On the week of April 15, 5130 mallards were counted, just up on last year’s count of 5100.
Fish & Game (F&G) conducts an annual helicopter survey of the same 46 ponds, six 10km river sections and ten 10km overland transects from Taieri to South Otago, especially around the Clutha and Pomahaka rivers, before the opening of every game-bird season.
F&G officer Jayde Couper said the count indicated mallards in the region were being managed responsibly over the long term.
"This season’s trend count was below the average of 5700, [but] the overall mallard trend across nine years is positive," he said.
"Mallards which would normally be camped on the big river were instead sheltering deeper among the willows or out of sight, off the river ... This is why we analyse the overall trend and not just one year’s count ... It’s not a population count of all mallards in Otago."
This year, counts were affected by low water in many ponds, as well as high and dirty water in the Clutha, due to heavy rain in the headwaters.
"While the Otago countryside is greener, April’s rainfall so far hasn’t made a huge difference to water levels in many ponds and wetlands ... But heavy rainfall in the headwaters did top up Otago’s big southern lakes."
"We’d like more rain and then suitably windy conditions on opening weekend, which encourages the birds to move around."
