Anyone lost a Mandarin?

[SomesBirder]

Incredible work.

[Clinton9]

I hope he go looking for a girlfriend.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Many thanks everyone for your comments. He can even hold his own with the eels. I went to feed the monster eels that live under the jetty today and while most of the mallards hung back he was right in there grabbing what he could, walking on water whenever an eel grabbed at his feet.

[Mxyzptlk]

The latest news is the boid has relocated and is now down at the ice skating pond. Whether temporary or longer term is anyone's guess.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

I doubt he'll stay long at that tiny shallow square of tannin stained water; he knows what side his bread is buttered

[SomesBirder]

I say that it should be captured ASAP. It may not be the shooting season, but that has not stopped people before.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

The latest news is the boid has relocated and is now down at the ice skating pond. Whether temporary or longer term is anyone's guess.

Nope, he ain't going anywhere fast He's still settled in with the mallards, resting on a grassy knoll beside the lake where he was yesterday & for the past week that I've been here.

I spoke to DOC and they don't have any idea where he came from and they won't be doing anything about him either. He seems quite settled and they said he can't crossbreed so he's no problem. Looks like he'll be here for awhile. They said he arrived some time overnight about 4 weeks ago, he wasn't there in the evening but was there in the morning.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Not such great photos but showing the Mandarin Duck has no fear and holds his own amongst the mallards & long finned eels.

Mandarin Duck & Long Finned Eels by flyingkiwigirl, on Flickr

[Raewyn]

Hi everyone

I've been lurking here for a long time - it's time to register and join in I think.

The Mandarin is a beautiful duck but doesn't really belong in the NZ wild. According to page 1333 Vol 1 Part B HANZAB it has been known to cross breed with mallards. Could be an interesting result but while the Mandarin isn't covered by the game bird rules, any mallard cross offspring would be, and would therefore be protected except under the shooting rules. Is there any chance of catching it and dealing with it as a lost pet, which is what it probably is?

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Mallards will try it with anything. Feathered rats. Look at the filthy things!
Is a stray mandarin any worse than a dumped muscovy?