Shelduck:
UK Status: Resident,
re-enforced during the winter by an influx of over wintering migrants.
Habitat: This chunky duck
is larger than the Mallard, but smaller than a goose. They can be found
in largish pools, lakes, reservoirs, flooded gravel pits, river
estuaries and quite often in the sea near to the shore. They like the
banks around the water to be flat and with a muddy, sandy or gravel
surface for feeding.
Breeding: Shelduck is of
concern at the moment, as their numbers appear to be declining year, by
year. This bird nests in old rabbit burrows, hollow tree trunks,
haystacks, and other such hideaways. As rabbits in the distant past were
a human source of food, Shelduck were persecuted for competing with the
rabbits.
Comment: Probably most
common around the coast line of the British Isles, but found quite often
inland.