Bird life is dwindling at Secunda Duck Pond
A visit to the duck pond last week led to the discovery of several fishing line wires dangling from trees and hardly any aquatic birds in sight
SECUNDA – Snares, night lines, fishing tackle and thieves are threatening the existence of bird life at the Secunda Duck Pond and other dams in the green strips.
Snares placed in the reeds to trap red-knobbed coot (water fowl) and geese have been reported.
A resident who regularly walk along the shores of the dams recently spotted several birds caught in snares.
Regulars to the Duck Pond have also seen fishing line with hooks being drawn across the water.
These are called “night lines” which poachers usually hide in the water. At night they return and pull out a several fish at once.
Mr Frans Pretorius from the Secunda Steamers, said fishing gut is a big nuisance and detrimental to the birds. They are easily tangled up in the fishing line and on several occasions he had to cut down dead or starving birds where they were dangling from trees.
“People who fish at the dam hardly ever clean up after themselves. Exposed hooks and fishing tackle can be found everywhere. I wish these people will realise how dangerous this is to other visitors. Imagine what will happen if a child steps into one of these hooks?”
The walkways around the Duck Pond and dams in the area are also frequented by people walking their dogs that can also run into these hazards.
Mr Pretorius noticed that the duck and geese numbers were diminishing and several months ago decided to release two fairly tame ducks into the pond.
“Scarcely a few days later, I saw and followed a trail of feathers leading from the duck pond and under the bridge towards the green strip behind Highveld Park High School.
The person who took off with the animal was in a hurry and just began plucking the bird on the run.”
Mr Pretorius found the second bird shortly thereafter with a broken neck.
“I closely inspected it and found an injury where the bird was hit with a stone. I suspect the culprit used a kettie (slingshot) to shoot the duck.”
A visit to the duck pond last week led to the discovery of several fishing lines dangling from trees and hardly any aquatic birds in sight.
With spring moving in, the hope is that migrating birds will return to this spot and the “duck” in Duck Pond will be back.
