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116 Hand-Rearing Birds

floor of the kennel. Knotless netting is then stretched tight over the PVC pipe frame and secured
with rope on the underside of the frame. Natural history should dictate release timing for water-
fowl in a wildlife rehabilitation setting. Waterfowl should be conditioned to be able to obtain natu-
ral food items prior to release and should have perfect feather condition and waterproofing. As a
general guide, sea ducklings should have all of their contour feathers and should have at least 50%
of the length of their primary and secondary feathers grown in. While it may seem advisable to
wait until ducklings are fully flighted prior to release, this can present challenges if the ducklings
startle out of their release kennel and fly away from the suitable release habitat. Waterfowl should
be released in groups, in an area with known conspecifics, first thing in the morning in dry weather
to allow a full day to acclimate to their environment.

­ Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Arnold and Debbie Schouten at Dry Creek Waterfowl for sharing photos from their
facility and to Ian Gereg for sharing his photos and for his assistance and support.

­ Sources­for Products­Mentioned

Aquatic Bird Rearing Cubicle, Leucopsis Products, Ambler, PA, 19002, www.leucopsis.com.
Cactus Mat 1451 Vinyl Coil Scraper Mat Unbacked, 930 West 10th Street, Azusa, CA 91702, www.
cactusmat.com.
Halogen Heat Lamp, QC Supply, PO Box 581, Schuyler, NE, 68661‐0581, www.qcsupply.com.
Knotless Netting ⅜” Stock 1011, Memphis Net and Twine, 2481 Matthews Avenue, Memphis, TN,
38108, www.memphisnet.net.
Mazuri, PMI Nutrition International, LLC, PO Box 66 812, St. Louis, MO 63166, www.mazuri.com.

­ References

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