As you may know, there are many families of ducks living along Michigan Drive and Riversdale Road. There are several families on Riversdale Rd in particular and unfortunately they like to cross the road from the house on the corner of Oberon Way to the grassy easement/pony trail on the other side.Due to the absence of warning signs and the fact that many drivers speed along Riversdale Road, many of these ducks and their ducklings are losing their lives in horrific ways as they cross.
A local resident has witnessed the deaths of 8 ducks on Riversdale Rd this past month alone and has approached our local Councillor John Wayne to place yellow 'duck crossing' 
warning signs on the approach to this crossing area on Riversdale Rd. This issue is now with Main Roads. Fingers crossed for their approval and speedy installation.
warning signs on the approach to this crossing area on Riversdale Rd. This issue is now with Main Roads. Fingers crossed for their approval and speedy installation.The ducks on Riversdale Road are Australian Wood Ducks and they are a very special breed of duck, one that has many 'quirks' - here's what I discovered about them:
The Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta Jubata), is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia. It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta. This species is also known as the Maned Duck or the Maned Goose.
Its habitat is lightly wooded swamps and marshes - it nests in a tree hole laying 8-12 eggs. We are right in the middle of their breeding season now - it runs from January to March. The male duck is grey with a dark brown head and mottled breast. The female has white stripes above and below the eye and mottled 
underparts.
underparts. The Australian Wood Duck forms monogamous breeding pairs that stay together year round. Both parents feed the young and young birds remain with them up to a month after fledging.
This 45-51cm duck looks like a small goose and feeds mostly by grazing in flocks. Unusually for a duck, it rarely swims. They walk easily on land and may be seen perching on logs and in trees. They will only take to open water when disturbed/threatened.
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While this matter is not about 'crime' as such, it is a safety issue in our neighbourhood as drivers often swerve or break suddenly on seeing the ducks crossing - which places other drivers and pedestrians at risk.
