Ducks are common to see on English ponds and lakes. Like all wildlife, it’s best to leave them alone, for their safety. We have lots of species of ducks (those funny exotic looking ducks are escapees from zoos in South America years ago).
These social creatures can live up to 20 years, and are so friendly, they even chat to other as ‘eggs’ while waiting to hatch! If you’ve ever seen ducks sleeping with one eye open on the banks, that’s because ducks can literally shut off one part of their brains to go to sleep, while remaining alert with the other.
Wildfowl charities say that it’s best to let birds find their food, because in a country of 60 million people, even giving ‘a little’ bread means they end up eating junk food and dying earlier.
Bread has little nutrition for birds (and mouldy/stale/crusty bread can choke, as can salt from sandwiches – and butter smears on feathers, affecting waterproofing and insulation. Feeding wildfowl also makes them too tame, and they get too close to dogs and traffic.
Dietary Preferences of Wildfowl
Many wildfowl feed on aquatic plants. These plant-based diets not only sustain the birds but also help with seed dispersal and plant growth in their ecosystems. Wildfowl are opportunistic feeders. Insects, small fish, and crustaceans are crucial protein sources for many species.
Ducks often swoop down to nab snails or worms, while some even chase small fish. This diet supplement is particularly vital during breeding seasons when energy needs spike.
Wildfowl diets aren’t static; they shift with the seasons. In spring and summer, there’s a bounty of insects, perfect for raising young chicks. Come autumn and winter, many focus on seeds and grains, fattening up for migration or surviving the cold months.
Ducks and geese often graze, foraging on land and cropping grass, like mini lawnmowers. This method enables them to take advantage of terrestrial ecosystems when aquatic resources are scarce.
Why and Where Ducks Migrate
Each year, thousands of ducks embark on long journeys. Many species need specific habitats to reproduce, often found in more temperate regions during warmer months. Food availability is another driving factor. As winter approaches, many areas become scarce in food.
England plays host to several migratory duck species. Common species include the Teal, Wigeon, and Shoveler. Each has unique migratory behaviours. For instance, the Teal migrates in small flocks, favouring wetlands as stopover sites. The Wigeon, known for its distinctive whistle, travels in larger groups and is often spotted in estuaries.
Ways We Can All Help Ducks
Don’t eat duck
This is a no-brainer. If you like Chinese food, try this recipe for crispy duck pancakes (keep away from pets, as it’s not real meat) or buy mock duck (braised seitan in gravy) in health stores.
Don’t Leave Fishing Litter
If you’re an angler, Monomaster is a nifty invention to store fishing line, the design does not encourage nesting birds. Voluntary bans on lead shot have not worked (100,000 wildfowl die yearly from ingesting metal in used pellets (lead shot also harms up to half a million other creatures).
Boycott pate de foie gras
This is when geese (and ducks) are force-fed until their pates turn to liver. It’s banned in the UK to produce, but still sold in some shops, hotels and restaurants.
Harming native wildlife is illegal. If you see anything of concern, report to wildlife crime unit (can be anonymous).
Look After Duck Rescue Charities
Support Sally’s Ducks, one of England’s duck rescue charities, which takes in elderly or disabled ducks needing a safe home.
One tip to humanely deter foxes from eating ducks, is to get the male member of the household to urinate in the garden, apparently it’s a good deterrent!
