Went to check out the bird that Phil Hammond reported a few days ago, thought I'd post it up here for people's interest.
One male Carolina Wood Duck at Martyn Field Reserve in Auckland, hanging out with 60ish mallards and a female Muscovy. I'm sure he is as escapee as they come, although it is fun to imagine such a tiny bird battling across the Pacific! No bands seen, also the wings weren't clipped as far as I could see when he flew.
Has anyone got any ideas as to where it might be from? If there is a local bird park I imagine they might want it back. It's utterly catchable if you had some food and a few good runners. Anyway, a fun little pseudo-twitch for my girlfriend and I.
Also, does anyone know if eBird has considered adding an option to report probable escapees/'untickable' birds? I suppose the record is valuable but don't really want that on my eBird list. I was able to report the Muscovy as 'domestic type' but no such option existed for this one.
All the best,
Carolina Wood Duck, Martyn Field Reserve
- Liam Ballard
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Re: Carolina Wood Duck, Martyn Field Reserve
I live in Ngatea, and until this year have frequently seen Carolina Wood Duck drakes around the village, and assumed that they came from the Ngatea Water Gardens. Last year I saw the first female with a drake and was expecting breeding, but it didn't happen. It has now been about six months since I saw one at all. Perhaps the Hamilton and Auckland birds have come from here. The water gardens did confirm three years ago that they had drakes.
Cheers, Grahame
Cheers, Grahame
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Re: Carolina Wood Duck, Martyn Field Reserve
A friend has told mine there are a lot on the piako river.
- rukuhia
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Re: Carolina Wood Duck, Martyn Field Reserve
There is also a breeder south of Hamilton who lets many ducks fly freely on his ponds.
Bob Rigter