Smart Ducks Flock To City Pond For Safety During Hunting Season

Last weekend, duck shooting season officially opened in the town of Hamilton, New Zealand -- though it seems that birds may also have gotten the message.

Just days before hunters could start targeting the waterfowl, a remarkable thing happened: ducks from the rural outskirts began flocking in droves to take up residence at Lake Rotoroa in the center of town, a safe haven where shooting is not allowed.

This isn't the first time the birds have outsmarted hunters by making a sudden move to the lake on the eve of duck season, says ornithologist Barry Friend -- and it's no coincidence as to why.

"The ducks are very clever, they have been doing it for years and years," Friend tells the Waikato Times. "They know the town lakes are a safe place to come."

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