Thread: Do you think i am really stupid ?

Originally Posted by sore head stoat

I have not been able to find any data on NZ but i was under the impression [rightly or wrongly ?] that the mallard drake hen ratio was 70 /30 in favour of drakes, due to predation of hens during the nesting season.

Here is a bit of info from Nth America where it talks about the hunter harvest for drakes is 2 or 3 times higher than for hens and yet drakes still out number hens.
https://www.ducks.org/conservation/w...owl-sex-ratios

Jenn Sheppard who did her thesis on breeding ecology and productivity on mallard ducks in NZ dedicated her thesis to those who "go for green and stay within the limit" which infers to me that she sees hen harvest a limiting factor in mallard numbers ? One of her influential professors also said that "one of the simplest ways that people can manage waterfowl populations is refrain from harvesting females " again hen harvest is a limiting factor in waterfowl numbers ?

hmmminfo on where???????/

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

hmmminfo on where???????/

Yes i again repeat the information is from Nth America and i again repeat the heavy predation on hens could be happening in NZ, i have not to date been able to find any info on sex ratios of mallards in NZ. Have you ?

read the forth line in reguards to mallards...they mate with anything they can get on top of...argue with Murry Williams if you like....
decoys in NZ have traditionally been sold 7-8 hens to 3-4 drakes so our decoy spread were hen heavy...to match what is seen...in USA they go drake heavy...

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

read the forth line in reguards to mallards...they mate with anything they can get on top of...argue with Murry Williams if you like....
decoys in NZ have traditionally been sold 7-8 hens to 3-4 drakes so our decoy spread were hen heavy...to match what is seen...in USA they go drake heavy...

I will stick with the science.

We have traditionally used more hens to match our grey duck and grey hybrid duck , NOT because we have an imbalance of more hens

mallard drakes are as randy as a marine on shore leave,will mate with anything which is why you see so much variation around...they are like the travelling salesman who shows up all shiney and flash looking,has his wicked way and leaves hen with babies to deal with alone...a true solo mum

thats from one of three books
keith drapers waterfowl tail
bill Jamesons out for a duck
or Murry Williams early waterfowl in NZ
or a combination of all three.