Pal-Mates — weekend web tip
Jumping. Not an activity always associated with waterfowl, but some are adept at hopping up steps and branches. Jumping from a height though is seen in many species which nest in high places, such as Barnacle Geese, Wood Ducks or Hooded Mergansers. https://youtu.be/bDJw43BJtCE When making a nest box it will help the ducklings get […]
Get set for our AGM next week
Here’s hoping you’ll land on our Zoom meeting on Saturday 26th February at 2pm. Afterwards we will hold our interactive workshop: Incubation … it’s a hot topic! All paid up members will receive a link to join the meeting on Monday or Tuesday. We were disappointed to make the decision to have our AGM online […]
Happy Darwin Day everyone!
Experimenting with your pet ducks? This study seems pretty reasonable — from the great man’s book Origin of Species: “Some species of fresh-water shells [i.e., mollusks] have very wide ranges, and allied species which, on our theory, are descended from a common parent, and must have proceeded from a single source, prevail throughout the world. […]
Pal-Mates — weekend web tip
I is for Ixworth. The home of Reginald Appleyard, who developed the Silver Appleyard duck. Well known as a showman and broadcaster in his day, he said: ‘I like to see each bird “on the move,” no matter what the breed; action counts in all stock. The duck which carries herself properly and “goes well” […]
Pal-Mates — weekend web tip
H is for Humidity During incubation, a waterfowl egg should lose about 15% of its weight. In natural incubation, this is affected by nest selection and structure, egg surface, attentiveness of the sittiing bird and ambient conditions. Too much evaporation means a dry chick, at risk of getting stuck to the membrane in the egg. […]
Pal-Mates — weekend web tip
G is for Gravid and for Goose. How can you tell when geese are about to lay? Although body shape of the goose sometimes makes it plain she has an egg on the way, the first signs are often a change in behaviour. The pair will prospect for safe places and the gander may decide […]
Spanish Marbled Duck numbers recovering
It is nice to have good news for a change. It seems the numbers of Marbled Ducks breeding in Spain are rising after a decade of serious decline. Read the full report from BirdGuides here.
Pal-Mates — weekend web tip
If you are captivated by whistling ducks, which species should you choose for a new collection? Something readily available, calm and easy on the eye should fit the bill. The Fulvous (Dendrocyna bicolour) is by far the most widespread of all the whistling ducks. Despite its wide wild distribution (North and South America, Africa […]
Pal-Mates weekend web tip
Eating. The appetite of our birds is one of the indications of their health. They naturally increase their intake when the weather is cold, but do you routinely monitor how much they’re eating all the time? Getting it just right is part of good stockmanship. Food left uneaten may compromise basic hygiene and attract vermin, […]
Pal-Mates weekend web tip
Planning a new pond? When it comes to water, quantity is important but quality is vital. Dabbling ducks spend most of their time on the surface, but many others naturally wish to dive. They will appreciate deeper water to express their natural behaviour. Don’t forget to plan in a method of emptying the pond. At some […]
