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Psilos Wildfowl Photography |
South African Shelduck (Tadorna cana) |
This Shelduck also breeds well at Martinmere.
In the wild it can be found in Namibia, southern parts of Botswana and
western and central South Africa. It is a gregarious species that can
be found in semi arid regions, dams, pans and lakes. It feeds mainly
in the early morning and evening on a diet of aquatic insects, seeds,
algae and young vegetation. As with most species of shelduck it nests
underground. |
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The male (above) and female (below) |
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Both adults tend the young until they fledge
at around 70 days old. Here is dad keeping a close watch on his young
ones. |
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Three of the young made it from the pair shown
here. Here is one of them at about 10 weeks old.(above) and an older
juvenile (below) |
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