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Tadorna Ferruginea -- (Pallas, 1764)

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Tadorna ferruginea -- (Pallas, 1764) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ANSERIFORMES -- ANATIDAE Common names: Ruddy Shelduck; Tadorne casarca European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT°) In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe. In the EU27 the small population size qualifies for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<1,000 mature individuals), but as population size is increasing in the EU27, the final category is adjusted down one category to Near Threatened (NT°). Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Denmark; Georgia; Greece; Italy; Moldova; Romania; Russian Federation; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Turkey; Ukraine Vagrant: Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Czech Republic; Greenland (to DK); Finland; France; Germany; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland, Rep. of; Liechtenstein; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom Population The European population is estimated at 17,000-26,500 pairs, which equates to 33,900-53,100 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 140-240 496, which equates to 280-480 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe the population size trend is unknown. In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology This species frequents the shores of inland freshwater, saline and brackish lakes and rivers in open country, particularly those in open steppe, upland plateau and mountainous regions (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Johnsgard 1978, Brown et al. 1982, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). However it is less dependent upon large water bodies for resting and feeding than most other Anatidae, and often occurs a considerable distance from water during the breeding season (Scott and Rose 1996). In the non-breeding season this species prefers streams, slow-flowing rivers, freshwater pools, flooded grasslands, marshes and brackish or saline lakes in lowland regions and is also found on artificial reservoirs (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Johnsgard, 1978, Brown et al. 1982, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). It avoids coastal waters and tall, dense vegetation or emergent and floating aquatic plants (Madge and Burn 1988). Breeding occurs in single pairs or loose groups and in Europe eggs are laid from mid-March. Clutches are normally eight or nine eggs (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). The species is omnivorous, its diet consisting of tender green shoots and the seeds of terrestrial vegetation, agricultural grains such as millet and wheat, littoral crustaceans such as shrimps, aquatic and terrestrial insects (especially Locusts), aquatic molluscs, small fish, frogs, amphibian spawn and worms (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Johnsgard, 1978, Brown et al. 1982, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). In Europe the species is chiefly sedentary or dispersive, undertaking local movements linked to the availability of suitable water (moving away from drought-affected areas or to temporary wetlands) (Tucker and Heath 1994, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable non-breeding Altitude Occasional altitudinal limits Threats Hunting is a threat, especially in south-east Europe (Johnsgard 1978, Kear 2005, Popovkina 2006, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014) (e.g. in Turkey) (Scott and Rose 1996). Other threats to western populations include the loss and degradation of inland wetlands through subterranean water extraction for irrigation (Popovkina 2006) (leading to decreasing water supplies for seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands), widespread drainage of shallow marshes and lakes (Scott and Rose 1996), salt extraction (Green et al. 2002, Popovkina 2006, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), urban development, pollution, introduction of exotic fish and overgrazing (Green et al. 2002, Popovkina 2006, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). At the Klingnau Dam in northern Switzerland the species has been known to hybridise with the South African Shelduck (Tadorna cana) from escaped captive populations, which could pose a threat to the integrity of both species (Owen et al. 2006). The species is also susceptible to avian influenza (strain H5N1) and is therefore threatened by outbreaks of the virus (Melville and Shortridge 2006). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Livestock farming & Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture ranching (scale Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact unknown/ unrecorded) Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact (intentional use - Declines species is the target) Stresses Species mortality Energy production Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact & mining Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Invasive and other Avian Influenza Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic Virus (H subtype) Past, Likely to Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Past Impact species, genes & Return Declines diseases Stresses Species mortality Invasive and other Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic Ongoing Minority (<50%) No decline Low Impact species, genes & diseases Stresses Hybridisation Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications ground water Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact (agricultural use) Stresses Ecosystem degradation; Species mortality; Species disturbance; Reduced reproductive success Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications surface water Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact (unknown use) Stresses Ecosystem degradation Pollution Domestic & urban Timing Scope Severity Impact waste water (type Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact unknown/ unrecorded) Stresses Ecosystem degradation Residential & Housing & urban Timing Scope Severity Impact commercial areas Past, Likely to Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Past Impact development Return Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation; Species disturbance Conservation Conservation Actions Underway CMS Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. Bern Convention Appendix II. The restoration of habitats, creation of artificial nests and feeding (Popovkina 2006) seems to have benefited this species (Zubko et al. 2001). Conservation Actions Proposed Conservation priorities for the species include protection from hunting in south-east Europe and further ringing studies to investigate the status of individual populations and their migratory patterns (Kear 2005, Popovkina 2006). The protection of key sites from development and habitat change should be ensured. Research to assess the impacts of hybridisation with Tadorna cana should be undertaken. Bibliography Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. and Newman, K. 1982. The birds of Africa vol I. Academic Press, London. Carboneras, C. and Kirwan, G.M. 2014. Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook
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