Three Mallard Ducks Euthanized for Preying on Pūteketeke Chicks in Canterbury's Mackenzie Basin
Three mallard ducks have been euthanized after being found hunting and killing freshly hatched pūteketeke (Australasian crested grebe) chicks in Canterbury's Mackenzie basin. The discovery was made by Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers, who were shocked to see the ducks preying on the chicks near Lake Alexandrina, south of Lake Tekapo. This incident has sparked concern among conservation experts, as it is unusual for ducks to prey on other birds.
The pūteketeke, which gained international attention in 2023 when comedian John Oliver campaigned for it to win the Forest and Bird's Bird of the Century crown, is now facing a new threat. Principal biodiversity ranger Dean Nelson expressed horror at the sight of the chicks being eaten alive, emphasizing that mallard ducks typically feed on plant material and insects, not other birds. The ducks were observed actively scoping out pūteketeke nests, indicating a potential learning behavior among the mallard ducks.
This behavior is unprecedented in DOC's records, and experts fear it could spread as ducks learn from each other. A similar incident was documented in a 2017 research paper from Cambridge University, where a group of mallard ducks attacked and ate the chicks of two common bird species in Romania. The author claimed it was a world-first case, suggesting the ducks were seeking protein before laying eggs and nesting.
The individual who reported the incident is praised for taking action and providing evidence through photos. This highlights the importance of public engagement in conservation efforts, as DOC rangers cannot be present everywhere. Campers and boaties around Lake Benmore were previously asked to monitor pūteketeke nests, as many were located near the boat ramp and along the lake shore. The pūteketeke colony has shown a consistent nesting pattern over the last five breeding seasons, with 40 to 50 nests annually.
The DOC staff caught the three ducks and removed them from the site, euthanizing them humanely. They are also conducting further checks to ensure no other mallard ducks have repeated this behavior. This incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between predator and prey in nature and the need for ongoing conservation efforts to protect vulnerable species.
