Human Disturbances to Waterfowl
Annotated Bibliography
The greatest source of nest and brood destruction may result from the human disturbance. During the spring of 1973, two youngsters were seen rowing around a lake collecting eggs from all the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) nests they found. Another person reported that many times he has observed people in motorboats intentionally run down broods of ducklings and in one instance beat a number of ducklings to death with paddles. We also have received reports of ducks in parks being stoned or clubbed to death. Well-meaning people can also cause nest destruction. At Norumbega park, employees of a motel brought food daily to a nestling mallard but the nest was destroyed by a predator that may have been attracted by the scent of the food. Results of a questionnaire and interviews with people observing or feeding the ducks are included.
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