Tony's wonderful duck

Tony Reigler has a lot of ducks. He's created a lagoon for them to float on, so it's no surprise that they've gathered there - Big Lagoon at Taramoa, to nest, feed and generally dabble about. There are geese too, and swans. Not to mention scaups and shovellers and my favourite grey-fronted herons.
Inside of Tony's house, there are ducks also, of the carved and molded sort: decoys of every hue and shape. The model that took my eye was this odd and beautifully crafted leather duck decoy, made long ago, by a boot-maker from Palmerston North. It's stitching is immaculately done and the whole thing is as sound as a bell. I asked Tony about the decoy and recorded his story for our radio show and will play it next week. He spoke very well indeed and his knowledge of decoys was matched only by his passion for the living versions and the habitats they require - waterways; ponds, lagoons and wetlands.
Here's Tony with his little leather duck in hand.