Dr Fiona McDuie

The lengthy history of conservation and management actions, strategies and legislation aimed at waterfowl have ensured these population have not declined over recent decades that have decimated other avifauna. Over at least 150 years this group have had multiple international and national conservation legislations aimed at managing species and populations, to their substantial benefit.

Waterfowl have traditionally been hunted and many actions were initially implemented to ensure adequate harvest opportunity (acquisition of land and establishment of private duck clubs to create wetlands and waterfowl habitat). 

The highly effective, multivariate strategy for conserving waterfowl over time is an exemplar for conservation best practices and could be used to protect and conserve other threatened groups of birds or wildlife.