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Inspiring and Supporting Photographers of Australian Birds

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Pacific Black Duck

Pacific Black Duck (Image ID 42998)
Photographed byMichael Hamel-Green on Mon 19th Oct, 2020 and uploaded on Tue 20th Oct, 2020 .
Resolution1400x784
Viewed252
ID42998
CommentHere are a pair of Pacific Black Ducks trying to make a living in a Sargasso Sea of reddish Azolla ferny weed, choking up the newly-created wetlands near the confluence of Edgars and Merri Creeks, Coburg. It is an invasive species of water plant that creates mats up to 30cm thick, can cover 100% of the surface (as it is doing here), and prevents insects and frogs from reaching the surface. Our two Black Ducks, however, appeared undaunted, ploughing through the Azolla “sea-ice”, and taking exploratory dives here and there for what might lie below. The Cousteaus of the bird world. While Azolla is an invasive species in wetlands, it is not without its possible benefits at a time of global warming. Apparently 55 million years ago, during a global warming event affecting the Arctic, it helped reverse the warming by spreading so widely that it consumed enough carbon dioxide to reduce warming and establish Arctic ice sheets. So, sorry frogs, here in Coburg we may be taking one small step to halt our lemming-like march to climate change extinction. Only, on second thoughts, perhaps we can give our wetland frogs and birds a reprieve and look at the possibility of replanting Azolla in selected freshwater parts of the Arctic and Antarctic. Only, on third thoughts, what about the poor plankton, Emperor Penguins, and whales? So perhaps we humans should just do something about achieving zero carbon emissions.
EquipmentNikon Z7, Nikon 300mm PF
ISO 800
1/1200th f8
LocationEdgars Creek Wetlands Coburg, Victoria
Keywordsadult
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