appeared from September through to the end of to be no grounds for presuming that any November (fig. 1). In late summer and record during at least the previous 50 autumn, there was a far higher incidence years related to a wild vagrant. This of groups, with ten reports of three or view was endorsed by the British British Birds 92: 225–255, May 1999 225 RUDDY SHELDUCKS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND, 1986-94 12 10 8 6 4 2 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Figure 1. Monthly occurrences of Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea in Britain in seven-day periods during 1965-79. Number of records, filled columns; extra individuals, open columns. (From Rogers 1982) Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee, individuals which they regard as ‘obvious and the species currently resides in escapes’. In addition, some bird reports Category B of the British List. have not bothered to publish the records. In recent times, however, there has In an attempt to obtain as many records as been a growing suspicion that wild Ruddy possible, KEV wrote to all the county Shelducks are still occurring, and this recorders in whose areas Ruddy view was given credibility in the summer Shelducks were thought to have occurred of 1994 when there was a large and during the period. Their response was widespread invasion into Fenno-Scandia, excellent, and a large number of involving some 262 individuals. This additional records came to light. Finally, paper attempts to analyse the current Lee Evans (in litt.) provided additional position in Britain and Ireland, with records which he had obtained from the particular reference to the 1994 invasion. more recently published bird reports. KEV collected and analysed the British Inevitably, some records will have been and Irish records and also data relating to missed, but it is unlikely that their the general occurrence patterns on the absence will have significantly affected Continent. AHJH also collated the the general patterns of occurrence. Continental information, particularly The Ruddy Shelduck is a large, that relating to 1994, and arranged for a colourful and conspicuous duck and it request for information to be placed tends to occur in wetland habitats, in the newsletter of the Russian Bird which are very well covered by Conservation Union. birders. Consequently, a few wandering individuals may account for many records. METHODS Indeed, the raw data collected comprised Obviously, there is no point in analysing records of some 907 individuals, so an the 1994 invasion year in isolation, so this attempt had to be made to rationalise these paper deals with the period 1986-93 in and estimate the true numbers occurring. comparison with 1994. That period is used This was done by dividing Britain and simply because the initial records were Ireland into eight regions: (1) Scotland, taken from Pete Fraser’s rare-bird and (2) Northeast England, (3) Northwest scarce-migrant database, which, for this England and North Wales, (4) the species, goes back to 1986. Although the Midlands, (5) Eastern England, (6) Ruddy Shelduck is an obvious and Southwest England and South Wales, (7) conspicuous bird, it quickly became clear Southeast England, and (8) Ireland. In each that PF’s data were not complete. This is region, the numbers of individuals because many observers do not bother occurring were estimated, adopting a to report the species, especially those minimalist approach. Little attempt was 226 British Birds 92: 225–255, May 1999 RUDDY SHELDUCKS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND, 1986-94 made to correlate movements between as the pattern produced in the Southeast by regions, unless there were obvious reasons the high proportion of escaped birds, for so doing. For simplicity, the data are particularly in the London area, was presented here in four regions (see also fig. different from that in the Southwest. 11 on page 235): In the analysis, no attempt was made to differentiate between those birds 1. Northern Britain: Scotland, northern considered to have been escapes and those England and North & West Wales; with apparently better credentials as 2. Southern Britain, subdivided into: wild individuals. a. East and Southeast England; b. Southwestern Britain: the Midlands, ANNUAL TOTALS Southwest England and South Wales; Fig. 2 shows the annual totals of Ruddy 3. Ireland. Shelducks estimated in Britain and Ireland The above regions may seem arbitrary, but during 1986-94. The total number of the boundary lines were drawn to take individuals was 435, an annual average of account of marked clusters of records. It 48, a marked increase on Rogers’s (1982) seemed desirable not to split such clusters, annual average of eight. His annual totals which involve the same birds moving varied from just one in 1965 to 12 in 1978, around. For example, there is a cluster of whereas during 1986-94 they varied from records around the Wirral, in Cheshire/ 23 in 1986 to 62 in both 1992 and 1993. Lancashire, and records farther north in It is immediately apparent from fig. 2 Lancashire and Cumbria, as well as those in that, for Britain and Ireland as a whole, North and West Wales, often relate to birds 1994 was unexceptional by recent from this cluster. Also, the patterns of standards. Indeed, it was only the fourth- occurrence in northern England are similar best year during the period of analysis. In to those farther north in Scotland, so it seems this period, there has been a gradual build- sensible to treat this region as one. Similarly, up in numbers, with peak years in 1988 there is another cluster of records around the and during 1991-94. From these data, one Severn Estuary, so it makes sense to include could draw the surprising conclusion the records from South Wales with those that, given the events in Fenno-Scandia, from the English Southwest Peninsula. Britain and Ireland did not experience a Southern England was subdivided into two, significant Ruddy Shelduck influx in 1994. 70 60 50 40 30 Number of birds 20 10 0 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 Year Figure 2. Estimated annual totals of Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea in Britain and Ireland during 1986-94. Note marked upsurge in 1991-94. (Note that a flock of 18 known escapes in Wiltshire in June 1988 has been omitted.) British Birds 92: 225–255, May 1999 227 RUDDY SHELDUCKS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND, 1986-94 20 15 10 5 0 Number of birds 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 Year Figure 3. Estimated annual totals of Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea in northern Britain during 1986- 94. Note that 1994 was the peak year, coinciding with the invasion into Fenno-Scandia, with a flock of up to 12 in North Wales and on the Wirral, Cheshire/Lancashire. 20 15 10 5 0 Number of birds 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 Year Figure 4. Estimated annual totals of Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea in southwestern Britain during 1986-94. The 1994 peak was produced by two flocks, of five and six in Somerset and Cornwall. (Note that a flock of 18 known escapes in Wiltshire in June 1988 has been omitted.) 35 30 25 20 15 Number of birds 10 5 0 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 Year Figure 5. Estimated annual totals of Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea in east and southeast England during 1986-94. This area failed to receive a significant influx in 1994. 8 6 4 2 0 Number of birds 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 Year Figure 6. Estimated annual totals of Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea in Ireland during 1986-94. Surprisingly, none was recorded in 1994. 228 British Birds 92: 225–255, May 1999 RUDDY SHELDUCKS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND, 1986-94 63. Three Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea, Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, October 1994 (Steve Young/ Birdwatch) REGIONAL ANALYSIS year, with just 12 (only the seventh best in To make more sense of what happened in the period reviewed; fig.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A 2010 Supplement to Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard Papers in the Biological Sciences 2010 The World’s Waterfowl in the 21st Century: A 2010 Supplement to Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World Paul A. Johnsgard University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosciducksgeeseswans Part of the Ornithology Commons Johnsgard, Paul A., "The World’s Waterfowl in the 21st Century: A 2010 Supplement to Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World" (2010). Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard. 20. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosciducksgeeseswans/20 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The World’s Waterfowl in the 21st Century: A 200 Supplement to Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World Paul A. Johnsgard Pages xvii–xxiii: recent taxonomic changes, I have revised sev- Introduction to the Family Anatidae eral of the range maps to conform with more current information. For these updates I have Since the 978 publication of my Ducks, Geese relied largely on Kear (2005). and Swans of the World hundreds if not thou- Other important waterfowl books published sands of publications on the Anatidae have since 978 and covering the entire waterfowl appeared, making a comprehensive literature family include an identification guide to the supplement and text updating impossible.
    [Show full text]
  • Iucn Red Data List Information on Species Listed On, and Covered by Cms Appendices
    UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC4/Doc.8/Rev.1/Annex 1 ANNEX 1 IUCN RED DATA LIST INFORMATION ON SPECIES LISTED ON, AND COVERED BY CMS APPENDICES Content General Information ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Species in Appendix I ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Mammalia ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Aves ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Reptilia ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Pisces .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Movements of Wild Ruddy Shelducks in the Central Asian Flyway and Their Spatial Relationship to Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1
    Viruses 2013, 5, 2129-2152; doi:10.3390/v5092129 OPEN ACCESS viruses ISSN 1999-4915 www.mdpi.com/journal/viruses Article Movements of Wild Ruddy Shelducks in the Central Asian Flyway and Their Spatial Relationship to Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 John Y. Takekawa 1,*, Diann J. Prosser 2, Bridget M. Collins 2, David C. Douglas 3, William M. Perry 4, Baoping Yan 5, Luo Ze 5, Yuansheng Hou 6, Fumin Lei 7, Tianxian Li 8, Yongdong Li 8 and Scott H. Newman 9,† 1 San Francisco Bay Estuary Field Station, Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 505 Azuar Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592, USA 2 Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; E-Mails: [email protected] (D.J.P.); [email protected] (B.M.C.) 3 Alaska Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Juneau, AK 99801, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 4 Dixon Field Station, Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA 95620, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 5 Computer Network Information Center (CNIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China; E-Mails: [email protected] (B.Y.); [email protected] (L.Z.) 6 Qinghai State Forestry Administration, Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve (QLNNR), Xining 25700, Qinghai, China; E-Mail: [email protected] 7 Institute of Zoology (IOZ), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; E-Mail: [email protected] 8 Institute of Virology (WIV), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; E-Mails: [email protected] (T.L.); [email protected] (Y.L.) 9 EMPRES Wildlife Health and Ecology Unit, Animal Health Service, Animal Production and Health Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome 00153, Italy; E-Mail: [email protected] † Current address: Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD)-Vietnam, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), No.
    [Show full text]
  • Egyptian Goose – Alopochen Aegyptiacus
    Scan for more Egyptian goose information Species Description Scientific name: Alopochen aegyptiacus Native to: Subtropical Africa Habitat: Inland freshwater bodies A small, stocky goose with apricot breast, white wing patch and dark eye patch. There are occasional records of Egyptian goose in Northern Ireland, which are likely to have arrived from established populations in England. They were first introduced into England in the late 17th century but during the 19th century they became increasingly common on private estates. In its native range, Egyptian goose is a pest of arable crops and could potentially become a similar nuisance in Northern Ireland. It shares the same habitat preferences as mallard and coot with which it might compete. Egyptian geese hybridise with native species in Africa and hybridisation with Canada geese (non-native) has been recorded in the UK. There is concern that it may hybridise with native species of goose, and threaten the conservation status of those species. In the Netherlands it is aggressive to nests of wading species. They could also potentially cause major damage to amenity grasslands, pastures and crops through grazing and trampling. Droppings could pose a health and safety risk to humans. Under the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 it is offence to intentionally keep; breed; transport to, from or within Northern Ireland, use or exchange Egyptian goose; or to release it into the environment. Male and female Egyptian geese are identical in plumage and cannot be distinguished Key ID Features in the field. Juvenile birds are similar to adults but lack the distinct facial markings.
    [Show full text]
  • Buceros Vol-9 No-3 Year-2004
    Buceros Vol. 9, No. 3 (2004) A bibliography of the Anatidae of south Asia Aasheesh Pittie 8-2-545 Road No. 7, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, India. Email: [email protected] INTRODUCTION This bibliography has been extracted from my larger a distribution pattern of the Anatidae.Accuracy in bibliographic database (Pittie 2005) and covers the transcribing is a basic tenet of bibliography and though political boundaries of the following south Asian great care has been taken to ensure it, mistakes may countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the have crept in and pertinent papers, notes, reports, books, Maldives, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri etc., may have been inadvertently left out.This is the Lanka. Tibet is also covered. It comprises papers, popular more likely in that I have not seen all the entries listed articles, books, published and un-published reports, and below in the original, but have freely taken them second chapters, in which members of the avian family, Anatidae hand from the ‘References’ or ‘Further Reading’ sections (ducks, geese, swans), find mention. It covers a period of papers and books. of over two and a half centuries, from 1750 up to 2004. Authors have been arranged alphabetically and their Of the 49 genera and 158 species that comprise the work chronologically. Multi-author papers have been family Anatidae worldwide (Dickinson 2003), 19 genera listed under the name of the senior author(i.e., the first and 46 species are found in south Asia. Of these, the author, not the oldest). Separate entries have not been Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea is made for co-authors.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplementary Material
    Tadorna tadorna (Common Shelduck) European Red List of Birds Supplementary Material The European Union (EU27) Red List assessments were based principally on the official data reported by EU Member States to the European Commission under Article 12 of the Birds Directive in 2013-14. For the European Red List assessments, similar data were sourced from BirdLife Partners and other collaborating experts in other European countries and territories. For more information, see BirdLife International (2015). Contents Reported national population sizes and trends p. 2 Trend maps of reported national population data p. 6 Sources of reported national population data p. 9 Species factsheet bibliography p. 16 Recommended citation BirdLife International (2015) European Red List of Birds. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Further information http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/info/euroredlist http://www.birdlife.org/europe-and-central-asia/european-red-list-birds-0 http://www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/europe http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist/ Data requests and feedback To request access to these data in electronic format, provide new information, correct any errors or provide feedback, please email [email protected]. THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™ BirdLife International (2015) European Red List of Birds Tadorna tadorna (Common Shelduck) Table 1. Reported national breeding population size and trends in Europe1. Country (or Population estimate Short-term population trend4
    [Show full text]
  • The Ruddy Shelduck in Britain a Review Andrew H
    The Ruddy Shelduck in Britain A review Andrew H. J. Harrop* Dan Powell ABSTRACT The BOU Records Committee has reviewed early British records of Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, including those up to 1892, and post-1950 sightings, in particular those relating to the 1994 influx. None of the pre-1892 records was accepted, but those which occurred in 1892 were considered to justify the species’ retention in Category B of the British List. None of the post-1950 records was accepted.The probability that records of this species relate to individuals of feral or captive origin is very high, yet vagrancy remains possible and is perhaps most likely to involve males in their second calendar-year. * On behalf of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records © British Birds 95 • March 2002 • 123-128 123 The Ruddy Shelduck in Britain he position of any species on the British four weeks between mid July and September List ultimately rests on the unequivocally (Cramp & Simmons 1977). In Moscow and Taccepted identification, and wild origin, Askania-Nova, young Ruddy Shelducks remain of at least one individual: the first record. Fol- in broods until late autumn or even during lowing the evidence provided by Jessop (1999), their first winter, often accompanied by their that the earliest British record of Ruddy Shel- parents (Anastasia Popovkina in litt.). duck Tadorna ferruginea, at Blandford, Dorset, Evidence concerning the dispersal of Ruddy in winter 1776, involved, in fact, a misidentified Shelducks reintroduced in Ukraine and Bul- Cape Shelduck T. cana, the Records Committee garia has been documented by Zubko et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Tadorna Ferruginea -- (Pallas, 1764)
    Tadorna ferruginea -- (Pallas, 1764) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ANSERIFORMES -- ANATIDAE Common names: Ruddy Shelduck; Tadorne casarca European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT°) In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe. In the EU27 the small population size qualifies for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<1,000 mature individuals), but as population size is increasing in the EU27, the final category is adjusted down one category to Near Threatened (NT°).
    [Show full text]
  • AOS Classification Committee – North and Middle America Proposal Set 2018-B 17 January 2018
    AOS Classification Committee – North and Middle America Proposal Set 2018-B 17 January 2018 No. Page Title 01 02 Split Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus into four species 02 05 Restore Canada Jay as the English name of Perisoreus canadensis 03 13 Recognize two genera in Stercorariidae 04 15 Split Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) into two species 05 19 Split Pseudobulweria from Pterodroma 06 25 Add Tadorna tadorna (Common Shelduck) to the Checklist 07 27 Add three species to the U.S. list 08 29 Change the English names of the two species of Gallinula that occur in our area 09 32 Change the English name of Leistes militaris to Red-breasted Meadowlark 10 35 Revise generic assignments of woodpeckers of the genus Picoides 11 39 Split the storm-petrels (Hydrobatidae) into two families 1 2018-B-1 N&MA Classification Committee p. 280 Split Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus into four species Effect on NACC: This proposal would change the species circumscription of Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus by splitting it into four species. The form that occurs in the NACC area is nominate pacificus, so the current species account would remain unchanged except for the distributional statement and notes. Background: The Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus was until recently (e.g., Chantler 1999, 2000) considered to consist of four subspecies: pacificus, kanoi, cooki, and leuconyx. Nominate pacificus is highly migratory, breeding from Siberia south to northern China and Japan, and wintering in Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The other subspecies are either residents or short distance migrants: kanoi, which breeds from Taiwan west to SE Tibet and appears to winter as far south as southeast Asia.
    [Show full text]
  • Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard Papers in the Biological Sciences 2010 Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World: Index Paul A. Johnsgard University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosciducksgeeseswans Part of the Ornithology Commons Johnsgard, Paul A., "Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World: Index" (2010). Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard. 19. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosciducksgeeseswans/19 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Index The following index is limited to the species of Anatidae; species of other bird families are not indexed, nor are subspecies included. However, vernacular names applied to certain subspecies that sometimes are considered full species are included, as are some generic names that are not utilized in this book but which are still sometimes applied to par­ ticular species or species groups. Complete indexing is limited to the entries that correspond to the vernacular names utilized in this book; in these cases the primary species account is indicated in italics. Other vernacular or scientific names are indexed to the section of the principal account only. Abyssinian blue-winged goose. See atratus, Cygnus, 31 Bernier teal. See Madagascan teal blue-winged goose atricapilla, Heteronetta, 365 bewickii, Cygnus, 44 acuta, Anas, 233 aucklandica, Anas, 214 Bewick swan, 38, 43, 44-47; PI.
    [Show full text]
  • Radjah Shelduck Radjah (Tadorna) Radjah
    Radjah Shelduck Radjah (Tadorna) radjah Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Characteristics: Also known as the white-headed shelduck, black-backed duck or Burdekin duck, the radjah shelduck has a mostly white body with chestnut wings topped with green bands, a chestnut collar and flesh-colored beak and feet. Behavior: Radjah shelducks are seldom seen away from water as they rely heavily on it for food and nesting. They feed by filtering water through their beaks to pull out seeds and bugs. They are very vocal. Range & Habitat: Tropical coastal wetlands, Reproduction: nudflats, mangrove forests The reproductive pair is strongly monogamous for life and build a nest in a hollow tree. They become extremely territorial during breeding season. The clutch size is 8 to 14 eggs which hatch after a 28-day incubation period. The ducklings leave the nest soon after hatching and head straight for water (Perth Zoo). Diet: Wild: Mollusks, insects, algae, seeds and aquatic plants Zoo: Flock raiser pellets, scratch grains, greens Lifespan: up to 15 years in captivity, 5-10 years in the wild. Conservation: Although they have a large home range and IUCN lists them as Least Special Adaptations: Flight Concern, radjah shelducks benefit from being protected nationally in pattern is more like a goose than a Australia so their numbers are steady. duck. FYI: IUCN Conservation Status: The radjah shelduck is protected throughout Australia and there are harsh Least Concern penalties for harming or disturbing them (Beauty of Birds). It is unclear why the ornithologist who first described the duck named it “radjah” (Australian Bird Names).
    [Show full text]
  • Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior: Frontmatter and Introduction
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior, by Paul Johnsgard Papers in the Biological Sciences January 1965 Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior: Frontmatter and Introduction Paul A. Johnsgard University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscihandwaterfowl Part of the Ornithology Commons Johnsgard, Paul A., "Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior: Frontmatter and Introduction" (1965). Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior, by Paul Johnsgard. 8. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscihandwaterfowl/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior, by Paul Johnsgard by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior Long-tailed Duck, male, Rear-end display. (Courtesy J. V. Beer) Electronic edition University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries 2008 Electronic edition copyright © 2008 Paul A. Johnsgard. First published 1965 by Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press. To my parents, who incukuted in me the value and phures of studying nature Acknowledpents IT would be impossible to acknowledge the assistance of everyone who has helped me in various ways, but I am particularly grateful to the National Science Foundation and the Public Health Service for financing these studies, and to the Wildfowl Trust not only for pro- viding the opportunity to study so many species but also for much kindness and help. Had it not been for the almost singlehanded effort of Mr. Peter Scott in organizing and directing this superb collection of birds, it would have required a lifetime of effort, un- limited funds, and constant traveling to obtain the observations I was able to make in a relatively short time.
    [Show full text]