A new project has been proposed to the City of Reykjavík that will support the duck population in the city pond in response to studies that have revealed a significant decline in duckling population over the past 20 years.
An increased focus on sustaining the lives of chicks born in Tjörnin arises out of the realisation that three duck species that have been staples in the city will soon disappear if current trends continue, RÚV reports. The existence of these species are degrading on account of food shortage, habitat degradation, and predation, with the main culprit being the abundance of cats in the city, which are known to attack ducklings both at Tjörnin and Vatnsmýri, killing the fowl and destroying nests.
In order to combat this population degradation it is proposed that a more structured farming system be established for ducklings and that a guardian be appointed to see to the care of the birds.