No reason for heartless duck cull

Only a few males and a rare female have escaped the recent and intense nightly culls of ducks by the National Parks and Wildlife Service along the Woy Woy Blackwall foreshore.

The social impacts will be significant with many locals reliant on their wonderful company and most joyful interactions.

I can't fathom the environmental reasoning for such a heartless, drastic measure by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The ducks are not native but having been introduced here over 30 years ago, I feel they deserve local status.

They fertilise the reserves and feed a few fish.

They also bring a whole lot of joy to young and old residents and visitors alike.

Getting rid of established, non-native wildlife won't bring back native wildlife as the natural aquatic ecosystems have been largely modified and destroyed due to stormwater runoff.

Is the National Parks and Wildlife Service inferring that the ducks and mallards are the primary cause of the nutrient loading and fouling of Peninsula waterways as opposed to human induced storm/surface water runoff?

This extreme act of inhumanity can only be described as a misinformed and misguided distraction by our environmental watchdog as opposed to investing in a comprehensive stormwater management system for Brisbane Water.

A few residents pride themselves in their pet hate of ducks but they're probably keen to see no wildlife as they may mess their newly-manicured, chemical-ridden lawn.

The foreshore is considerably less welcoming and now has a soulless feel without their joyful presence

Most of us will miss them dearly.

Email, 15 Sep 2016

Wendy Gillespie, Woy Woy