Rare Waterfowl Hatch At Central Park Zoo

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Duck, duck, goose! The Central Park Zoo is seeing a baby boom among rare and endangered waterfowl.

The Wildlife Conservation Society says chicks from eight rare species have hatched at its Central Park facility this year. They include nine scaly-sided merganser chicks. The endangered sea ducks are native to Russia, China and Korea.

There are also spectacled eiders, large sea ducks that are native to Arctic Russia and Alaska. Their population is decreasing because of climate change.

The zoo began a waterfowl breeding program four years ago and the rate of success has been steadily increasing ever since, WCS said.

The Central Park Zoo has a total of 23 different duck species on exhibit. Most of the species are either uncommon in zoos or endangered in the wild.

Some of the new chicks are not being exhibited yet, but their parents are.

For more information, visit www.centralparkzoo.com.

Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com:

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)