A popular calling

Just what is it that makes the Call duck so popular? These small, cobby, gobby and bright birds regularly make up the greatest proportion of exhibits at waterfowl shows. Weighing in at a little more than half a kilo, they make up for it in noise. Also known as Decoy Ducks, the first word comes […]

Angel wing

Angel wing is a result of rapid growth and too much protein in early life.

Smoke and Mirrors

The Speculum feathers, Latin for mirror, on a wing are an area of iridescence usually on the secondary Flight feathers. The Brazilian teal has a large area of lustrous green, extending onto the Primary-feathers; unlike Mallard ducks it does not have the clear black & white bordering. The Bronze-winged duck is named after its very […]

Bread or no bread?

Debates rage about whether we should feed bread to waterfowl in public places. In times of hardship, bread is certainly better than starving, however there are better alternatives. Many people gain their first exposure to waterfowl feeding ducks at a local park or river, and from there a love is kindled. Just like us, ducks […]

Reflecting Well

Many of you have commented how nice it would be to have a good reference for more of the waterfowl we keep. We are working on a website upgrade and soon we’ll have just that. We need good images which show the identifying features of the birds. Particularly the species and breeds less commonly kept. […]

Passing of a legend – farewell to Christopher Marler

We are sad to report that Patron and past President (twice), Christopher Marler passed away last week. This comes as a huge shock to his many friends in the waterfowl world, who will wish to express immense sadness that one of the great figures in aviculture has left us. During Christopher’s time with the Association […]

Keep Cool and don’t make a Carry-on

Parts of the country are having warmer weather and the Arctic species will appreciate a cooling stream of water. Things that give birds some entertainment are interesting to watch and enrich their lives. Ice cubes in the water are sometimes appreciated too. Although some species will seek out shade, the eiders often do not seem […]