GREY DUCK

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 262, 1 August 1929, Page 11

GREY DUCK

BEST METHOD OF BREEDING The Wellington Acclimatisation Society is considering the question of breeding the native duck, and recently wrote to Mr. Edgar Stead, of Christchurch, on the subject. Mr. Stead has replied to Mr. L. O. H. Tripp as follows :— “In regard to the Acclimatisation Society’s purchase of hand-reared grey duck, I do not think that it would be the best way of spending the available money. Some time ago I had a newspaper correspondence with a man in Timaru on the subject of the introduction of mallard; I then suggested that if the money available were spent on improving the lot of the grey duck, the society would probably get better results. In most districts there' are now several sanctuaries, but once the Acclimatisation Society concerned has set aside an area as a sanctuary, it lets the matter rest. Now most sanctuaries could be greatly improved by the expenditure of a little time and money. The worst enemy of breeding greys is the harrier hawk, and any protection given to the broods of ducklings against these birds would show good results. “Most sanctuaries are too bare around the edges. Rushes are of little use as protection. Raupo is better, hut willows are the best of all. “Straight.” or “Crack,” willows planted in good ■big clumps on the edges of lagoons or lakes, and out in the .water as far as they can be established, afford a perfect cover for resting or breeding duck. When the willows have grown, cut some of the branches partly through, bo that they fall into the water and sprout again, forming a thicket of twigs with branches among them on which the duck can sit out of the water.”