Drew Christopher

It seems the key with runners is driving them through the vineyard solely to eat the bugs as opposed to keeping them in place there, i. e. the ducks have their own lodgings (pond?) and are chased through the vines once or twice a day purely for pest control.

This is just based on what I've read though. I have no personal experience with it.

This estate in South Africa has had success with Indian runner ducks.

https://vergenoegd.co.za/meet-our-runner-ducks/

https://vergenoegd.co.za/about/the-duck-parade/

According to the dates on your pics, this pond was built almost 3 years ago. How's it doing now?

Mike Jay wrote:Aaahh, thanks Craig!  So is there much water above the screen or is it just floating on the surface?  Do you think they land to lay eggs and drop their hineys through the mesh to lay the eggs?  

I did a crude sketch to see if I understand.  The green is the fabric/screen and the blue is the water.  The triangles at the side are where they can come up to breath and hatch/die.  Is that close?  

Any chance we could get a picture of the trap?  I have a friend that wants to try this after they get some other projects taken care of.  I'd attempt it but my mosquitoes aren't that bad and I don't want to start a war if I don't have to

Referring to the diagram that was part of the above (quoted) post, how is the mesh attached to the barrel?

I'm thinking of folding the mesh over the outside of the barrel and then securing with string tied around.

Surely it has to be properly secured to prevent newly hatched mozzies escaping... ?

I was enquiring more out of interest than anything else. If the land were closer to Taipei, I might have been able to find someone who would be interested to help or buy the land, but my work commitments make it impossible for me to be involved personally.

Good luck with your search!

I live in Taiwan! Where is this farmland?