Wardens Blog

 African Black Duck

Anas sparsa

Range: Encompasses the whole of South-Eastern Africa from Sudan in the north to South Africa in the south, and projecting into Namibia and Angola in the west. Small, separate populations also reside in Gabon and Nigeria. In all the African Black Duck has a range of over 9.2 million km square. Despite their huge range the species is highly territorial and widely dispersed with a population estimated at just 29-70,000.

Where and When to See Them: Due to their relatively small population size, shy nature and aversion to flocking, spotting birds in the wild can be difficult. Most likely seen in pairs on medium to fast flowing shallow rivers or streams in wooded areas. As a non-migratory and territorial species, once found the birds are likely to be seen on a daily basis throughout the year.

Threats: The species is believed to be suffering a shallow decline, particularly in Kenya where rampant deforestation is destroying nesting habitat. As a river specialist it is highly vulnerable to habitat degradations such as dam building, water extraction, agricultural run-off and industrial pollution. Hybridaisation with the non-native and highly prolific mallard is seen as a big threat in the near future.

Conservation: Despite a gradual decline the species is not considered at risk of extinction and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. As such no direct conservation programmes are in place. However, it adds weight to campaigns against river pollution and benefits from protection of wetlands, closed hunting seasons and the CITES convention.

The only duck species known to make reliable daily migrations, roosting at night on large lakes and travelling up to 20 miles to rivers and streams from dawn till dusk.

Very close relative of the mallard and vulnerable to hybridisation. Known in some areas as Black Mallard or African Mallard.

Has the longest fledging time of any true duck species, spending up to 3 months with its mother before independence. By comparison, its close relative the mallard takes 2 months to fledge.

Our long standing pair of females in the ibis aviary have been joined by a male and are temporarily of show while they hopefully form a trio for breeding next year.

This feature was shown on BBC Breakfast News on 13th January 2012.  It expalins the improtance of the work we do on our Conservation Grade Farm to create and protect wildlife habitats and how a great indicator on how well those habitats are performing is to look at the Primary Predator, in this case the Barn Owl.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16541208

Happy New Year to everyone. 2012 has started in fantastic fashion with nine cranes seen on the Wader Scrape on New Years day. These birds were seen feeding together for a few hours. Then today seven flew over the courtyard towards the back of Old squaw and onto the water meadows, providing stunning views of these magnificent birds.

 Photo by Mike Powles

 The Wader Scrape has been very productive in the last few weeks with hundreds of teal and wigeon joined by good numbers of shoveler, gadwall and tufted ducks. Lapwing and snipe have been feeding on the small areas of mud as the water level rises over the winter. On Old squaw lake, a female gooseander has moved in for the winter and is often spotted with pochard and tufted ducks. These birds need to be careful as a pair of peregrines have been seen hunting and Mike Powles saw an unlucky female tufted duck become lunch!

The woods and hedgerows on the reserve are essential for many birds at this time of year, especially the large numbers of redwing, fieldfare, siskin and lesser redpoll that are now feeding in these areas. There has been alot of tree coppicing in the hazel and alder woodlands, while scrub has been removed in some of the reed beds and wetter meadows to restore the floristic diversity. There are signs of spring on the way with snowdrops starting to appear.

 Photo by Annie Kerridge

Anas bahamensis

Range: As its alternative name suggests the species is commonly found throughout the Caribbean and along the coast of northern South America from Peru in the West to Amapa in the East. However the bulk of the population resides further south, in Paraguay, Uraguay and Argentina. A distinct subspecies, cut off from the main population by the Brazilian highlands resides in Eastern Brazil.

Where and When to See Them: Usually stick to coastal and estuarine bodies of saline or brackish water rather than inland, fresh water. In the warmer parts of there range the species often inhabits dense mangroves and swamps. When food is plentiful they can form flocks of over 1000.

Threats: The species has a large population across a sizeable area and in not currently considered endangered. However the island-based populations have seen declines, believed to be down to introduced mammalian predators and exponential tourism development. Hunting, disturbance and the loss of wetland habitats will inevitably having some effect throughout its range.

Conservation: There is currently no conservation work directly associated with aiding White-Cheeked Pintail. However it no doubt benefits from protection of wetland, closed hunting seasons, the CITES convention, and conservation programmes targeted at other species.

The Galapagos Islands subspecies is found nowhere else and is the only endemic duck found on the archipelago

Very unusual among ducks, in that the male and female are almost impossible to tell apart by sight, although the male is supposedly larger, brighter and has a longer tail.

Seemingly very susceptible to lucism and albinism, such colour morphs make up a higher proportion of captive individuals than any other waterfowl species, although it is rarely seen in the wild

Although generally considered very large, estimates vary widely on population size, particularly with regards the Continental subspecies, with proposed numbers varying from around 100,000 to over a million!

Despite being a fair-weather bird in the wild, they are nerveless a hardy species and have no trouble surviving the hard Norfolk winter out on our Viewing Lake.