Unusually bright guests from the Far East came to the Caucasian State Natural Biosphere Reserve in the south of Russia. Ten rare mandarin ducks will now live in the “Species of the South” arboretum.
On the territory of our country, in their natural habitat, mandarin ducks are found only on the border with China. These birds are accustomed to the mild climate of the subtropics and do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature.
Unlike many other ducks, mandarin duck nests in tree hollows at a height of up to two meters. Their chicks are real "Spartans". To be on the ground for the first time, they have to jump out of their home risking their wellbeing. In addition, offsprings do not hatch every year – these birds are too sensitive to weather conditions and temperature conditions during incubation of eggs.
Males, brightly colored during the mating season from September to June, differ greatly from graceful, but grayish females. But then they shed their long colored feathers and become more like their female counterparts. Mandarin ducks swim well, but do not spend much time in the water.
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With good care and feeding, mandarin ducks can live up to 15 years. Their obligatory diet is pellets. It took several months to prepare for the reception of valuable birds in the “Species of the South” park.
The mandarin ducks were transferred to the Caucasian Reserve by the Natural Ornithological Park in the Imereti Lowlands. Ten unusual birds – seven males and three females – were settled in a spacious aviary not far from a large pond. Visitors can now admire the exotic-colored ducks.
"These ducks ended up in the ornithological park thanks to the Moscow Zoo. Donated free of charge for the exhibition. Years later, the number of mandarin ducks in the ornithological park has increased. And now the ornithological park, within the framework of the agreement, transfers some of the birds to create an exhibition in the Caucasian Reserve," the press service of the Caucasian Reserve quotes the chief specialist of the science department of the ornithological park Artem Gordienko.