- The species has bred in wetlands in the Valencian Community, Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha and the Balearic Islands
- The Andalusian and Valencian centres have released a total of 839 marbled teals in wetlands in 2022
- The improvement of wetland conditions, captive breeding or further research on the species are the main action measures that are being carried out
December 15, 2022- The population of marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) has reached 115 pairs accompanied by 740 chicks this season, distributed mainly in natural wetlands in the Valencian Community (51.3%), Andalusia (38.2%), the Balearic Islands (7.8%) and Castilla-La Mancha (2.6%). This is confirmed by the data of the marbled teal working group, coordinated by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO). This cooperation group between environmental administrations and experts meets annually, on this occasion on December 1 in Clot de Galvany (Elche) thanks to the collaboration of the Elche City Council and the Generalitat Valenciana. At this meeting, the population data of the species and the progress in the conservation actions that have been carried out were shared, as well as the agreements to develop new measures. Although the number of pairs is higher than in 2021, when 105 breeding pairs were registered, the number of chicks has been slightly lower than the 759 registered last year. This responds to the scarcity of water in some wetlands, such as those located in Andalusia, which negatively affects the species, as it depends directly on them for its reproduction. However, in 2022, the Valencian Community has reached the best reproduction figures for almost 20 years.
EUROPE’S MOST ENDANGERED DUCK
However, these population results of the marbled teal continue the positive trend of last season, when figures were recorded that had not been detected in the last decade. These data are encouraging, considering that it is one of the seven species declared in a critical situation in Spain and that it is the most endangered duck species in Europe. The actions underway are based on the commitment of the regional environmental authorities and the General State Administration, as well as non-governmental entities, which have mobilised significant resources and efforts in recent years. In this area, the contribution of the European Union’s LIFE programme, which has led to the LIFE Marbled Teal project, coordinated by the MITECO Biodiversity Foundation until 2025, is proving very important, with the aim of improving the conservation status of 3,000 hectares of wetlands, to reverse the risk of extinction of the teal.
MEASURES FOR ITS CONSERVATION
One of the main lines of action for the conservation of the species is the restoration of priority wetlands. For this reason, in 2022 the first actions have been carried out to improve the ecological conditions of El Espigar, a 55-hectare farm located in the El Hondo Natural Park (Alicante) and acquired within the framework of the LIFE Marbled Teal project. The actions that have been carried out have consisted of the management of vegetation, the adaptation of gates and the dredging of channels, which guarantee adequate flooding throughout the year. In Andalusia, progress is also being made in improving the management of key wetlands for the species, with an important vocation to restore the hydrological dynamics in the lower Guadalquivir. Captive breeding in reference centres, which are those managed by the Generalitat Valenciana, and the Cañada de los Pájaros Concerted Nature Reserve (Seville), to which the zoobotanical of Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) has been added as support this year, is another of the fundamental actions. Thus, in 2022, the Andalusian and Valencian centres have released a total of 839 marbled teals in wetlands in Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha and the Community of Madrid, which serve to strengthen wild populations, and other specimens have been transferred for release within the framework of the recovery project being carried out in Sicily (Italy). It is planned to expand this effort from 2023 in other autonomous communities with an interest in contributing to recovering the distribution range of the species.
REDUCE THREATS TO THE SPECIES
Another of the measures that have been carried out is the improvement of knowledge about the species with the marking of specimens with GPS, which communicate the location and activity of the bird via mobile phones. In 2022, 63 specimens have been tagged with emitters, which has made it possible to obtain more information on their movements and advance in the establishment of common methodologies with North African countries, to which the marbled teal generally moves in winter. The information generated also makes it possible to identify the main causes of mortality and to seek solutions to reduce these threats.
Likewise, an evaluation of the variability and genetic structure of captive and wild populations of marbled teal has been carried out, in collaboration with the Doñana Biological Station, the results of which allow characterizing the individuals present in different geographical areas where the species is distributed and captive breeding centers in order to better guide conservation actions. In addition, the collaboration and involvement of other actors and sectors linked to the species or its habitat is essential. For this reason, land stewardship agreements have been signed with private managers of agricultural, livestock and hunting estates in tasks of positive habitat management and reinforcement of the surveillance of the marbled teal, to ensure their involvement and commitment to the conservation of the species.
