A total of 113 species have been bred successfully, one of the most recent being the Trumpeter Swan. This was very exciting, as it is only the second time they have been bred in South Africa. The climate at TWT is perfect for all species of waterfowl. The summers, although hot, are not too hot for the Arctic species. Oldsquaws, Harlequins, Scoters and Eiders are all kept successfully.
Day length does pose a problem for the far northern species causing irregularities during the moult.
Their broken feathers are plucked and their feeding is monitored closely. After 6-8 weeks they are ready for release onto the pond. Day length problems are reduced slightly by lengthening the summer days by means of large spotlights. What started as a hobby has become a passion and desire to collect, breed and research all of the waterfowl species of the world. Treehaven also has the aim to create public awareness of waterfowl, the delicate habitats that they live in and how to preserve them.