The White-faced Whistling Tree Duck became locally extirpated in Trinidad in the 1930s. Several years ago the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust started the breeding of this beautiful and useful species of wild duck as well as other endangered waterfowl and wetland birds.
These lovely little ducks are nocturnal and though very quiet during the day, roosting in trees, they may become very active in the early evening; feeding, mating and breeding at this time. They are helpful to farmers, as these gentle birds feed on the seeds of wild grasses, beetles and aquatic larvae.
The trust, dedicated to the protection, breeding and study of T&T’s wetland birds, as well as to Environmental Education and Public Awareness, received several of these birds, “our birds” from abroad and have bred and released them into the wild in Trinidad. They usually breed at one year of age, between April and late September and have strong pair bonds. Both Parents rear their young and pair bonds seem permanent.
"It cannot be reiterated too often that the education and awareness of the public, particularly of our children is vitally important, for as one schoolchild questioned, 'Why do you bother to put them back when people are only going to kill them again?' 'Good Question!' Answer: 'First so that hopefully some will escape and ensure the survival of the species so that when you grow up there will be some left for you to know about and protect. Secondly, that is one of the reasons for this discussion so that your generation will know better and enforce our laws," the trust said.
"Education, understanding, awareness, awakening of the youth, our people of tomorrow, future hunters and corporate executives, who will also be environmentalists and well-adjusted human beings with a sense of balance, recognising that mankind with the need for social progress and industry also recognises the serious responsibilities concerning his natural surroundings and that OUR OWN SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON WHAT WE DO NOW."
