Muscovy duck, how to report?

[IKLland]

Hi, 

Im in south Florida, and am wondering how to report the Muscovy ducks I’m seeing. Do I report this as Muscovy Duck(established feral)? Thanks

Tagging People that live or have been to Florida 

@Connor Cochrane @Clip

[Clip]

9 minutes ago, IKLland said:

Hi, 

Im in south Florida, and am wondering how to report the Muscovy ducks I’m seeing. Do I report this as Muscovy Duck(established feral)? Thanks

Tagging People that live or have been to Florida 

@Connor Cochrane @Clip

Yes on Established feral as the way to report.

 

Edited December 15, 2021 by Clip

[Clip]

Welcome to Florida! Have fun and happy birding.

[IKLland]

1 minute ago, Clip said:

Yes on Established feral as the way to report.

 

Thanks. I always thought these were domestic birds. Do they count in a life list? EBird seems to count it. 

[Clip]

3 minutes ago, IKLland said:

Thanks. I always thought these were domestic birds. Do they count in a life list? EBird seems to count it. 

Yes in some places. Most of Florida they count.

 

[Seanbirds]

1 hour ago, Clip said:

Yes in some places. Most of Florida they count.

 

Do they count in the RGV of Texas? Don't think so but just thought I'd ask.

[Connor Cochrane]

15 minutes ago, Seanbirds said:

Do they count in the RGV of Texas? Don't think so but just thought I'd ask.

The wild ones do. 

[Birding Boy]

Yeah, the established feral population in Florida is ABA countable.

[Seanbirds]

1 hour ago, Connor Cochrane said:

The wild ones do. 

Not talking about the truly wild ones around Falcon Dam in the western RGV.

I saw lots of domestic ferals in the Brownsville area (Cameron County). Do those count?

[Clip]

20 hours ago, Seanbirds said:

Do they count in the RGV of Texas? Don't think so but just thought I'd ask.

Sorry not familiar with Texas. My suggestion is plug it into ebird and see what happens. If you get an Established Feral option and you know for sure it was not a captive or pet duck, count it.

[Seanbirds]

4 hours ago, Clip said:

Sorry not familiar with Texas. My suggestion is plug it into ebird and see what happens. If you get an Established Feral option and you know for sure it was not a captive or pet duck, count it.

Here's the checklist:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S81784205

[blackburnian]

Muscovy Ducks in S FL are indeed ABA countable, as well as Egyptian Geese and a slew of other exotics. 

[Clip]

1 hour ago, Seanbirds said:

Here's the checklist:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S81784205

So go into edit species. Type in Muscovy Duck and if it pulls up Established Feral and Domestic Type click on Established Feral. If it doesn't give you the the Established Feral option then they are not established in that area and should not be counted on your life list.

[Clip]

1 hour ago, blackburnian said:

Muscovy Ducks in S FL are indeed ABA countable, as well as Egyptian Geese and a slew of other exotics. 

Indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Seanbirds]

1 hour ago, Clip said:

So go into edit species. Type in Muscovy Duck and if it pulls up Established Feral and Domestic Type click on Established Feral. If it doesn't give you the the Established Feral option then they are not established in that area and should not be counted on your life list.

Nope, not countable. ?

[blackburnian]

On 12/15/2021 at 11:57 AM, Seanbirds said:

Not talking about the truly wild ones around Falcon Dam in the western RGV.

I saw lots of domestic ferals in the Brownsville area (Cameron County). Do those count?

Yes, only Muscovies right along the River count in TX, with a only a few locations proving reliable. May not be as exciting, but the FL birds are much easier to find. 

[IKLland]

Here’s a question, how do you know whether to report as established feral or as domestic type? How do you know if it’s domestic? 

[Charlie Spencer]

39 minutes ago, IKLland said:

Here’s a question, how do you know whether to report as established feral or as domestic type? How do you know if it’s domestic? 

I'm =guessing= 'Established Feral' applies to birds of the base species that are breeding in an introduced range.  'Domestic' applies to hybrids, cross-breeds, and other birds that show traits not found in 'true' birds.

Edited December 20, 2021 by Charlie Spencer

[IKLland]

18 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said:

I'm =guessing= 'Established Feral' applies to birds of the base species that are breeding in an introduced range.  'Domestic' applies to hybrids, cross-breeds, and other birds that show traits not found in 'true' birds.

So how would this be reported? 

[Charlie Spencer]

I'm =guessing again= that bird is a domestic.

[Clip]

19 hours ago, IKLland said:

Here’s a question, how do you know whether to report as established feral or as domestic type? How do you know if it’s domestic? 

This is a question that is above my pay grade. Perhaps @Liamwould have a good answer. I have my way of doing things but it may not be the proper way. It would be good to hear from someone like Liam.

[IKLland]

Thanks. I see a lot of photos on eBird of feral birds that look like mine, but most of the domestics are mostly whitish. Weird. 

Edited December 21, 2021 by IKLland

[Clip]

12 minutes ago, IKLland said:

Thanks. I see a lot of photos on eBird of feral birds that look like mine, but most of the domestics are mostly whitish. Weird. 

Muscovy Ducks do have several variations. If memory serves @Liam knows a lot of ducks including domestics too.

Edited December 21, 2021 by Clip

[Liam]

22 hours ago, IKLland said:

Here’s a question, how do you know whether to report as established feral or as domestic type? How do you know if it’s domestic? 

Here's a quick flowchart for submitting Muscovy Ducks in eBird? 

                                                                            Are you in Florida?

Yes....                                                                                                                   No...

Established Feral (unless it's clearly a zoo or farm bird).                                Are you in S. Texas directly in the vicinity of the Rio Grande River?

                                                                                                                            Yes...                                                                                                                 No...

                                                                                                                            Muscovy Duck (if phenotypically correct and in correct habitat)                (domestic type)

[IKLland]

1 hour ago, Liam said:

Here's a quick flowchart for submitting Muscovy Ducks in eBird? 

                                                                            Are you in Florida?

Yes....                                                                                                                   No...

Established Feral (unless it's clearly a zoo or farm bird).                                Are you in S. Texas directly in the vicinity of the Rio Grande River?

                                                                                                                            Yes...                                                                                                                 No...

                                                                                                                            Muscovy Duck (if phenotypically correct and in correct habitat)                (domestic type)

Thanks. I’m a bit confused for Florida, if it’s in Florida, is it ALWAYS established feral unless it’s a zoo bird?