Duck people, what are these?

[orumpoultry]

EDIT: They're Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.... Now, what kind of housing? Any guess on gender? Found out what they were via this pic



The local 'duck pond' at the college has two of these. ( Plus countless scovies, pekin, rouen, and cayuga... )

I have permission from the park to catch and take whatever I want, and I want these! What in the world are they? The 'female' has one of the worst wings I've ever seen, but I haven't been able to get my hands on her yet to find out why. She doesn't swim, she doesn't fly, she just wades. The 'male' flies up into trees ( never far from her ) and will wade out a little bit furthur than the 'female'.

I've been taming them for just over a year and I know for a fact I could approach this pair with a net. Now I just need to bring a cage with me as well to take them home.

Anyway, here are some bad cell phone pics. Park guy says they're whistling something or others.


Female with the bad wing.


They have mostly black underbellies with orange up front and speckles in the back.


They make a whistling sound. Very pretty.



Female on the left, male on the right?






Male in a tree. You can kind of see where his chest changes from orange to black.

 

[Mum]

Personally, I wouldn't "capture" either of them (why would you? They are clearly very content in their environment

)

What I *may* consider, is capturing their eggs

the reason for this is multifold: a) you do not disturb a mating pair; b) you could increase the chases of hatching a potentially rare breed and c) what do you have to lose?

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do (no easy answers

; its all subjective as opposed to objective reasoning)

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Nice the park gave permission, you need to check state laws on keeping them though and get the proper permits and housing in order before thinking about taking them. Fish and game, DNR or some such agency will be who you contact.

 

[orumpoultry]

I'm mainly curious to know what these two are. It would be nice to have these two beauties, but the park is over run by Muscovy's not BB Whistling Ducks... I'm still getting numbers, but yesterday I counted over 60 of these before I got distracted and noticed one of the hens was missing... A pretty blue. Took her ducklings and, in the process, got some pics on these two.

Everything I'm reading up on says they're native wildlife, which means I probably wont be able to touch them. Even to check that one's wing to see what's going on with it.

Mum - they are content. I'd rather just see if there's any way to help the hen with her wing... No need in getting fined for illegal housing!

- Got the number to the local game warden. Going to keep calling around and get this little lady some help. I think it's a bad break, and it just hangs there. But idk. I know I said I would LOVE to have them. But again, if the game warden says no... I'm NOT getting fined.

 

[desertdarlene]

Do you have a local wildlife rehabilitator? They may be able to help the one with the bad wing.

We have a couple mallard with wings like that and it's not always because of a break. Sometimes, while mating or fighting, joints and ligaments get torn or damaged. Sometimes it heals in its own, but may not heal correctly. Or, if it's an old break, it won't heal perfectly, but the bird will retain some of its flying ability. If you can get help, that would be great.

 

[orumpoultry]

I was forced to get in contact with the Game Warden last night ( someone hit a deer and left her suffering on the road ) and he gave me his number to call today about getting in touch with a wildlife rehab.

Also, had a whole paragraph on this pair and how I've seen them interacting the past two years... Computer crashed and it's GONE. - Anywho, she has been like this for longer than I'd like. I know for a fact when I left for Florida in July 2011 she was showing signs of an injury. When I returned, I found her like this. It's not healing, in fact it's getting worse.

 

[jessaba]

Pretty ducks!

 

[orumpoultry]

Update - the rescue/rehab place will be by to look at and or pick up this pair sometime this week.

If I'm able to go when they go, I will try to take my good camera and get some pictures close up of the female.

 

[nickie]

Please, oh please, please get more pics! They are stunning.

 

[jak2002003]

They look so beautiful. Please leave them where they are......they seem very happy and have a perfect place to live. Hate to think about them in a cage or pen.

Hope the wildlife person can get a look at the wing. Has the wing been like that for a long time? It does not look like its broken or causing her any pain, and they both look in really good health too.

I love that turtle in the photo! Are there many turtles there too?