DUCKS
My wife saw on our large back lawn a pair of Australian wood-ducks. She was really pleased to see them walking around our back lawn, eating any sprouting seeds. They are “our” wood ducks. They have been coming to our dam and walking on our lawns for years. They stay together for years, make their nest in either one of our duck boxes high in one of the trees or in a hollow in one of the eucalypts. They always have a dozen or more eggs which hatch, and then they flutter down to the grass and swim on the dam.
A few minutes later she went down to one of our large vegetable boxes to pick some vegetables for the evening meal when to her amazement she found that all of the green vegetables were eaten. The wood-ducks had got there first!
The Australian Wood Duck has a dark brown head and a pale grey body with two black stripes along the back. Males have the darker head and a small dark mane, with a speckled brown-grey breast and a black lower belly and undertail. The females have a paler head with two white stripes, above and below the eye, a speckled breast and flanks, with a white lower belly and undertail. In flight the wings are pale grey above, contrasting with black wingtips, and have a noticeable white bar on the underside.
They walk easily on land and may be seen perching on logs and in trees. They will only take to open water when disturbed. When flying, the Australian Wood Duck is the only duck with white secondary feathers and dark wingtips. The Australian Wood Duck is widespread in Australia, including Tasmania.
The Australian Wood Duck eats grasses, clover and other herbs, and occasionally, insects. It is rarely seen on open water, preferring to forage by dabbling in shallow water, or in grasslands and crops. The Australian Wood Duck forms monogamous breeding pairs that stay together year round. It nests in tree holes, above or near water, often reusing the same site. Both parents feed young, and young birds remain with them up to a month after fledging. We also have regular visitors in the form of several pairs of Teal Ducks with their beautiful colours in their wings.
These are the common duck shot by duck-hunters. I totally oppose the shooting of all Australian birds, animals and native species although this is desired by shooting and hunting organizations and their political party.
The recreational shooting of ducks in Australia causes suffering to countless numbers of other native waterbirds. Some species of duck are permitted to be shot each year during an open season in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and in private rice fields in NSW. All animal welfare and conservation groups oppose the killing.
In 2008 Professor Richard Kingsford of the University of NSW undertook a national aerial waterbirds survey and stated in his report that Victoria’s duck numbers had declined more than 70 per cent in the past 25 years, but the drop had been an astonishing 60 per cent between 2007 and 2008.
All birds suffer fear, pain and stress when wounded by shotgun pellets. Computer simulation estimates and the observations of ‘rescuers’ on the wetlands indicate that duck shooters wound at least as many birds as they kill outright. Even shooting groups acknowledge that at least one in every four birds targeted will be wounded—amounting to tens of thousands each duck shooting season.
The physical action of a shotgun involves a spray of pellets, and a flying bird can be wounded by even a single pellet. Other birds flying with the target bird can also be wounded. Depending on the distance between gun and bird it may take a number of pellets to kill a bird outright. Those downed birds which are not recovered may suffer over a long period before recovery or death from their wounds, or through predation by foxes.
A computer model of the action of a shotgun and the flying bird concluded that most competent shooters will average one bird wounded for each bird bagged (taken home), and the ‘best’ that can be hoped for is one bird for every two bagged. As there are inexperienced or unpractised shooters, particularly on the opening weekend of a duck-shooting season, this model suggests that there are at least as many birds wounded as stowed into hunters’ bags.
More direct evidence of the wounding rate can be found in a 15-year study conducted by the Victorian Department of Conservation which fluoroscoped (a type of x-ray) 45,210 “game” species and found that 9.2 per cent had been wounded and survived. Similarly, a further study undertaken at Bool Lagoon in South Australia showed that of birds captured for the study (and later released) 8 per cent of the small Grey Teal, 12 per cent of the medium-sized Black Duck and 17 per cent of the larger Mountain Duck (Shelduck) had lead shot pellets embedded in their bodies.
It can be assumed that these figures underestimate the numbers of birds wounded. Some wounded birds will be retrieved by hunters and have their necks wrung or be shot a second time, others will escape but will have died from their wounds or be taken by predators, due to their weakened state. It is also possible X-rays will not show lead pellets in some previously wounded birds because the shots have passed through their bodies.
Dr Roger Meischke, an experienced veterinarian, attended a veterinary rescue unit at the opening of the NSW duck shooting season for several years (in the early 1990s) and gathered information on the cause of death or the type of wounds suffered by retrieved waterbirds. In 1991 and 1992, some 40 per cent of dead retrieved birds were inhumanely killed (i.e. their injuries indicated they would have suffered prior to death) and in 1993, the figure was 34 per cent.
Dr Meischke’s study is supported by the experience of other veterinarians who staff rescue caravans in South Australia and Victoria. As with x-ray evidence, the number of wounded birds taken to veterinarians will be only a small proportion of the birds actually wounded.
Birds who ingest spent lead shot may endure prolonged suffering before death. Waterbirds, often bottom-feeding species, can develop lead poisoning after ingesting just one lead shot, usually left after duck shooting. The ingested lead shot is trapped in the gizzard then passes through the gastrointestinal tract. The lead from the eroded shot is absorbed and deposited in the tissues. The use of lead shot has now been banned in each State, but the ban is not well policed. Despite the bans, tonnes of lead still remain in the environment from past shooting, as lead does not break down.
Many non-game birds have been retrieved from the wetlands during duck season, including legally protected species such as the rare and endangered Freckled Duck.
Some shooters fire before they have identified the species they are aiming at. Although not easily mistaken for game birds, ‘protected’ species such as swan, ibis, spoonbill, cormorant and long-billed corella, are sometimes shot.
Some of the birds brought in by rescuers show neurogenic shock alone. This observation is supported by the reports of exhausted birds (both ‘game birds’ and protected species) each season confused and trying to avoid the gunfire. For example: “Of particular interest were the Black Swans which are at Cullens Lake and Lake Buloke (NW Victoria) in large numbers. The swans took flight at the first shots and remained flying around the area during the next few hours. By mid-morning many were seen to be exhausted and having great difficulty maintaining height. One was seen to crash into a tent at Lake Buloke. Others landed heavily on water.”-R.C. Hunter, RSPCA Victoria.
A primary problem which leads to further suffering of birds is that some shooters do not retrieve downed birds immediately. Injured birds are also often difficult to find in reedy waterways and may suffer from their injuries for a considerable time before death or recovery.
Fortunately, duck shooter numbers are decreasing. Since the commencement of the campaigns against duck shooting in the 1980s, the number of shooters has been dramatically reduced – it is no longer supported by the majority of Australians. For example in Victoria, where by far the greatest number of duck shooters reside, duck shooter numbers have decreased drastically from about 95,000 in 1986 to less than 20,000.
This is due to a number of factors, including the ban on semi-automatic weapons, and the negative image of recreational shooting, which has been influenced greatly by the media. Rescuers have used planes to buzz over the wetlands encouraging birds away from dangerous shooting zones, and also had mobile vets on hand to give immediate assistance to injured birds.
In August 1996, The Coalition Against Duck Shooting challenged the High Court on the validity of the Governments “human safety” regulations introduced in 1993, which banned both rescuers and the media from the public wetlands until 10am, some four hours after the shooting starts on the opening two days of the duck season.
“The graphic words and pictures of wounded birds and illegally shot protected species, including the rare and threatened Freckled Duck, are a political liability for shooters and an embarrassment for the government. ...The regulations were designed to keep both rescuers and the media away from the front line, at precisely those times when the killing and wounding of native birds is at its peak. ...Journalists and camera crews travel to war-torn countries like Somalia, Rwanda and Bosnia in an endeavour to seek the truth, yet the Kennett Government deems it too risky for the media to cover the opening of recreational duck shooting.” Laurie Levy. The High Court challenge was subsequently lost.
Arguments put forward by shooting organizations and politicians in defence of duck shooting include the financial boost hunters provide for some rural towns, particularly on opening weekend, the income for the gun and ammunition industry, and the ‘satisfaction’ of hunters who like to hunt and kill ducks for eating. Shooting groups also point to the conservation work they have participated in on some wetlands.
Animal welfare and conservation groups counter with the arguments that “eco-tourism” (visitors to the wetlands for birdwatching and other non-violent recreation) could easily replace the (arguable) financial loss for rural communities; and that the lead shot problem and the killing of ‘protected’ species cancel out any benefit provided by shooting organisations’ work.
Progress to Date
1990 Western Australia banned recreational duck shooting.
1993 South Australia banned lead shot. Shooter numbers in that state fell to about 2,000.
1995 The NSW Government banned recreational duck shooting. Legislation was successfully passed through both houses of the NSW parliament.
1996 PM John Howard and State Premiers banned semi-automatic weapons, including semi- automatic and pump-action shotguns, having a great impact by reducing numbers of shooters.
2001 The phase out of lead shot commenced in Victoria
2005 The Queensland Government banned recreational duck shooting.
We have a majority of Muscovy ducks. But our favourite breed of duck is the Indian Runner Duck. Our children were fascinated when some fertile eggs hatched near a heater, and over years became good pets with each of our children. Unlike other ducks, the Indian Runners do not waddle but rather the position of their legs give them a characteristic running motion.
Another peculiarity of the Indian Runner Duck is its shape for it has a long, tortoise-like neck. When wandering around they walk flat but stand upright when disturbed. They are great hunters of snails, slugs, spiders and grubs, and will keep your garden pest-free. Some friends of ours use them to keep their vineyard and orchard clear of pests underneath the vines and fruit trees.
The thing that we appreciated most is that Indian Runner Ducks are easily handled by people, especially by children. Apart from excitability when disturbed (ie if an outside light is switched on after they have settled themselves for the night), Indian Runner Ducks don’t have any unusual personality traits but they can be prone to panic if cornered.
Worms are the most common health problem with these ducks and they need to be dusted for parasites.
We feed our ducks with duck pellets when we feed our chooks. A 20 kg bag of pellets last an adult pair at least one month. We make sure our ducks have clean water bowls fed from a tank accessible at all times. I also have a large shallow tank because they do like to swish their beaks when they have been hunting for worms and grubs.
Early every morning I let them out from their run and follow them down to the dam. They spend all day there until night begins to fall. I call them, and they waddle up to their duck house where they are locked in all night. It is here they eat their pellets.
Indian Runners and our other breeds produce large quantities of eggs. The ducks themselves have enough flesh on them to feed two people and their meat is less fatty than other duck breeds. Every morning I collect eggs from both the ducks and the chooks.
The basic requirements of ducks are as follows.
1. Protection from extremes in weather conditions and from predators.
2. A clean, dry sheltered area. Although ducks can spend most of their time outdoors, on ponds or in wet areas, they require a clean dry sheltered area where they can retreat, rest, clean and preen their feathers. This allows them to waterproof their plumage, which protects their skin from injury and helps keep their body warm.
3. Clean water for drinking, i.e., water that is free of germs and toxins harmful to ducks. Water for swimming is not essential, but can be beneficial in areas where temperatures are high.
4. A diet that provides all of the duck’s daily nutritional needs.
5. Adequate light stimulation, especially for layers.
6. Protection from disease.
REV THE HON DR GORDON MOYES, A.C., M.L.C