Highfruit Duck

Originally from an egg-poultry breed, the highfruit duck is a newly-developed subspecies trained to alert its handlers to clusters of ripe highfruit.  It is bred and used in Ralcondray, where highfruit trees are an important source of food.  In fact the ducks are credited with discovering highfruit--the first growing season after the colony set itself up, several of the birds flew into the trees and could not be coaxed down.  Upon climbing up to get them, the settlers found the ducks gorging on larvae and beetles that were eating the trees' leaves and fruit.  The fruit proved to be edible and delicious, and after the ducks repeated their performance the following season, they were removed from the flock to be bred separately.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The highfruit beetles' life cycle is timed so that the larvae become adults just as the fruits ripen. At that point it is too late to begin harvesting--most of the highfruit will have been eaten by the beetles before the crews can get into the trees. The ducks begin their work a few days before the expected ripening season. The duck handlers begin walking the forest floor, releasing their birds. Each duck wears a harness with two spools of strong thread, tied to each other, tucked under a strap on either side of the duck's body. When the duck finds a clump of fruit with an active population of larvae, it gives its characteristic hooting call and pulls the string that releases the straps. The spools fall to either side of the branch the duck is standing on. The handler finds the brightly-colored spools, and ties thicker cord to the thread to pull it over the branch and begin the process of setting the ropes. Meanwhile the duck enjoys its meal, protecting the fruit from being eaten by the mature beetles.
Outside of highfruit season, the ducks are kept in homes to protect food supplies from insect infestations.

duck harness by The Big G

Lifespan

7 years

Average Height

30 cm

Average Weight

0.6 kg

Average Length

50 cm; average wingspan 85 cm

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Head and breast feathers anywhere from rust- to cream-colored, wing feathers black with red or yellow tips, tail feathers black, beak and feet black.

Geographic Distribution

• Ralcondray

Related Ethnicities

• Ralcondrian