During these two days we conducted the season’s last catches
and resightings in the ponds of Sao Jacinto. The weather was nice, the birds were singing and it seems that spring has been here for a while now. Most of the ducks have left the
area by now and, if not shot, are on their way to their breeding grounds
further to the north. When observers report these saddled ducks and the unique
inscription they carry to David Rodriques, information can be retrieved on the
species’ migration routes. These reports are also of help to estimate the
species’ mortality.
There were still a few hundred ducks remaining, primarily
Green-winged Teals, Shovelers, Mallards and Wigeons. As expected the total
number of captures was low and included only 9 mallards (of which 6 were
recaptures) and 2 Green-winged teals (both recaptures), meaning that after measuring
and providing saddles and rings to 3 male mallards we were done and could
continue to record the remaining marked birds that were present in the ponds.
Catch of the day...
The jewelry that we gave ‘m…
make it easy to record the presence of individual birds...
Unless they are sleeping.
Thankfully a goshawk made its appearance again and it caused
enough disturbance to keep the ducks awake, and allow us to read pretty much all
the saddled ducks that were present.
We observed this immature female making several spectacular
attempts to catch a prey, but all of which were unsuccessful.
The Shovelers were ‘shoveling’…
The Little Grebes that are resident to the ponds at Sao
Jacinto usually are too busy to strike a pose for the camera. This little
puffball could not resist taking a little nap under the intense spring sun; only for a few seconds though, and than back to courtship and avoiding the goshawk.
More information about this project: http://www.pt-ducks.com/
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