Why Put Fake Ducks In A Pond?

Ducks always wander around ponds and move in a flock. Two years ago, I was walking by a pond and noticed the ducks in ponds were fake. I was disappointed and surprised.

And the question that kept buzzing in my mind was – why put fake ducks in a pond? The common reason is to enhance the beauty and appeal of the ponds. Sometimes, it’s to attract wildlife into the pond. Also, it can be an artistic expression.

I’ve answered some of the popular questions related to fake ducks below.

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How Do Fake Ducks in a Pond Benefit the Ecosystem?

Fake ducks can indirectly benefit a pond’s ecosystem, even though they cannot help much.

Wildlife Attraction

You might be surprised that fake ducks can attract real geese and ducks. Fake ducks imitate real ducks, so these waterfowls can mistake them as genuine. A visit from a real duck can contribute to the ecosystem by their foraging needs.

Increasing Biodiversity

Seeing the fake ducks, waterfowls can think the pond is safe to habitat. So, a diverse range of species might visit or even inhabit the pond. As a result, the ecosystem will have diversity, and the pond will stay safe.

Reduces Pond Algae

The presence of fake ducks is always accurate. Ducks usually feed algae. So they reduce excess algae growth in the pond. It improves aquatic life in the pond and the water quality.

Also, they prey on insects and excrete nutrients inside their waste. It also serves as fertilizer for aquatic plants.

Seed Dispersal in the Pond

Real ducks inhabit the pond in response to fake ducks and can do seed dispersal. It means they can transfer seeds of one aquatic plant to another place, creating diversity.

Awareness for Humans

Fake ducks can educate humans to protect natural habitats and wetlands. Compared to fake ones, these can be used as a prop in research and real ducks’ behavior.

Aesthetic Appeal

While you know about aesthetic appeal, it can help the pond directly. It attracts humans and can inspire them to feed real ducks. Ultimately, it benefits the pond.

What Benefits Do Fake Ducks Provide to a Pond?

The first benefit is that fake ducks make a pond visually attractive. So, the more visually appealing the pond, the more wildlife and visitors are attracted. It can also be an artistic expression.

Waterfowl Habitat

Fake ducks can revive a dead pond. Real waterfowl are drawn towards counterfeit ducks.

They try to interact with or understand the fake ducks. One waterfowl tends to be drawn towards another waterfowl. As a result, several species visit the pond.

Birdwatching Opportunity

Fake ducks attract water birds, which can be an opportunity for birdwatching. They create an illusion of territoriality and discourage pest birds. Excessive pests birds can damage the pond instead of helping it.

Bird Hunting

Also, these attract waterfowl, which can help bird hunters. For temporary decor, fake birds can work and provide a festive touch.

Are There Any Negative Effects of Using Fake Ducks in a Pond?

Even though fake ducks can benefit a pond, they can equally cause adverse effects. The most obvious one is environmental pollution. However, there are some other notable reasons.

Deception for Real Waterfowls

Yes, fake ducks do attract waterfowl. So, they believe the pond is safe and secure seeing the fake ducks.

However, this can create deception if the pond is full of predators. As a result, it may hamper waterfowl’s natural behavior and put them at risk.

Ecosystem Disruption

You already know the benefits for the ecosystem. But when real ducks see fake ones, they can believe that those fake ducks inhabit the pond.

So, the plant dispersal can drop and disrupt the natural balance. It ultimately ruins the balance of the pond ecosystem.

High Maintenance Cost

Ponds that have fake ducks need regular cleaning. Maintenance is necessary for debris, pollutants, algae, and debris to build up. It can pollute the pond and require chemicals to remove the contaminants. Also, the process is time-consuming.

Sometimes, a person can’t secure fake ducks. As a result, these get blown by the wind and become plastic waste. Investing and maintaining fake ducks can cost a lot. After analyzing the benefits, the costs can be overkill.

Cheap fake ducks can look artificial and make the pond less appealing instead of wasting its prime purpose.

Limited Effectiveness

After real waterfowl get used to fake ducks, the purpose of these can become limited. So, if you want to prevent unwanted waterfowls from wandering, fake ducks is not a good idea for the long term.

What Types of Fake Ducks Are Suitable for Ponds?

The more realistic your fake ducks look, the more effective it is for the pond. I recommend getting floating decoys. These are realistic and imitate duck species.

Moreover, they are designed for decoration. Also, these increase visual appearance.

For hunting, motion decoys are the best option. These are great to add realism to the pond. Some of the fake ducks’ resemble owls while imitating ducks, which scare off hawks and other predators.

Adding a repellent decoy is the best idea if you want to keep your pond clean.
These ducks emit sound and scare off unwanted pests and birds. Also, while buying fake ducks, look for eco-friendly materials to protect them from pollution.

Conclusion

Putting fake ducks can benefit a pond in multiple ways. These create an aesthetic appeal that attracts real waterfowl, but maintenance is necessary. But these do not stay effective for long.

Because once the real waterfowls recognize these are fake, the effectiveness is gone. If you liked this article, keep in touch with our Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.