Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[tikay]

I've had a quick google.

Waterfowl crossbreed more often than any other family of birds. Scientists have recorded more than 400 hybrid combinations among waterfowl species. Mallards crossbreed with nearly 50 other species, and wood ducks hybridize with a surprising 26 other species. Nearly 20 percent of waterfowl hybrid offspring are capable of reproducing.

In North America, one of the most common wild hybrids results from   mallard/pintail breeding. Mallards also commonly crossbreed with black ducks, wigeon, shovelers, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal, and gadwalls. In recent years, hybridization between the closely related Eurasian and American wigeons has become more common in Alaska.

[tikay]

And......

Like elsewhere worldwide the alien Mallards are also causing severe “genetic pollution” of South Africa’s biodiversity by breeding with endemic ducks. The hybrids of Mallard and the Yellow-billed Duck are fertile and can produce more hybrid offspring. If this continues, only hybrids will occur and in the long term this will result in the extinction of various indigenous waterfowl. The Mallard duck can cross breed with 63 other species and is posing a severe threat to the genetic integrity of indigenous waterfowl.

[RED-DOG]

I've had a quick google.

Waterfowl crossbreed more often than any other family of birds. Scientists have recorded more than 400 hybrid combinations among waterfowl species. Mallards crossbreed with nearly 50 other species, and wood ducks hybridize with a surprising 26 other species. Nearly 20 percent of waterfowl hybrid offspring are capable of reproducing.

In North America, one of the most common wild hybrids results from   mallard/pintail breeding. Mallards also commonly crossbreed with black ducks, wigeon, shovelers, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal, and gadwalls. In recent years, hybridization between the closely related Eurasian and American wigeons has become more common in Alaska.

Yes, they mate with a lot of different species. but the question was, "Do they mate for life?" Which is not quite the same thing.

[tikay]

I've had a quick google.

Waterfowl crossbreed more often than any other family of birds. Scientists have recorded more than 400 hybrid combinations among waterfowl species. Mallards crossbreed with nearly 50 other species, and wood ducks hybridize with a surprising 26 other species. Nearly 20 percent of waterfowl hybrid offspring are capable of reproducing.

In North America, one of the most common wild hybrids results from   mallard/pintail breeding. Mallards also commonly crossbreed with black ducks, wigeon, shovelers, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal, and gadwalls. In recent years, hybridization between the closely related Eurasian and American wigeons has become more common in Alaska.

Yes, they mate with a lot of different species. but the question was, "Do they mate for life?" Which is not quite the same thing.

Fair commment, but no, I don't believe so.

When they pair off with mating partners, often one or several drakes will end up "left out". This group will sometimes target an isolated female duck — chasing, pestering and pecking at her until she weakens (a phenomenon referred to by researchers as rape flight), at which point each male will take turns copulating with the female. Male Mallards will also occasionally chase other males in the same way. (In one documented case, a male Mallard copulated with another male he was chasing after said male had been killed when he flew into a glass window.)[

PS - unrelated, but it appears that some 20% of Mallards are homosexual, or whatever the avian equivelant of "homo" is.

[RED-DOG]

PS - unrelated, but it appears that some 20% of Mallards are homosexual, or whatever the avian equivelant of "homo" is.

Cor, luvaduck!

[RED-DOG]

And......

Like elsewhere worldwide the alien Mallards are also causing severe “genetic pollution” of South Africa’s biodiversity by breeding with endemic ducks. The hybrids of Mallard and the Yellow-billed Duck are fertile and can produce more hybrid offspring. If this continues, only hybrids will occur and in the long term this will result in the extinction of various indigenous waterfowl. The Mallard duck can cross breed with 63 other species and is posing a severe threat to the genetic integrity of indigenous waterfowl.

This stuff sounds very authoritative. Where's it from?

[tikay]

And......

Like elsewhere worldwide the alien Mallards are also causing severe “genetic pollution” of South Africa’s biodiversity by breeding with endemic ducks. The hybrids of Mallard and the Yellow-billed Duck are fertile and can produce more hybrid offspring. If this continues, only hybrids will occur and in the long term this will result in the extinction of various indigenous waterfowl. The Mallard duck can cross breed with 63 other species and is posing a severe threat to the genetic integrity of indigenous waterfowl.

This stuff sounds very authoritative. Where's it from?

"Ducks Unlimited.com". Obvious, really.

http://www.ducks.org/DU_Magazine/DUMagazineNovDec2006/2910/UnderstandingWaterfowlWaterfowlHybrids.html

[RED-DOG]

From the same source. (I think this is the definitive answer)

http://www.ducks.org/DU_Magazine/DUMagazineMayJune2003/1805/UnderstandingWaterfowl.html

[RED-DOG]

Q: How do you make a duck sing?

A: Put it in the oven until it's bill withers.

[RED-DOG]

To serve and protect....


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8484978.stm

[redarmi]

Know it is going back oin the thread a bit but wanted to say how amazing and educational the stuff about the Gypsy holocaust was.  How are we not taught about stuff like this in school?  Perhaps if we were more people would put pressure on our governments to intervene in places like Darfur, Rwanda, Kenya etc as it is it seems like nobody really cares.

[tikay]

From the same source. (I think this is the definitive answer)

http://www.ducks.org/DU_Magazine/DUMagazineMayJune2003/1805/UnderstandingWaterfowl.html

Yes, I'll go with that Tom - great article, too. By the way, if you join "Ducks Unlimited", they give you a free vest. There you go.

Interesting to note that......

Amongst waterfowl, pretty much only Geese & Swans arer monogomaus.

Many waterfowl practice what they describe as "polygamy" - i.e., they remain faithful only for one breeding season. I believe some humans do that, too.

But the find of the article was a word I've never seen before, & which I so want to drop into casual convo somehow, though I'm struggling to see how I will. But if I could, they'd think I was as clever as Tighty.

philopatry

[pokefast]

Q: How do you make a duck sing?

A: Put it in the oven until it's bill withers.

Thanks, bits of toast all over the laptop now!

[Rod Paradise]

To serve and protect....


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8484978.stm

It's since come out that the orifice officer in question is the same one who, last year, saw a guy drop a tenner & his receipt from the shop he'd just left, called him to tell him he'd dropped the tenner, then booked him for littering by dropping the receipt.   

Like there's not plenty of real criminals in Ayrshire for them to run away from chase.

[lazaroonie]

To serve and protect....


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8484978.stm

It's since come out that the orifice officer in question is the same one who, last year, saw a guy drop a tenner & his receipt from the shop he'd just left, called him to tell him he'd dropped the tenner, then booked him for littering by dropping the receipt.   

Like there's not plenty of real criminals in Ayrshire for them to run away from chase.

apparantly his nickname is officer shiny buttons, due to him being a total jobsworth