Australia Day Wood Duck

Today being Australia Day I wanted to find something suitable to blip. The Australian Wood Duck, Maned Duck or Maned Goose (Chenonetta jubata) is found throughout most of Australia. It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta and the Ringed Teal may be its closest relative. So that was my choice.

This duck is typically 45-50 cms long and looks like a small goose. This duck is a female and I caught her swimming in the Playford Lake in Belair National Park. Seen better in LARGE.
That is not a reflection in the lower part of the photo but is another duck about to break the surface of the water.

The Australian Wood Duck is found in grasslands, open woodlands, wetlands, and in lakes and urban parks such as this one.

It is classified as game bird, and killed by hunters during the short hunting season. It is also considered as pest, because it damages crops and pastures. However, this species is not threatened, and numbers are quite stable.

Other Belair National Park blips:

Lake Reflections of 26th December, 2012 for another view of this lake.
Avenue of Gums, 8th December at this park.
Koala bear at Belair National Park, 13th October.