Reservoir Ducks II

The two freshwater ponds at the University of Aveiro are currently packed with ducks, of which many are still undergoing their annual moult. Among about 360 Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) at least 21 were carrying a nasal saddle, all of which could be read.




Also present were about nine Shovelers (Anas clypeata), one of which was marked. All of the marked ducks have previously been captured, marked and released at the Sao Jacinto dune reserve (David Rodrigues/www.pt-ducks.com).

As in the reserve, in these ponds the ducks should be relatively safe from hunting (the hunting season recently started, I believe starts September 6), but they’ll have to deal with regular disturbance by dogs and people (just as in the reserve..?).