Wildlife

Tasmania is home to 11 species of native ducks. You might have seen Pacific Black Ducks (PBD), Chestnut Teal and Grey Teals dabbling in shallow water for aquatic invertebrates and vegetation in areas such as Lauderdale canal. Australian Shelducks can be found in Ralphs Bay and Australasian Shovelers have been known to breed in Rosscommon Reserve.

Rarer species such as Freckled Ducks, Hardheads and Blue-billed ducks can occasionally be spotted at Risdon Brook Dam. Native ducks play an important role in maintaining ecological balance, biodiversity and environmental health.

Unfortunately, some of the areas our native ducks call home have become a common dumping area for domestic ducks. Our native species are smaller and timid compared to the large and more aggressive domestic ducks, who outcompete them for food and habitat.

In Tasmania, Pacific Black Ducks are at serious risk of extinction because of cross breeding with domestic Mallard Ducks. Something which has sadly already occurred on Lorde Howe and Norfolk Islands.  

Feeding wild ducks

Wild ducks need wild food. This means they need to find their own food in their environment and not be fed by people. Feeding wild ducks causes nutritional deficiencies and hinders the development of natural behaviours. It can also put them in dangerous situations. Ducks in our local area have been hit by cars trying to cross roads where people have left food and water in their gardens.

Sadly, feeding wild ducks also encourages people to dump more domestic ducks in the area.

Feeding ducks both domestic and native, not only causes harm to the ducks, but can have negative impacts on the surrounding environment. When ducks are encouraged to stay in one area (due to feeding) it causes a build up of duck poo. In excess, duck poo causes pollution in waterways such as algal blooms, which can crowd out other plants and starve water of oxygen, killing aquatic animals.

Diseases like botulism also become more prevalent when ducks overcrowd waterways. Botulism is a serious condition that causes life threatening symptoms to not only ducks but all birds.

Owning Ducks responsibly

Ducks kept at home should be adequately contained to prevent them from becoming wild.

If you like to keep ducks at home, please consider breeds other than Mallards. Other common domestic breeds, such as Muscovy’s can’t cross-breed with native ducks and pose less of an environmental risk. Some breeds, like Indian Runners are flightless and much easier to keep safely at home.

If you see or know of anyone dumping domestic ducks, please report this to a council ranger as it is not only inhumane, but also illegal.               

Reporting duck dumping can be done via the online form or you can also reach us by phone or email: 

In person: 38 Bligh Street, Rosny Park, Tasmania 7018 
Phone: 03 6217 9500 
Email: clarence@ccc.tas.gov.au

Resources

If you need help identifying if a duck is native, a domestic mallard or mallard hybrid, you can send a photo to Pacific Black Duck Conservation Group at pacificblackduck@landcaretas.org.au or see the Facebook group: Pacific Black Duck Conservation Group | Facebook

Information on living with ducks can be found on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website.

If you still want to engage with the ducks in Clarence, there are duck discovery activities you can do at any time. Including becoming a citizen scientist and conducting a species survey and helping us monitor the much-loved duck population in our city.

Free Ducks of Tasmania booklets are also available from council offices.