Page 131 - Hand rearing birds second

Sea Ducks 115

may require the provision of increased ventilation via a fan or air conditioner to prevent excess
humidity. High levels of humidity may contribute to an increased incidence of wet feather and
may predispose the ducklings to opportunistic infections like aspergillosis.

­ Preparation­for Wild­Release

The size of an outdoor aviary for sea ducklings will vary depending on whether the ducks will be
conditioned for release or maintained in permanent captivity. Wildlife rehabilitators are encour-
aged to review the Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation (Miller 2012) for information
on caging materials and sizes; keep in mind that recommended cage sizes are minimums and
should be exceeded whenever possible. Regardless of the ultimate size of the outdoor enclosure, an
in‐ground swimming pool deep enough for swimming and diving is essential (Figure 6.6). The
overall pool dimensions will vary based on species and number and age of ducklings in care.
Concrete ponds with drains and overflows are often preferable to natural dirt ponds as they are
easy to keep clean and there is a lower risk of intestinal parasites. As with the brooders, an over-
flow maintains high‐quality surface water which promotes excellent waterproofing.

Release
Transport kennels should include net‐bottom cage inserts for all sea ducklings; this protects the
ventrum from soiling if the bird(s) defecate during transport (Holcomb 1988). A net‐bottom insert
can be fashioned from PVC pipe made into a rectangle (using 90° corners) the same size as the

Figure 6.6 Pre-release aquatic housing with an in-ground pool and a naturalistic surround providing a
diversity of substrates. Note the standpipe providing surface water drainage, while the opening is partially
blocked by a rock to prevent ducklings from falling down into the pipe. Source: photo courtesy of Ian Gereg.