Thread: Whats your solutions to the duck decline?

As we've been bagged in Southland for our approach I'm interested in what you guys think is the answer? I won't be replying in here, just viewing for the hope of some new found knowledge

Ban sub gauge lead! Oh wait, thats your idea. Pure genius

I reckon its being forced to use steel I noticed I wound more on the river compared to in the paddocks with lead. Then theres people that shoot waaaay over there limit.

Need to protect ducks in the off season, how many die from diseased waterways, shit ponds etc? And also pukes kill a lot of chicks

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Does the decline in numbers in Southland match the increase in dairy production and if so then that's what needs to be looked at.

It's rocket science this. Habitat disappearing fast, dirty rivers. Major grain feed area's gone down south.

Out of interest, how long has the lead ban been in place for 12 gauge and what would be an average age for a mallard? If the lead was causing the earlier demise of mallards should they have had enough time to get the lead out of their systems (ie a generation or two with 95% lead reduction)? If this is the case and the numbers are still not increasing then that points to something other than lead shot being the issue and research needed to find out what are the real issues.

institute imediate water quality monitoring for all know an suspected sourses of water way pollution including local govenment sourses and other business besides farmers. protect water quality and quantity at all levels including source therfore isolating polluters and excessive overtake for irrigation.cover and treat shit ponds where birds congregate and the outbreaks of desease seem the most obvious.take the savings from goose control and immediatly begin comprehensive and multi region duck research.
in lake ellesmeres case find a better way to open it in times of flood and when it needs a good flush out. the present system is mickey mouse and expensive maybe the canal to forsyth which would allow constant sea water flushing.also bring back the grazing to the areas it was stopped there. it cleaned up all the rank overgrown areas an kept the fire risk down as well as keeping a fresh constant supply of good pick for all waterfowl.in short give more control of a waterfowl area to f&G because doc dont give a monkeys

As we've been bagged in Southland for our approach I'm interested in what you guys think is the answer?

lets be clear mike i applaud your quick moves on mallard research i do not applaud you guys ignoring the very people that put you there or thier submissions and opinions. if you had the environments, habitats and waterfowls interest at heart then why repeat,albeit on a smaller scale ,a ban that in 10 years has not proved to increase waterfowl numbers or save habitat or the environment.especially when proven larger pollution sources get the government to legislate away thier messes

the numbers are still not increasing then that points to something other than lead shot being the issue and research needed to find out what are the real issues. Fish and game???
Stop giving out off season permits if you are so worried
The real decline is shooting into the breed time and all season with 5, 6,7,8,10,shot Auto's.
The big one is Habitat disappearing with more disturbance in breeding area's and grain feed area's are a lot smaller thats true.

Stop shooting them?

loss of habitat (food and home).

Anyone watching tv one?
Catch and eat eels to save ducks

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Most of the shot duck population, around HB, get shot on opening weekend. I would suggest the same goes everywhere in NZ.
After that its a huge drop in numbers culled simply due to the lack of hunters.
Reducing the bag limit will help reduce this volume and will have the biggest effect on bird numbers.
They may get shot later in the season but I would suggest less likely as the majority of hunters have packed up.

Shortening the season is not the answer, as explained above.

Rain and food are the major contributors to survival.
HB has had a major drop in crops, what is been grown isn't what ducks like, volume is way less almost concentrated in one area as well.
When compared to Gisborne area where there is still heaps of grain crops the bird numbers are great.

We have been trapping around our pond and the changes have been good, but we are only defending our resident population, which get culled opening day in any case. So no real help with the population. Unless we all do our part.
So far our traps have taken out 14 feral cats, 4 stoats, numerous hedgehogs, similar volume of rats although they are less frequent now.

Originally Posted by Samsbuddy

Most of the shot duck population, around HB, get shot on opening weekend. I would suggest the same goes everywhere in NZ.

Rain and food are the major contributors to survival.
.

Gets to be a passionate topic.

Agree and see same round Waikato. Its the old school who just continually take 400 or 500 on opening weekend both blimmin days..

We seem to have stopped fishermen from being as bad. Just about everyone stays inside the snapper rules now.

How ? Because the Fish pigs do a great job.. in the right areas and take no prisoners just cane them up ..

Drought as well and farm land being worth so much " lets drain that swamp boys milk another cow off that spot ..."

How long till its like the Parrie shoots.. " Special mallard shoot every two or three years only "

Weve just spent shitloads trying to preserve what we have :ie two diggers one truck in the ponds cleaning out years worth of silt and crap.

About all we can do really except just take our limit no more than that.

# Research - climatic / enviromental influences
# Habitat retention & creation
# Mallard Breeding programme
# National policy direction not the fragmented approach we have at present individual councils having their own agenda priorities