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Variations in duck numbers at Christchurch during the 1967 New Zealand shooting season

  • Publication Type

    Journal Article

  • Publication Year

    1972

  • Author(s)

    J.M. Smith

  • Journal Name

    Notornis

  • Volume, Issue

    19, 1

  • Pagination

    36-41

  • Article Type

    Paper

  • DOI

    https://doi.org/10.63172/587202jsjtdl

Keywords

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Variations in duck numbers at Christchurch during the 1967 New Zealand shooting season

Notornis, 19 (1), 36-41

J.M. Smith (1972)

Article Type: Paper

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Counts of grey (Anas superciliosa), mallard (A. platyrhynchos) and hybrid ducks were made on 500 yards of the Avon River and Lakes Victoria and Albert between 16 April and 18 July 1967. During the pre-shooting season (16 April to 5 May) duck numbers rose steadily from about 1150 to 1800. Numbers continued to rise about the same rate during the first five days of the shooting season (6 May to 11 May). During the remainder of the season (12 May to 5 June) the numbers remained about 2200. During the post-shooting season (6 June to 5 July) the numbers declined during the first 14 days to about 1300 and then remained about this level. The increase in numbers during the shooting season was significantly different from both the pre-shooting and post-shooting numbers. The latter were not significantly different from each other. Flight patterns, feeding habits and behaviour during the shooting season are discussed.