Spatula querquedula -- (Linnaeus, 1758) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ANSERIFORMES -- ANATIDAE Common names: Garganey; Sarcelle d'été 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: Vulnerable (VU) 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 is very large, and hence does not 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). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable 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 species is undergoing rapid declines, and it is therefore classified as Vulnerable. Since the wider European population is also decreasing, there is not considered to be significant potential for rescue from outside the EU27 and the final category is unchanged. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom Vagrant: Faroe Islands (to DK); Iceland; Svalbard and Jan Mayen (to NO) Population The European population is estimated at 352,000-524,000 pairs, which equates to 704,000-1,050,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 12,100-23,900 pairs, which equates to 24,100-47,800 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% in 19.5 years (three generations). In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be decreasing by 30-49% over the same period. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology In the breeding season this species frequents small, shallow ponds and lakes with abundant floating, emergent and fringing vegetation (Johnsgard 1978, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014) (that is not too tall or dense, such as bulrush (Typha spp.)) (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Green 1998), in grass dominated environments, like swampy meadows, flooded fields, shallow freshwater marshes (Johnsgard 1978, Schricke 2001, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). It is a highly sociable and gregarious species, and regularly forms large congregations of several hundred on passage but whilst breeding can be found in single pairs or small groups (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Madge and Burn 1988). Meadows are the favoured nesting areas of this species, with nests rarely located more than 150 m from water (usually within 20 m) (Cramp and Simmons 1977). The nest itself is a depression in the ground, typically situated under rushes or tall grasses (such as manna grass, Glyceria), but not generally under shrubs (Johnsgard 1978, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). Typically eight to eleven eggs laid (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). When breeding this species is omnivorous (Johnsgard 1978). In spring and summer its diet is dominated by animal matter: chiefly molluscs, aquatic insects and their larvae (waterbugs, caddisfly, water beetles, midges), crustaceans (ostracods and phyllopods especially), worms, leeches, young and spawn of frogs, and small fish (Johnsgard 1978, Hockey et al. 2005). Seeds, roots, tubers, stems, leaves and buds of plants such as Hornwort Ceratophyllum, Naiad Najas, sedge, grass and other aquatic plants are also important at this time (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Johnsgard 1978, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). During the non-breeding season the birds are mainly vegetarian (Treca 1981). This species is highly migratory, breeding widely across western Eurasia and wintering within the northern tropics. It migrates on a broad front, the autumn migration beginning in late July and peaking in August or early September (in Europe and Egypt). The spring migration begins in February, with birds beginning to arrive on breeding grounds from mid-March to early-May (Scott and Rose 1996). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded suitable breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable passage Marine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable passage Marine Neritic - Estuaries suitable passage Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Inland Deltas suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable breeding Altitude Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The most significant threat encountered by this species on its breeding grounds in Europe is habitat deterioration through the drainage and reclamation of wetlands (Kear 2005), the increasing climatic aridity and subsequent lowering of the water table, and the transformation of wetlands to dammed reservoirs (Scott and Rose 1996). Other threats to this species include the destruction of nests during the early mowing of meadows, increased human disturbance, lead poisoning, botulism during hot summers (Kear 2005) and hunting disturbance in Africa and Europe (Vaananen 2001) (500,000 are shot annually in Russia, Ukraine, France and Poland) (Kear 2005). The invasive species American Mink (Neovison vison) also poses a threat through nest predation (Opermanis et al. 2001), and the species is susceptible to avian influenza (particularly strain H5N1) so is therefore threatened by outbreaks of the virus (Melville and Shortridge 2006). This species is hunted in Denmark, but there is evidence that this may be sustainable (Bregnballe et al. 2006). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact (intentional use - Declines species is the target) Stresses Species mortality; Species disturbance Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact (unintentional effects - species is Stresses not the target) Species mortality Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Climate change & Droughts Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem degradation Human intrusions & Work & other Timing Scope Severity Impact disturbance activities Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Species disturbance; Reduced reproductive success Invasive and other American Mink Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic (Neovison vison) Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact species, genes & diseases Stresses Species mortality; Reduced reproductive success 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 Clostridium Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic botulinum Past, Likely to Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Past Impact species, genes & Return diseases Stresses Species mortality Invasive and other West Nile Virus Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic (WNV) Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact species, genes & Declines diseases Stresses Species mortality Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications surface water Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact (unknown use) Declines Stresses Ecosystem degradation Natural system Large dams Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Natural system Other ecosystem Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications modifications Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Ecosystem degradation Conservation Conservation Actions Underway CMS Appendix II. Conservation Actions Proposed Key areas of breeding habitat for this species should be identified and protected. Monitoring should be implemented and accurate bag numbers recorded in countries where the species is hunted to ensure sustainability. Predator control