Predators 14 Ducks 0
Today I witnessed the last poor duckling being taken by a hoodie crow. The Mother duck was unable to fend off two Hoodie's as they worked their routine to take the last of the 14 hatched ducklings so far. My language to describe what I felt about those crows today is not fit for publication, suffice to say my anger is immense. The enclosed pic of the mother and duckling I took some 20 minutes before it was ambushed.
It’s such a shame Joe that every year the birds on this part of the river have to run the gauntlet of nature in the form of the tides and predators, and then there is man with all his activities and pet dogs to bother the birds
ReplyDeleteWould it not be kinder and much more humane to discourage birds from nesting in this area? There are many of nearby lochs where they would be much safer that offer shelter and food, and are much less visited by both two and four legged friends. I know it would be difficult for you to stop feeding the river birds but might it not be kinder in the long run?
My observations of the ducks over the past 8 years have made me very aware of the limitations of the tidal reaches. First of all, 8 years ago I was only aware of two or 3 pairs of mallards down there,and I started to feed them whilst feeding the Swans. All the Nairn river ducks gather in the tidal reaches in the autumn and overwinter there because more food is available and less likely to freeze(even if I didn't feed them). The last count I did before the spring was approx 45 ducks and around 60 Drakes. 80% of these head up river to nest when they pair off. The rest tend to try and nest from the jubilee bridge towards the harbour, many of these are young and inexperienced, and to be honest how many people in Nairn can tell you when the next spring tide is ? Ducks will nest wherever they choose, be it a garden in Fishertown or a boat that seldom moves in the harbour. Recent incomers like the American mink, the Hoodie crows nesting beside the island on the alien American spruce trees,and the locally increased dog ownership all have an effect on the wildlife. We all make choices in this life, and I choose to help and feed the birds because I think it would be a poorer place without them. Granted it is not an ideal river for all the waterbirds but it does have it's advantages for them too. I think the proof of their success, is evident by the amount now compared to years gone by. Unfortunately the Mallard drakes often cause many duckling deaths by harassing the mother ducks with ducklings - forcing them to take flight and leaving the ducklings to the mercy of the ever vigilant hoodie crows ! What I find difficult to accept is the fact the the crows have no real predators, but would wipe out another species if given half a chance. I think on balance, my feeding the swans and ducks good food, makes them healthier and more likely to produce larger broods therefore more likely to survive.
ReplyDeleteWell done Joe--your doing a great job.
ReplyDeleteEvery bird or animal has to live and a crow has that right as well in fact i think he does a good job in keeping duck numbers down--if it wasnt for the crow we would be overrun with ducks.
ReplyDeleteSeagulls , Herons, Otters, and shooters are more than enough to keep the duck numbers down. We don't need crows, Mink, cats, and uncontrolled dogs as well !
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