AUSTRALIAN GREY TEAL –Anas gracilis

Grey Teals are one of Australia’s most common ducks, and is a frequent visitor to our freshwater wetlands on Bribie Island.

Several years ago when I was sitting in the hide at Buckley’s Hole I noticed a black cloud in the sky which was moving across the Pumicestone Passage in my direction. I watched as it circled Buckley’s Hole, and then hundreds or maybe even thousands of Grey Teals descended upon0 the lagoon. They stayed for several days feeding in the waters, and then they were gone. It was truly a rare and amazing sight to witness. Grey Teals are mainly aquatic, small, mottled, greyish brown, dabbling ducks. They are gregarious and are seen in pairs and often in flocks. Male and female are similar in appearance, and very much like female Chestnut Teals, but have paler faces and throats. Green and white patches are noticeable on the upper wings when in flight. Eyes are red and bills are black. They take off from the water with an upward thrust and are strong in flight. The average life expectancy is 2-4 years; however the oldest recorded bird in the wild, in Australia, was 21 years. Grey Teals are an abundant species found across most of Australia in varied habitats. Wetlands, floodwaters, pools after rain in arid areas, or anywhere there is fresh water. When their waterholes dry out they look for more suitable locations and may fly 100 km during the night and over 1000 km in all to reach their destinations. It is always a puzzle to me, how they know where the water will be. When new wetlands form after rain, it is not long before the Teals arrive. Grey Teals are also found in Indonesia, PNG, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island and were self introduced into NZ in the 1950’s when great numbers, after drought, flew across the sea to find better feeding grounds. They are very common in NZ at present.

By Marj Webber

Food such as seeds, aquatic vegetation and insects is obtained mainly while swimming on the surface of the water where they upend to collect insects below. Feeding times are usually at dawn and dusk.

Breeding may take place at any time during the year with the right conditions, but the most popular time is between July and November. When mates are selected they remain together for many years. Males perform a courting ritual by shaking and rolling their heads. Nests built by the females are lined with down in tree hollows, sometimes some distance from the water, and are sometimes built on the ground. Males stand guard while the females incubate the 7-10 white eggs for 24-26 days, and tend to the young when they hatch. When the young can fly they become self-sufficient which happens usually after 35-40 days after hatching, and may begin to breed at 1 year old. Two broods are usually produced each season. Grey Teals sometimes interbreed with Chestnut Teals or Pacific Black Ducks which creates headaches for people trying to identify the offspring. In the life of most birds there is always the danger of predators. Raptors and Crows are a threat to eggs and young, whereas young ducklings swimming in the water are in danger from Water Rats and Eels. Climate Change could significantly reduce numbers in the future.

Hunters are a significant threat to Grey Teals. Only Queensland, NSW and WA have banned the Duck shooting season. In 2023 Victoria, SA, Tasmania and NT will begin the annual Duck Shoot in March to June allowing 4 ducks per person per day. Now that is a huge kill, and as Grey Teals are the most common duck in Australia they will suffer the most.

Grey Teals have well adapted to manmade environments and are not of any great conservation concern at the moment.