A Conversation for The UK's Ruddy Duck Problem

Update: £3.3m for Ruddy Duck eradication, Oct'05

Post 1

LL Waz

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051012a.htm

£2.03 million comes from DEFRA, presumably the balance from the EEC. Defra have advertised for ruddy duck control specialists to start before the end of the year. It's been three years since I've seen any locally.

R.I.P. Ruddy Ducks - leave your tribute here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2814293.stm


Update: £3.3m for Ruddy Duck eradication, Oct'05

Post 2

aging jb

I can't help thinking that the planned eradication of the Ruddy Duck is simply "groupthink", and the triumph of birdwatching over ornithology.

I've yet to be persuaded that, although it may be that White Headed Ducks will look like Ruddy Ducks, any alleles will be lost in the interbreeding. I've also yet to be persuaded that White Headed Ducks are less likely to be shot and eaten in the areas in which they survive.

I have seen a few Ruddy Ducks recently, but I'm not inclined to say where.


Update: £3.3m for Ruddy Duck eradication, Oct'05

Post 3

LL Waz

You have a point about the alleles, and it supports the idea that it's just a bird-twitcher's issue.

I think there's conservation politics, trade-offs, in it too perhaps. It is a pity because the issue of allowing for change while preserving species is one that really needs addressing.

Should I see any Ruddy Ducks, I'll be keeping quiet about them too.

Waz


Update: £3.3m for Ruddy Duck eradication, Oct'05

Post 4

Pinniped


You do realise the car's bright yellow?

...but Thankssmiley - hug

Pin (OK, nothing to see here, get back on topic...)


Update: £3.3m for Ruddy Duck eradication, Oct'05

Post 5

LL Waz

smiley - offtopic
smiley - laugh sussed.

I'm dismayed you think there are no Ruddy Duck sympathisers in Sheffield.
Waz


Update: £3.3m for Ruddy Duck eradication, Oct'05

Post 6

LL Waz



I noticed you weren't too careful about your import of 25,000 ducks (Xanthica Rubberii) and they're all under quarantine for Bird Flu.



On topic:

I saw Ruddy Ducks last weekend, with wives and ducklings... I'm not saying where either, but highly visible! They were doing the bubble making too. Neat. They really are very pretty little ducks.


Update: £3.3m for Ruddy Duck eradication, Oct'05

Post 7

Pinniped


See elsewhere for Bird Flu *seethe*

I must look at ducks more closely. I've never really been into ducks. I've got a sort of instictive idea that birds that have to move their wings fast are kind of pathetic.

eg Langsandy's geese - smiley - cool
Eagles, gulls, herons, even vultures - smiley - cool
Birds that don't fly at all, even - fairly smiley - cool
But ducks will need a little bit of a perceptive shift, even the handsome ones.


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