– Last year, 480 chicks of this critically endangered species were recorded, compared to 740 in 2022.
The reproduction of the marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) recorded in Spain in 2023 decreased by 35% compared to the previous season’s data due to the severe drought suffered by the breeding areas of this species, especially in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Specifically, 480 chicks were registered last year, approximately one third less than in 2022, when the number reached 740, thus slowing the upward trend of recent years.
The number of broods (i.e. females sighted accompanied by chicks) was also reduced from 115 in 2022 to 75 in 2023. This is confirmed by the data of the working group on marbled teal, coordinated by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), presented at its last meeting held at the Zoobotánico de Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz).
By autonomous communities, Andalusia recorded the highest number of chicks, with 192 individuals. The species reproduced in 12 of its wetlands, two of them in the Doñana area, where five broods were located in each one, in the Marismas de Henares (Cádiz) and in Brazo del Este (Seville). Thus, the Guadalquivir marshes continue to host most of the breeding population of the species in this region, with 76% of the pairs.
It should be noted that, for the first time, reproduction occurred in the Paraje Natural de la Desembocadura de Guadalhorce (Málaga), where a female with eight chicks was observed. In addition, in this same province, the small nucleus of Fuente de Piedra, with three successful pairs, is gaining strength.
Regarding the data in the Valencian Community, the species reproduced in five different localities, including the Natural Park of El Hondo (Alicante), the Paraje Natural Municipal Clot de Galvany (Elche), the Marjal de Almenara (Castellón) and the Natural Park of Albufera de Valencia, with 15, six, five and four broods, respectively. A total of 173 chickens were recorded. In this autonomous community there was also a reduction in the number of chicks compared to 2022, given that 2023 was not such a favorable year in terms of the level of flooding of the wetlands in the south of Alicante.
In contrast to the two previous autonomous communities, the Balearic Islands recorded record highs in breeding in 2023, with a total of 14 broods and 115 chicks in the wetlands around S’Albufera de Mallorca.
In Castilla-La Mancha, only one female with chicks was recorded in the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, in addition to three other broods in captive breeding facilities. A clutch was also found in the Community of Madrid, in a nest box installed in the lagoons of El Porcal, but the eggs did not hatch.
MILESTONE IN THE REPRODUCTION OF THE SPECIES
In the Valencian Community, a milestone in the reproduction of the species has been registered for the first time in many years in El Espigar, a wetland of the Natural Park of El Hondo acquired by the associations ANSE and SEO/BirdLife in the framework of the LIFE Cerceta Pardilla project coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation of MITECO. At least five different females and 36 chicks were sighted in this wetland.
Three of these females occupied an area of salt marsh that was dry in the years prior to the purchase of El Espigar, but which, thanks to the works carried out, maintains adequate water levels for the species.
In addition, the ecological conditions of the farm were improved, adapting it to the needs of the brown teal. Water and vegetation management actions resulted in constant flooding during the breeding season and the creation of attractive habitat for the species.
RECOVERY MEASURES
The public administrations, together with the scientific community, conservation organizations and civil society are taking important steps towards the recovery of the brown teal. One of the main lines of action for the conservation of this species is the restoration of priority wetlands. In addition to the actions described above, in Andalusia progress is 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.
Another key action is captive breeding in reference centers, such as the Granja de El Saler captive breeding center, managed by the Generalitat Valenciana, and the Reserva Natural Concertada Cañada de los Pájaros (Seville). The Zoobotanical Park of Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz) and the National Park of Las Tablas de Daimiel (Ciudad Real) are added as support.
Captive breeding allowed the release in 2023 of a total of 579 specimens in wetlands in Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha and the Community of Madrid, which serve to reinforce wild populations. In addition, collaboration with Italy is being maintained to transfer and release individuals within the framework of the recovery project being developed in Sicily.
REDUCE THREATS TO THE SPECIES
Another of the measures being carried out is the improvement of knowledge about the species with the marking of specimens with GPS. In 2023, 52 new specimens were tagged with transmitters, which made it possible to obtain more information on their movements and to advance in the establishment of common methodologies with North African countries, to which the marbled teal generally moves in winter. The total number of teal teals equipped with GPS transmitters in Spain, following the declaration of critical status of the species in 2018, amounts to 218. The information generated also makes it possible to identify the main causes of mortality and to seek solutions to reduce these threats.
In addition, the collaboration and involvement of other agents and sectors linked to the species or its habitat continues to be strengthened. For this reason, land stewardship agreements were signed with private managers of agricultural, livestock and hunting farms for the development of positive habitat management tasks and reinforcement of the monitoring of the brown teal, to ensure their involvement and commitment to the conservation of the species.
