NZ Grey Teal Duck

This lovely native duck is one of the lucky ones. We have had a lot of water birds in suffering from Botulism. It is a bacterial infection birds catch when the oxygen levels on lakes/ streams drop ( usually due to summer heat). It causes neuro- toxins which paralyse the birds and they suffer a long drawn out death. With treatment a lot of them can be saved. This is one of the survivors. ( red nail polish on beak helps identify it !! )