They're at it again

A couple of amorous ducks at the Victoria Esplanade are keeping the native New Zealand brown teal (pateke) from extinction.

The young ducks are prolific breeds and, in the last 15 months, have produced 25 ducklings.

And mum and dad aren’t yet two years of age.

Their reproductive ability has delighted Aviary Keeper, Peter Russell, who says “they’re a very devoted pair and every four or so months they’re at it again.”

Brown teal were once very prolific in New Zealand but with the introduction of predators, the drainage of over 90 percent of wetland and the felling of native forest, their numbers have dwindled to just over a thousand.

Now the two ducks want to save the species singlehandedly and they’re up at the quack of dawn to do it.

Brown teal enjoy long life – some can live up to 20 years of age so Peter believe this pair could produce several hundred ducklings and, when you add their grandchildren and great grandchildren, that’s quite a dynasty.

“I’m pretty rapt with what’s happening. Our conditions here are right and we’re doing something good for conservation,” Peter Russell says.

Most of the ducklings have gone to Peacock Springs near Christchurch for disease screening and preparation for release at various controlled locations such as the Coremandel, Tutukaka in Northland, Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay and Mayor Island.

The Pateke are a small brown duck with a distinctive whitish narrow ring around each eye with their head, face and throat a mottled brown. The males colour up during the breeding season and develop a chestnut coloured breast, a greenish coloured head and display a mallard-like, white stripe on each side of their flank which dad at the Esplanade seems to maintain permanently.

“We’re very pleased with their progress,” Peter Russell says.