Ruddy duck shooting

Feargal as Luimneach

Anybody here seen/shot Ruddy duck. Ruddy duck are an invasive species native to North America. Feral population established in UK. A few breed in the North (Oxford Island Reserve). You see the odd one in Tacumshin, Lady's Island or the Wexford wildfowl reserve.
The problem is they hybridise with White headed duck (native southern europe) which is severly endangered. The Ruddy Duck Ireland/UK often migrate to spain. An eradication programme is present in the UK but the Ruddies in Ireland as far as I know are not been targeted.
Any wildfowlers out there look them up and if you see them blow their heads off.:mad:

Duck's hoop

I belive a mate of my brother shot one before christmas. It was seen as an event so I wouldn't say there are that many around here - north east.

My mistake - it was a wood duck he shot.

Half-cocked

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

Any wildfowlers out there look them up and if you see them blow their heads off.:mad:

100% agree.

Feargal as Luimneach

Duck's hoop wrote: »

I belive a mate of my brother shot one before christmas. It was seen as an event so I wouldn't say there are that many around here - north east.

My mistake - it was a wood duck he shot.

Now's the time to get them while they're not too numerous. Here's some info on them.
http://www.invasivespeciesireland.com/mostunwanted/detail.asp?id=49

Some pictures male and female
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/IFWIS/ibt/userfiles/image/photos/800/ruddy-duck--terry-gray.jpg
Male is quite distinctive so will be easily seen (can be secretive though)
Care needed though with female Ruddy can look superficially similar to female Garganey( a rare summer breeder to Ireland). Juvenile male garganey will look similar to female garganey.
Here is female Garganey
http://www.surfbirds.com/media/Photos/2001-11-04-garganey-ph.jpg
Garganey often seen in Tacumshin, where Ruddy can also be found.

Dusty87

I take it Ruddy duck dont have a season??

Feargal as Luimneach

Dusty87 wrote: »

I take it Ruddy duck dont have a season??

365 day season

J.R.

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

365 day season

As far as I'm aware they have the same season as all other species of duck that can be shot

1st Sept - 31st Jan

Feargal as Luimneach

J.R. wrote: »

As far as I'm aware they have the same season as all other species of duck that can be shot

1st Sept - 31st Jan

My mistake, that should be changed IMO. I wonder why is isn't?

Eddie B

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

My mistake, that should be changed IMO. I wonder why is isn't?

Because id imagine there would be a lot of cases of mistakin identity, resulting in a lot of non taget species being shot during the breeding season!

Also, there's too many people around lakes this time of year with fishing and water sports, so its really a no no!
Apart from that i think its important that you don't disturb wildlife while there breeding, so you might end up doing more bad than good!;)

lorkie

there are **** all ruddy duck in ireland with the main population being concentrated in northern ireland. i am pretty sure the tiny amount of them are not going to effect you directly so just leave well enough alone. just cause the english do it does not mean we have to follow suit

Dusty87

lorkie wrote: »

there are **** all ruddy duck in ireland with the main population being concentrated in northern ireland. i am pretty sure the tiny amount of them are not going to effect you directly so just leave well enough alone. just cause the english do it does not mean we have to follow suit

Not disagreeing with ya lorkie as i don know anything about them but if people dont keep on top of them now could they breed quickly and then have a worse problem??

Grizzly 45

Duck's hoop wrote: »

I belive a mate of my brother shot one before christmas. It was seen as an event so I wouldn't say there are that many around here - north east.

My mistake - it was a wood duck he shot.

A wood duck??That is intresting...Seeing that they are usually only found in the US/Canada region.Only duck that actually nests in a tree.So quite an intresting tourist your bro shot there.

Grizzly 45

Any wildfowlers out there look them up and if you see them blow their heads off.:mad:[/QUOTE]

nice to see that us hunters can be used for the dirty work of invasive species culling...:mad: Actually not a good idea to" blow anythings heads off" Until you actually KNOW what it is you are shooting at!:mad:

Feargal as Luimneach

[/QUOTE]

nice to see that us hunters can be used for the dirty work of invasive species culling...:mad: Actually not a good idea to" blow anythings heads off" Until you actually KNOW what it is you are shooting at!:mad:[/QUOTE]
That's why I gave links above to distinguish between similar species ie female ruddy and female garganey.

Feargal as Luimneach

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

A wood duck??That is intresting...Seeing that they are usually only found in the US/Canada region.Only duck that actually nests in a tree.So quite an intresting tourist your bro shot there.

Wood duck in Ireland are almost certainly escapes from wildfowl collections and are not wild. As far as I know Wood duck have never been accepted to the Irish birdlist.

johngalway

What negative effect does the ruddy duck have on our native flora or fauna?

landkeeper

wood ruddy duck:cool:

lorkie

ruddy duck are nowhere near becoming a problem here. there is a small breeding number in northern lakes and very few sightings in the republic. and as for your comparison with garganey your completely wrong. they are nothing alike. seems to me you dont know too much about ducks especially ruddy duck and garganey. i think you should just stick to shooting wat your meant too. there are enough mallard, teal, tufted duck, wigeon and pochard <snip>.

MOD NOTE - READ THE CHARTER - ESPECIALLY THE BIT ABOUT BEING CIVIL

Grizzly 45

[/QUOTE]
That's why I gave links above to distinguish between similar species ie female ruddy and female garganey.[/QUOTE]

And thats why we also have SEASONS to shoot waterfowl ...So that the birds can be properly identified by their plumage before "we blow their heads off":rolleyes::mad:.Not to mind that if the ducks were shot out of season their ducklings would die off pretty quickly too in a miserable way.
It amazes me that,when somthing doesnt fit in nature,those who love it and scream blue murder about cruel hunters are the first in to demand the same hunters do a free cull for them as well.Go away and set up a trapping programme to catch these ducks seeing that they arent that many around going by invasive species website,and dont be asking us to do somone elses dirty work...For free as well!:mad:

Feargal as Luimneach

lorkie wrote: »

ruddy duck are nowhere near becoming a problem here. there is a small breeding number in northern lakes and very few sightings in the republic. and as for your comparison with garganey your completely wrong. they are nothing alike. seems to me you dont know too much about ducks especially ruddy duck and garganey. i think you should just stick to shooting wat your meant too. there are enough mallard, teal, tufted duck, wigeon and pochard <snip>.

MOD NOTE - READ THE CHARTER - ESPECIALLY THE BIT ABOUT BEING CIVIL

It's easier to eradicate the bird when the population is small than to wait till the population is larger especially since the bird is shy.
Female garganey and female ruddy both small size (teal size). Large bills unlike teal, both have cheek stripes. At distance, poor light you can make the mistake. I made the mistake once myself.