The breeding population of marbled teal recorded in 2021 shows an increasing trend, reaching figures that had not been detected in the last 10 years. In 2021, 105 females accompanied by 759 chicks have been counted during the breeding season, distributed mainly in Andalusia (50.4%) and the Valencian Community (38.1%), as well as in the Balearic Islands and Castilla-La Mancha, with nine and three breeding females respectively. The most recent population data of the species, and the progress in the conservation actions that have been carried out, were shared thanks to the marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) working group coordinated by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge met last December in Fuente de Piedra (Málaga).

The breeding population of marbled teal recorded in 2021 shows an increasing trend, reaching figures that had not been detected in the last 10 years. In 2021, 105 females accompanied by 759 chicks have been counted during the breeding season, distributed mainly in Andalusia (50.4%) and the Valencian Community (38.1%), as well as in the Balearic Islands  and   Castilla-La Mancha,   with   nine   and   three   Females   breeding animals respectively. The most recent population data of the species, and the progress in the conservation actions that have been carried out, were shared thanks to the  Marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) working group coordinated by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge met last December in Fuente de Piedra (Málaga).

This situation is hopeful after the serious decline recorded in the 2010s, which led to the official declaration of the species in a critical situation in 2018. In addition, these positive results are even more remarkable considering the scarcity of water in the natural wetlands of Andalusia during the spring and summer of 2021, due to the fact that the level of rainfall has been significantly lower than in other hydrological years.

Among some of the actions that have been carried out to improve knowledge of the species are the tagging of marbled teals with GPS transmitters. Since 2018, 60 transmitters have been placed in the Valencian Community, 45 transmitters in Andalusia and seven in Castilla-La Mancha. The information generated has made it possible to identify the main causes of mortality, which are predation by wildlife and feral domestic cats, as well as gunshots. Likewise, thanks to this monitoring, there is gradually a greater level of detailed knowledge of the movements between resting and feeding areas, the selection of habitat exercised in different periods, as well as the movements to areas of North Africa (Algeria and Morocco) of at least six specimens marked in the provinces of Alicante and Seville.

Another of the main lines of work underway is the restoration of priority wetlands for the species. In 2021, investments have been made for the controlled management of water levels and quality, such as the Dehesa de Abajo (Seville), the ecological recovery of land in Trebujena (Cádiz) and the Marjal dels Moros (Valencia) or the acquisition of the El Espigar Estate (Alicante). This year the first land stewardship agreements have also been processed to incorporate private managers of agricultural, livestock and hunting estates in tasks of positive habitat management and reinforcement of the surveillance of the marbled teal, mainly in the surroundings of the Doñana Natural Area.

Captive breeding has also continued to offer very favourable results in the reference centres, which are the Cañada de los Pájaros Concerted Nature Reserve (Andalusia), the breeding centres managed by the Generalitat Valenciana and the Tablas de Daimiel National Park. The Andalusian and Valencian centres have led to the release in 2021 of a total of 860 birds in five wetlands in Andalusia, four in the Valencian Community and one in Castilla-La Mancha, as well as in the recovery project being carried out on the island of Sicily (Italy).

For 2022, the forecast for releases is similar and the aim is to expand the number of places of release and population reinforcement, including wetlands in other autonomous communities.

During the meeting of the working group, different operating documents of the ex situ conservation program of the marbled teal in Spain were approved, such as the protocols for the operation of the centers and for release into the wild. Likewise, the preliminary results on the analysis of the structure and genetic characterization of marbled teals present in captive centers and in the natural environment have also been presented.

LIFE TEAL

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 is noteworthy, which has led to the LIFE Marbled Teal project, which we coordinate from the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge until 2025, with the aim of improving the conservation status of 3,000 hectares of wetlands to reverse the risk of extinction of this species.