Duck hunting in Victoria

Duck hunting does more than destroy native waterbirds. It also sees Victorian wetlands polluted with plastic shotgun shells, bottles, cans and human waste. Perhaps worst of all, hunting makes some wonderful wetlands inaccessible for birdwatching three months of the year.

An example is Lake Murdeduke, current home to a large assemblage of migratory waders (including as many as 600 Curlew Sandpipers), as well as the prized rarities Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Ruff and Long-toed Stint.

In three weeks, this wetland is scheduled to open for duck shooting!

But birders can help by surveying wetlands to estimate both ‘game’ species and threatened species, like Freckled or Blue-billed Duck. If enough of the latter are present, the wetland can be closed for shooting.

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