Success for Ferruginous Duck Scheme

23 Jun 2016 Ferruginous Duck by Bill Richmond

With only an estimated 13,000 pairs, Ferruginous Duck is the rarest diving duck breeding in Europe. The majority of the European population is found eastern Europe, particularly Hungary and Romania and the species is rare in western Europe. The population was formerly much more widespread but has been impacted by habitat loss.

A re-introduction scheme was launched in 2011 in northern Germany to boost the population and return it to its former range. After taking a few years to settle, breeding was finally proven last year when 10 chicks were seen in June at the release site. Hopefully, this year the species will have similar breeding success and maybe start recolonising western Europe in the years ahead.



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