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Ducks in St Stephens green

  • 21-04-2009 4:27pm
    #1
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi,

    Now that I am unemployed, I thought it would be nice to go to St Stephens Green and feed the ducks. Only, I only saw three. I did, however see dozens of sea gulls. Apparently they have been there for a while. Can anyone shed any light as to why there are so few ducks around? I have done a bit of a google, and other than finding people commenting on the fact, that there are no ducks, I have not come upon a reason.

    Generally, the only times you see gulls inland is before and during a major storm. So why are the gulls staying in Stephens Green?

    Thanks,


Comments

  • #2
    afatbollix
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,118 ✭✭✭afatbollix


    so much free food on offer is why the gulls are staying inland now... they can also feed during the night with the lights...


  • #3
    boneless
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,487 ✭✭✭boneless


    The ducks are more than likely making baby ducks at the moment ;).

    The gulls are there because people feed the ducks :). Gulls are opportunistic little gits... and The Green is less than a mile from the coast!!


  • #4
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    afatbollix wrote: »
    so much free food on offer is why the gulls are staying inland now... they can also feed during the night with the lights...

    Thats what I was thinking. So have the ducks been displaced? Where have they gone?

    This is starting to remind me of Frank Kelly's 12 days of christmas.


  • #5
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    boneless wrote: »
    The ducks are more than likely making baby ducks at the moment ;).

    The gulls are there because people feed the ducks :). Gulls are opportunistic little gits... and The Green is less than a mile from the coast!!

    That makes sense. Maybe its because I was never in the green at this time of year. That said, surely the drakes would be floating(excuse the pun) around to find food, while the ducks sit and hatch?

    I saw two drakes and a duck and they were flying out of the park, so thats why I wondered if it was because the gulls had displaced them.


  • #6
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    I think you may just have been there at a bad time as I call in to the green about twice a month and there are always lots of duck about.


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  • #7
    stevensi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 424 ✭✭stevensi


    I'm afraid that drake mallards are very aggressive when it comes to mating. They give the female an awful time. At this time of the year you can often see a female flying passed being chased by 4 to 5 males. I reckon that's why the ponds are pretty empty at the moment. Females are trying to get away but the males are not giving up with a fight.

    Also during the winter months there are a lot of tufted ducks in Stephens green and they might have departed back North although some do stay here all year round.


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