Blue Duck

Scientific name: Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos
Common name: Blue Duck
Maori name: Whio (pronounced FEE-O)

Blue ducks are sometimes called mountain ducks, found along turbulent, cascading, bush-fringed alpine rivers and streams banked by gorges of the North and South Islands. They are seldom seen in open, wide rivers or side creeks.

The birds keep together in pairs occupying the same territory all year and are very defensive. Their colouring blends well with the dull light seen in high-banked rivers and boulders, with their white bills only noticeable when they move their heads. Unlike other ducks, blue ducks can see directly forwards in the manner of hawks. Soft fleshy edges on their bills serve as protection when feeding on rocks and also assist in filtering food. They do not flock like other ducks but keep together in family groups for a time.

Blue ducks feed at dawn and dusk and also at night eating caddis-fly larvae, aquatic insects and insects and grubs that fall from overhanging trees. They nibble over boulders for invertebrates, wading and dipping their heads and necks under water. They nest in hollow logs close to the water laying four to eight eggs. Soon after hatching, ducklings are able to swim and dive, keeping with their parents for some time.

The Blue Duck is endemic to New Zealand and endangered.

The image was taken at Orana Wildlife reserve so not sure if its elegible for the Blip Big Year challenge. Orana reserve incubates the eggs and when the ducklings are big enough they release them in preditor free places within New Zealand so the species does not hit the 'Critically Endangered' list, perhaps for this reason it is suitable for the challenge.

A lovely day spent with Mum and Daughter E at Orana, its been a long and tiring week with some ups and downs, feeling quite drained, gutted and not quite myself but all will be fine and I think our family will be together again later next week for a few days, I'll look forward to it :)

Have a great weekend all :)