East Gippsland’s wetlands are playing an important role in a new statewide research project aimed at better understanding the movement, survival and behaviour of Victoria’s native game ducks.
The Game Management Authority (GMA) and Deakin University have begun a three-year study that will see more than 400 ducks fitted with solar-powered satellite tracking devices — the largest project of its kind in Australia.
Among the key monitoring areas are wetland habitats around East Gippsland, where local waterways provide crucial feeding and breeding grounds for many of Victoria’s duck species.
The study focuses on four species — Pacific Black Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal and Chestnut Teal — all common across East Gippsland. The lightweight trackers will record the birds’ movements, breeding, feeding and resting patterns around the clock, with data transmitted directly
to researchers via the
mobile network.
GMA Research Principal Dr Jason Flesch said the information gathered will help scientists understand how ducks respond to environmental changes such as rainfall and water availability. “This knowledge will guide the sustainable management of duck populations and support the adaptive harvest model now being used in Victoria,” he said.
The findings will also benefit broader wildlife and environmental management efforts, helping to protect waterbird habitats across regional Victoria
and beyond.
Deakin University’s Professor Marcel Klaassen said the data could also prove vital in tracking and predicting the spread of diseases like avian influenza and Japanese encephalitis, which affect both wildlife and humans.
The project, which began in June 2025 and will run until 2028, has already seen about 60 ducks fitted with trackers, with many more to come.
