British Waterfowl Association

British Waterfowl Association The BWA is a registered charity dedicated to education about waterfowl and their conservation. We're in this together to create a welcoming environment.

We welcome anyone with an interest in waterfowl, irrespective of your level of expertise. By being kind and courteous, we can all learn about our shared interest and feel this is a safe space for all. Healthy debates are natural, we all have things to learn from each other but please, no hate speech or belittling. Bullying of any kind isn't allowed, and degrading comments about things like race, r

eligion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity particularly will not be tolerated. We hope you'll give more than you take to this hobby. If you like what we do, please share! If you don't, let us know privately, and we will do our best to reflect and make our page better for all. Thank you.

‼️WILD WEDNESDAY QUIZ‼️We are used to young ducks having juvenile plumage not quite like their parents. To be able to es...
09/09/2026

‼️WILD WEDNESDAY QUIZ‼️

We are used to young ducks having juvenile plumage not quite like their parents.
To be able to escape predators when ducks are young and naïve, it makes sense for the first set of flight feathers to grow quickly and be less showy. As well as helping them with ‘escape and evasion’, drakes are less likely to get into fights with established males over territory if they have a more cryptic plumage.

What species is this juvenile and where do they go for their renowned spectacular moult gatherings?

📸David Tomlinson

The answer to last weeks’ WWQ:
Long-tailed ducks have 3 plumages - winter, breeding & eclipse

07/09/2026

💦Water💦

Many water birds have a high body mass to wing area, so if they dropped wing feathers sequentially, their flying performance would be affected. By replacing all the main wing feathers at once, they are disadvantaged for a shorter time.
During the flightless period, they often hide away in secluded places and if attacked, most can escape by swimming underwater.
The high demand for food is met easily at the key time of year, unless of course, their water body dries up….

🎥 M Jones

🪱 Worming Waterfowl 🦆Pal-mates … weekend web tipIt’s that time of year when many waterfowl breeders have young stock gro...
04/09/2026

🪱 Worming Waterfowl 🦆

Pal-mates … weekend web tip

It’s that time of year when many waterfowl breeders have young stock growing on outdoors — and bird numbers are often at their highest before autumn selection.

So it’s a good time to think about worm control.

Signs that a bird may have a high worm burden can include:
• Weight loss or poor growth
• Lethargy and inactivity
• Poor feather condition
• Coughing or respiratory signs
• A generally unwell appearance
• Lameness or limping

🪱 Worming responsibly is important. Using the same worming product repeatedly can contribute to resistance, so rotating products where appropriate may be beneficial.

How often you need to worm your birds will depend on factors such as flock size, stocking density and your housing and ground management. The more space available, the better — rotating areas can help reduce the build-up of worm eggs and larvae.

☀️ And don’t underestimate the power of sunshine! Allowing ground to rest and dry out can help reduce environmental worm burdens.

⚠️ Remember: not all worming products are licensed for use in poultry or waterfowl, and some may require veterinary direction. Always check the product label and seek veterinary advice where necessary.

The products pictured are examples of treatments used by some waterfowl keepers and are not a recommendation or endorsement of any particular product.

We’re excited to announce the date & venue for this year’s Champion Waterfowl Exhibition! 🎉📅 Date: 11th October📍 Venue: ...
04/09/2026

We’re excited to announce the date & venue for this year’s Champion Waterfowl Exhibition! 🎉

📅 Date: 11th October
📍 Venue: Stratford Park Leisure Centre, Stroud

You don’t need to be a member to come along — everyone is welcome! 🥰

Come and meet lots of different ducks, geese & waterfowl, chat to breeders and enthusiasts, and enjoy a wonderful day celebrating these fabulous feathered characters. 🦆💚🪿

Bring your family, bring your friends and come and say hello! 👋

We’d love to see you there! 💙

‼️WILD WEDNESDAY QUIZ‼️The Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) breeds in the high Arctic and spends winters mostly alon...
02/09/2026

‼️WILD WEDNESDAY QUIZ‼️

The Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) breeds in the high Arctic and spends winters mostly along ocean coasts.

Females and immatures are smudgy brown and white, without the long tail. These prodigious divers can feed as deep as 200 feet, swimming with their wings, catching invertebrates and small fish.

But what is unusual about the males plumage?

The answer to last weeks’ WWQ:
A leucistic duck is a wild bird with a genetic mutation that causes a partial loss of color pigment. This results in white feathers, pale patches, or a washed-out look. Unlike albino ducks, leucistic ducks keep their normal dark eye color and regular bill or leg pigment.

🐣 The Amazing Egg Tooth 🥚🦆Ever wondered how a tiny duckling manages to break its way out of such a tough eggshell?Meet t...
31/08/2026

🐣 The Amazing Egg Tooth 🥚🦆

Ever wondered how a tiny duckling manages to break its way out of such a tough eggshell?

Meet the egg tooth! 👀

The egg tooth is a small, hard, pointed structure on the tip of a duckling’s bill. It isn’t a real tooth — it’s a temporary tool designed specifically for hatching.

As the duckling gets ready to hatch, it uses the egg tooth to “pip” the shell, creating a small hole. It then works its way around the inside of the shell, gradually making a crack known as a zip. With lots of effort — and sometimes a well-earned rest! — the duckling eventually breaks free. 🐣💪

Once the duckling has hatched, the egg tooth is no longer needed and naturally disappears within a few days.

So that tiny little spot on the end of a newly hatched duckling’s bill has a very important job! ❤️

Nature really does provide the perfect tools for the job. 🦆✨

📸

👀Sneak Peak👀Your edition of our Waterfowl mag will be winging its way to you early September!Full of info & fascinating ...
30/08/2026

👀Sneak Peak👀

Your edition of our Waterfowl mag will be winging its way to you early September!
Full of info & fascinating articles for your perusal!

If you have an interest in waterfowl how come you’re not already a member? JOIN NOW!

Www.waterfowl.org.uk

Freckles? 🦆Pal-mates ... weekend web tipEver noticed little black spots or “freckles” appearing on your duck’s bill or l...
28/08/2026

Freckles? 🦆

Pal-mates ... weekend web tip

Ever noticed little black spots or “freckles” appearing on your duck’s bill or legs? 🦆

In most cases, there’s no need to worry! These dark spots are usually caused by melanin, a natural skin pigment, and are completely harmless.

So why do they appear?

Duck feed often contains xanthophyll, a yellow pigment found in ingredients such as corn and alfalfa, as well as naturally in green plants. Xanthophyll contributes to the yellow colour of a duck’s bill and legs.

In mature breeding ducks, particularly after they have been laying for some time, xanthophyll can be used in the egg yolks faster than it is replaced through the diet. As the yellow pigment fades, the underlying melanin becomes more visible — resulting in those characteristic dark spots or freckles. 🥚

However, not every change in colour is simply pigmentation. Less common causes can include injury, infection, dietary deficiencies or, occasionally, fungal problems.

👉 If the spots are new, changing, raised, sore, or accompanied by other signs of illness, it’s always best to seek advice from an avian veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis.

So, the next time you spot a few freckles on your duck’s bill, they may simply be showing off their natural colouring! 🦆💛

‼️WILD WEDNESDAY QUIZ‼️The Egyptian goose is a non-native and invasive species in the UK and actually not a goose at all...
26/08/2026

‼️WILD WEDNESDAY QUIZ‼️

The Egyptian goose is a non-native and invasive species in the UK and actually not a goose at all but a member of the Shelduck subfamily!

This leucistic ‘blonde’ Egyptian is displaying a partial loss of colour pigment which does not affect their overall health but does make them more attractive to predators!

What is the main difference between a leucistic and an albino duck?

📸
The answer to last weeks’ WWQ:
Years of breeding Khaki Campbell for maximum egg production means they rarely sit on nests or hatch their own ducklings!

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