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International Single Species Action Planfor the Conservation of theWhite-headed Duck
Oxyura leucocephala
TECHNICAL SER IES
No.13 (CMS)No. 8 (AEWA) European Union
This Single Species Action Plan has been prepared to assist fulfilment of obligations under:
Convention on the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA)
Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds
(Birds Directive) of the European Union (EU)
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Oxyura leucocephala
CMS Technical Series No. 13
AEWA Technical Series No. 8
June 2006
Compiled by: Baz Hughes1
, James Robinson1, 2
, Andy Green3
, David Li4
& Taej Mundkur5
1
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Glos. GL2 7BT, UK.
2
Current address: RSPB Northern Ireland, Belvoir Forest Park, Belfast, BT8 4QT, UK.
3
Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avenida de María Luisa s/n, Pabellón del Perú, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
4
Wetlands International, 3A39, Block A, Kelana Centre Point, SS7/19, Petaling Jaya, 47301, Selangor, Malaysia.
5
Wetlands International, A-25, 2nd Floor, Defence Colony, New Delhi - 110 024, India.
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
with contributions from: A. K. Yurlov, Abdul Aleem Chaudhry, Alain Auve, Alberto Madroño, Alex Filatov, Alexander Solokha,
Alexander Yakovlev, Anatoli Ostachenko, Andrei Gavrilov, Andres Kalamees, Andrew Grieve, Antra Stīpniece, Attila Sándor,
Axel Bräunlich, Bahtiyar Kurt, Batdelger Dashnamjilyn, Behrouz Behrouzi-Rad, Bernard Deceuninck, Christian Perennou, D.
Salmakeyev, David Hoccom, David Lacina, Derek Scott, Elchin Sultanov, Eldar Rustamov, Elena Kreuzberg-Mukhina, Eva
Cepakova, Evgeniya Lanovenko, Fernando Ibáñez, Gerhard Adams, Goetz Eichhorn, Gordienko Nadejda Sergeevna, Gradimir
Gradev, Guven Eken, Guy Kirwan, Hamid Amini, Hans-Günther Bauer, He Fenqi, Hermann Hötker, Hichem Azafzaf, Holger
Schielzeth, Ingar Jostein Øien, Islom Abdusalamov, Jamie Skinner, Jean-Paul Jacob, Jean-Pierre Cantera, Jeff Gordon, Joerg
Ratayczak, Joost van der Ven, Jordi Muntaner, José Luis Echevarrías, José Torres Esquivias, Kashif Sheikh, Konstantin Kreiser,
Lars Lachmann, Lei Gang, Liutauras Raudonikis, Luba Balyan, Lucy Lovett, M. Zafar-ul Islam, Ma Ming, Manuela Nunes, Marc
van Roomen, Marcello Grussu, Maria Panayotopoulou, Mario Giménez, Marko Tucakov, Martin Schneider-Jacoby, Matías
García, Matthias Kestenholz, Michael Brombacher, Michael Dvorak, Micheál O'Briain, Mike Smart, Myrrhy Gauser, Nicky
Petkov, Niels Gilissen, Nyamba Batbayar, Ohad Hatzofe, Oleg Dudkin, Oskars Keišs, Pablo Almaraz García, Patric Lorgé, Paul
Isenmann, Pedro Geraldes, Rahat Jabeen, Rastislav Rybanič, Ruud van Beusekom, S. Gombobaatar, Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan,
Sergey Bukreev, Sergey Dereliev, Sergey Yerokhov, Silvio Stucki, Slobodan Puzović, Thomas Heinicke, Tibor Mikuska, Timme
Nyegaard, Torsten Larsson, Tseveenmyadag Natsagdorj, Verena Keller, Vítor Encarnação, Vladislav Vasilyev, Ward Hagemeijer,
Werner Müller, Will Cresswell, Wim Van den Bossche, Yavar Shahbazi, Yehoshua Shkedy, Zulfiqar Ali.
Milestones in the Production of the Plan
First draft: June 2004, presented to the EU Member States, as well as the CMS and the AEWA Range States
Second draft: September 2004, presented to the EU Ornis Committee and the AEWA Technical Committee
Final draft: August 2005, approved by the AEWA 3rd
Meeting of Parties in October 2005 and the CMS 13th
Scientific Council
Meeting in November 2005
Geographical Scope
This International Single Species Action Plan requires implementation in the following countries regularly supporting White-
headed Duck: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, France, Georgia, Greece, Iraq, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Russian Federation, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. It should be implemented in the following countries where the introduced North
American Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis occurs: Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United
Kingdom. Implementation is also required in any other countries within the range of the White-headed Duck where the Ruddy
Duck is found in captivity.
Reviews
This International Single Species Action Plan should be revised in 2015. An emergency review will be undertaken if there are
sudden major changes liable to affect the population.
Credits
The compilers wish to thank the following people who provided data and support during the production of this International
Single Species Action Plan: Lieuwe Haanstra, Sergey Dereliev, Simon Delany, Szabolcs Nagy, and Umberto Gallo-Orsi.
Recommended citation: Hughes, B., Robinson, J.A., Green, A.J., Li, Z.W.D. & Mundkur, T. (Compilers). 2006. International
Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala. CMS Technical Series No. 13
& AEWA Technical Series No.8. Bonn, Germany.
Picture on the cover: © Jorge Sierra / www.photolibrary.com
Drawing on the inner cover: © Juan Varela
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 3
CONTENTS
Foreword By Mr. Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species
of Wild Animals (CMS) 5
Foreword by Mr. Bert Lenten, Executive Secretary, Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian
Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) 6
Foreword by Mr. Nicholas Hanley, Head of Unit Nature and Biodiversity, DG Environment, European Commission 7
Preface 8
Executive Summary 9
1. Biological assessment 11
2. Available key knowledge 17
3. Threats 20
3.1. Description of Threats 20
4. Policies and legislation relevant for management 27
4.1. International Conservation and Legal Status 27
4.2. Member States/Contracting Parties Obligations 28
4.3. National Policies, Legislation and Ongoing Activities 29
4.4. Site (and Habitat) Protection and Research 34
4.5. Recent Conservation Measures and Attitude Towards the Species 35
5. Framework for action 45
5.1 White-headed Duck Action Plan Goal, Purpose, and Results 45
6. Activities by country 48
6.1 General Activities White-headed Duck Range States 48
6.2 General Activities – Ruddy Duck Range States 50
6.3 General Activities – Knowledge gaps 51
7. References and the most relevant literature 52
8. Annexes 56
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CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 5
Foreword By Mr. Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary, Convention on the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and
avian migratory species throughout their range. It is one of a small number of intergovernmental treaties concerned on a
global scale with the conservation of wild animals and the habitats on which they depend. The 98 Parties to CMS cooperate
to conserve migratory species and their habitats by providing protection for the endangered migratory species listed in
Appendix I of the Convention; by concluding multilateral Agreements for the conservation and management of migratory
species listed in Appendix II and by undertaking co-operative research activities.
CMS has a unique role to play in focussing attention on and addressing the conservation needs of the endangered species
presently listed in Appendix I. With a view to formalizing the implementation of the Convention’s provisions relative to the
conservation of Appendix I species, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to CMS established, at its 3rd
Meeting, the
instrument of “Concerted Actions for Appendix I species”. Through appropriate resolutions, the COP encourages the Parties
and instructs the Secretariat to develop concerted actions and prepare review reports on priority species included in
Appendix I. Concerted Actions have so far materialized in an array of initiatives on several species, ranging from field
research and conservation projects to the establishment of technical and institutional frameworks for action.
The White-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) is included in both Appendix I and II of CMS, and was designated for
Concerted Actions under the Convention by the 4th
Meeting of the COP (Nairobi, June 1994). Since November 1999, the
species is covered - for a significant part of its range - under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian
Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), the most ambitious Agreement concluded so far under the auspices of CMS. However, the
incomplete coverage of the species’ range by AEWA still requires the active involvement of the Convention in the
conservation efforts for the species. The species is also listed on Annex I of the European Union Directive on the
Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) (Birds Directive) and on Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of
European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). In a general perspective of synergy and complementarity with
the other existing international instruments mentioned above, in 2002 UNEP/CMS supported Wetlands International in
undertaking a field survey of White-headed duck in Pakistan, and a comprehensive review of the Central Asian population
of the species.
Similarly, in a perspective of coordination and streamlining of research and conservation action in favour of the species,
CMS was pleased to join the European Commission and AEWA in supporting the revision of the European Action Plan for
the species, produced by BirdLife International in 1996, expanding its geographic scope to cover the entire range of the
species. The present International Single Species Action Plan (SSAP) for the conservation of the White-headed Duck
Oxyura leucocephala is the result of that joint effort.
The UNEP/CMS Secretariat hopes that the publication and dissemination of this document will contribute to an increased
awareness on the status of the species, encouraging further research and monitoring in the field and stimulating effective
and coordinated conservation actions by governments, local communities and dedicated non-governmental organizations.
The UNEP/CMS Secretariat wishes to express its thanks to the many people and organizations that made the workshop and
this publication possible. These include first of all the compilers of the document, Baz Hughes (WTT), James Robinson
(RSPB), Andy Green (Doñana Biological Station), David Li and Taej Mundkur (Wetlands International – Asia), for their
excellent and patient work, and the numerous other experts that made contributions to the document. A special thank you
goes to BirdLife International – European Division Office, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and Wetlands
International, for their support in the process of compilation and revision of the document.
The UNEP/CMS Secretariat is confident that the joint efforts of all stakeholders will eventually succeed in ensuring the
restoration and long-term conservation of this charismatic species.
Robert Hepworth
CMS Executive Secretary
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
6 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Foreword by Mr. Bert Lenten, Executive Secretary, Agreement on the Conservation of African-
Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA)
During their life cycle, migratory waterbirds cover considerable distances in order to find the best ecological
conditions and habitats for feeding, breeding and raising their young. However, migration is a perilous journey,
presenting a wide range of threats. Only a small number of birds are actually threatened by natural events. Sad but
true, human activities are the source of most dangers migrating birds are exposed to. Flying over long distances means
crossing many international borders and entering different political areas with their own environmental politics,
legislation and conservation measures. It is clear that international cooperation between governments, NGOs and other
stakeholders is needed along the whole flyway of a species in order to share knowledge and to coordinate conservation
efforts. The necessary legal framework and coordinative instruments for such international cooperation are provided
by international agreements such as the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds
(AEWA).
One of these coordinative instruments in conservation of biological diversity is International Single Species Action
Plans (SSAP). They are being developed to find out more about populations of species with an unfavourable
conservation status throughout their whole range, to identify underlying threats and, more importantly, to roster all
necessary conservation measures in a systematic and structured way. This information is crucial to tackling the
problems that have caused and are still causing decline of these species and to allow action to be taken to improve
their status in the long term. Such International SSAPs can only be developed and effectively implemented in close
cooperation with Governments, Intergovernmental Organizations and NGOs.
AEWA, CMS and the European Commission have therefore initiated this International SSAP for the White-headed
Duck. The drafting of the plan was carried out by BirdLife International and has been compiled by experts on the
species from several organisations: Baz Hughes (WWT, UK) & James Robinson (RSPB, UK), Andy Green
(Biological Station Doñana, Spain) and David Li & Taej Mundkur (Wetlands International-Asia). The plan was
adopted under Resolution 3.12 at the Third Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA in Dakar, Senegal, October
2005.
The White-headed Duck is one of the rarest bird species in the world. Its present distribution is highly scattered,
having four main populations, two of which are declining. The decreasing populations include the main Central Asian
population of 5,000-10,000 birds and the Pakistan wintering population, which is on the verge of extinction. On the
IUCN Red List on Threatened Animals the White-headed Duck is listed as “Endangered”. Declines are caused by
habitat loss, over-hunting, unsustainable use of water resources and in long-term by the introgressive hybridization
with non-native species such as the Ruddy Duck.
I strongly hope that the Range States involved will make every effort to implement this SSAP, and that they will
transform it into National Action Plans and work together to halt the decline in the Corncrake population in the future.
I very much believe that if the measures described in these plans are implemented in reality, this will trigger the
recovery of the population of this bird to a favourable conservation status.
Bert Lenten
AEWA Executive Secretary
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 7
Foreword by Mr. Nicholas Hanley, Head of Unit Nature and Biodiversity, DG Environment,
European Commission
Whereas the EU Birds Directive does not explicitly require the preparation of action plans for threatened species, it is
widely acknowledged that they are a strategically valuable tool to help effective delivery of conservation action under
the Directive. In recognition of this fact the European Community has been financially supporting the development
and implementation of international action plans for Europe's most threatened bird species since 1993. To date plans
and management statements, prepared by BirdLife International, are in place for 47 species and sub-species.
These action plans have provided an excellent way to identify priority measures to halt and restore the populations of
these endangered bird species. By bringing together the best available information on status, ecology, threats and
current conservation measures for each species, it has been possible to clearly define priority objectives and
recommend a programme of action for each species.
Each of these species has been a priority for EU financial support under the LIFE programme and the plans have
therefore helped ensure that limited financial resources are targeted at the most pressing conservation needs for the
different species.
In 2003 the European Commission funded an EU-wide review by BirdLife International of the implementation of the
first set of plans, focusing on 23 globally threatened species, that had been completed in 1995. Whereas this review
showed that there are still significant conservation challenges, it clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the plans,
which had contributed significantly to aid the recovery of 18 of these highly threatened species, such as the Pygmy
Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni and the Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii.
Many of the plans have now been in place for more than a decade and are in need of review and update to take
account of advances in science and conservation management. The European Community was therefore very pleased
to financially support the review and update of the original action plans for the Corncrake Crex crex and the White-
headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala .
This updating of the two plans has used a unified plan format that deals with each of the different international
conservation laws relevant to these species. This has involved close collaboration between the European Commission
and the international bodies, including the Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian
Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). We very much welcome such collaboration which gives full recognition to the fact
that the conservation of these species does not end at EU borders but needs to be carried out throughout their entire
flyways. Furthermore, as the European Community has ratified AEWA in 2005, this collaboration on action plans also
gives practical effect to our commitment to this important international agreement.
Finally, I would like to congratulate BirdLife International and all the partners that have contributed to the production
of these two new plans. They are the product of fruitful collaboration of a range of different institutions and
professionals, committed to an integrated approach to global bird protection. The challenge now is to take the practical
actions to implement the plans and improve the conservation status of these species.
Nicholas Hanley
Head of Unit Nature and Biodiversity
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
8 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Preface
This International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
was commissioned to BirdLife International. It has been compiled by Baz Hughes of WWT (UK), James Robinson of
RSPB (UK), Andy Green of Doñana Biological Station (Spain), David Li and Taej Mundkur of Wetlands
International. The drafts of the plan went through rigorous consultations and the final approved version reflects
comments received from a large number of experts, the EU Member States through the Ornis Committee,
governmental officials from states outside of the EU, the AEWA Technical Committee. Financial support for the
preparation of this Action Plan was provided by the European Commission (EC), the Convention on the Conservation
of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory
Waterbirds (AEWA). The Action Plan follows the format for Single Species Action Plans approved by the AEWA 2nd
Meeting of Parties in September 2002.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 9
Executive Summary
The White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals.
It is also listed on Annex I of the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) (Birds
Directive), on Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern
Convention), on Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn
Convention), and Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES Convention).
The White-headed Duck is a highly aquatic diving duck of the stifftail tribe Oxyurini. Globally, there are four
populations; two of which are declining, one stable and one increasing. The decreasing populations include the main
Central Asian population of 5,000-10,000 birds and the Pakistan wintering population, which is on the verge of
extinction. The resident North African population (400-600 birds) is stable and the Spanish population (ca. 2,500
birds) increasing. The White-headed Duck occurs regularly in 26 countries, and in another 22 as a vagrant. Nine
countries hold significant breeding numbers (Algeria, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russian
Federation, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan), but most are concentrated in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Russian
Federation, and Spain. Birds occur commonly on migration in 10 countries, and in winter (December to February) in
13. The most important wintering countries differ from year-to-year, presumably depending on weather conditions. In
recent years, 10 countries have held over 1,000 birds (Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel,
Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Spain, Turkey, and Uzbekistan – see Table 2). Seven countries hold significant
numbers of birds throughout the year (Algeria, Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey,
and Uzbekistan).
White-headed Duck population declines have been attributed mainly to habitat loss and over-hunting. The main
threats to the Central Asian population are habitat loss due to unsustainable use of water resources and the recent
drought in Central Asia. These impacts are likely to be exacerbated by the effects of global climate change. The
greatest long-term threat to the White-headed Duck, however, is introgressive hybridisation with the non-native North
American Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis. Ruddy Ducks have now been recorded in 21 Western Palearctic countries
with breeding records in at least 11, and regular breeding attempts in six (France, Ireland, Morocco, Netherlands,
Spain, and the UK). However, outside the UK only France holds a significant numbers of breeding pairs (ca. 20). The
number of countries taking action against Ruddy Ducks has increased significantly in recent years. By 2004, at least
14 countries in the Western Palearctic had taken some action to control Ruddy Ducks (Belgium, Denmark, France,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United
Kingdom). This compares with only six countries in 1999. At least 471 Ruddy Ducks and hybrids have now been
controlled in six countries excluding the UK (Denmark – 1, France - 246, Iceland - 3, Morocco - 2, Portugal - 3, and
Spain - 217) and a further three countries have indicated that attempts will be made to shoot birds if they occur
(Hungary, Italy, Slovenia). Concerted eradication programmes are in operation in four countries (France, Portugal,
Spain, and the UK) and one is planned in Morocco. A total of 5,069 Ruddy Ducks have been shot in the UK since
1999. The Ruddy Duck has now been listed on Annex B of the EC CITES Regulations (338/97) on the grounds that
they pose an ecological threat to indigenous species. This now gives member states the opportunity to place
restrictions on or ban the keeping of Ruddy Ducks in captive collections. Other threats include inadequate wetland
management (leading to the dry out of wetland habitats), competition with introduced carp, drowning in fishing nets,
lead-poisoning, pollution and human disturbance.
This International Single Species Action Plan provides a framework for the conservation for the White-headed Duck
and is based on the format for the AEWA International Single Species Action Plan prepared by BirdLife International.
Successful implementation of this plan will require effective international co-ordination of organisation and action.
The long-term Goal of this Action Plan will be to remove the White-headed Duck from the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Animals. In the short-term, the aim of the plan is to maintain the current population and range of the
species throughout its range, and in the medium to long-term to promote increase in population size and range. The
plan has been developed using internationally agreed standards for identifying actions and has been prepared to
facilitate the monitoring and evaluation of subsequent implementation, linking threats, actions and measurable
activities.
This plan will need implementation in 41 countries, including 26 White-headed Duck Range States and 21 countries
with Ruddy Duck records. The 26 activities identified in this Action Plan focus on measures to prevent further habitat
loss and degradation; to reduce direct mortality of adults and improve reproductive success; and to remove the threat
of hybridisation with the introduced North American Ruddy Duck. These measures include protecting the White-
headed Duck and its habitats, appropriate management of key sites, eradicating the Ruddy Duck from Europe and
North Africa, and increasing public awareness of the need to conserve the White-headed Duck. Each country within
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
10 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
the range of the White-headed Duck should be committed to implement this plan and to develop National Action
Plans and establish White-headed Duck Working Groups to help facilitate this. All countries with records of Ruddy
Ducks should endorse and implement the International Ruddy Duck Eradication Strategy of the Bern Convention, and
produce official statements of intent regarding Ruddy Duck control.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 11
1. B
io
lo
gica
l a
ssessm
en
t
Gen
era
l In
fo
rm
atio
n
The W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala
is a h
ig
hly
aq
uatic d
iv
in
g d
uck
o
f th
e stifftail trib
e O
xyurini. T
he species is globally
threatened, recognised as E
ndangered by
IU
CN
(B
irdL
ife International 2000; IU
CN
20
03). G
lobally, there are four populations; tw
o of
which are declining, one stable and one increasing. T
he decreasing populations include the m
ain C
entral A
sian population of 5,0
00-10,000
wintering
birds
and
the
Pakistan
wintering
population,
which
may
be
on
the
verge
of
extinction
(L
i
&
Mundkur
2003;
Wetlands
International 2002). T
he resident N
orth A
frican population (400-600 birds in w
inter) is stable and the S
panish population has increased
from
22 birds in 1977 to around
2,500 w
intering birds today.
White-headed D
uck population declines in the first half of the 20
th
century have been attributed m
ain
ly to habitat loss and over-hunting
(G
reen
&
H
ug
hes 1
99
6). T
he m
ain
th
reats to
th
e C
en
tral A
sian
p
op
ulatio
n are h
ab
itat lo
ss d
ue to
u
nsu
stain
ab
le u
se o
f w
ater reso
urces and
th
e recen
t d
ro
ug
ht in
C
en
tral A
sia (L
i &
M
un
dk
ur 2
00
3). T
hese im
pacts are lik
ely
to
b
e ex
acerb
ated
b
y th
e effects o
f g
lo
bal clim
ate
change. T
he greatest long-term
threat to the W
hite-headed D
uck’s survival, how
ever, is thought to be introgressive hybridisatio
n w
ith the
non-native N
orth A
merican R
uddy D
uck O
xyura jam
aicensis. R
uddy D
ucks have now
been recorded in 21 W
estern P
alearctic countries
with
b
reed
in
g reco
rd
s in
at least 1
1, an
d reg
ular b
reed
in
g attem
pts in
six
(F
ran
ce, Irelan
d, M
oro
cco
, N
eth
erlan
ds, S
pain
, an
d the U
K).
How
ever, outside the U
K only F
rance holds significant num
bers of breeding pairs (ca. 20). O
ther threats include com
petition w
ith
introduced carp, drow
ning in fishing nets, lead-poisoning, pollution and hum
an disturbance. In S
pain, inadequate hydrological m
anagem
ent
of w
etlands and their basins has cau
sed a reduction in w
ater quality.
Key international docum
ents on W
hite-headed D
uck conservation include a global action plan (A
nstey 1989), E
uropean C
om
munity action
plan (G
reen 1994), E
uropean species action plan (G
reen &
H
ughes 1996), a B
ern C
onvention report on the status of the R
uddy D
uck
in the
Western P
alearctic and an action plan for eradication (H
ughes et a
l. 1999), and a W
etlands International / B
onn C
onvention report on the
conservation of the W
hite-headed D
uck in C
entral A
sia (L
i &
M
undkur 2003).
International w
orkshops for W
hite-headed D
uck conservation have been held in A
rundel (U
K) in M
arch 1993, C
órdoba (S
pain) in
Sep
tem
ber 1
99
4, P
orto
L
ag
os (G
reece) in
M
arch
2
00
0, G
arg
an
o N
atio
nal P
ark
(Italy
) in
M
ay
2
00
1, an
d T
hessalo
nik
i (G
reece) in
M
arch
2002.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
12 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Taxon
om
y
Ph
ylu
m: C
hordata
Class: A
ves
Ord
er: A
nserifo
rm
es
Fam
ily
: A
natidae
Trib
e: O
xyu
rin
i
Sp
ecies: O
xyura leucocephala
(S
copoli 1769)
Synonym
: A
nas leucocephala
No subspecies are recognised, although A
mat and S
ánchez (1982) reported differences in
plum
age coloration and bill dim
ensions b
etw
een
sk
in
s fro
m w
estern
M
ed
iterran
ean
(S
pain
, T
un
isia an
d A
lg
eria) an
d fro
m p
op
ulatio
ns fu
rth
er east. G
en
etic d
ifferen
ces b
etw
een
th
e d
ifferen
t
bio
geo
grap
hic p
op
ulatio
ns are to
o sm
all to
b
e co
nsisten
t w
ith
ex
isten
ce o
f su
bsp
ecies (M
uñ
oz et a
l. unpubl. data
). T
wo
co
lo
ur p
hases (p
ale
and dark) now
occur in S
pain, possibly associated w
ith the bottleneck suffered by the population in the 1970s (U
rdiales &
P
ereira 1993).
Hybridises
to
at
least
the
3rd
generation
with
North
Am
erican
Ruddy
Duck,
but
genetic
studies
show
these
species
have
been
geo
grap
hically
iso
lated
w
ith
ou
t g
en
e flo
w fo
r sev
eral m
illio
n y
ears (M
cC
rack
en
et al. 2000).
Po
pu
la
tio
n D
ev
elo
pm
en
t
The global population of the W
hite-headed D
uck w
as probably over 100,000 in the early 20
th
century, falling to an estim
ated 20,000
individuals in 1996 (G
reen &
H
unter 1996). B
irdL
ife International (2000) estim
ated the w
orld population as 2,500-10,000 individ
uals. T
he
South A
sia w
intering population (m
ainly in P
akistan) decreased from
1,039 birds in 1968 and 733 in 1987 to less than 10 individ
uals in
2002 (L
i &
M
undkur 2003). H
ow
ever, the peak count has subsequently increased slightly to
33 in January 2003 and 24 in January 2
004
(A
li &
A
kh
tar in
p
ress, L
i et a
l. in prep
.). T
he resident N
orth A
frican population (400-600 birds) is stable and the S
panish population has
increased from
22 birds in 1977 to around
2,500 birds today. S
urveys conducted betw
een 2001 and 2003 by the S
panish W
hite-headed
Duck W
orking G
roup suggest the population m
ay be beginning to stabilise. T
he m
ost recent assessm
ent of global status suggested a
wintering population of 8,000-13,000 birds in 2002 (L
i &
M
undkur 2003).
Distrib
utio
n T
hro
ug
ho
ut th
e
An
nu
al C
ycle
Palearctic, w
ith
a frag
men
ted
b
reed
in
g d
istrib
utio
n ex
ten
din
g east fro
m S
pain
an
d M
oro
cco
in
w
estern
E
uro
pe to
w
estern
C
hin
a an
d
western
M
on
go
lia,
an
d
no
rth
fro
m
Iran
to
so
uth
ern
R
ussia
(F
ig
ure
1).
Divisions
betw
een
biogeographical
populations
are
poorly
un
dersto
od
(S
co
tt &
R
ose 1
99
6), b
ut fo
ur m
ajo
r p
op
ulatio
ns are th
ou
gh
t to
rem
ain
: a m
ig
rato
ry
cen
tral A
sian
p
op
ulatio
n b
reed
in
g m
ain
ly
in
no
rth
ern
K
azak
hstan
an
d so
uth
ern
R
ussia an
d w
in
terin
g in
w
estern
A
sia, th
e M
id
dle E
ast an
d in
eastern
E
uro
pe as far w
est as G
reece; a
sm
all an
d d
eclin
in
g m
ig
rato
ry
east A
sian
p
op
ulatio
n, w
in
terin
g in
P
ak
istan
an
d p
erh
ap
s o
rig
in
atin
g fro
m so
uth
ern
R
ussia an
d M
on
golia; a
population resident in S
pain; and another resident in N
orth A
frica (T
unisia and north-east A
lgeria).
Th
e W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
o
ccu
rs reg
ularly
in
2
6 co
un
tries (T
ab
les 1
&
2
), and in another 22 countries as a vagrant. N
ine countries hold
sig
nifican
t b
reed
in
g n
um
bers (A
lg
eria, Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Iran
, K
azak
hstan
, M
on
go
lia, R
ussian
F
ed
eratio
n, S
pain
, T
un
isia, T
urk
ey, and
Uzbekistan), but m
ost are concentrated in only four countries (M
ongolia, K
azakhstan, R
ussian F
ederation, and S
pain). B
irds occu
r
co
mm
on
ly
o
n m
ig
ratio
n in
1
0 co
un
tries, an
d in
w
in
ter (D
ecem
ber to
F
eb
ru
ary
) in
1
3. T
he m
ost im
po
rtan
t w
in
terin
g co
un
tries d
iffer from
year-to
-y
ear, p
resu
mab
ly
d
ep
en
din
g o
n w
eath
er co
nd
itio
ns. In
recen
t y
ears, ten
co
un
tries h
av
e h
eld
o
ver 1
,0
00
b
ird
s (A
zerb
aijan
, B
ulgaria,
Greece, Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Iran
, Israel, K
azak
hstan
, R
ussian
F
ed
eratio
n, S
pain
, T
urk
ey
, an
d U
zb
ek
istan
–
see T
ab
le 2
). S
even countries
ho
ld
sig
nifican
t n
um
bers o
f W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
s th
ro
ug
ho
ut th
e y
ear (A
lg
eria, Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Iran
, R
ussian
F
ed
eratio
n, S
pain
,
Tunisia, T
urkey, and U
zbekistan).
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 13
Su
rv
iv
al a
nd
P
ro
du
ctiv
ity
G
iven the paucity of ringing inform
ation, there are no know
n data on adult or juvenile survival rates. P
roductivity data are also
sp
arse.
Life H
isto
ry
B
reed
in
g:
The species form
s m
onogam
ous pair bonds of
seasonal
duration.
The
nest
is
usually
located
ov
er w
ater in
em
erg
en
t v
eg
etatio
n. F
em
ales lay
4-9
eg
gs,
mo
re
usu
ally
5
o
r
6,
at
1.5
-d
ay
in
terv
als,
an
d
may
relay
if
th
e
first
clu
tch
is
rem
oved
(Johnsgard
&
Carbonell
1996).
Relativ
e to
b
od
y m
ass, lay
s th
e larg
est eg
g o
f
an
y
waterfo
wl,
an
d
to
tal
clu
tch
m
ass
may
approach 100%
of a fem
ale's
non-breeding body
weight. Incubation begins from
A
pril to June in
southern E
urope, and up to a m
onth later further
north. E
ggs hatch after 2
2-24 days in the w
ild
(G
ordienko
et
al.
1986).
Only
one
brood
is
reared per year. L
ittle inform
ation on hatching
or nesting success. B
rood size at hatching 3-7
du
ck
lin
gs, u
su
ally
5
-6
(G
reen
&
H
ug
hes 2
00
1).
The fledging period is 8-10 w
eeks (Johnsgard &
Carb
on
ell
19
96
),
so
mew
hat
lo
ng
er
th
an
m
ost
ducks. F
em
ales can breed first at one year old
although the proportion doing so is unknow
n.
Feed
in
g:
Wh
ite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
s feed
alm
ost en
tirely
by
d
iv
in
g, m
ain
ly
at n
ig
ht (G
reen
et al.
1999). B
enthic C
hironom
id larvae are the
majo
r d
iet co
mp
on
en
t at m
ost sites, b
oth
for adults and ducklings, but polychaetes
(esp
ecially
in
co
astal
lak
es
used
as
wintering sites), am
phipods and a variety
of other invertebrates are eaten, as w
ell as
seeds
and
vegetative
parts
of
Potam
ogeton
, R
uppia
, Scirpus and m
any
oth
er
aq
uatic
plan
ts
(T
orres
&
Aren
as
1985; G
reen et a
l. 1999; P
anayotopoulou
& G
reen
2
00
0; S
án
ch
ez et a
l. 2000). T
he
availability of chironom
id larvae is a key
featu
re in
h
ab
itat selectio
n (G
reen
et al.
1996, 1999). O
ld literature overstates the
im
po
rtan
ce
of
hard
fo
od
item
s
well
preserv
ed
in
th
e
gizzard
(in
co
ntrast
to
soft-bodied invertebrates). T
hus w
intering
bird
s
on
C
asp
ian
S
ea
co
ntain
ed
sn
ails
Hyd
ro
bia, red seaw
eed P
olysip
ho
nia
, and
sto
new
ort
Chara
,
and
seeds
of
Ruppia
ma
ritim
a (D
em
entiev &
G
ladkov 1952).
Fem
ales fro
m cen
tral K
azak
hstan
, in
Ju
ly
,
co
ntain
ed
seed
s
of
Potam
ogeton
and
Najas,
and
waterboatm
en
Co
rixa
an
d
Micronecta
. Y
oung caught at sam
e tim
e
had only insects (D
olgushin 1960).
Ou
tsid
e b
reed
in
g sea
so
n:
Moult m
ovem
ents are poorly understood,
but
large
flocks
of
moulting
individuals
gather on certain sites (e.g. the S
udochie
wetlands in U
zbekistan, and L
ake T
engiz
in K
azakhstan). D
eparture from
breeding
localities
begins
in
late
August
and
is
co
mp
leted
b
y
mid
-O
cto
ber.
In
C
en
tral
Kazakhstan,
largest
num
bers
occur
in
Sep
tem
ber,
bu
t
bird
s
leav
e
th
e
reg
io
n
co
mp
letely
b
y m
id
-O
cto
ber (S
ch
ielzeth
et
al.
2003).
In
Uzbekistan,
major
passage
through the A
mu D
arya delta in O
ctober
(K
reuzberg-M
ukhina &
L
anovenko 2000).
In
P
ak
istan
, b
ird
s first ap
pear in
O
cto
ber
and leave by the end of M
arch (C
haudhry
2002).
It
is
currently
unknow
n
whether
th
ere is in
terch
an
ge b
etw
een
th
e S
pan
ish
and N
orth A
frican populations. H
ow
ever,
th
e
recen
t
in
crease
in
th
e
nu
mb
er
of
White-headed D
ucks in M
orocco suggests
that interchange does occur. E
migration of
bird
s
fro
m
Alg
eria
or
Tu
nisia
was
suggested as a possible explanation for the
peak
count
of
4,489
birds
in
Spain
in
Septem
ber 2002. H
ow
ever, as over 1,000
ducklings w
ere hatched at E
l H
ondo that
year,
it
seem
s
eq
ually
lik
ely
th
at
th
ese
num
bers could be explained by a bum
per
breeding year.
Ha
bita
t R
eq
uirem
en
ts
Ha
bita
t T
yp
e
Breed
in
g
No
n-b
reed
in
g
5. W
etla
nd
s (in
la
nd
)
5.3
. S
hru
b D
om
in
ated
W
etlan
ds
■
■
5.4
.2
. M
arsh
W
etlan
d
■
■
(T
he
num
ber
preceding
each
descrip
to
r is th
e G
lo
bal L
an
d
Co
ver C
haracteristics (G
LC
C)
classification
num
ber,
see:
http://edcdaac.usgs.gov/glcc/gl
5.5
. P
erm
an
en
t F
resh
water L
ak
es [o
ver 8
ha]
■
■
.htm
l)
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
14 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
5
.6
.
Seaso
nal
/
In
term
itten
t
Fresh
water
Lak
es
[o
ver 8
ha]
■
■
5
.7
.
Perm
an
en
t
Fresh
water
Marsh
es
/
Po
ols
[under 8ha]
■
■
5
.8
. S
easo
nal/In
term
itten
t F
resh
water M
arsh
es /
Po
ols [u
nd
er 8
h
a]
■
■
5
.9
. F
resh
water S
prin
gs an
d O
ases
■
■
5
.1
3. P
erm
an
en
t In
lan
d D
eltas
■
■
5
.1
4.
Perm
an
en
t
Salin
e,
Brack
ish
o
r
Alk
alin
e
Lakes
■
5
.1
5. S
easo
nal / In
term
itten
t S
alin
e, B
rack
ish
o
r
Alk
alin
e L
ak
es an
d F
lats
■
■
5
.1
6.
Perm
an
en
t
Salin
e,
Brack
ish
o
r
Alk
alin
e
Marsh
es / P
oo
ls
■
■
5
.1
7. S
easo
nal / In
term
itten
t S
alin
e, B
rack
ish
o
r
Alkaline M
arshes / P
ools
■
■
9. S
ea
9.2. S
hallow
[usually less than 6m
deep at low
tid
e; in
clu
des sea b
ay
s an
d straits]
■
10. C
oastlin
e
1
0.3
. E
stu
arin
e W
aters
■
■
10.6. C
oastal B
rackish / S
aline L
agoons
■
■
10.7. C
oastal F
reshw
ater L
agoon
■
■
1
2. A
rtificia
l –
A
qu
atic
1
2.1
. W
ater S
to
rag
e A
reas (o
ver 8
ha)
■
■
12.2. P
onds (below
8 ha)
■
■
12.3. A
quaculture P
onds
■
■
1
2.4
. S
alt E
xp
lo
itatio
n S
ites
■
■
1
2.6
. W
astew
ater T
reatm
en
t A
reas
■
■
12.9. C
anals and D
rainage C
hannels, D
itches
■
■
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 15
Figure 1. W
estern P
alearctic distribution of the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala (fro
m S
co
tt &
R
ose 1
99
6).
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
16 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Table 1. G
eographical distribution of the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala during the annual cycle. N
ote: C
ountry nam
es follow
those used by the International
Organization for Standardization. E
xcludes the follow
ing countries w
here the species only occurs as a vagrant (A
ustria, B
elgium
, B
osnia and H
erzegovina, C
yprus, C
zech
Republic, D
enm
ark, E
gypt, G
erm
any, India, Jo
rdan, K
yrgyzstan, L
ibyan A
rab Jam
ahiriya, M
acedonia (F
orm
er Y
ugoslav R
epublic of), M
alta, N
etherlands, P
oland, P
ortugal,
Saudi A
rabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sw
itzerland). C
ountries in bold are thought to have held >
40 breeding pairs or >
300 staging or w
intering individuals, 1993-2003.
Sources: B
irdL
ife International W
orld B
ird D
atabase; International W
aterbird C
ensus; L
i &
M
undkur 2003).
Breed
in
g S
ea
so
n
19
C
ou
ntries, 9
K
ey
Form
erly B
reed
in
g
9 C
ou
ntries
(D
ate o
f E
xtin
ctio
n)
Mig
ra
tin
g
22 C
ou
ntries, 10 K
ey
No
n-b
reed
in
g V
isito
r
23 C
ou
ntries, 12 K
ey
Afghanistan
1
Albania (1920)
Afghanistan
1
Afghanistan
1
Algeria
Azerbaijan (early 20
th
century)
Algeria
Algeria
Arm
en
ia
Fran
ce (late 1
96
0s)
Azerb
aija
n
Azerb
aija
n
China
Greece (19
th
century)
Bulgaria
Bu
lg
aria
Fran
ce
2
Hungary (1961)
China
China
Iraq
1
Israel (1
9th
cen
tu
ry
)
Fran
ce
2
Fran
ce
2
Isla
mic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Ira
n
Italy (1977)
Georgia
Georgia
Italy
2
Ro
man
ia (1
92
0)
Iraq
1
Greece
Ka
za
kh
sta
n
Serbia (1962)
Isla
mic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Ira
n
Iraq
1
Mo
ng
olia
Y
ugoslavia (1965)
Italy
2
Isla
mic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Ira
n
Mo
ro
cco
Ka
za
kh
sta
n2
Israel
Ru
ssia
n F
ed
era
tio
n
M
on
go
lia
2
Italy
2
Sp
ain
Mo
ro
cco
M
oro
cco
Syrian A
rab R
epublic
R
om
ania
Pakistan
Tu
nisia
Ru
ssia
n F
ed
era
tio
n
Ro
ma
nia
Tu
rk
ey
Sp
ain
R
ussia
n F
ed
era
tio
n
Tu
rk
men
istan
Syrian A
rab R
epublic
Sp
ain
Ukraine
T
unisia
Syrian A
rab R
epublic
Uzb
ek
ista
n
T
urk
ey
T
un
isia
Tu
rk
men
ista
n
Tu
rk
ey
Ukraine
Tu
rk
men
ista
n
Uzb
ek
ista
n
Ukraine
U
zb
ek
ista
n
1
S
pecies th
ou
gh
t to
b
e p
resen
t in
A
fg
han
istan
an
d Iraq
, b
ut statu
s u
nclear.
2
Rein
tro
du
ced
p
op
ulatio
ns in
F
ran
ce an
d Italy
in
clu
ded
b
ut self-su
stain
in
g p
op
ulatio
ns n
ot y
et estab
lish
ed
.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 17
2. A
va
ila
ble k
ey
k
no
wled
ge
The m
ost contem
porary inform
ation on the nu
mbers and trends for the W
hite-headed D
uck across its range is presented in T
able 2. B
aseline population data do not exist for
most W
hite-headed D
uck R
ange S
tates.
Table 2. N
um
bers and trends for the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala in individual R
ange States (in alphabetical order). Shaded cells represent periods w
hen the
species is probably not present in the country.
Cou
ntry
B
reed
in
g S
ea
so
n
Pa
ssa
ge a
nd
W
in
terin
g
N
o.
Breed
in
g
(p
airs)
Quality 1
Year(s)
of E
stim
ate
Trend 2
Quality 1
Year(s)
of
Estim
ate
No. M
igratin
g
or N
on
-
breed
in
g
(in
div
id
ua
ls)
Qu
ali
ty 1
Year(s)
of E
stim
ate
Trend 2
Quality 1
Ba
selin
e
Pop
ulation
3
Referen
ces
Afghanistan
?
-
-
?
-
-
?
-
-
?
-
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Algeria
40+
M
I
1991
0?
MI
1991
2-348
MI
1995-1999
?
2
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Green &
H
ughes (2001)
M. S
mart (pers. com
m.)
Arm
enia
20-30
P
1997-2002
+1
ME
1997-2002
100-1000
ME
1990-2002-
-1
ME
?
L. B
alyan (pers. com
m.)
Azerbaijan
3-5,000
MI
1995-2004
F
MI
?
Sultanov (2001)
Su
ltan
ov
u
np
ub
lish
ed
d
ata
Bu
lg
aria
76-1,970
GO
1996-2002
F
GO
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
China
?
P
2002
?
P
2002
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Batbayar &
N
atsagdorj (pers. com
m.)
France
4
0
GO
2001
-
-
2001
<5
GO
2001
?
GO
?
C. P
erennou (pers. com
m.)
Georgia
<10
P
2003
?
U
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Greece
26
1-2
,2
13
G
O1
99
5-2
00
0F
G
OC
om
mo
n
Li &
M
un
dk
ur (2
00
3)
Green &
H
ughes (1996)
Iraq
?
-
-
?
-
-
?
-
-
?
-
?
Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic o
f
Iran
100+
M
E
2001
0?
ME
2001
4-1,485
ME
1995-2002
F
ME
20-30 pairs, 25-
100 w
intering
birds
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Israel
1-1
,3
50
M
E1
99
5-2
00
1F
M
EC
om
mo
n
Li &
M
un
dk
ur (2
00
3)
Green &
H
ughes (1996)
Alon (1997)
O. H
adzofe (pers. com
m.)
Italy
4
0-1
MI
2002-2003
?
MI
2002-2003
0-1
GO
2002-2003
+1
GE
<10 pairs
Brunner &
A
ndreotti (2001)
M. G
russu (pers. com
m.)
Kazakhstan
300-500
ME
2002
?
ME
2002
5,000
ME
2002
ME
2
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Mongolia
500-700
MI
2004
+1
MI
2004
100-200
MI
2004
+1
P
500-1000
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Morocco
5-15
GO
2003
+1
GO
1995-2003
up to 130
GO
2003
2
GO
Com
mon
Anon (2004)
Torres (2001)
Pak
istan
30-40
GO
2003-2004
-2
GO
1,000
Chaudry (2002)
Ali &
A
khtar (in
p
ress)
Sheikh (1993)
Sheikh, K
. &
N
aseem
, K
. (in press)
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
18 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Cou
ntry
B
reed
in
g S
ea
so
n
Pa
ssa
ge a
nd
W
in
terin
g
N
o.
Breed
in
g
(p
airs)
Quality 1
Year(s)
of E
stim
ate
Trend 2
Quality 1
Year(s)
of
Estim
ate
No. M
igratin
g
or N
on
-
breed
in
g
(in
div
id
ua
ls)
Qu
ali
ty 1
Year(s)
of E
stim
ate
Trend 2
Quality 1
Ba
selin
e
Pop
ulation
3
Referen
ces
Ro
man
ia
9-8
00
G
O2
00
0-2
00
4F
P
?
Li &
M
un
dk
ur (2
00
3)
D. M
unteanu (in
litt. 1
99
9)
A. S
andor (pers. com
m.)
Russian F
ederation
250-500
MI
2002
-1
MI
2002
2,000-3,000?
MI
1996
-1
MI
Com
mon
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Green &
H
ughes (1996)
Spain
250-1,000
GO
2003
+2
GO
1990-2003
537-2,678
1
1995-2003
+2
GO
400
BoE
II data
Torres et al. (1
98
6)
Torres (2003a, b)
M. G
im
énez (pers. com
m.)
Syrian A
rab R
epublic
<10
MI
2004
F
MI
2004
60-200
MI
2003-2004
F
MI
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
G. K
irw
an (pers. com
m.)
Murdoch et al. (in press)
Tunisia
10-100
ME
2000
0
ME
2000
14-572
GO
1995-2002
0
GO
400
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Green &
H
ughes (2001)
H. A
zafzaf (2001 &
pers. com
m.)
Ham
rouni (1997)
M. S
mart (pers. com
m.)
Turkey
200-250
GE
2001
-1
GE
2001
989-2,970
GE
1995-2002
-1
GE
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Green &
H
ughes (2001)
BoE
II data
Turkm
enistan
20
MI
2002
?
2
2002
7-820
MI
1998-2002
F
MI
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
Ukraine
<5
P
2001
?
-
2001
1-8
GO
1990-2001
F
P
?
Beskaravayny et al. (2
00
1)
Kostin &
T
arina (2002)
Uzbekistan
20-50
P
2004
-2
ME
2002
1,500-5,135
ME
1999-2005
-2
ME
?
Li &
M
undkur (2003)
E. K
reuzberg-M
ukhina (pers. com
m.)
E. L
an
ov
en
ko
(pers. com
m.)
1
Q
ua
lity
:
Go
od
(O
bserv
ed
):
b
ased
o
n reliab
le o
r rep
resen
tativ
e q
uan
titativ
e d
ata d
eriv
ed
fro
m co
mp
lete co
un
ts o
r co
mp
reh
en
siv
e m
easu
rem
en
ts.
G
oo
d (E
stim
ated
):
b
ased
o
n reliab
le o
r rep
resen
tativ
e q
uan
titativ
e d
ata d
eriv
ed
fro
m sam
plin
g o
r in
terp
olatio
n.
M
ed
iu
m (E
stim
ated
):
based
o
n in
co
mp
lete q
uan
titativ
e d
ata d
eriv
ed
fro
m sam
plin
g o
r in
terp
olatio
n.
M
ed
iu
m (In
ferred
):
b
ased
o
n in
co
mp
lete o
r p
oo
r q
uan
titativ
e d
ata d
eriv
ed
fro
m in
direct ev
id
en
ce.
P
oo
r (S
usp
ected
):
b
ased
o
n n
o q
uan
titativ
e d
ata, b
ut g
uesses d
eriv
ed
fro
m circu
mstan
tial ev
id
en
ce.
U
nk
no
wn
:
in
fo
rm
atio
n o
n q
uality
n
ot av
ailab
le.
2
T
ren
d (in
th
e last 1
0 y
ears (o
r th
ree g
en
eratio
ns): +
2 L
arg
e in
crease o
f at least 5
0%
; +
1 S
mall in
crease o
f 2
0-4
9%
; 0
S
tab
le, w
ith
o
verall ch
an
ge less th
an
2
0%
; -1
S
mall d
ecrease o
f 2
0-4
9%
;
-2
L
arg
e d
ecrease o
f at least 5
0%
; an
d F
F
lu
ctu
atin
g w
ith
ch
an
ges o
f at least 2
0%
, b
ut n
o clear tren
d.
3
B
aselin
e p
op
ula
tio
n: earliest p
op
ulatio
n fig
ure av
ailab
le fo
r b
reed
in
g o
r n
on
-b
reed
in
g p
op
ulatio
ns.
4
R
ein
tro
du
ced
p
op
ulatio
ns in
F
ran
ce an
d Italy
in
clu
ded
b
ut self-su
stain
in
g p
op
ulatio
ns n
ot y
et estab
lish
ed
.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 19
Data on habitat use and diet of W
hite-headed D
ucks is available from
few
R
ange S
tates, w
ith high quality scientific data only from
S
pain and to a lesser extent from
T
urkey,
Bulgaria and the R
ussian F
ederation. C
om
prehensive IB
A data is as yet only available for E
uropean R
ange S
tates.
Table 3. L
evel of available know
ledge on habitat use, diet and occurrence of the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala in Im
portant B
ird A
reas and P
rotected A
reas.
Shaded cells represent periods w
hen the species is probably not present in the country.
B
reed
in
g
No
n-b
reed
in
g
Site P
ro
tectio
n - B
reed
in
g
Site P
ro
tectio
n –
N
on
-b
reed
in
g
Co
un
try
H
ab
ita
t
Use
1
Diet
1
Ha
bita
t
Use
1
Diet
1
No
. IB
As
with
W
HD
s2
% o
f P
op
.
in
IB
As
2
% o
f P
op
. in
Pro
tected
Area
s2
No
. IB
As
with
W
HD
s2
% o
f P
op
.
in
IB
As
2
% o
f P
op
. in
Pro
tected
Area
s2
Afg
han
istan
N
on
e
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Alg
eria
Lo
w
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Arm
en
ia
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Azerb
aijan
L
ow
N
on
e
L
ow
L
ow
L
ow
Bu
lg
aria
Med
iu
m
Hig
h
H
ig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Ch
in
a
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
Fran
ce
3
Lo
w
Lo
w
Lo
w
No
ne
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Geo
rg
ia
Lo
w
No
ne
L
ow
L
ow
L
ow
Greece
Med
iu
m
Hig
h
H
ig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Iraq
N
on
e
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
I.R
. Iran
M
ed
iu
m
No
ne
Med
iu
m
No
ne
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Israel
Lo
w
No
ne
H
ig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Italy
3
Lo
w
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Kazak
hstan
M
ed
iu
m
No
ne
Med
iu
m
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Mo
ng
olia
Lo
w
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Mo
ro
cco
L
ow
N
on
e
Med
iu
m
No
ne
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Pak
istan
M
ed
iu
m
Lo
w
H
ig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Ro
man
ia
Lo
w
No
ne
H
ig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Ru
ssian
F
ed
eratio
n
Med
iu
m
Med
iu
m
Med
iu
m
Med
iu
m
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Sp
ain
H
ig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Sy
rian
A
rab
R
ep
ub
lic
Lo
w
No
ne
H
ig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Tu
nisia
Lo
w
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Tu
rk
ey
M
ed
iu
m
No
ne
Hig
h
Hig
h
Hig
h
Med
iu
m
Med
iu
m
Hig
h
Med
iu
m
Med
iu
m
Tu
rk
men
istan
L
ow
N
on
e
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
No
ne
Uk
rain
e
No
ne
No
ne
Med
iu
m
Lo
w
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Med
iu
m
Med
iu
m
Med
iu
m
Uzb
ek
istan
M
ed
iu
m
No
ne
Med
iu
m
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
Lo
w
No
ne
No
ne
1
L
ev
el o
f a
va
ila
ble k
no
wled
ge: H
ig
h - q
uan
titativ
e scien
tific stu
dies; M
ed
iu
m - q
ualitativ
e scien
tific stu
dies; L
ow
- an
ecd
otal in
fo
rm
atio
n.
2
L
ev
el o
f a
va
ila
ble k
no
wled
ge: H
ig
h –
co
mp
reh
en
siv
e IB
A d
ata av
ailab
le, an
d g
oo
d k
no
wled
ge o
f W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
statu
s an
d d
istrib
utio
n; M
ed
iu
m - IB
A p
ro
gram
me co
mp
leted
, an
d
basic k
no
wled
ge o
f W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
statu
s an
d d
istrib
utio
n; L
ow
- IB
A p
ro
gram
me co
mp
leted
, b
ut p
oo
r k
no
wled
ge o
f W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
statu
s an
d d
istrib
utio
n; N
on
e - IB
A p
ro
gram
me
no
t y
et co
mp
leted
, an
d p
oo
r k
no
wled
ge o
f W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
statu
s an
d d
istrib
utio
n.
3
R
ein
tro
du
ced
p
op
ulatio
ns in
F
ran
ce an
d Italy
in
clu
ded
b
ut self-su
stain
in
g p
op
ulatio
ns n
ot y
et estab
lish
ed
.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
20 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
3. Threats
This section provides a general description of the threats facing the White-headed Duck, together with an appraisal of
the relative importance of each threat to the global population (see below) and to the four biogeographic populations
(Table 4), according to the following criteria:
Critical a factor causing or likely to cause very rapid declines (>30% over 10 years);
High a factor causing or likely to cause rapid declines (20-30% over 10 years);
Medium a factor causing or likely to cause relatively slow, but significant, declines (10-20% over 10 years);
Low a factor causing or likely to cause fluctuations;
Local a factor causing or likely to cause negligible declines;
Unknown a factor that is likely to affect the species but is not known to what extent.
Annex 1 states these threats according to categories listed in the IUCN Species Survival Commission Species
Information System Threats Authority file.
3.1. Description of Threats
Hybridisation with Invasive Alien Species Importance: Critical
(Note: hybridisation has been scored as a CRITICAL threat even though it will not lead to declines of >30% over 10
years because it could ultimately cause the extinction of the White-headed Duck).
The greatest long-term threat to the White-headed Duck’s survival is thought to be introgressive hybridisation (i.e.
genetic swamping) with the non-native North American Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis (Green & Hughes 1996).
The hybrids are fully fertile: second-generation birds have already been collected in Spain (Urdiales & Pereira 1993)
and third-generation hybrids have been bred in captivity at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge. Ruddy Ducks
mainly originating from the UK feral population of around 5,000 birds have now been recorded in 21 Western
Palearctic countries with breeding records in at least 11, and regular breeding in six (France, Ireland, Morocco,
Netherlands, Spain, and the UK). However, outside the UK only France holds a significant numbers of breeding pairs
(ca. 20). Ruddy Duck sightings are concentrated along the North Sea coasts of the Netherlands, Belgium, and
Germany, in France and in southern Spain. Flocks of up to 120 wintering birds now occur annually in France. The
spread of the Ruddy Duck is also partly due to escapes from waterfowl collections in the Netherlands and probably
other countries (Rose 1993). The number of countries taking action against Ruddy Ducks has increased significantly
in recent years. By 2004, at least 15 countries in the Western Palearctic had taken some action to control Ruddy Ducks
(Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom). This compares with only six countries in 1999. At least 471 Ruddy
Ducks and hybrids have now been controlled in six countries excluding the UK (Denmark – 1, France - 246, Iceland -
3, Morocco - 2, Portugal - 3, and Spain - 217) and a further three countries have indicated that attempts will be made
to shoot birds if they occur (Hungary, Italy, Slovenia). Concerted eradication programmes are in operation in four
countries (France, Portugal, Spain, and the UK) and one is planned in Morocco. A total of 5,069 Ruddy Ducks have
been shot in the UK since 1999.
The threat from the Ruddy Duck is extremely serious, given the nature of the problem and the fact that, if allowed to
proceed beyond a certain point, the Ruddy Duck's spread across the Palearctic will become unstoppable. This would
certainly be the case if the species was allowed to become established in White-headed Duck range-states such as
Algeria, Turkey or the Russian Federation, where the huge size and area of the wetlands and their infrequent
monitoring would make control impossible.
Climate Change/Drought Importance: Critical
Climate change is thought to be causing more frequent droughts resulting in reduced water levels and the drying out of
many lakes in central Asia. This phenomenon may be a great threat to the survival of the White-headed Duck. The
drought in the Central Asian region between 1998 and 2002 greatly reduced wetland habitat for White-headed Duck
and other waterbirds (Li & Mundkur 2003). The drying up of sites in Kazakhstan caused a redistribution of White-
headed Duck in the region, forcing birds into the southern regions of the Aral Sea basin and onto previously unused
irrigation water-reservoirs in Uzbekistan, and, perhaps, Turkmenistan. Many important sites for the White-headed
Duck totally dried out, or their area and water level were greatly reduced. For example, the Ucchali wetland complex
in Pakistan which used to host more that 700 White-headed Duck in the 1980s has now almost completely dried out;
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 21
and the Sudochie Wetlands in western Uzbekistan held only 9 White-headed Duck in 2001 compared to 3,800 in the
previous two years. The long-term effects of drought on the viability of White-headed Duck populations are unknown
although potentially critical. The lack of water has resulted in degradation and desiccation of important breeding sites
in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia and Uzbekistan; wintering sites in Pakistan, Iran and Turkmenistan; and also on
staging sites in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and possibly Tajikistan (Li & Mundkur
2003). Climatic fluctuations have been shown to influence the population dynamics of White-headed Ducks in Spain
(Almaraz & Amat 2004, in press).
Groundwater Extraction and Infrastructure Development: Importance: Critical
Overuse/unsustainable use of water resources for irrigation and man-made modifications to many wetlands are critical
threats to the White-headed Duck, especially in Central Asia. In Uzbekistan, key sites for White-headed Duck,
including the Sudochie Wetland and Dengizkul Lake, which have held up to 3,000 and 5,000 White-headed Ducks,
respectively, are under threat of drying out completely due to a combination of the change in the water-regime in the
Aral Sea basin (diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers) and the extended drought in Central Asia between
1998 and 2002 (see below). In Turkey, dam-building1
and water abstraction from surrounding catchments have
affected many important breeding and wintering sites. For example, former breeding sites at Eregli and Hotamis
Marshes are now totally dry (G. Eken pers. comm.) as is Çorak Gölü – a previously important wintering site. At
Burdur Gölü, formerly the most important wintering site in the world, White-headed Duck numbers have decreased
from around 11,000 birds in 1991 to around 1,000 birds since 2000 (Kurt et al. 2002). Over the same time period, lake
water levels at Burdur Gölü have dropped by 12m (W. Eastwood pers. comm.). The Hamun-i Puzak, on the
Afghanistan - Iran border, was an important site for White-headed Duck in the 1970-80s, until the development of
irrigation and water supply schemes resulted in reduced water flows and changes to its ecology and vegetation (Scott
1995). In Mongolia, a proposed dam in the Dalai Lake and Khar Lake area, an important breeding site for White-
headed Duck, is predicted to have an impact on water levels and ecology (Li & Mundkur 2003). At the Ucchali
wetland complex in Pakistan, over-abstraction of groundwater, both for drinking and for agricultural purposes, has
caused a lowering of the water table and a subsequent reduction in the extent of lakes/wetlands. In Tunisia, upstream
barrages have severely affected the breeding site Sebkha Kelbia, increasing the frequency of dessication by two and a
half times (Hughes & Hughes 1992). In Pakistan, Kallar Kahar Lake has now been developed into a recreational resort
and due to disturbance, very few waterbirds visit the lake (Li & Mundkur 2003). These are just a few examples of
specific cases, and many other key sites are affected by similar activities.
Arable Farming Importance: Critical
Habitat loss and degradation due to human developments is the most significant factor in the past decline of the
White-headed Duck. Drainage of numerous shallow lakes, marshes and other wetlands of former importance for
breeding and wintering have occurred mainly for agricultural developments throughout the species’ range (Green &
Anstey 1992), and it has been estimated that the area of suitable breeding habitat has been roughly halved last century
(Anstey 1989). Whole wetland systems have been transformed in the former Soviet Union, especially in Central Asia,
where new wintering sites have been colonised as a consequence of the irrigation process. In Spain, >60% of the
endorreic lagoons in Andalucía have been drained this century (Green & Hughes 1996).
Agricultural practices in and around lakes and rivers have a negative impact by increasing run off and sedimentation
rates in some wetlands that affect productivity and food availability for the White-headed Duck. For example, in
Pakistan, the land around the Ucchali wetland complex is privately owned and any reduction in the extent of the lakes
prompts landowners to start cultivating exposed areas. This practice is most destructive at Khabekki Lake where the
owners have cultivated the land right up to the edge of the water.
Over-hunting Importance: High
The White-headed Duck is an incredibly easy bird to shoot given its lack of an escape response when facing hunters
(Green et al. 1996). Over-hunting therefore undoubtedly played an important role in its decline. Over-hunting and/or
egg-collection for human consumption were probably the final causes of extinction in France, Italy, former
Yugoslavia and Egypt. Over-hunting and poaching are still major threats in some parts of the species' range, although
the impact of these practices has rarely been quantified. An investigation into illegal hunting at Burdur Gölü in winter
1993 found that an estimated 4.5 birds a day were being shot within a limited study area that held 25% of the lake's
1
It is important to note that in some countries, such as Tunisia, the construction of small dams may actually increase White-
headed Duck populations by providing additional habitat.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
22 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
White-headed Duck population. This kill rate almost certainly exceeded the limits of "sustainable harvest" of the lake's
population (Green et al. 1996). The White-headed Duck formerly suffered significant over-hunting in Spain, and
Torres et al. (1986) considered over-hunting to be "the principal cause of the drastic decline in numbers prior to
1978". Effective protection in Spain facilitated the major increase there. Thus, the huge increase in El Hondo,
Valencia (with 4,035 birds in August 2000) was largely in response to a hunting ban from 1996 onwards. White-
headed Ducks are known to be have been shot illegally in many other countries, including Azerbaijan (M. Patrikeev in
litt. 1995), Bulgaria (Iankov 1994), Greece (Handrinos 1995), Russia (Li & Mundkur 2003), Tunisia (Z. Benaïssa in
litt. 1994) and Turkmenistan (Li & Mundkur 2003). At the Ucchali wetland complex in Pakistan, illegal hunting has
been reported but not in recent years. White-headed Ducks are undoubtedly shot by mistake by hunters who are unable
to identify the species, although the impact of this has never been quantified. In Uzbekistan, White-headed Ducks are
shot only occasionally, but are regularly trapped with nets. (Kreuzberg-Mukhina pers. comm.).
Inadequate Wetland Management Importance: High
In Spain and in Central Asia, wetlands often dry out (sometimes irreversibly) due to inadequate management. This
also increases the effects of pollution and eutrophication (M. Giménez pers. comm.).
Pollution Importance: Medium
The fact that many of the wetlands used by White-headed Ducks are endorreic makes them particularly vulnerable to
hyper-eutrophication and pollution. For example, Burdur Gölü in Turkey is polluted by industrial, domestic and
agricultural pollution (Salathé & Yarar 1992; Green et al. 1993, 1996) and heavy metals (Yigit & Altindag 2002).
Leaching and run-off of fertilisers and pesticides from agricultural fields that surround the wetlands of the Ucchali
wetland complex in Pakistan are known to pollute the wetlands, although their impact has not been determined
(Chaudhry 2002). In Central Asia, wetlands used by White-headed Ducks are polluted by agricultural pesticides and
herbicides, but the impact of this is unknown.
Drowning in Fishing Nets Importance: Medium
Diving ducks are prone to becoming trapped in fishing nets, which in some instances can cause significant mortality,
for example in Greece, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan (Panayotopoulou & Green 2000; Li & Mundkur
2003, Schielzeth et al. 2003, Li et al. in prep.).
Lead Poisoning Importance: Medium
Diving ducks suffer from lead poisoning through ingestion of lead shot, which is still used legally in shotgun
cartridges in many White-headed Duck Range States. As hunting is intense at many key sites, the ingestion of lead
shot could result in significant mortality (see Pain 1992). For example, in Spain Mateo et al. (2001) found that 50% of
26 White-headed Ducks had ingested lead in the gizzard, and that 80% of these birds had lethal liver lead
concentrations. Note, however, that these figures are likely to exaggerate the prevalence of lead exposure in the wild
population because they were mainly birds found dead – 32% of shot White-headed Ducks, Ruddy Ducks and hybrids
had ingested lead in the gizzard. Many key sites (e.g. El Hondo, Laguna de Medina) have been subject to intense
hunting in the past and hold high densities of lead shot in the sediments.
Human Disturbance Importance: Medium
Disturbance from human activities, particularly hunting, fishing and boating activities during the breeding period, is
thought to be a threat to the White-headed Duck in many countries, including Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and
Turkmenistan (Li & Mundkur 2003).
Invasive Alien Species (Directly Impacting Habitat) Importance: Low
Introduction of the Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus for its pelt has resulted in the destruction of reed beds in the temperate
regions of Central Asia, for example in Mongolia (Li & Mundkur 2003). In the lagoons of Córdoba, Spain, introduced
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio have caused wetland degradation as their bottom-feeding increases sediment
suspension and results in the loss of benthic macrophytes (Almaraz 2000, 2001). Carp also cause eutrophication by
mobilising phosphates and nitrates from the sediments. The removal of Common Carp from Laguna del Rincón led to
a dramatic recovery in White-headed Duck numbers and breeding success (Torres et al. undated). Introduction of
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 23
Tilapia Oreochromis sp. and Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella into wetlands in Pakistan and Afghanistan,
respectively, has affected the ecological balance of vegetation, fish and other species (Li & Mundkur 2003).
Competition with Invasive Alien Species Importance: Low
Introduced North American Ruddy Ducks may compete with White-headed Ducks for food and nest sites (Arenas &
Torres 1992). Introduced Tilapia and carp are likely to compete with White-headed Ducks for food in Spain, Pakistan,
Afghanistan and elsewhere (Almaraz 2001, Torres et al. undated; Li & Mundkur 2003). The harmful effect of the
widespread carp on breeding waterfowl is well known.
Livestock Farming Importance: Local
Damage to reed beds in wetlands in Uzbekistan and Mongolia, by cattle grazing or burning of reed beds for improved
fodder production for cattle, results in the loss of nesting habitat of White-headed Duck (Li & Mundkur 2003). In
Pakistan, vegetated areas around the lakes of the Ucchali wetland complex are heavily grazed by domestic livestock.
Grazing is much beyond the grazing capacity levels as found in the Participatory Rural Assessment exercise
undertaken by WWF-Pakistan and the Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department in 1995 (Li & Mundkur 2003). The
harvest of reeds to build fences for protection of cattle in winter in Mongolia results in the loss of nesting habitat of
White-headed Duck (Li & Mundkur 2003). Such harvesting is also an important problem in Turkey, Morocco (Green
et al. 2002) and no doubt other countries.
Wildfire Importance: Local
In Mongolia, natural steppe fires sometimes spread into reed beds and destroy White-headed Duck nesting habitat (Li
& Mundkur 2003).
Predation by Brown Rats Importance: Local
The presence of humans and their activities leads to an increase in the densities of Brown Rats Rattus norvegicus,
which can be major predators of nesting waterfowl. In the Tarelo Lagoon in Doñana, Spain, large numbers of White-
headed Duck nests abandoned after predation by rats have been recorded in recent years, and nesting success is almost
zero at this site (C. Urdiales pers. comm.).
Table 4. Relative importance of threats to the four biogeographic White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
populations. Medium, High and Critical threats in bold type.
Threat Migratory
Central
Asian
Breeding
Migratory
South
Asian
Wintering
Resident
North
African
Resident
Spanish
Hybridisation with invasive alien species1
CRITICAL CRITICAL CRITICAL CRITICAL
Climate change/drought CRITICAL CRITICAL CRITICAL CRITICAL
Groundwater extraction and infrastructure development CRITICAL CRITICAL HIGH CRITICAL
Arable farming CRITICAL CRITICAL MEDIUM MEDIUM
Over-hunting HIGH HIGH HIGH LOCAL
Inadequate wetland management HIGH - - HIGH
Pollution MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM
Drowning in fishing nets HIGH LOW LOCAL LOCAL
Lead poisoning MEDIUM LOW LOW HIGH
Human disturbance LOW MEDIUM LOW LOW
Invasive alien species (directly impacting habitat) LOW LOW LOW LOW
Competition with invasive alien species LOW LOW LOCAL LOCAL
Livestock farming LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL -
Wildfire LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL -
Predation by Brown Rats - - - LOCAL
1
Hybridisation with invasive alien species is scored as Critical for all populations even though it will not lead to declines of >30%
over 10 years because it could ultimately cause the extinction of the White-headed Duck
A ‘Problem tree’ for the White-headed Duck is shown in Figure 2. It has been produced to explain how the threats
affect the population and how they are related. The root causes of the problems facing the species are shown on the
right hand side of the tree.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
24 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Figure 2. P
roblem
tree for the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala (thick bold fram
e – C
RIT
IC
AL
; bold fram
e – H
IG
H, norm
al fram
e – M
ED
IU
M, dashed fram
e –
LO
W; no fram
e – L
OC
AL
. a) direct threats.
Ad
ults
Subsis
tence huntin
g
Drow
nin
g
Lead
po
ison
ing
Eg
gs
an
d
Ch
ic
ks
Huntin
g
Peo
ple
ne
ed to e
at W
hite-heade
d D
ucks to surviv
e
Peo
ple
ne
ed to sell W
hite-heade
d D
ucks to earn a livin
g
Lega
l h
un
tin
g for sport
Illega
l h
untin
g
Accid
en
ta
l shoo
tin
g
Huntin
g is
cond
ucted unsu
stain
ably
Som
e peop
le like shootin
g ducks
Local peo
ple
d
o no
t know
o
f the nee
d to
preserve th
e specie
s
Local peo
ple
d
o no
t know
the specie
s is
pro
tected
Local peo
ple
d
o no
t care th
e specie
s is
protected
Educatio
n
program
mes
ina
deq
uate
Hunters m
istake W
hite-headed D
ucks for le
gal qu
arry
In fis
hin
g ne
ts
Fis
herm
en set nets in
W
hite-hea
ded D
uck feedin
g are
as
Fis
herm
en una
ware (or do
n’t care) the sp
ecie
s is
protected
Peo
ple
ne
ed
to earn
a
livin
g b
y
fis
hin
g
Ducks eat shot from
shotgun cartrid
ges
Pois
onin
g from
pestic
ides a
nd
other chem
icals
Industria
l dis
charg
e of w
aste an
d toxic
m
ateria
ls
Use of pestic
ides in
agric
ulture
Tram
pling of nests b
y cattle
C
attle
stockin
g de
nsitie
s to
o hig
h
Local peo
ple
d
o no
t know
o
f the
need
to prese
rve
the
specie
s
Egg co
llectio
n for hum
an consum
ptio
n
Preda
tio
n b
y B
ro
wn R
ats
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 25
Figure 2. P
roblem
tree for the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala (thick bold fram
e – C
RIT
IC
AL
; bold fram
e – H
IG
H, norm
al fram
e – M
ED
IU
M, dashed fram
e –
LO
W; no fram
e – L
OC
AL
. b) indirect threats.
Ha
bita
t
Lo
ss
Wetla
nd
d
ra
ina
ge
In
fra
stru
ctu
re
d
eve
lop
me
nt
Dro
ug
ht
De
gra
da
tio
n o
f n
estin
g ve
ge
ta
tio
n
Ag
ric
ultu
ra
l d
eve
lop
me
nt
Da
m b
uild
ing
in
w
ate
r ca
tch
me
nts
Sm
all h
old
ers
Ag
ro-in
du
stry fa
rm
ing
Div
ersio
n o
f riv
ers
Ove
r a
bstra
ctio
n o
f w
ate
r
Cro
p ir
rig
atio
n
Pe
rso
na
l u
se
b
y h
um
an
s
Eco
no
mic
d
eve
lop
me
nt
Na
tu
ra
l clim
atic
cycle
s
Clim
ate
ch
an
ge
Ha
bita
t
De
gra
da
tio
n
Ove
rg
ra
zin
g - b
y ca
ttle
o
r in
tro
du
ce
d M
uskra
ts
In
te
ntio
na
l b
urn
ing
fo
r im
pro
ve
d fo
dd
er p
ro
du
ctio
n fo
r ca
ttle
Ha
rve
stin
g fo
r ca
ttle
fe
nce
s o
r th
atch
ing
Un
inte
ntio
na
l b
urn
ing
b
y n
atu
ra
l ste
pp
e fir
es
De
gra
da
tio
n o
f w
ate
rb
od
ies
Po
llutio
n
In
du
stria
l d
isch
arg
e o
f w
aste
a
nd
to
xic
m
ate
ria
ls
Do
me
stic
se
wa
ge
Fe
rtilis
ers
Pe
stic
ide
s
In
cre
ase
d se
dim
en
t le
ve
ls
De
fo
re
sta
tio
n o
f w
ate
r b
asin
s
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
26 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Figure 2. P
roblem
tree for the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala (thick bold fram
e – C
RIT
IC
AL
; bold fram
e – H
IG
H, norm
al fram
e – M
ED
IU
M, dashed fram
e –
LO
W; n
o fra
me –
L
OC
AL
. b
) in
direct th
rea
ts (co
ntin
ued
).
Re
du
ce
d
fo
od
s
up
ply
Direct com
petitio
n for food w
ith in
tro
duce
d specie
s
Fis
h – T
ila
pia
an
d C
arp
Birds –
R
ud
dy D
uck
Indirect ecolo
gic
al effects of in
troduced
fis
h
Chan
ge in
w
etla
nd
ecolo
gy caused b
y bottom
-feedin
g fis
h
Re
du
ce
d
ne
st s
ites
Com
petitio
n w
ith R
udd
y D
uck
Ge
ne
tic
in
tro
gre
ss
io
n
of R
ud
dy
Du
ck
D
NA
Hybrid
isa
tio
n w
ith R
udd
y D
ucks
Rudd
y D
ucks expandin
g in
to specie
s’ ran
ge
Rudd
y D
ucks in
troduced in
to E
urope
Re
du
ce
d
bre
ed
in
g
su
cc
es
s
an
d/o
r
su
rviva
l
Dis
turba
nce
Boatin
g a
nd recreatio
n
Fis
hin
g
Huntin
g
In
ad
eq
ua
te
kn
ow
le
dg
e
of fa
cto
rs
lim
itin
g
Wh
ite
-h
ea
de
d
Du
ck
po
pu
la
tio
ns
Lack of hig
h qu
ality research an
d m
onitorin
g
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 27
4. P
olicies a
nd
leg
isla
tio
n relev
an
t fo
r m
an
ag
em
en
t
4.1
. In
tern
atio
na
l C
on
serv
atio
n a
nd
L
eg
al S
ta
tu
s
Table 5 show
s the status of the W
hite-headed D
uck under the m
ain international legislative instrum
ents for conservation.
Table 5. International conservation and legal status of the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala. (N
ote: H
eaders in grey relate to
m
easures relevant to E
uropean
co
un
tries o
nly). L
etters in
p
aren
th
esis a
re IU
CN
R
ed
L
ist criteria
(W
orld
S
ta
tu
s) a
nd
A
EW
A ca
teg
ories (A
frica
n-E
ura
sia
n M
ig
ra
to
ry W
aterbird A
greem
ent).
World
Sta
tu
s
Eu
rop
ean
Sta
tu
s
SP
EC
category
EU
B
ird
s
Directive
An
nex
Bern
Con
ven
tion
Ap
pen
dix
Bo
nn
Con
ven
tion
Ap
pen
dix
African
-E
urasian
M
igratory
Waterb
ird
A
greem
en
t
Con
ven
tion
on
In
tern
ation
al T
rad
e in
En
dan
gered
S
pecies
Endangered
A1acde
Endangered
SP
EC
1
Annex I
Appendix II
Appendix I
west M
editerranean (S
pain) A
1a 1b 1c
Algeria/T
unisia A
1a 1b 1c
east M
editerranean, T
urkey and south-
west A
sia A
1a 1b 2
Appendix II
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
28 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
4.2. Member States/Contracting Parties Obligations
The obligations/commitments of Member States/Contracting Parties under various Directives/Conventions are
presented in Annex 2.
White-headed Duck Conservation
EU Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds (Birds Directive)
As the White-headed Duck is listed on Annex I of the EU Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds
(Birds Directive), the species should be the subject of special conservation measures concerning their habitat in order
to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution. Member States should classify in particular the
most suitable territories in number and size as special protection areas for the conservation of these species.
Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention)
Article 8 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention) states that “Each Contracting Party
shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:
(a) Establish a system of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological
diversity;
(c) Regulate or manage biological resources important for the conservation of biological diversity whether within or
outside protected areas, with a view to ensuring their conservation and sustainable use;
(d) Promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species in
natural surroundings;
(f) Rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of threatened species, inter alia, through
the development and implementation of plans or other management strategies”.
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)
As the White-headed Duck is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and
Natural Habitats (Bern Convention), Contracting Parties should take appropriate and necessary legislative and
administrative measures to ensure the special protection of the White-headed Duck. The following will in particular be
prohibited for these species: a) all forms of deliberate capture and keeping and deliberate killing; b) the deliberate
damage to or destruction of breeding or resting sites; c) the deliberate disturbance of wild fauna, particularly during
the period of breeding, rearing and wintering, insofar as disturbance would be significant in relation to the objectives
of this Convention; d) the deliberate destruction or taking of eggs from the wild or keeping these eggs even if empty;
e) the possession of and internal trade in these animals, alive or dead, including stuffed animals and any readily
recognisable part or derivative thereof.
Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
As the White-headed Duck is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS),
Range States should endeavour: a) to conserve and, where feasible and appropriate, restore those habitats of the
species which are of importance in removing the species from danger of extinction; b) to prevent, remove, compensate
for or minimize, as appropriate, the adverse effects of activities or obstacles that seriously impede or prevent the
migration of the species; and c) to the extent feasible and appropriate, to prevent, reduce or control factors that are
endangering or are likely to further endanger the species, including strictly controlling the introduction of, or
controlling or eliminating, already introduced exotic species.
African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
As the White-headed Duck is listed in Column A of the action plan to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird
Agreement, Parties should: a) prohibit the taking of birds and eggs of those populations occurring in their territory; b)
prohibit deliberate disturbance in so far as such disturbance would be significant for the conservation of the population
concerned; c) prohibit the possession or utilization of, and trade in, birds or eggs, or any readily recognizable parts or
derivatives of such birds and their eggs, d) cooperate with a view to developing and implementing international single
species action plans; e) prepare and implement national single species action plans; and f) phase out the use of lead
shot for hunting in wetlands.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
As the White-headed Duck is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the regulation of trade in White-headed Duck specimens requires the prior grant
and presentation of an export permit. An export permit shall only be granted when the following conditions have been
met: (a) a Scientific Authority of the State of export has advised that such export will not be detrimental to the
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 29
survival of that species; (b) a Management Authority of the State of export is satisfied that the specimen was not
obtained in contravention of the laws of that State for the protection of fauna and flora; and (c) a Management
Authority of the State of export is satisfied that any living specimen will be so prepared and shipped as to minimize
the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.
Ruddy Duck Control
EU Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds (Birds Directive)
With regards to Ruddy Duck control, Article 11 of the EU Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds
(Birds Directive) states that "Member States shall see that any introduction of species of bird which do not occur
naturally in the wild state in the European territory of the Member States does not prejudice the local flora and fauna.”
EU Directive (92/43/EEC) on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (Habitats
Directive)
Article 22 (b) of the EU Directive (92/43/EEC) on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora
(Habitats Directive) states that "Member States shall ensure that the deliberate introduction into the wild of any
species which is not native to their territory is regulated so as not to prejudice natural habitats within their natural
range or the wild native flora and fauna and, if they consider it necessary, prohibit such introduction. The results of the
assessment undertaken shall be forwarded to the committee for information.”
Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention)
Article 8 (h) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention) states that "each Contracting Party
shall, as far as possible and appropriate, prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which
threaten ecosystems, habitats or species."
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)
Article 11 (2) (b) of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern
Convention) states that "each Contracting Party undertakes to strictly control the introduction of non-native species."
Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
Article III (4c) of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) which relates to endangered
migratory species states that "parties that are Range States of a migratory species listed in Appendix I shall endeavour
to the extent feasible and appropriate, to prevent, reduce or control factors that are endangering or are likely to further
endanger the species, including strictly controlling the introduction of, or controlling or eliminating, already
introduced exotic species."
African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
Article III 2 (g) of the African Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement states that "Parties shall prohibit the
deliberate introduction of non-native waterbird species into the environment and take all appropriate measures to
prevent the unintentional release of such species if this introduction or release would prejudice the conservation status
of wild fauna and flora; when non-native waterbird species have already been introduced, the Parties shall take all
appropriate measures to prevent these species from becoming a potential threat to indigenous species." Article IV of
the AEWA, the Action Plan and Conservation Guidelines, provides further guidance over the management of non-
native waterbirds – “Parties shall take measures to the extent feasible and appropriate, including taking, to ensure that
when non-native species or hybrids thereof have already been introduced into their territory, those species or their
hybrids do not pose a potential hazard to the populations listed in Table 1”.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
On 18 August 2003, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1497/2003 added the Ruddy Duck to Annex B of the No.
338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein. The Ruddy Duck was added to
Annex B in accordance with Article 3 (2d) of the Regulation as a species that would constitute an ecological threat to
wild species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Community. This now allows for the prohibition of importation of
Ruddy Ducks into the EU, and for restrictions to be placed on the holding and/or movement of birds, including the
prohibition of keeping Ruddy Ducks in captivity.
4.3. National Policies, Legislation and Ongoing Activities
The legally protected status of the White-headed Duck in the 26 countries where it regularly occurs is shown in Table
6.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
30 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Table 6. P
rotection of the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala under national legislation by country. N
o info =
no inform
ation available; N
/A
=
not applicable.
Co
un
try
L
istin
g in
Na
tio
na
l
Red
D
ata
Bo
ok
Legal
Pro
tectio
n
fro
m K
illin
g
Year of
Pro
tectio
n
Sta
tu
s
Pen
alties fo
r
Illeg
al K
illin
g
or N
est
Destru
ctio
n
Fo
r G
am
e
Sp
ecies, g
iv
e
Op
en
in
g/
Clo
sin
g D
ates
An
nu
al
Bag
Size
Hig
hest
Resp
on
sib
le
Na
tio
na
l
Au
th
ority
Afghanistan
No info
No info
No info
No info
No info
No info
No info
Algeria
No R
ed D
ata
Book
Protected under D
ecree no. 83–509
1983
No info
N/A
N
/A
N
o info
Arm
en
ia
“L
isted
”
Pro
tected
b
y th
e W
ild
life L
aw
(2
00
0)
19
87
P
olicies b
ein
g d
ev
elo
ped
N
/A
N
/A
M
in
istry
o
f N
atu
re
Pro
tectio
n R
A
Azerb
aijan
N
ot L
isted
N
on
e
-
No
in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
M
in
istry
o
f E
co
lo
gy
Bu
lg
aria
“R
are” (R
ed
Data B
ook of
Peo
ple’s
Republic of
Bulgaria, 1985)
Protected under the B
iodiversity A
ct
(2002, am
ended in 2005)
1962
BG
N 100 (about 51 E
UR
)
to B
GN
5,000 (about
2,564 E
UR
) in the case of
individuals, and B
GN
500
(about 256 E
UR
) to B
GN
10,000 (about 5,128
EU
R), in the case of
institutions and sole
trad
ers. P
en
alties co
uld
b
e
doubled in case of
violation in protected
areas. U
p to five years
im
priso
nm
en
t fo
r k
illin
g,
catching, keeping or
selling globally threatened
species w
ithout perm
it.
N/A
N
/A
M
in
istry
o
f
Environm
ent and
Water
China
Listed (1998)
Not protected under the N
ational
Im
po
rtan
t W
ild
life o
f C
hin
a P
ro
tectio
n
Act (1
98
9)
-
No
in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
S
tate F
orestry
Ad
min
istratio
n,
China
Fran
ce
1
Considered
Ex
tin
ct in
French R
ed
Data B
ook
Pro
tected
–
m
ore in
fo
rm
atio
n n
eed
ed
1
97
2
No
in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
D
irectio
n d
e la
Natu
re et P
ay
sag
es,
of th
e M
in
istère d
e
l'E
cologie et du
Dév
elo
pp
em
en
t
Durable
Geo
rg
ia
No
in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 31
Co
un
try
L
istin
g in
Na
tio
na
l
Red
D
ata
Bo
ok
Legal
Pro
tectio
n
fro
m K
illin
g
Year of
Pro
tectio
n
Sta
tu
s
Pen
alties fo
r
Illeg
al K
illin
g
or N
est
Destru
ctio
n
Fo
r G
am
e
Sp
ecies, g
iv
e
Op
en
in
g/
Clo
sin
g D
ates
An
nu
al
Bag
Size
Hig
hest
Resp
on
sib
le
Na
tio
na
l
Au
th
ority
Greece
En
dan
gered
P
ro
tected
b
y Jo
in
t M
in
isterial D
ecisio
n
414985/85
19
85
N
o in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
N
o in
fo
Iraq
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic
of Iran
No R
ed D
ata
book
Hu
ntin
g p
ro
hib
ited
u
nd
er th
e G
am
e an
d
Fish L
aw
(1967, am
ended in 1996)
19
67
N
o in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
D
ep
artm
en
t o
f th
e
Environm
ent
Israel
No
R
ed
D
ata
Book
Fully protected under the 1955 W
ildlife
Pro
tectio
n L
aw
19
55
N
o in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
N
o in
fo
Italy
1
En
dan
gered
P
ro
tected
u
nd
er L
aw
N
o. 1
57
(article 2
o
f
the hunting law
)
19
92
N
o in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
N
o in
fo
Kazakhstan
Listed as
Category 1
(E
N)
Yes
19
96
N
o in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
M
in
istry
o
f
Environm
ent
Pro
tectio
n
Mongolia
Rare
Listed as a rare species in L
aw
on H
unting
(1995), R
ed D
ata B
ook (1997) and L
aw
on
Fauna (2000). A
lso protected under the
follow
ing L
aw
s and regulations: L
aw
on
En
viro
nm
en
tal P
ro
tectio
n (1
99
5), L
aw
o
n
Sp
ecial P
ro
tected
A
reas (1
99
5).
1995
$10-$250 by the L
aw
on
Sp
ecial P
ro
tected
A
reas.
Illeg
al k
illin
g
or n
est d
estru
ctio
n is n
ot
sp
ecified
.
N/A
N
/A
M
in
istry
o
f N
atu
re
and E
nvironm
ent
Morocco
No R
ed D
ata
Book
Pro
tected
u
nd
er th
e P
erm
an
en
t H
un
tin
g
Order of 1962
19
62
N
o in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
N
o in
fo
Pakistan
No national
Red D
ata B
ook.
Un
der
production by
IU
CN
Pak
istan
’s
biodiversity
pro
gram
.
Pro
tected
in
all p
ro
vin
ces an
d fed
eral
units. Included in S
chedule 3 of protected
anim
als under the P
unjab W
ildlife
Protection, C
onservation and M
anagem
ent
Act 1974, revised in 1991
1974
No serious penalties are
presen
t in
cu
rren
t
man
ag
em
en
t stru
ctu
re.
N/A
N
/A
N
atio
nal C
ou
ncil fo
r
th
e C
on
serv
atio
n o
f
Wild
life, Islam
ab
ad
.
Rom
ania
No R
ed D
ata
Book
Protected under the G
am
e M
anagem
ent
and H
unting L
aw
(103/1996) - hunting is
forbidden, and P
rotected A
reas L
aw
(4
62
/2
00
1) - strictly
p
ro
tected
.
1996
€14 fine for killing a
White-headed D
uck
N/A
N
/A
M
in
istry
o
f W
aters
and E
nvironm
ent
Ru
ssian
Fed
eratio
n
Categ
ory
I:
Endangered
Pro
tected
b
y W
ild
life L
aw
(1
99
5)
19
95
N
o in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
N
o in
fo
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
32 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Co
un
try
L
istin
g in
Na
tio
na
l
Red
D
ata
Bo
ok
Legal
Pro
tectio
n
fro
m K
illin
g
Year of
Pro
tectio
n
Sta
tu
s
Pen
alties fo
r
Illeg
al K
illin
g
or N
est
Destru
ctio
n
Fo
r G
am
e
Sp
ecies, g
iv
e
Op
en
in
g/
Clo
sin
g D
ates
An
nu
al
Bag
Size
Hig
hest
Resp
on
sib
le
Na
tio
na
l
Au
th
ority
Sp
ain
E
nd
an
gered
P
ro
tected
u
nd
er n
atio
nal law
4
/1
98
9 an
d
listed
as “E
nd
an
gered
o
f E
xtin
ctio
n” (th
e
highest possible category) in the N
ational
Catalogue of T
hreatened S
pecies (R
oyal
Decree 439/1990)
1973
Law
4/1989 considers
killing threatened fauna a
“v
ery
serio
us o
ffen
ce “
with a penalty of €60,100-
300,500. P
enal C
ode (L
aw
10
/1
99
5) co
nsid
ers k
illin
g
a th
reaten
ed
sp
ecies a
crim
e w
hich
can
lead
to
im
priso
nm
en
t.
N/A
N
/A
M
in
istry
o
f
En
viro
nm
en
t
Sy
rian
A
rab
Republic
No
in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
N
o in
fo
Tunisia
No R
ed D
ata
Book
Protected by the A
nnual H
unting D
ecree
under T
itle 1 in 1973 and reinforced in
1994 by A
rticle 7
1973
30 T
ND
to 300 T
ND
or 6
days to 6 m
onths
im
priso
nm
en
t
N/A
N
/A
M
in
istère d
e
l’A
gricu
ltu
re, d
e
l’E
nv
iro
nn
em
en
t et
des R
essources
Hydrauliques
(M
AE
HR
), D
irectio
n
Gén
érale d
es F
orêts
(D
GF
)
Turkey
No R
ed D
ata
Book
Pro
tected
–
m
ore in
fo
rm
atio
n n
eed
ed
1
98
4
No
in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
N
o in
fo
Tu
rk
men
istan
L
isted
as
Category 1
(E
N)
Pro
tected
u
nd
er: P
reserv
atio
n an
d ratio
nal
usag
e o
f fau
na act, 1
99
7; P
ro
tected
areas
act, 1
99
2; M
od
el S
tatu
te ab
ou
t
Go
vern
men
tal N
atu
re R
eserv
es o
f
Turkm
enistan, 1994; M
odel S
tatute about
Go
vern
men
tal A
rb
oretu
ms o
f rare an
d
th
reaten
ed
an
im
als an
d p
lan
ts in
Turkm
enistan, 1995; C
om
pletion of a
Natio
nal A
ctio
n P
lan
o
n B
io
div
ersity
Co
nserv
atio
n in
T
urk
men
istan
(2
00
2);
Natio
nal C
asp
ian
A
ctio
n P
lan
(in prep
.)
19
92
N
o in
fo
N
/A
N
/A
M
in
istry
o
f N
atu
re
Pro
tectio
n
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 33
Co
un
try
L
istin
g in
Na
tio
na
l
Red
D
ata
Bo
ok
Legal
Pro
tectio
n
fro
m K
illin
g
Year of
Pro
tectio
n
Sta
tu
s
Pen
alties fo
r
Illeg
al K
illin
g
or N
est
Destru
ctio
n
Fo
r G
am
e
Sp
ecies, g
iv
e
Op
en
in
g/
Clo
sin
g D
ates
An
nu
al
Bag
Size
Hig
hest
Resp
on
sib
le
Na
tio
na
l
Au
th
ority
Uk
rain
e
Categ
ory
IV
(rare sp
ecies)
Law
o
n W
ild
A
nim
als (1
99
3), L
aw
o
n
Gam
e H
usbandry and H
unting (2000);
Law
on R
ed D
ata B
ook of U
kraine (2000),
National R
ed D
ata B
ook (1980, 1994)
19
74
P
en
alty
fo
r k
illin
g –
4
50
UA
H (ab
ou
t 8
5 U
SD
)
N/A
N
/A
M
in
istry
fo
r
En
viro
nm
en
tal
Pro
tectio
n o
f U
krain
e
Uzbekistan
Endangered
(R
ed D
ata B
ook
of the R
epublic
of U
zbekistan
2003)
Protected under law
on protection and
usage of anim
als (1997). C
annot be hunted
under national hunting regulations
(R
eso
lu
tio
n o
f P
arliam
en
t “O
rd
in
an
ce o
n
hunting, 1991)
1983
Penalty for foreign
poachers is 500 U
S $, for
national poachers 75 U
S $
N/A
N
/A
S
tate C
om
mittee fo
r
Natu
re P
ro
tectio
n
1
R
ein
tro
du
ced
p
op
ulatio
ns in
F
ran
ce an
d Italy
in
clu
ded
b
ut self-su
stain
in
g p
op
ulatio
ns n
ot y
et estab
lish
ed
.
2
N
atio
nal R
ed
lists m
ig
ht n
ot b
e u
p-to
-d
ate w
ith
th
e g
lo
bal red
-list, b
ut are im
po
rtan
t sin
ce in
m
an
y co
un
tries th
ey
h
av
e leg
al relev
an
ce.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
34 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
4.4
. S
ite (a
nd
H
ab
ita
t) P
ro
tectio
n a
nd
R
esea
rch
An
nex 3
g
iv
es a list o
f 1
11
IB
As fo
r th
e W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
fro
m th
e W
orld
B
ird
D
atab
ase, to
geth
er w
ith
th
eir co
-o
rd
in
ates, th
e n
um
bers o
f b
ird
s th
ey
su
pp
ort, th
e seaso
n fo
r
wh
ich
th
ey
are im
po
rtan
t an
d th
e criteria u
sed
to
id
en
tify
th
e site (as o
f M
arch
2
00
4). IB
A co
verag
e is fairly
co
mp
reh
en
siv
e in
E
uro
pe, N
orth
A
frica an
d th
e M
id
dle E
ast, b
ut
coverage is poor in key R
ange S
tates in central A
sia, such as M
ongolia, K
azakhstan, the R
ussian F
ederation and U
zbekistan. O
nly
15 of these 101 IB
As have m
anagem
ent
plan
s p
rep
ared
. T
he p
ro
tectio
n statu
s o
f IB
As is sh
ow
n in
A
nnex 4
, together w
ith their protected area designations. O
f the 95 W
hite-headed D
uck IB
As for w
hich protected
area data is available in the W
orld B
ird D
atabase (no inform
ation for N
orth A
frica), on
ly 36 (38%
) are know
n to be fully protected, 27 (28%
) are partially protected and 32
(34%
) are not protected. T
hese 95 IB
As include a total of 150 protected areas (A
nnex 4
).
Ta
ble 7
presents a sum
mary of the proportion of W
hite-headed D
ucks in p
rotected areas in each R
ange S
tate during the breeding and non-breeding seasons.
Table 7. Site (and habitat) protection for the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala. Shaded cells represent periods w
hen the species is probably not present in the country.
The breeding season includes estim
ates of breeding and resident bird num
bers and the non-breeding season includes estim
ates of passage and w
intering bird num
bers. N
/A
–
not applicable.
Co
un
try
B
reed
in
g S
ea
so
n
No
n-b
reed
in
g S
ea
so
n
No
. IB
As
wh
ere
WH
Ds
Breed
1
% P
op
.
in
IB
As
2
% P
op
.
in
SP
As
3
% P
op
.
in
Ram
sar
Sites
% P
op
. in
Na
tio
na
l
Pro
tected
Areas
4
No
. IB
As
with
WH
Ds
% P
op
.
in
IB
As
% P
op
.
in
SP
As
3
% P
op
.
in
Ram
sar
Sites
% P
op
. in
Na
tio
na
l
Pro
tected
Areas
Afg
han
istan
N
/A
N
/A
Alg
eria
N/A
N
/A
Arm
en
ia
1
10
0
N/A
0
0
3
1
00
N
/A
7
0
60
Azerb
aijan
6
10
0
N/A
7
5
75
Bu
lg
aria
N
/A
Ch
in
a
N/A
N
/A
Fran
ce
5
1
100
100
100
100
1
100
100
100
100
Georgia
N
/A
Greece
2
100
100
100
100
Iraq
N
/A
N
/A
Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Iran
N
/A
N
/A
Israel
N
/A
Italy
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kazakhstan
6
0
0
N/A
0
0
0
0
N
/A
0
0
Mo
ng
olia
5
10
0
N/A
9
9
99
-
-
N/A
-
-
Mo
ro
cco
N
/A
N
/A
Pak
istan
3
90
N
/A
9
0
90
Ro
man
ia
3
9
5
N/A
1
3
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 35
Co
un
try
B
reed
in
g S
ea
so
n
No
n-b
reed
in
g S
ea
so
n
No
. IB
As
wh
ere
WH
Ds
Breed
1
% P
op
.
in
IB
As
2
% P
op
.
in
SP
As
3
% P
op
.
in
Ram
sar
Sites
% P
op
. in
Na
tio
na
l
Pro
tected
Areas
4
No
. IB
As
with
WH
Ds
% P
op
.
in
IB
As
% P
op
.
in
SP
As
3
% P
op
.
in
Ram
sar
Sites
% P
op
. in
Na
tio
na
l
Pro
tected
Areas
Ru
ssian
F
ed
eratio
n
N/A
N
/A
Sp
ain
1
1
10
0
90
8
0
1
1+
Sy
rian
A
rab
R
ep
ub
lic
N/A
N
/A
Tu
nisia
5
55
N
/A
0
0
1
0
60
N
/A
4
4
Tu
rk
ey
N
/A
N
/A
Tu
rk
men
istan
6
N/A
N
/A
Uk
rain
e
0
-
N/A
-
-
2
Up
to
1
00
N
/A
U
p to
2
5
Up
to
1
00
Uzb
ek
istan
6
N/A
40-50
N/A
40-50
40-50
1
E
stim
ates o
f th
e n
um
ber o
f IB
As w
here th
e sp
ecies b
reed
s o
r sp
en
ds th
e n
on
-b
reed
in
g seaso
n w
ere o
btain
ed
fro
m th
e B
ird
Life In
tern
atio
nal W
orld
B
ird
D
atab
ase (d
ata ex
tracted
M
arch
2
00
4)
an
d/o
r fro
m n
atio
nal co
ntacts.
2
E
stim
ates o
f th
e %
o
f th
e p
op
ulatio
n p
resen
t in
th
e IB
A su
ite o
f an
in
div
id
ual co
un
try
w
ere estim
ated
b
y n
atio
nal co
ntacts.
3
E
uro
pean
U
nio
n m
em
bers o
nly
.
4
N
atio
nal p
ro
tected
areas: O
nly
in
clu
des areas w
hich
m
eet th
e IU
CN
d
efin
itio
n o
f a p
ro
tected
area: "an
area o
f lan
d an
d/o
r sea esp
ecially
d
ed
icated
to
th
e p
ro
tectio
n an
d m
ain
ten
an
ce o
f
bio
lo
gical d
iv
ersity
, an
d o
f n
atu
ral an
d asso
ciated
cu
ltu
ral reso
urces, an
d m
an
ag
ed
th
ro
ug
h leg
al o
r o
th
er effectiv
e m
ean
s."
5
R
ein
tro
du
ced
p
op
ulatio
ns in
F
ran
ce an
d Italy
in
clu
ded
b
ut self-su
stain
in
g p
op
ulatio
ns n
ot y
et estab
lish
ed
.
6
T
he IB
A assessm
en
t p
ro
cess h
as ju
st started
in
C
en
tral A
sia, alth
ou
gh
th
e sites w
here W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
o
ccu
r are m
ostly
alread
y k
no
wn
.
4.5
. R
ecen
t C
on
serv
atio
n M
ea
su
res a
nd
A
ttitu
de T
ow
ard
s th
e S
pecies
Th
ere h
av
e b
een
co
nserv
atio
n effo
rts fo
r th
e W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
in
m
an
y R
an
ge S
tates, alth
ou
gh
m
ost stu
dies h
av
e b
een
co
nd
ucted
in
S
pain
. F
ou
r E
U-L
IF
E p
ro
jects h
av
e
been conducted for the W
hite-headed D
uck and/or its habitats: three in S
pain (W
hite-head
ed D
uck P
reservation P
lan in the V
alencian
C
om
mu
nity
(L
IF
E0
0 N
AT
/E
/0
07
31
1);
Alb
uferas d
e A
dra (A
lm
ería) R
eco
very
an
d C
on
serv
atio
n P
lan
(L
IF
E9
8 N
AT
/E
/0
05
32
3); C
on
serv
atio
n an
d resto
ratio
n o
f w
etlan
ds in
A
ndalucia (L
IF
E03 N
AT
/E
/000055))
and one in F
rance (O
xyura leucocephala
's rein
tro
du
ctio
n o
n B
ig
ug
lia's
p
on
d (L
IF
E9
7 N
AT
/F
/0
04
22
6)). C
on
serv
atio
n effo
rts in
S
pain
h
av
e led
to
an
in
crease in
th
e W
hite-
headed D
uck population from
22 birds in 1977
to around 2,500 in 2003. H
ow
ever, the m
ain C
entral A
sian W
hite-headed D
uck population is still in decline and m
ost R
ange
States do not have national W
hite-headed D
uck action plans, national w
orking group or m
onitoring program
mes.
Sin
ce 1
99
3, w
hen
th
e first in
tern
atio
nal m
eetin
g w
as h
eld
to
d
iscu
ss th
e R
ud
dy
D
uck
issu
e in
th
e W
estern
P
alearctic, th
ere h
as been action to control R
uddy D
ucks in m
any
co
un
tries. A
n ap
praisal o
f th
e lev
el o
f im
plem
en
tatio
n o
f co
un
try
-b
y-co
un
try
reco
mm
en
datio
ns fo
r R
ud
dy
D
uck
co
ntro
l fro
m th
e C
ou
ncil o
f E
uro
pe W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
Actio
n P
lan
(H
ug
hes &
G
reen
1
99
6) rev
eals: 1
) m
on
ito
rin
g o
f R
ud
dy
D
ucks in
th
e w
ild
is ad
eq
uate in
m
ost co
un
tries; 2
) th
e leg
al p
ro
visio
n fo
r R
ud
dy
D
uck
co
ntro
l ex
ists in
mo
st co
un
tries; 3
) m
an
y co
un
tries h
av
e, o
r are co
nsid
erin
g, a n
atio
nal R
ud
dy
D
uck
strateg
y; 4
) th
ere is a co
mm
itm
en
t to
erad
icatio
n in
fiv
e co
un
tries (F
ran
ce, M
oro
cco
,
Po
rtu
gal, S
pain
an
d th
e U
K). T
he U
K h
as co
nd
ucted
research
in
to
su
itab
le co
ntro
l m
easu
res fo
r R
ud
dy
D
uck
s (H
ug
hes 1
99
6) an
d a reg
io
nal trial th
at co
nclu
ded
n
atio
n-w
id
e
eradication w
as feasible (C
SL
2002). T
he num
ber of countries taking action against R
udd
y D
ucks has increased significantly in recent years. B
y 2004, at least 15 countries in
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
36 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
th
e W
estern
P
alearctic h
ad
tak
en
so
me actio
n to
co
ntro
l R
ud
dy
D
uck
s (B
elg
iu
m, D
en
mark
, F
ran
ce, H
un
gary
, Icelan
d, Irelan
d, Italy
, M
orocco, N
etherlands, P
ortugal,
Slo
ven
ia, S
pain
, S
wed
en
, S
witzerlan
d, an
d th
e U
nited
K
in
gd
om
). T
his co
mp
ares w
ith
o
nly
six
co
un
tries in
1
99
9. A
t least 3
52
R
ud
dy D
ucks and hybrids have now
been
controlled in six countries excluding the U
K (D
enm
ark – 1, F
rance - 160, Iceland - 3, M
orocco - 2, P
ortugal - 3, and S
pain - 18
3) and a further three countries have indicated
th
at attem
pts w
ill b
e m
ad
e to
sh
oo
t b
ird
s if th
ey
o
ccu
r (H
un
gary
, Italy
, S
lo
ven
ia). T
he an
nu
al to
tal o
f R
ud
dy
D
uck
s sh
ot in
F
rance peaked at 37 in 2000 but declined to only 6
in
2
00
2 an
d 1
3 in
2
00
3 d
esp
ite a co
ntin
uin
g in
crease in
w
in
ter n
um
bers. A
to
tal o
f 5
.0
69
R
ud
dy
D
uck
s h
av
e b
een
sh
ot in
th
e U
K since 1999. T
here is no ongoing control in
th
ree co
un
tries in
w
hich
an
nu
al b
reed
in
g attem
pts are th
ou
gh
t to
o
ccu
r (Irelan
d, M
oro
cco
, an
d T
he N
eth
erlan
ds); 5
) few
co
un
tries h
av
e acted
to
ad
dress th
e p
oten
tial th
reat
posed by R
uddy D
ucks escaping from
captivity (although it w
as already illegal to keep R
uddy D
ucks in Iceland and N
orw
ay and there are n
o b
ird
s in
co
llectio
ns in
S
wed
en
).
Few
co
un
tries h
av
e m
ech
an
ism
s in
p
lace to
m
on
ito
r th
e n
um
bers o
f b
ird
s k
ep
t in
cap
tiv
ity
an
d in
fo
ur co
un
tries (Irelan
d, Italy
, T
he N
eth
erlan
ds an
d P
ortu
gal) it is n
ot illeg
al
to release R
uddy D
ucks into the w
ild. R
uddy D
ucks can be traded freely in m
ost countries. T
he R
uddy D
uck has now
been listed on
A
nnex B
of the E
C C
IT
ES
R
egulations
(3
38
/9
7) o
n th
e g
ro
un
ds th
at th
ey
p
ose an
eco
lo
gical th
reat to
in
dig
en
ou
s sp
ecies. T
his n
ow
g
iv
es m
em
ber states th
e o
pp
ortu
nity
to
p
lace restrictio
ns o
n o
r b
an
th
e k
eep
in
g o
f
Ruddy D
ucks in captive collections; 6) few
countries have public relations strategies regarding R
uddy D
ucks, although these are in place in those countries w
ith ongoing
control. M
ore detailed inform
ation on m
easures to address the R
uddy D
uck problem
can be found in H
ughes et al. (1999).
Tbl
8(
)R
fh
Wh
hd
dD
kO
lh
lW
hh
dd
Dk
RS
lR
dd
Dk
RS
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 37
Table 8
(a
). R
ecen
t co
nserva
tio
n m
ea
su
res for th
e W
hite-h
ea
ded D
uck O
xyura leucocep
hala. W
hite-h
ea
ded
D
uck R
ange S
ta
tes in
n
orm
al type, R
udd
y D
uck R
ange S
ta
tes in
italics, W
hite-headed D
uck and R
uddy D
uck R
ange States in b
old
italics. N
ote: the colum
n in this table entitled “
General A
ttitude T
ow
ards the W
hite-headed D
uck”
has been
excluded from
this table. N
/A
– not applicable.
Co
un
try
N
atio
na
l
Actio
n
Pla
n
Na
tio
na
l
Wo
rk
in
g
Gro
up
Na
tio
na
l
Mon
itorin
g
Program
me
Mon
itorin
g P
rogram
me
in
P
ro
tected
A
rea
s
Ro
utin
es fo
r In
fo
rm
in
g th
e
Resp
on
sib
le A
uth
orities R
eg
ard
in
g
Nestin
g A
rea
s a
nd
N
est S
ites
Afg
han
istan
N
o
No
N
o
No
N
o
Algeria
No
N
o
No
N
o
No
Arm
en
ia
No
N
o
No
N
o
Yes
Au
stria
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Azerb
aijan
N
o
No
N
o
No
N
/A
Belg
iu
m
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Bu
lg
aria
Yes
No
Y
es
Yes
N/A
Ch
in
a
No
N
o
No
N
o
No
Den
ma
rk
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Finland
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Fran
ce
1
No
Y
es
No
Y
es
No
Geo
rg
ia
No
N
o
No
N
o
N/A
Germ
any
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Greece
No
N
o
Yes
Yes
N/A
Hungary
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Iceland
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Ireland
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Iraq
N
o
No
N
o
No
N
o
Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Iran
N
o
No
Y
es
Yes
No
Israel
No
N
o
No
N
o
N/A
Ita
ly
1
No
N
o
N/A
Kazak
hstan
N
o
No
N
o
Yes
No
Mo
ng
olia
No
N
o
No
N
o
No
Morocco
No
N
o
Yes
Yes
No
Neth
erla
nd
s
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Norw
ay
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Pak
istan
N
o
No
Y
es
Yes
N/A
Po
rtu
ga
l
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Ro
man
ia
No
N
o
No
N
o
No
Ru
ssian
F
ed
eratio
n
No
N
o
No
N
o
No
Slovenia
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
38 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Co
un
try
N
atio
na
l
Actio
n
Pla
n
Na
tio
na
l
Wo
rk
in
g
Gro
up
Na
tio
na
l
Mon
itorin
g
Program
me
Mon
itorin
g P
rogram
me
in
P
ro
tected
A
rea
s
Ro
utin
es fo
r In
fo
rm
in
g th
e
Resp
on
sib
le A
uth
orities R
eg
ard
in
g
Nestin
g A
rea
s a
nd
N
est S
ites
Spain
Y
es
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sw
eden
N/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Sw
itzerla
nd
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Sy
rian
A
rab
R
ep
ub
lic
No
N
o
No
N
o
N/A
Tu
nisia
In
p
rep
.
No
Y
es
Yes
Yes
Tu
rk
ey
N
o
No
N
o
Yes
No
Tu
rk
men
istan
N
o
No
N
o
No
N
o
Uk
rain
e
Yes
No
N
o
No
N
o
United K
ingdom
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
N
/A
Uzb
ek
istan
N
o
No
N
o
No
N
o
1
R
ein
tro
du
ced
p
op
ulatio
ns in
F
ran
ce an
d Italy
in
clu
ded
b
ut self-su
stain
in
g p
op
ulatio
ns n
ot y
et estab
lish
ed
.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 39
Ta
ble 8
(b
). R
esea
rch
a
nd
co
nserva
tio
n effo
rts fo
r th
e W
hite-h
ea
ded
D
uck O
xyura leucocephala over the last ten years. W
hite-headed D
uck R
ange States in norm
al type,
Ruddy D
uck R
ange States in italics, W
hite-h
eaded D
uck and R
uddy D
uck R
ange States in bold italics.
Co
un
try
R
esea
rch
a
nd
C
on
serv
atio
n E
ffo
rts o
ver th
e L
ast T
en
Y
ea
rs
Afghanistan
One key site protected. N
o other inform
ation available.
Algeria
So
me k
ey
sites p
ro
tected
. K
ey
W
HD
sites m
on
ito
red
an
nu
ally
.
Only 1 R
uddy D
uck record.
Arm
enia
Surveys of key sites conducted
betw
een 1989-1995 and 2003-2004.
Au
stria
N
o R
uddy D
ucks controlled, but few
records to date. M
onitoring strategy in place.
Azerbaijan
Tw
o key sites protected. S
urveys of key sites conducted, 1996-2004.
Belg
iu
m
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. T
here are 10-20 records of R
uddy D
ucks annually
in B
elgium
, m
ainly relating to w
intering birds in
Flanders. T
here have been no recent breeding records and only four in total (all in W
allonia before 1993). In N
ovem
ber 2002, th
e Institute of
Nature C
onservation produced a report on the m
anagem
ent of naturalised w
aterbirds in F
landers. T
his recom
mended that: a) A
ll captive R
uddy
Du
ck
s sh
ou
ld
b
e in
div
id
ually
m
ark
ed
an
d th
e n
um
bers an
d lo
catio
ns o
f all b
ird
s sh
ou
ld
b
e reco
rd
ed
in
a cen
tralised
d
atab
ase; b
) T
rade should be
discouraged and a ‘list’ system
established for governing keeping and trade.
Bulgaria
International W
hite-headed D
uck w
orkshop held in 2001. T
wo key sites protected. K
ey sites m
onitored annually. Joint G
reek
, R
om
an
ian
, T
urk
ish
and B
ulgarian conservation project conducted in 2001/2002 w
hich aim
ed to m
onitor the w
inter population; determ
ine the level of bycatch in
fishing nets; and determ
ine food resources at w
intering sites in G
reece, T
urkey and B
ulgaria (Iankov et a
l. 2
00
2). P
ub
lic aw
aren
ess m
aterials
produced, especially at key w
aterfow
l sites, such as L
ake D
urankulak.
China
Several potential habitats protected in X
injiang A
utonom
ous R
egion, w
estern C
hin
a. In other regions (Inner M
ongolia A
uton
om
ous R
egion,
Hubei and H
unan P
rovinces), all sites w
ith W
hite-headed D
uck records protected.
Den
ma
rk
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. O
nly sm
all num
bers of R
uddy D
ucks occur in D
enm
ark. T
he species can now
be hunted year-round (S
.
Pih
l pers. com
m.). O
ne R
uddy D
uck shot (T
. N
yegaard in
litt. to
B
ird
Life In
tern
atio
nal).
Finland
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. N
o action to control R
uddy D
ucks, but few
records to date. T
he R
uddy D
uck is protected
in F
inland,
bu
t it can
b
e co
ntro
lled
u
nd
er sp
ecial p
erm
issio
n.
Fran
ce
1
So
le k
ey
site (L
ak
e B
ig
ug
lia) p
ro
tected
. E
U L
IF
E p
ro
ject (L
IF
E9
7 N
AT
/F
/0
04
22
6) to
rein
tro
du
ce W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
s co
nd
ucted
at L
ake
Big
ug
lia, C
orsica, fiv
e b
ird
s released
in
2
00
1 b
ut self-su
stain
in
g p
op
ulatio
n n
ot estab
lish
ed
. T
hree o
f th
e released
b
ird
s d
isap
peared
rap
id
ly
, th
e
fourth a little later and the fifth one year after release. M
anagem
ent plan produced fo
r L
ake B
iguglia. W
hite-headed D
uck used as a flag
sh
ip
species for the B
iguglia nature reserve. E
ducation program
conducted.
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. T
here have been up to 198 w
intering R
uddy D
ucks (w
inter 2003-04) and 10-15 breeding pairs (2003-
2004) at L
ac de G
rand L
ieu in northern F
rance (B
oret &
R
eeb
er 2005). H
ow
ever the peak num
ber of w
intering birds fell to ca
. 130 in 2003/2004
win
ter, as a resu
lt o
f in
creased
n
um
bers o
f b
ird
s co
ntro
lled
an
d/o
r a red
istrib
utio
n d
ue to
d
istu
rb
an
ce b
y co
ntro
l team
s. T
he n
um
ber of R
uddy
Ducks occurring in F
rance is still increasing annually, althoug
h num
bers of breeding birds are still low
, w
ith breeding records from
only three
sites betw
een 1996 and 2000. A
R
uddy D
uck W
orking G
roup w
as established in 1994 and a national eradication strategy has been in
place since
1997. A
R
uddy D
uck netw
ork of field ornitholog
ists has been set up by O
NC
FS
to report every R
uddy D
uck sighting so that birds can be shot as
soon as possible after discovery. A
M
inistry D
ecree of 12 N
ovem
ber 1996 allow
s R
uddy D
uck shooting by O
NC
FS
agents and environm
en
t
technicians, including N
ature R
eserve agents. S
o far, at least 246 birds have been controlled, w
ith a peak of 90 birds in 2004 thanks to the efforts
of O
NC
FS
an
d reserv
e staff at L
ac d
e G
ran
d-L
ieu
.
Georgia
Tw
o key sites protected. S
urveys of potential W
hite-headed D
uck sites conducted in 1997 and 1998.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
40 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Co
un
try
R
esea
rch
a
nd
C
on
serv
atio
n E
ffo
rts o
ver th
e L
ast T
en
Y
ea
rs
Germ
any
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. In
2001, one pair of R
uddy D
ucks bred successfully in G
erm
any for the first tim
e. S
ing
le p
airs also
bred in 2002 and 2003. A
s R
uddy D
uck is listed in A
nnex B
of E
C R
egulation 338/97 th
e species has the status of a protected species under the
Natio
nal N
atu
re C
on
serv
atio
n A
ct. T
his statu
s is n
o o
bstacle fo
r co
ntro
l m
easu
res. H
ow
ev
er, th
e ch
an
ces o
f h
av
in
g co
ntro
l m
easu
res im
posed for
Ruddy D
ucks are thought to be extrem
ely low
, as neither politicians nor conservationists are said to be as yet convinced that erad
icatio
n m
easu
res
are n
ecessary
(H
-G
. B
au
er in
litt. 1
99
8). A
co
ntro
l sch
em
e fo
r th
e R
ud
dy
D
uck
h
as to
b
e im
plem
en
ted
sep
arately
in
ev
ery
F
ed
eral S
tate. In
L
ow
er
Sax
on
y, w
here th
e b
reed
in
g at-tem
pts to
ok
p
lace, th
e co
mp
eten
t au
th
orities are read
y to
sto
p h
atch
in
g an
d b
reed
in
g su
ccess o
f R
uddy D
uck and to
prev
en
t th
e sp
ecies fro
m fu
rth
er sp
read
in
g
Greece
International W
hite-headed D
uck w
orkshops held in 2000 an
d 2002. T
wo key sites protected. K
ey sites m
onitored annually.
Jo
in
t G
reek
,
Rom
anian, T
urkish and B
ulgarian conservation project conducted in 2001/2002 w
hich aim
ed to m
onitor the w
inter population; determ
in
e th
e
level of bycatch in fishing nets; and determ
ine food resources at w
intering sites in G
reece, T
urkey and B
ulgaria.
Hungary
Th
e W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
n
ow
o
nly
o
ccu
rs as a v
ag
ran
t in
H
un
gary
. A
recen
t an
aly
sis id
en
tified
th
e m
ain
reaso
ns fo
r failu
re o
f th
e W
hite-headed
Duck reintroduction conducted during the late 1980s (B
ajom
i 2003).
Alth
ou
gh
th
ere are o
nly
a few
reco
rd
s o
f R
ud
dy
D
uck
s in
H
un
gary
, th
e H
un
garian
G
ov
ern
men
t h
as u
nd
ertak
en
to
co
ntro
l b
ird
s w
hich
attem
pt to
breed.
Iceland
Ru
dd
y D
uck
n
um
bers in
Icelan
d are m
on
ito
red
clo
sely
(v
ery
few
reco
rd
s in
recen
t y
ears). In
S
ep
tem
ber 2
00
2, th
e Icelan
dic In
stitute of N
atural
History shot three R
uddy D
ucks. It is illegal to
keep R
uddy D
ucks in captivity in Iceland.
Ireland
Num
bers of R
uddy D
ucks are thought to be in
creasing in Ireland. T
his has prom
pted the Irish G
overnm
ent to add the R
uddy D
uck to
th
e list o
f
huntable species, w
ith an open season from
1 S
eptem
ber to 31 January.
Iraq
No inform
ation available.
Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Iran
E
xcep
t fo
r th
e Z
ou
lb
in
, Y
an
ig
h an
d B
ozo
jig
h areas, all o
f th
e o
th
er im
po
rtan
t sites fo
r th
e W
hite-h
ead
ed D
uck in Iran are protected. K
ey sites
monitored annually.
Israel
One key site protected. K
ey sites m
onitored annually.
Only 1 R
uddy D
uck record (w
hich m
ay relate to an escape from
captivity).
Ita
ly
1
Th
e W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
n
ow
o
nly
o
ccu
rs as a v
ag
ran
t in
Italy
; th
e reco
rd
s o
f th
is sp
ecies are u
p-to
-d
ate b
y M
. G
ru
ssu
&
C
om
itato
Italiano R
arità
(C
IR
). R
egular survey of all know
n and potential breeding sites of W
hite-headed D
uck in S
ardinia by G
ruppo O
rnitologico S
ardo (G
OS
).
On
go
in
g rein
tro
du
ctio
n p
ro
ject at G
arg
an
o N
atio
nal P
ark
, S
E A
pu
lia, b
ut self-su
stain
in
g p
op
ulatio
n n
ot y
et estab
lish
ed
. In
tern
ational W
hite-
headed D
uck w
orkshop held in M
ay 2001.
The Italian G
overnm
ent conservation body Istituto N
azionale per la F
auna S
elvatica is w
orking w
ith local adm
inistrations to try
to control any
Ruddy D
ucks w
hich appear in Italy.
Kazak
hstan
T
he T
en
giz-K
org
alzh
yn
L
ak
es R
eg
io
n, w
hich
h
old
s th
e m
ost im
po
rtan
t sites fo
r b
reed
in
g an
d m
ig
ratin
g W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
ucks, w
as declared a
strictly
p
ro
tected
n
atu
re reserv
e 1
96
8. S
um
mer an
d au
tu
mn
stag
in
g n
um
bers th
ere are w
ell d
ocu
men
ted
, b
ut th
e n
um
ber o
f b
reed
in
g p
airs is n
ot
know
n (S
chielzeth et a
l. 2003, J. van der V
en pers. com
m.). A
su
rv
ey
o
f k
ey
sites in
Ju
ly
-S
ep
tem
ber 1
99
8 fo
un
d o
nly
2
5 b
ird
s at tw
o sites
(C
ressw
ell et al. 1999). N
um
bers m
onitored on som
e key sites by N
AB
U and Institute of Z
oolog
y. In 2004, a G
EF
/U
ND
P project started w
hich
will survey and develop m
anagem
ent plans for six river basins in K
azakhstan. O
rnithological research w
ithin this project m
ay discover new
breeding and staging sites for W
hite-headed D
uck.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 41
Co
un
try
R
esea
rch
a
nd
C
on
serv
atio
n E
ffo
rts o
ver th
e L
ast T
en
Y
ea
rs
Mongolia
Main breeding sites are protected. S
urveys of the W
hite-headed D
uck have been conducted by W
WF
, the M
ongolian A
cadem
y of S
ciences and
the W
ild B
ird S
ociety of Japan.
Morocco
Key sites protected. K
ey sites m
onitored annually.
Ruddy D
ucks have been resident in sm
all num
bers (up to 17) in M
orocco since 1992, breeding w
as first recorded in 1994 and hybrids have been
observed annually since 1999. T
wo R
uddy D
uck
s w
ere shot in M
orocco in 1994. A
R
uddy D
uck eradication strategy w
as produced in 2
004,
alth
ou
gh
it h
as y
et to
b
e im
plem
en
ted
.
Neth
erla
nd
s
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. A
round 40 R
uddy D
ucks w
inter in the N
etherlands w
ith 4-7 breeding records per year (M
. van R
oom
en
pers. co
mm
.). S
om
e birds are thought to be resident in the N
etherlands although som
e w
intering birds m
ay return to breed in the U
K. T
he
Min
istry
o
f A
gricu
ltu
re, N
atu
re an
d F
oo
d Q
uality
h
as stated
th
at it d
oes n
ot w
an
t th
e R
ud
dy
D
uck
to
estab
lish
itself in
th
e N
etherlands and they
have the responsibility to prevent this (M
. van R
oom
en pers. com
m.). T
he n
ew
law
o
n th
e p
ro
tectio
n o
f flo
ra an
d fau
na (w
hich
su
persed
es th
e o
ld
hu
ntin
g law
) g
iv
es p
erm
issio
n to
lan
do
wn
ers w
here R
ud
dy
D
uck
s o
ccu
r to
rem
ov
e th
em
w
ith
ou
t p
erm
it (alth
ou
gh
n
o b
ird
s h
av
e y
et b
een shot),
ho
wev
er n
o d
istu
rb
an
ce o
f o
th
er p
ro
tected
sp
ecies sh
ou
ld
o
ccu
r. W
hen
eg
gs are fo
un
d it is p
erm
itted
to
d
estro
y th
em
. W
in
terin
g birds can be
hunted. A
t present the M
inistry believes that these m
easures w
ill prevent the R
uddy D
uck from
becom
ing established in the N
etherlands. B
y
Decem
ber 2004, a policy paper on exotic species w
ill be published, including recom
mendations regarding the regulation of keepin
g invasive
ex
otic sp
ecies. A
t p
resen
t m
ore activ
e reg
ulatio
n o
f th
e R
ud
dy
D
uck
s in
th
e w
ild
in
th
e N
eth
erlan
ds is reg
ard
ed
as p
oin
tless w
ith so m
any birds
still present in captivity (w
ith the resulting risk of escapes) and w
ith the on
going risk of im
migration from
the U
K.
Norw
ay
The sm
all num
bers of R
uddy D
ucks reaching N
orw
ay are closely m
onitored, but no control currently takes place. It is illegal to keep R
uddy
Ducks in captivity in N
orw
ay w
ithout a perm
it. S
uch perm
its have not and w
ill not be granted (T
. B
ø in
litt. 1997).
Pak
istan
K
ey
sites p
ro
tected
. M
an
ag
em
en
t p
lan
fo
r U
cch
ali w
etlan
d co
mp
lex
p
ro
du
ced
b
y W
WF
-P
ak
istan
an
d P
un
jab
W
ild
life &
P
ark
s D
ep
artm
en
t in
19
94
(rev
ised
b
y th
e D
ep
artm
en
t in
1
99
9). G
ov
ern
men
t h
as in
itiated
a G
EF
/U
ND
P p
ro
ject fo
r “C
on
serv
atio
n o
f w
etlan
ds in
P
ak
istan
” in 2005.
Wetland aw
areness cam
paigns conducted by P
unjab W
ildlife and P
ark
s D
epartm
ent and W
WF
-P
akistan. C
MS
funded surveys at U
cchali w
etlan
d
co
mp
lex
in
2
00
2. W
WF
-P
ak
istan
fu
nd
ed
su
rv
ey
o
f h
isto
rically
im
po
rtan
t sites in
P
un
jab
in
w
in
ter 2
00
2-2
00
3 fo
un
d 3
3 W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
s on
four sites. S
urveys by the zoology departm
ent of P
unjab U
niversity and independently by K
ashif S
heikh in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Po
rtu
ga
l
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. N
ational eradication strategy in place and a control team
operational since 1994. O
ne R
uddy D
uck and
tw
o hybrids w
ere shot betw
een 1995 and 2000.
Rom
ania
Som
e key sites protected (e.g. D
anube D
elta). Joint G
reek, R
om
anian, T
urkish and B
ulgarian conservation project conducted in 2001/2002 w
hich
aim
ed to m
onitor the w
inter population; and determ
ine the level of bycatch in fishing nets. L
aunching a L
IF
E III project for th
e conservation of
the key w
intering (breeding?) site in 2004
. W
ill include: site conservation, pollutio
n control, hunting ban in the area, etc. D
ocum
entation in
prep
aratio
n fo
r leg
al p
ro
tectio
n u
nd
er n
atio
nal law
an
d fo
r S
PA
d
esig
natio
n o
f th
e site.
Ru
ssian
F
ed
eratio
n
So
me k
ey
sites p
ro
tected
, th
ou
gh
m
ain
ly
as n
on
-h
un
tin
g areas o
r “Z
ak
azn
ik
s”. R
eg
ular m
on
ito
rin
g o
f su
mm
er n
um
bers and distribution being
conducted in the C
helyabinsk, V
olgograd and D
aghestan R
egions.
Slovenia
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. O
nly 1 R
uddy D
uck record.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
42 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Co
un
try
R
esea
rch
a
nd
C
on
serv
atio
n E
ffo
rts o
ver th
e L
ast T
en
Y
ea
rs
Spain
International W
hite-headed D
uck w
orkshop held in 1994. M
ajor national conservation initiative for the W
hite-headed D
uck – m
any national and
regional conservation initiatives. T
he W
hite-headed D
uck has been used as a flagship species in S
pain since the species w
as on the verge of
extinction in 1977. It has been used as a flagship species in cam
paigns to ban the use of lead shot over w
etlands, and to increase aw
areness of the
dam
ag
e in
tro
du
ced
sp
ecies can
p
ose to
n
ativ
e fau
na an
d flo
ra. C
om
preh
en
siv
e an
nu
al su
rv
ey
s co
nd
ucted
(fiv
e tim
es p
er y
ear). R
eco
very
P
lan
fo
r
Castilla-L
a M
ancha autonom
ous region approved in 1995. A
lso produced for A
ndalusia and V
alencia, but not yet approved (thus not legally
binding). N
ational w
orking group, form
ed in
1994, m
eets annually, coordinated by the M
inistry of E
nvironm
ent, w
ith attendance b
y regional
go
vern
men
ts, ex
perts an
d m
in
istry
o
fficials. M
ost k
ey
sites p
ro
tected
(1
2/1
5 k
ey
sites are R
am
sar sites) an
d m
ost h
av
e m
an
ag
em
ent plans. T
hree
EU
L
IF
E p
ro
jects co
nd
ucted
- W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
C
on
serv
atio
n P
lan
in
th
e V
alen
cian
C
om
mu
nity
(L
IF
E0
0 N
AT
/E
/0
07
31
1); A
lb
uferas d
e A
dra
(A
lm
ería)
Recovery
and
Conservation
Plan
(L
IF
E98
NA
T/E
/005323);
Conservation
and
restoration
of
wetlands
in
Andalucia
(L
IF
E03
NA
T/E
/000055). S
om
e 46H
a of w
etlands have been acquired at the
El H
ondo S
PA
as part of L
ife projects B
4/3200/92/15183 and B
4-
3200/96/513. A
lthough the M
arbled T
eal is th
e target of this restoration project, the lagoons w
ill also be used by W
hite-headed
D
ucks. In 2002,
An
dalu
cia in
itiated
a co
nserv
atio
n p
lan
fo
r w
etlan
ds fo
r th
e reg
io
n “P
lan
A
nd
alu
z d
e H
um
ed
ales”. T
his w
ill p
ro
du
ce a leg
ally
b
inding plan for
An
dalu
cian
w
etlan
ds th
at sh
ou
ld
p
rev
en
t th
eir d
eterio
ratio
n. C
astilla-L
a M
an
ch
a h
as a W
etlan
d C
on
serv
atio
n S
trateg
y th
at in
clu
des: p
ro
tectio
n o
f
im
po
rtan
t w
etlan
ds, research
, h
un
tin
g reg
ulatio
ns an
d lan
d acq
uisitio
n. S
in
ce 1
99
6, th
is reg
io
n h
as in
itiated
th
e p
ro
du
ctio
n o
f m
anagem
ent plans
for 19 w
etlands. T
he “S
panish S
trategic P
lan for the C
onservatio
n and R
ational U
se of W
etlands” should provide a legal guarantee of the
sustainable use of w
etlands. R
eintroduction program
me conducted in
M
ajorca, but no birds introduced since 1995 and self-sustain
ing population
not yet established. In 2004, over 30 birds hatched from
eggs taken from
T
arelo lagoon in D
oñana w
ill be released. E
xtensive research conducted,
mo
st recen
tly
in
clu
din
g stu
dies o
f sp
atial an
d n
um
eric p
op
ulatio
n d
yn
am
ics in
relatio
n to
clim
atic v
ariatio
n; th
e effects o
f lead shot ingestion; the
den
sities o
f lead
sh
ot in
k
ey
sites; an
d th
e g
en
etic d
ifferen
ces b
etw
een
cu
rren
t an
d h
isto
ric (p
re-1
96
0) p
op
ulatio
ns. T
he L
IF
E0
0 N
AT
/E
/007311
project includes studies of habitat use, trophic ecology and the effect of C
om
mon C
arp on the W
hite-headed D
uck at the E
l H
ondo
and S
alinas de
San
ta P
ola S
PA
s. T
he h
yd
ro
lo
gy
o
f th
e E
l H
on
do
S
PA
h
as b
een
stu
died
w
ith
sp
ecial em
ph
asis o
n p
ollu
tio
n, eu
tro
ph
icatio
n an
d th
e hydrological
needs of this im
portant w
etland. M
any pubic aw
areness initiatives conducted. In 2002, a brochure about the W
hite-headed D
uck w
as published
(ed
ited
b
y th
e M
in
istry
o
f E
nv
iro
nm
en
t an
d en
viro
nm
en
tal au
th
orities o
f au
to
no
mo
us reg
io
ns). A
n en
viro
nm
en
tal cam
paig
n w
ith
in
the L
IF
E00
NA
T/E
/0
07
31
1 p
ro
ject started
in
2
00
3, in
clu
din
g p
ro
du
ctio
n an
d d
istrib
utio
n o
f leaflets p
osters, an
d ed
ucatio
nal m
aterial to
lo
cal people living
around the E
l H
ondo and S
alinas de S
anta P
ola S
PA
s. T
he S
panish law
(R
D 581/2001) has banned the use of lead shot since O
ctober 2001 at
Ram
sar sites an
d w
etlan
ds p
ro
tected
u
nd
er an
y leg
al categ
ory
. H
ow
ev
er, reg
io
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts w
ere allo
wed
a m
orato
riu
m o
ver th
e w
hen the ban
should start. L
ead use over w
etlands in A
ndalusía, M
adrid and the B
alearic Islands has been banned since O
ctober 2002, and in V
alen
cia sin
ce
January 2003. C
astilla-L
a M
ancha banned the use of lead in M
ay 1999. H
ence, lead shot is now
banned at all key W
hite-headed D
uck
sites.
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. A
national R
uddy D
uck eradication strategy has been in place since 1989. A
national co
ntro
l team
attem
pts to shoot all R
uddy D
ucks and hybrid
s. A
t least 152 R
uddy D
ucks and 65 hybrid
s have been controlled to date. Identification guides to
Ruddy D
ucks, W
hite-headed D
ucks and their hybrids produced in 1993
and 2002. C
aptive collections holding R
uddy D
ucks contacted to request
th
at all rep
ro
du
ctio
n an
d escap
e o
f th
e sp
ecies is p
rev
en
ted
. T
rad
e in
an
d p
ossessio
n o
f liv
e b
ird
s o
r eg
gs o
f an
y sp
ecies o
f O
xyu
ra
(ap
art fro
m O
.
leucocephala
) has been prohibited in the B
alearic Islands.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 43
Co
un
try
R
esea
rch
a
nd
C
on
serv
atio
n E
ffo
rts o
ver th
e L
ast T
en
Y
ea
rs
Sw
eden
Th
e w
id
ely
u
sed
in
tern
et rep
ortin
g sy
stem
o
n b
ird
s facilitates th
e m
on
ito
rin
g o
f th
e o
ccu
rren
ce o
f R
ud
dy
D
uck
in
S
wed
en
. A
ch
an
ge in
leg
islatio
n
in
Ju
ly
2
00
1 m
ean
s th
e R
ud
dy
D
uck
can
n
ow
b
e sh
ot all y
ear ro
un
d an
d th
eir n
ests d
estro
yed
. T
he R
ud
dy
D
uck
is th
e o
nly
b
ird
sp
ecies in
S
wed
en
that can be hunted irrespective of situation in w
hich it occu
rs. T
here is a com
mon understand
ing by both the authorities and th
e S
wed
ish
Ornithological S
ociety that R
uddy D
uck control is justified. T
he S
wedish governm
ent has encouraged all 21 country adm
inistratio
ns to elim
inate
any R
uddy D
ucks w
hich occur. A
rticles have also been w
ritten in the S
wedish O
rnithological S
ociety´s m
agazine to explain w
hy co
ntro
l
measu
res are n
eed
ed
.
Sw
itzerla
nd
R
uddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place. A
lthough R
uddy D
ucks are not yet controlled in S
witzerland, the S
wiss O
rnithological In
stitu
te an
d
SV
S/B
irdL
ife S
witzerland have suggested a strategy on introduced
bird species. A
national strategy for the control of R
uddy D
uck
s is in
preparation. It is proposed that all R
uddy
D
ucks occurring in S
witzerland should be killed by hunting guards of the C
antons, bu
t that other
waterbirds, especially on nationally and internationally im
portant sites and IB
As, should not be disturbed.
Syrian A
rab R
epublic
Surveys of W
hite-headed D
ucks conducted in 2004 (M
urdoch et al. in press)
Tu
nisia
A
ll 1
8 k
ey
sites p
ro
tected
u
nd
er n
atio
nal law
(1
N
atio
nal P
ark
an
d 1
7 G
am
e R
eserv
es) an
d h
un
tin
g p
ro
hib
ited
. W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
num
bers
mo
nito
red
o
n all 1
8 k
ey
sites fo
r at least 3
y
ears. R
eg
ular co
ntro
ls are carried
o
ut b
y H
un
tin
g In
sp
ecto
rs at all sites. S
in
ce 2000, a site w
arden has
been in place at IB
A T
N012 L
ebna R
eservoir. E
ducational book
lets sum
marising previous action plan (A
nstey 1989) distributed. T
he W
hite-
headed D
uck has been used as a flagship species by A
AO
in 2000 and a pocket calendar has been published to raise public aw
areness.
Tu
rk
ey
International W
hite-headed D
uck w
orkshops held
in B
urdur tow
n in 1991 and 2002. T
he W
hite-headed D
uck has been used as a flagsh
ip species
at B
urdur G
ölü since the 1980s, especially in connection w
ith threats to the lake from
pollution, hum
an developm
ent and over-ab
stractio
n o
f
water. S
om
e k
ey
sites (e.g
. B
urd
ur G
ölü
) p
ro
tected
. S
om
e k
ey
sites m
on
ito
red
an
nu
ally
. B
reed
in
g su
rv
ey
o
f C
en
tral A
nato
lian
lak
es in 1996
(B
uckley et al. 1
99
8). P
oten
tial W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
sites su
rv
ey
ed
in
eastern
T
urk
ey
in
S
ep
tem
ber 2
00
1. L
ocal p
eo
ple (e.g
. B
urd
ur M
un
icip
ality
)
heavily
involved
in
White-headed
Duck
co
nservation
Joint
Greek,
Rom
anian,
Turkish
an
d
Bulgarian
conservation
project
conducted
in
2001/2002 w
hich aim
ed to m
onitor the w
inter population; determ
ine the level of bycatch in fishing nets; survey breeding areas in A
natolia; and
determ
ine food resources at w
intering sites in G
reece, T
urkey and B
ulgaria (K
urt et al. 2002). M
any com
munity-based conservation initiatives at
Burdur G
ölü, including detailed research study during 1990s.
Tu
rk
men
istan
S
om
e k
ey
sites m
on
ito
red
an
nu
ally
.
Uk
rain
e
Reg
ular m
on
ito
rin
g in
C
rim
ea, first o
f all in
C
rim
ean
N
atu
re R
eserv
e B
ru
nch
“L
eb
yazh
i O
stro
vy
”. M
on
ito
rin
g at w
etlan
ds in the southern part of
Ukraine, w
hich discovered m
igrating and w
intering W
hite-headed D
uck on T
arkhankutska peninsula and Y
arylgach B
ay (B
eskaravayny et al.
20
01
, K
ostin
&
T
arin
a 2
00
2). N
o sp
ecial p
ro
gram
s o
n th
e p
ro
tectio
n o
f th
e sp
ecies. In
2
00
0, th
e N
atio
nal A
ctio
n P
lan
fo
r th
e co
nserv
atio
n o
f th
e
Wh
ite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
in
U
krain
e w
as p
ub
lish
ed
b
y th
e U
krain
ian
B
ird
Life p
artn
er (n
ot a state o
fficial ed
itio
n) (K
osh
elev
2
00
0).
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
44 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Co
un
try
R
esea
rch
a
nd
C
on
serv
atio
n E
ffo
rts o
ver th
e L
ast T
en
Y
ea
rs
United K
ingdom
International W
hite-headed D
uck w
orkshop held in M
arch 1993.
Ruddy D
uck m
onitoring strategy in place via national m
onthly W
etland B
ird S
urvey counts. R
uddy D
uck num
bers and distribution being
monitored in N
orthern Ireland in 2004 as part of governm
ent-funded contract. G
overnm
ent-funded research conducted to identify m
ost co
st-
effective control m
easures for R
uddy D
ucks. G
overnm
ent-funded regional trial of control m
easures suggested it is feasible to eradicate R
uddy
Du
ck
s fro
m th
e U
K (5
,0
69
R
ud
dy
D
uck
s sh
ot in
th
e U
K sin
ce 1
99
9). A
n erad
icatio
n p
ro
gram
me w
ill n
ow
tak
e p
lace in
th
e U
K w
ith
fu
nd
in
g fro
m
th
e U
K G
ov
ern
men
t an
d E
U-L
IF
E N
atu
re p
ro
gram
me. L
eg
al p
ro
tectio
n o
f th
e R
ud
dy
D
uck
w
as rem
ov
ed
in
E
ng
lan
d in
2
00
3, en
ab
lin
g co
ntrol of
bird
s an
d n
ests/eg
gs u
nd
er th
e term
s o
f a g
en
eral licen
ce, b
ut rem
ain
s in
p
lace in
W
ales, S
co
tlan
d an
d N
orth
ern
Irelan
d. It h
as been illegal to
introduce R
uddy D
ucks to the w
ild in the U
K since 1981. T
rade in captive R
uddy D
ucks effectively banned in 1995 - num
bers of captive R
uddy
Ducks are declining. G
uide to keeping stiff-tailed ducks in captivity produced and circulated to aviculturalists in 1993. G
overn
men
t cu
rren
tly
consulting on w
hether to ban the keeping of R
uddy D
ucks. R
esearch projects also conducted on R
uddy D
uck behaviour and ecology; viability and
fertility
o
f R
ud
dy
D
uck
x
W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
s h
yb
rid
s in
cap
tiv
ity
; ag
gressiv
e in
teractio
ns an
d d
isp
lay
freq
uen
cies b
etw
een
R
ud
dy D
ucks and
White-headed D
ucks in captivity; m
ovem
ents of R
uddy D
ucks from
A
bberton R
eservoir, E
ssex
; m
odelling the spread of R
uddy D
ucks in
to
Europe to predict the tim
escale for extinction of the W
hite-headed D
uck under different R
uddy D
uck control scenarios. T
hree G
ov
ernm
ent
inform
ation leaflets on the threat posed to the W
hite-headed D
uck by the R
uddy D
uck produced since 1990 (the latest in 2003). A
slide pack on
the issue w
as produced in 1994.
Uzbekistan
During the 1970s and 1980s, the W
hite-headed D
uck w
as tho
ught to be extinct in U
zbekistan. R
esearch betw
een 1996 and
2005 has now
show
n
that the species occurs throughout the y
ear. B
reeding and m
igrating W
hite-headed D
uck m
onitored at the S
udochye L
akes system
du
ring the G
EF
pro
ject “A
ral S
ea B
asin
P
ro
gram
: W
ater an
d E
nv
iro
nm
en
tal M
an
ag
em
en
t” su
b-p
ro
ject “R
esto
ratio
n o
f th
e L
ak
e S
ud
och
ye W
etlan
ds” 1
999-2002.
Breeding surveys have been conducted in the B
ukhara region. W
intering W
hite-headed D
uck m
onitored at D
engizkul L
ake in 2000 (R
am
sar
Sm
all G
ran
t P
ro
ject “P
ro
tectio
n o
f U
zb
ek
istan
’s w
etlan
ds an
d th
eir w
aterfo
wl”) an
d 2
00
3-2
00
5 d
urin
g IW
C (W
etlan
ds In
tern
atio
nal/ W
WF
Russia project “T
ow
ards a strategy for w
aterbird and w
etland co
nservation in the C
entral A
sian F
lyw
ay). Im
portant w
etlands in C
entral and
Southern U
zbekistan w
ere m
onitored in January 2000- 2005. K
ey sites protected as non-hunting areas or “Z
akazniks” (S
udochye and
D
engizkul
Lakes) in 1991. L
ake D
engizkul designated as R
am
sar site in 2001.
1
R
ein
tro
du
ced
p
op
ulatio
ns in
F
ran
ce an
d Italy
in
clu
ded
b
ut self-su
stain
in
g p
op
ulatio
ns n
ot y
et estab
lish
ed
.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 45
5. F
ra
mew
ork
fo
r a
ctio
n
This section of the docum
ent identifies and defines the G
oal, th
e P
urpose, and R
esults of the action plan and describes O
bjectiv
ely
V
erifiab
le In
dicato
rs, an
d M
ean
s o
f
Verification m
ade in its im
plem
entation. T
he G
oal is the high
er level of objective to w
hich th
e action plan w
ill contribute. T
he P
urpose is the objective or effect of the plan.
Th
e R
esu
lts are th
e ch
an
ges th
at w
ill n
eed
to
h
av
e b
een
b
ro
ug
ht ab
ou
t b
y th
e p
lan
if th
e P
urp
ose is to
b
e realised
. T
he O
bjectiv
ely
V
erifiab
le In
dicato
rs (O
VIs) are th
e targ
ets
by
w
hich
th
e im
pact o
f th
e R
esu
lts w
ill b
e m
easu
red
. M
ean
s o
f V
erificatio
n are th
e m
ean
s o
f ju
stificatio
n o
f th
e O
VIs. T
he G
oal, P
urpose, and R
esults of this plan have been
designed to be S
pecific, M
easurable, A
greed, R
ealistic and T
im
e-bound follow
ing internationally agreed process.
5.1
W
hite-h
ea
ded
D
uck
A
ctio
n P
la
n G
oa
l, P
urp
ose, a
nd
R
esu
lts
A P
riority
for each R
esult is given, according to the follow
ing scale:
Essen
tia
l:
a R
esult that is needed to prevent a large decline in the population, w
hich could lead to extinction.
Hig
h:
a R
esult that is needed to prevent a decline of m
ore than 20%
of the population in 20 years or less.
Med
iu
m:
a R
esult that is needed to prevent a decline of less than 20%
of the population in 20 years or less.
Lo
w:
a R
esult that is needed to prevent local population declines or w
hich is likely to have only a sm
all im
pact on the population
acro
ss th
e ran
ge.
Tim
escales are attached to each R
esult using the follow
ing criteria:
Im
med
ia
te:
com
pleted w
ithin the next year.
Sh
ort:
com
pleted w
ithin the next 1-3 years.
Med
iu
m:
com
pleted w
ithin the next 1-5 years.
Lon
g:
com
pleted w
ithin the next 1-10 years.
On
go
in
g:
an action that is currently being im
plem
ented and should continue.
Co
mp
leted
:
an action that w
as com
pleted during preparation of the action plan.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
46 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Su
mm
ary
o
f O
bjectiv
es /
Activ
ities
Ob
jectiv
ely
V
erifia
ble In
dica
to
r
Mea
ns o
f V
erifica
tio
n
Go
al
Restoration of the W
hite-headed
Duck to favourable conservation
statu
s
White-headed D
uck rem
oved from
the IU
CN
red list by 2050
IU
CN
R
ed
L
ist
Pro
ject P
urp
ose
Maintain global population and
range of the W
hite-headed D
uck.
White-headed D
uck global
population stable by 2015
White-headed D
uck global range
stable by 2015
World B
ird D
atabase
Wetlan
ds In
tern
atio
nal W
aterb
ird
P
op
ulatio
n E
stim
ates
Resu
lts
1. F
urther habitat loss and
degradation prevented
Prio
rity
: E
ssen
tia
l
Tim
escale: L
on
g
All k
ey
W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
sites
protected and m
aintained in
favourable conservation status by
2015
Natura 2000 database
National governm
ent reports to the E
uropean C
om
mission, the C
MS
, B
ern, B
iodiversity and
Ram
sar C
onventions, and A
EW
A
International and national W
hite-headed D
uck w
orking group reports
Bird
Life In
tern
atio
nal IB
A rep
orts
2. D
irect m
ortality
o
f ad
ults
prevented and reproductive
su
ccess in
creased
Prio
rity
: H
ig
h
Tim
escale: L
on
g
No
rep
orted
ad
ult m
ortality
o
n
IB
As by 2015
Mean fledging success on IB
As
maintained above 3 chicks per
fem
ale by 2015
White-headed D
uck num
bers on
>70%
of IB
As stable or increasing
by 2015
National governm
ent reports to the E
uropean C
om
mission, the C
MS
, B
ern, B
iodiversity and
Ram
sar C
onventions, and A
EW
A
International and national W
hite-headed D
uck w
orking group reports
NG
O rep
orts an
d scien
tific p
ap
ers
Bird
Life In
tern
atio
nal IB
A rep
orts
Mo
nito
rin
g rep
orts fro
m k
ey
sites p
ub
lish
ed
in
T
WS
G N
ew
s
3. W
hite-headed D
uck breeding
range increased
Prio
rity
: L
ow
Tim
escale: L
on
g
Self-sustaining W
hite-headed
Ducks breeding populations
estab
lish
ed
in
tw
o fo
rm
er ran
ge
states by 2015
National governm
ent reports to the E
uropean C
om
mission, the C
MS
, B
ern, B
iodiversity and
Ram
sar C
onventions, and A
EW
A
International and national W
hite-headed D
uck w
orking group reports
NG
O rep
orts an
d scien
tific p
ap
ers
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 47
Su
mm
ary
o
f O
bjectiv
es /
Activ
ities
Ob
jectiv
ely
V
erifia
ble In
dica
to
r
Mea
ns o
f V
erifica
tio
n
4. N
o hybridisation and
com
petition for food and nesting
sites w
ith R
uddy D
uck
Prio
rity
: E
ssen
tia
l
Tim
escale: L
on
g
Ruddy D
uck eradicated from
Europe by 2015
National governm
ent reports to the C
MS
, B
ern, B
iodiversity and R
am
sar C
onventions, and
AE
WA
International and national R
uddy D
uck w
orking group reports
5. K
now
ledge gaps filled
Prio
rity
: E
ssen
tia
l
Tim
escale: L
on
g
Key know
ledge gaps filled by
2015
Pap
ers in
in
tern
atio
nally
refereed
jo
urn
als
International and national W
hite-headed D
uck w
orking group reports
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
48 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
6. A
ctiv
ities b
y co
un
try
Th
is sectio
n id
en
tifies A
ctiv
ities n
eed
ed
to
im
plem
en
t th
e R
esu
lts o
f th
is W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
actio
n p
lan
. A
ctiv
ities are g
iv
en
at th
e g
en
eric lev
el (to
ad
dress th
e th
reats
id
en
tified
in
th
e P
ro
blem
T
ree) w
hilst sp
ecific A
ctiv
ities are also
id
en
tified
at th
e in
div
id
ual R
an
ge S
tate lev
el. W
here p
ossible, R
esponsible O
rganisations are also identified
for each A
ctivity. C
ountry groups have been
identified depending on w
hether they are W
hite-headed D
uck and /or R
uddy D
uck R
ange S
tates.
6.1 G
en
eral A
ctivities - W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
R
an
ge S
tates
(A
fg
han
istan
, A
lg
eria, A
rm
en
ia, A
zerb
aijan
, B
ulg
aria, C
hin
a, F
ran
ce, G
eo
rg
ia, G
reece, Iraq
, Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Iran
, Israel, Italy, K
azakhstan, M
ongolia, M
orocco, P
akistan,
Rom
ania, R
ussian F
ederation, S
pain, S
yrian A
rab R
epublic, T
unisia, T
urkey, T
urkm
enistan, U
kraine, U
zbekistan).
Resu
lt
Na
tio
na
l A
ctiv
ities
Prio
rity
T
im
esca
le
Resp
on
sib
le O
rg
an
isa
tio
ns
1. F
urther habitat loss and
degradation prevented
1.1 P
roduce and im
plem
ent national W
hite-headed D
uck action plan
Essential
Short
National governm
ents/N
GO
s
1
.2
F
orm
n
atio
nal W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
w
ork
in
g g
ro
up
E
ssen
tial
Sh
ort
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts/N
GO
s
1
.3
D
esig
nate all k
ey
sites fo
r th
e sp
ecies (in
clu
din
g IB
As) as S
PA
s in
E
U
mem
ber states o
r as R
am
sar S
ites o
r p
ro
tected
areas o
utsid
e o
f th
e E
U
Hig
h
Sh
ort
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
1.4 P
rotect all W
hite-headed D
uck IB
As under national legislation and ensure
this legislation is enforced
Hig
h
Sh
ort
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
1.5 Im
plem
ent appropriate assessm
ents for all projects and plans affecting
th
ese sites, w
ith
sp
ecial atten
tio
n to
ag
ricu
ltu
ral d
ev
elo
pm
en
t, d
rain
ag
e,
div
ersio
n o
f riv
ers, ab
stractio
n o
f w
ater an
d b
uild
in
g o
f d
am
s
Essential
Ongoing
National governm
ents
1.7 Introduce legislation to prohibit th
e introduction, and allow
the control and
eradication of C
om
mon C
arp and G
rass C
arp
Lo
w
Lo
ng
N
atio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
1.8 Identify all key W
hite-headed D
uck
sites w
here C
om
mon C
arp and G
rass
Carp
o
ccu
r an
d erad
icate th
em
Lo
w
Sh
ort
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
1.9 Introduce public aw
areness schem
es to prom
ote the conservation of the
White-headed D
uck and its habitat and circulate this inform
ation to relevant
po
licy
m
ak
ers, in
terest g
ro
up
s (e.g
. h
un
ters, fish
erm
en
, reserv
e m
an
ag
ers) an
d
local people; provide inform
ation on
identification of protected species
Lo
w
On
go
in
g
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts/N
GO
s
2. D
irect m
ortality
o
f
adults prevented and
rep
ro
du
ctiv
e su
ccess
in
creased
2.1
P
ro
vid
e leg
al p
ro
tectio
n fo
r W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
an
d its h
ab
itat
Essen
tial
Sh
ort
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
2.2 P
rovide adequate w
ardening of all key sites
Medium
L
ong
National governm
ents and regional
adm
inistrations, N
GO
s and other
landow
ners
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 49
Resu
lt
Na
tio
na
l A
ctiv
ities
Prio
rity
T
im
esca
le
Resp
on
sib
le O
rg
an
isa
tio
ns
2.3 D
evelop m
anagem
ent and zonation plans to regulate hum
an activities at
key sites, w
ith special regard to hunting, fishing and boating, in order to
reduce causes of disturbance and direct m
ortality, and increase breeding
su
ccess
Med
iu
m
On
go
in
g
Natio
nal
go
vern
men
ts/N
GO
s/B
ird
Life
In
tern
atio
nal/F
AC
E
2.4 C
reate new
breeding and w
intering habitat for the W
hite-headed D
uck
Medium
O
ngoing
National governm
ents/N
GO
s
2.5 B
an use of lead shot for hunting w
aterfow
l and over w
etlands, m
onitor
lead shot use by hunters and lead shot ingestion by W
hite-headed D
ucks
Med
iu
m
Sh
ort
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
2.6 Introduce system
s to m
onitor by-catch and fishing activity in relation to
White-headed D
uck feeding distribution
Medium
L
ong
National governm
ents/N
GO
s
2.7 D
evelop fishing techniques sym
pathetic to the conservation of the W
hite-
headed D
uck
Medium
L
ong
National governm
ents/N
GO
s
3. W
hite-headed D
uck
breeding range increased
3.1 R
eintroduce W
hite-headed D
ucks to form
erly occupied sites, if IU
CN
reintroduction criteria can be m
et
Lo
w
Lo
ng
N
atio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts/N
GO
s
3
.2
F
orm
er b
reed
in
g sites m
an
ag
ed
to
m
ax
im
ise th
eir su
itab
ility
fo
r W
hite-
headed D
ucks
Lo
w
Lo
ng
N
atio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts/N
GO
s
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
50 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
6.2 G
en
eral A
ctivities – R
ud
dy D
uck
R
an
ge S
tates
(A
lg
eria, A
ustria, B
elg
iu
m, D
en
mark
, F
in
lan
d, F
ran
ce, G
erm
an
y, H
un
gary
, Icelan
d, Irelan
d, Israel, Italy
, M
oro
cco
, N
eth
erlan
ds, N
orw
ay, P
ortugal, S
lovenia. S
pain, S
weden,
Sw
itzerlan
d, U
nited
K
in
gd
om
).
Resu
lt
Na
tio
na
l A
ctiv
ities
Prio
rity
T
im
esca
le
Resp
on
sib
le O
rg
an
isa
tio
ns
4. N
o hybridisation and
com
petition for food and
nesting sites w
ith R
uddy
Duck
4.1. N
ational and international bodies endorse and im
plem
ent the
International R
uddy D
uck E
radication S
trategy of the B
ern C
onvention
Essen
tial
Sh
ort
Eu
ro
pean
C
om
missio
n, B
on
n, B
ern
,
Bio
div
ersity
, an
d R
am
sar
Conventions, national governm
ents,
Bird
Life In
tern
atio
nal, W
etlan
ds
In
tern
atio
nal, IU
CN
4.2 P
roduce national R
uddy D
uck control strategy and/or statem
ent of
in
ten
t
Essen
tial
Sh
ort
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
4.3 M
onitor R
uddy D
uck status and distribution
in the w
ild
High
Ongoing
National governm
ents
4.4 Introduce national legislation, w
here needed, to perm
it the control of
Ruddy D
ucks
Essen
tial
Sh
ort
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
4.5 P
rohibit and phase out the keep
ing of R
uddy D
ucks in captivity (in
th
e E
U v
ia A
rticle 1
1 o
f th
e B
ird
s D
irectiv
e an
d th
e p
ro
visio
ns o
f th
e
EC
C
IT
ES
R
egulations (338/97))
Essential
Long
European C
om
mission, N
ational
governm
ents
4.6 U
ntil a ban on keeping is im
plem
ented, m
onitor the num
bers of
Ruddy D
ucks in captivity
High
Ongoing
National governm
ents
4.7 E
radicate all R
uddy D
ucks x W
hite-headed D
uck hybrids
Essential
Im
mediate
National governm
ents
4.8 E
radicate all w
ild R
uddy D
uck
s in the priority order: 1. T
otal
prevention of breeding; 2. B
irds occurring M
arch-S
eptem
ber, inclusive
(th
ose b
ird
s w
ith
th
e p
oten
tial to
b
reed
); B
ird
s o
ccu
rrin
g O
cto
ber-
February, inclusive
Essen
tial
Im
med
iate
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
4.9 O
rganise international m
eeting in 2006 to exchange technical
inform
ation on R
uddy D
uck control
Lo
w
Sh
ort
Wetlan
ds In
tern
atio
nal/B
ird
Life
In
tern
atio
nal, N
atio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts
4
.1
0 R
aise aw
aren
ess o
f th
e n
eed
to
co
ntro
l n
on
-n
ativ
e sp
ecies u
sin
g th
e
Ruddy D
uck as a case in point
Med
iu
m
On
go
in
g
Natio
nal
go
vern
men
ts/N
GO
s/B
ird
Life
In
tern
atio
nal/W
etlan
ds In
tern
atio
nal,
IU
CN
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 51
6.3 G
en
eral A
ctivities – K
now
led
ge gap
s
Resu
lt
Na
tio
na
l A
ctiv
ities
Prio
rity
T
im
esca
le
Resp
on
sib
le O
rg
an
isa
tio
ns
5. K
now
ledge gaps
filled
5.1 Identify all key sites and docum
ent their conservation status
Essential
Medium
N
ational governm
ents, N
GO
s,
Bird
Life In
tern
atio
nal, W
etlan
ds
In
tern
atio
nal
5
.2
M
on
ito
r all k
ey
sites an
nu
ally
d
urin
g th
e w
in
ter In
tern
atio
nal W
aterfo
wl
Census
Essential
Ongoing
National governm
ents, N
GO
s,
Wetlan
ds In
tern
atio
nal
5.3 C
onduct national censuses during the breeding season and m
igration
Essential
Ongoing
National governm
ents, N
GO
s
5.4 C
onduct studies of m
igratory m
ovem
ents to determ
ine population delineations
Essential
Long
National governm
ents, N
GO
s,
Research
In
stitu
tio
ns
5.5 C
onduct studies to determ
ine factors affecting survival and reproductive rates
Medium
L
ong
National governm
ents, N
GO
s,
Research
In
stitu
tio
ns
5.6 C
onduct studies of habitat requirem
ents and feeding ecology
Low
L
ong
National governm
ents, N
GO
s,
Research
In
stitu
tio
ns
5.7 C
onduct studies on the effects of C
arp and G
rass C
arp on the W
hite-headed
Du
ck
an
d its h
ab
itat
Medium
M
edium
N
ational governm
ents, N
GO
s,
Research
In
stitu
tio
ns
5.8 Q
uantify the im
pact of bycatch m
ortality in fishing nets
High
Short
National governm
ents, N
GO
s,
Research
In
stitu
tio
ns
5.9 C
onduct studies of the rate of exposure to lead shot and the effect on m
ortality
Medium
M
edium
N
ational governm
ents, N
GO
s,
Research
In
stitu
tio
ns
5.10 C
onduct and/or take part in genetic studies to determ
ine the provenance of
Ruddy D
ucks in m
ainland E
urope
Essen
tial
Im
med
iate
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts, N
GO
S,
Biological S
tation D
oñana
5
.1
1 C
on
du
ct an
d/o
r tak
e p
art in
g
en
etic stu
dies to
m
on
ito
r rates o
f in
tro
gressio
n
with R
uddy D
ucks in S
pain and M
orocco, and to clarify the m
odes of
hybridisation
Essen
tial
Im
med
iate
Natio
nal g
ov
ern
men
ts, N
GO
s,
Biological S
tation D
oñana
5.12 C
onduct study to m
odel tim
escale for R
uddy D
uck eradication from
the
Western P
alearctic and for the extinction of the W
hite-headed D
uck w
ith differing
levels of R
uddy D
uck im
migration to S
pain
Essen
tial
Sh
ort
Un
iv
ersity
o
f N
ew
castle (U
K)
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
52 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
7. References and the most relevant literature
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Ordem dos Biologos.
Almaraz, P. 2001. Competition with Carp may limit White-headed Duck populations in Spain. TWSG News 13:31-32.
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Maroc.
Anstey, S. 1989. The status and conservation of the White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala. IWRB Spec. Publ. 10. IWRB,
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Arenas, R. & Torres, J.A. 1992. Bíología y situación de la Malvasía en España. Quercus 73:14-21.
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54 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Kreuzberg-Mukhina, E. & Lanovenko, E. 2000. White-headed Ducks at the Sudochie Wetlands, Uzbekistan. TWSG News
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Kurt, B., Özbağdatlı, N., Gürsoy, A. & Albayrak, T. 2002. Monitoring of White-headed Duck in various Wetlands of Turkey.
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Li, Z. W. D. & Mundkur, T. 2003. Status overview and recommendations for conservation of the White-headed Duck Oxyura
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Edinburgh, UK.
McCracken, K.G., Harshman, J., Sorenson, M.D. & Johnson, K.P. 2000. Are Ruddy Ducks and White-headed Ducks the
same species? Brit. Birds 93:396-398.
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and White-headed Duck in Spain. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20:2860-2868.
Munteanu, D. 1995. Current status of the White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala in Romania. TWSG News 7:7-8.
Murdoch, D., Andrews, I. & Hofland, R. In press. The Syrian Wetland Expedition 2004: a summary. Sandgrouse.
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Panayotopoulou, M. & Green, A. 2000. White-headed Ducks in Greece. TWSG News 12:16-17.
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Salathé, T. & Yarar, M. 1992. Towards a management plan for Lake Burdur. Unpublished Report. DHKD and Station
Biologique de la Tour du Valat.
Sánchez, M.I., Green, A.J. & Dolz, C 2000. The diets of the White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala, Ruddy Duck O.
jamaicensis and their hybrids from Spain. Bird Study 47:275-284.
Scott, D.A. (ed.) 1995. A Directory of Wetlands in the Middle East. IUCN, Gland and IWRB, Slimbridge.
Scott, D.A. & Rose, P.M. 1996. Atlas of Anatidae Populations in Africa and Western Eurasia. Wetlands International
Publication No.41, Wetlands International, Wageningen.
Schielzeth, H., Lachmann, L., Eichhorn, G. & Heinicke, T. 2003. The White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala in the
Tengiz-Korgalzhyn Region, Central Kazakhstan. Wildfowl 54:141-155.
Sheikh, K. 1993. Ecological studies of Gamaghar Lake in relation to migration of waterfowl. M.Sc Diss., University of the
Punjab.
Sheikh, K. & Naseem, K. In press. Strategic role of Pakistan wetland resources: prospects for an effective migratory
waterbird conservation network. Proc. Global Flyway Conference, 3-8 April 2004, Edinburgh, UK.
Sultanov, E. 2001. Status of White-headed Ducks in Azerbaijan. TWSG News 13:44-45.
Torres, J. 2001. New records of White-headed Duck from Morocco. TWSG News 13:43.
Torres, J.A. 2003a. La población Española de Malvasía Cabeciblanca (Oxyura leucocephala) venticinco años despues del
minimo de 1977. Oxyura 11:5–33.
Torres, J.A. 2003b. La recuperación de la Malvasía Cabeciblanca en España. Quercus 207:11–16.
Torres, J.A. & Arenas, R. 1985. Nuevos datos relativos a la alimentación de Oxyura leucocephala. Ardeola 32:127-131.
Torres, J.A., Arenas, R. & Ayala, J.M. (undated) Pp.173–176 in: La regeneración de la Laguna del Rincón. Zonas Húmedas
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 55
Ibéricas. Ponencias de las II Jornadas Ibéricas sobre estudio y protección de las zonas húmedas. Federación de Amigos de la
Tierra.
Torres, J.A., Arenas, R. & Ayala, J.M. 1986. Evolución histórica de la población Española de Malvasía (Oxyura
leucocephala). Oxyura 3:5–19.
Urdiales, C. & Pereira, P. 1993. Identification key of O. jamaicensis, O. leucocephala and their hybrids. ICONA, Madrid.
Wetlands International. 2002. Waterbird Population Estimates – Third Edition. Wetlands International, Global Series No. 12,
Wageningen.
Yigit, S. & Altindag, A. 2002. Accumulation of heavy metals in the food web components of Burdur Lake, Turkey. Fresenius
Environmental Bulletin 11:1048-1052.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
56 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
8. Annexes
Annex 1. Relative importance of threats to the White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala in the breeding and non-
breeding season scored according to categories listed in the IUCN Species Survival Commission Species Information
Service Threats Authority files.
Threat Category Breeding Non-breeding
1. Habitat Loss/Degradation (Human Induced) CRITICAL CRITICAL
1.1. Agriculture
1.1.1. Crops
1.1.1.1. Shifting agriculture LOCAL LOCAL
1.1.1.2. Small-holder farming MEDIUM MEDIUM
1.1.1.3. Agro-industry farming CRITICAL CRITICAL
1.1.4. Livestock
1.1.4.2. Small-holder LOCAL LOCAL
1.2. Land management of non-agricultural areas
1.2.2. Change of management regime HIGH -
1.3. Extraction
1.3.6. Groundwater extraction CRITICAL CRITICAL
1.4. Infrastructure development
1.4.2. Human settlement LOCAL LOCAL
1.4.3. Tourism/recreation LOCAL LOCAL
1.4.6. Dams CRITICAL CRITICAL
1.5. Invasive alien species (directly impacting habitat) MEDIUM MEDIUM
2. Invasive Alien Species (Directly Affecting the Species) CRITICAL CRITICAL
2.1. Competitors LOCAL LOCAL
2.3. Hybridizers CRITICAL CRITICAL
3. Harvesting [Hunting/Gathering] HIGH HIGH
3.1. Food
3.1.1. Subsistence use/local trade MEDIUM MEDIUM
3.4. Materials
3.4.1. Subsistence use/local trade LOCAL LOCAL
3.6. Other (Illegal recreational harvesting) HIGH HIGH
4. Accidental Mortality MEDIUM MEDIUM
4.1. Bycatch
4.1.1. Fisheries-related
4.1.1.3. Entanglement MEDIUM MEDIUM
4.1.2. Terrestrial
4.1.2.2. Shooting LOCAL LOCAL
4.1.2.3. Poisoning MEDIUM MEDIUM
6. Pollution (Affecting Habitat and/or Species) CRITICAL CRITICAL
6.1. Atmospheric pollution
6.1.1. Global warming/oceanic warming CRITICAL CRITICAL
6.3. Water pollution
6.3.1. Agricultural MEDIUM MEDIUM
6.3.2. Domestic LOW LOW
6.3.3. Commercial/Industrial MEDIUM MEDIUM
6.3.7. Sediment MEDIUM MEDIUM
6.3.8. Sewage LOCAL LOCAL
7. Natural Disasters CRITICAL CRITICAL
7.1. Drought CRITICAL CRITICAL
7.4. Wildfire LOCAL LOCAL
10. Human Disturbance LOW LOW
10.1. Recreation/tourism LOW LOW
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 57
Annex 2. C
ontracting parties to international conventions, agreem
ents and directives that are relevant for conservation of the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala (a
cc.
– accession only; sig. – signatory only; ap
p. – approved only). W
hite-hea
ded D
uck R
ange States in norm
al type, R
uddy D
uck R
ange
States in italics, W
hite-headed D
uck and
Ruddy D
uck R
ange States in bold italics.
Co
un
try
S
pecies
Presen
ce
1
Ra
msa
r
CM
S
AE
WA
B
ern
E
U-2
5
CB
D
CIT
ES
Afg
han
istan
M
, N
B
•
•
Alg
eria
B
, M
, N
B
•
•
•
Arm
en
ia
B
•
(•) a
cc.
Au
stria
R
D o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
Azerb
aijan
M
, N
B
•
•
(•) a
pp
.
•
Belg
iu
m
RD
o
nly
•
•
(•) sig
.
•
•
•
•
Bu
lg
aria
M, N
B
•
•
•
•
(E
U C
an
did
ate)
•
•
Ch
in
a
M, N
B
•
•
•
Den
ma
rk
RD
o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fin
la
nd
R
D o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fra
nce
RD
o
nly
•
•
(•) sig
.
•
•
•
•
Geo
rg
ia
M, N
B
•
•
•
(•) a
cc.
•
Germ
an
y
RD
o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Greece
NB
•
•
(•) sig
.
•
•
•
•
Icela
nd
R
D o
nly
•
•
•
•
Irela
nd
R
D o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Iraq
B
, M
, N
B
Islam
ic R
ep
ub
lic o
f Iran
B
, M
, N
B
•
•
•
Isra
el
NB
•
•
•
•
•
Ita
ly
B, M
, N
B
•
•
•
•
•
•
Kazak
hstan
B
, M
•
•
Mo
ng
olia
B, M
•
•
•
•
Mo
ro
cco
B
, M
, N
B
•
•
(•) sig
.
•
•
•
Neth
erla
nd
s
RD
o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
No
rw
ay
RD
o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
Pak
istan
N
B
•
•
•
•
Po
rtu
ga
l
RD
o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ro
man
ia
M, N
B
•
•
•
(•) a
cc.
(E
U C
an
did
ate)
•
•
Ru
ssian
F
ed
eratio
n
B, M
, N
B
•
•
•
Serb
ia an
d M
on
ten
eg
ro
V
•
•
•
Slo
ven
ia
R
D o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sp
ain
B
, M
, N
B
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sw
ed
en
R
D o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sw
itzerla
nd
R
D o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
58 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Co
un
try
S
pecies
Presen
ce
1
Ra
msa
r
CM
S
AE
WA
B
ern
E
U-2
5
CB
D
CIT
ES
Sy
rian
A
rab
R
ep
ub
lic
NB
•
•
•
•
•
Tu
nisia
B
, M
, N
B
•
•
•
•
•
Tu
rk
ey
B
, M
, N
B
•
•
(E
U C
an
did
ate)
•
•
Tu
rk
men
istan
B
, M
, N
B
(•) a
cc.
Uk
rain
e
B, M
, N
B
•
•
•
•
•
•
Un
ited
K
in
gd
om
R
D o
nly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Uzb
ek
istan
B
, M
, N
B
•
•
•
(•) a
cc.
•
1
K
ey
: B
–
b
reed
in
g; M
–
m
ig
ratin
g; N
B –
n
on
-b
reed
in
g; V
–
v
ag
ran
t; R
D o
nly
–
R
ud
dy
D
uck
o
nly
.
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 59
Annex 3. Im
portant B
ird A
reas of relevance for the W
hite-headed D
uck O
xyura leucocephala. D
ata from
the B
irdL
ife International W
orld B
ird database, accessed on 12 M
ay
2004. P
oor coverage for A
sia. N
ote: som
e key W
hite-headed D
uck sites m
ay be m
issing from
this list (e.g. C
añada de las N
orias, A
ndalucía, Spain).
Cou
ntry
In
tern
ation
al N
am
e
Area (H
a)
Location
Y
ear
Season
P
op
ulation
U
nits
Criteria
Lat
Lon
g
Min
M
ax
Afghanistan
Ham
un-i-P
uzak
35000
31.6
061.8
0
1971
breeding
300
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2
Afghanistan
Ham
un-i-P
uzak
35000
31.6
061.8
0
1976
winter
10
individuals
A1, B
2
Afghanistan
Kole H
ashm
at K
han
191
34.5
069.2
0
1972
non-breeding
5
individuals
B2
Albania
Narta L
agoon
4180
40.5
819.3
8
1993
winter
0
4
individuals
A1
Algeria
Com
plexe d
e z
ones h
um
ides d
e l
a p
laine d
e G
uerbes-S
anhadja
42100
36.8
87.2
7
1991
resident
1
breeding p
airs
A1
Algeria
Lac d
es O
iseaux---G
araet e
t T
ouyour
70
36.7
88.1
2
1992
non-breeding
209
209
individuals
A1, A
4i
Algeria
Lac O
ubeïra
2200
36.8
38.3
8
1984
non-breeding
220
220
individuals
A1, A
4i
Algeria
Lac T
onga
2700
36.8
58.5
0
1999
non-breeding
256
256
individuals
A4i
Algeria
Lac T
onga
2700
36.8
58.5
0
1991
resident
30
30
breeding p
airs
A1
Algeria
Marais d
e M
ekhada
8900
36.8
08.0
0
resident
unset
A1
Arm
enia
Arm
ash f
ish-farm
2795
39.7
544.7
7
0breeding
4
6
breeding p
airs
A1
Azerbaijan
Divichi l
im
an (
or L
ake A
kzibir)
7000
41.3
249.0
8
0passage
unset
A1
Azerbaijan
Lake A
ggel
9173
40.0
847.6
7
1991
winter
3000
3000
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Azerbaijan
Lake H
adjikabul
1500
40.0
049.0
0
1998
winter
0
620
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Azerbaijan
Lake K
rasnoie a
nd o
ther w
aterbodies o
f t
he A
bsheron p
eninsula
04
0.3
349.7
5
1998
winter
0
140
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Azerbaijan
Lake S
arysu
20000
40.0
848.1
7
0w
inter
unset
A1
Bulgaria
Burgasko l
ake
2800
42.5
027.4
2
1997
winter
5
69
individuals
A1
Bulgaria
Burgasko l
ake
2800
42.5
027.4
2
1997
passage
19
43
individuals
A1
Bulgaria
Mandra-P
oda c
om
plex
2270
42.4
227.3
8
1997
winter
24
202
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Cyprus
Akrotiri s
alt-lake i
ncluding B
ishop's
Pool
4000
34.6
232.9
7
0w
inter
5
10
individuals
A1
Cyprus
Larnaca s
alt-lakes
1850
34.8
733.6
2
1995
winter
0
14
individuals
A1
Georgia
Javakheti P
lateau
200000
41.5
043.6
7
1996
unknow
n
unset
A1
Georgia
Kolkheti
150000
42.1
741.8
3
1998
winter
unset
A1
Greece
Lake K
erkini
12000
41.2
023.1
5
1993
winter
3
100
individuals
A1, C
1
Greece
Porto L
agos, L
ake V
istonis, and c
oastal l
agoons (
Lakes o
f T
hrace)
15300
41.0
225.0
8
1997
winter
0
2300
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i, C
1, C
2
I.R
. Iran
Akh G
ol
600
39.5
544.7
8
1992
breeding
breeding p
airs
B2
I.R
. Iran
Anzali M
ordab c
om
plex
15000
37.4
249.4
7
1977
passage
25
individuals
A1
I.R
. Iran
Dasht-e A
rjan a
nd L
ake P
arishan
52800
29.5
751.8
8
1992
winter
17
455
individuals
A1, B
1i, B
2
I.R
. Iran
Dasht-e A
rjan a
nd L
ake P
arishan
52800
29.5
751.8
8
1977
breeding
4
breeding p
airs
B2
I.R
. Iran
Gori G
ol
120
37.8
346.6
7
1977
passage
15
individuals
A1
I.R
. Iran
Gori G
ol
120
37.8
346.6
7
1977
breeding
4
breeding p
airs
B2
I.R
. Iran
Harm
lake
028.1
753.5
0
1992
winter
230
individuals
A1, B
1i, B
2
I.R
. Iran
Hilleh r
iver d
elta
42600
29.1
750.8
3
1988
winter
173
individuals
A1, B
1i, B
2
I.R
. Iran
Lake A
lagol, L
ake U
lm
agol a
nd L
ake A
jigol
1540
37.3
854.6
3
1975
winter
19
individuals
A1
I.R
. Iran
Lake K
obi
1200
36.9
545.5
0
1977
non-breeding
33
individuals
A1
I.R
. Iran
Lake K
obi
1200
36.9
545.5
0
1977
passage
100
individuals
A1
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
60 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Cou
ntry
In
tern
ation
al N
am
e
Area (H
a)
Location
Y
ear
Season
P
op
ulation
U
nits
Criteria
Lat
Lon
g
Min
M
ax
I.R
. Iran
Lake Z
aribar
1550
35.5
346.1
2
1974
breeding
4
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
I.R
. Iran
Lapoo--Z
argm
arz a
b-bandans
950
36.8
353.2
8
1977
winter
28
individuals
A1
I.R
. Iran
Miankaleh P
eninsula a
nd G
organ B
ay
97200
36.8
353.7
5
1977
winter
20
453
individuals
A1, B
1i, B
2
I.R
. Iran
Seyed M
ohalli, Z
arin K
ola a
nd L
arim
Sara
1600
36.7
553.0
0
1992
winter
2
27
individuals
A1
I.R
. Iran
Shur G
ol, Y
adegarlu a
nd D
orgeh S
angi l
akes
2500
37.0
245.5
2
1977
breeding
4
breeding p
airs
B2
I.R
. Iran
South e
nd o
f t
he H
am
oun-i P
uzak
14900
31.3
361.7
5
1970
winter
42
individuals
A1, B
2
Iraq
Haur A
l H
am
mar
1350000
30.7
347.0
5
1973
winter
1
individuals
B2
Israel
Jezre’el, H
arod a
nd B
et S
he’an v
alleys
40000
32.5
335.3
3
1991
winter
500
600
individuals
A1, B
1i, B
2
Israel
Judean f
oothills
60000
31.7
534.9
2
1991
winter
100
individuals
A1, B
2
Israel
Zevulun v
alley
5000
32.8
835.1
0
1991
winter
80
150
individuals
A1, B
1i, B
2
Rom
ania
Danube D
elta a
nd R
azelm
-S
inoe c
om
plex
442000
44.9
329.2
0
1994
winter
10
0
individuals
A1
Rom
ania
Lake T
echirghiol
1170
44.0
228.4
7
1998
winter
1
800
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Russia
Dadynskiye l
ake
45000
45.2
745.0
7
1996
breeding
3
5
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
Russia
Eastern c
oast o
f t
he S
ea o
f A
zov
457300
45.7
738.0
8
0breeding
1
breeding p
airs
B2
Spain
Albufera d
e M
allorca a
nd A
lbufereta d
e P
ollença m
arshes
2800
39.7
83.1
0
1994
resident
3
8
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Alcázar d
e S
an J
uan-Q
uero e
ndorreic l
agoons
58500
39.5
0-3.1
7
1996
resident
20
20
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Conde, C
hinche a
nd H
onda l
akes
420
37.5
8-4.2
0
1996
resident
5
7
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
El H
ondo w
etland
2387
38.3
3-0.7
0
1997
winter
97
155
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i, C
1, C
2
Spain
El H
ondo w
etland
2387
38.3
3-0.7
0
1996
resident
10
15
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Fuente d
e P
iedra, G
osque a
nd C
am
pillos l
akes
10600
37.1
7-4.7
5
1996
breeding
2
5
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Guadalquivir m
arshes
230000
37.0
0-6.4
2
1996
winter
100
400
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i, C
1, C
2
Spain
Guadalquivir m
arshes
230000
37.0
0-6.4
2
1996
resident
10
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Lebrija, L
as C
abezas a
nd E
spera l
agoons
7600
36.8
7-5.8
5
1996
resident
10
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Lebrija, L
as C
abezas a
nd E
spera l
agoons
7600
36.8
7-5.8
5
1997
non-breeding
48
individuals
A1, B
1i, C
1, C
2
Spain
Los T
ollos l
ake
100
36.8
7-6.0
0
1997
winter
10
444
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i, C
1, C
2
Spain
Medina a
nd P
uerto R
eal l
agoons
4900
36.6
2-6.0
5
1997
non-breeding
104
individuals
B1i, C
2
Spain
Pedro M
uñoz-M
anjavacas e
ndorreic l
agoons
41500
39.4
2-2.7
5
1995
resident
17
17
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Pedro M
uñoz-M
anjavacas e
ndorreic l
agoons
41500
39.4
2-2.7
5
1997
winter
8
32
individuals
A1, B
1i, C
1, C
2
Spain
Tablas d
e D
aim
iel m
arshes; 'V
icario' and 'G
asset' reservoirs a
nd M
alagón l
akes
31500
39.0
0-3.7
5
1996
breeding
2
2
breeding p
airs
B2
Spain
Tem
bleque-L
a G
uardia p
lains
128000
39.6
7-3.5
0
1995
breeding
16
29
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Tem
bleque-L
a G
uardia p
lains
128000
39.6
7-3.5
0
1997
winter
9
9
individuals
B1i, C
2
Spain
Terry l
agoons
350
36.6
3-6.2
3
1997
non-breeding
54
individuals
A1, B
1i, C
1, C
2
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
3054
37.4
2-4.7
5
1996
breeding
7
45
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
3054
37.4
2-4.7
5
1997
winter
40
100
individuals
A1, B
1i, C
1, C
2
Spain
Wetlands o
f w
estern A
lm
ería
3000
36.6
7-2.6
7
1996
resident
61
61
breeding p
airs
A1, A
4i, B
1i, B
2, C
1, C
2, C
6
Spain
Wetlands o
f w
estern A
lm
ería
3000
36.6
7-2.6
7
1995
non-breeding
561
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i, C
1, C
2
Syria
Bahrat H
om
s
5300
34.6
236.5
3
1992
winter
30
individuals
A1, B
2
Tunisia
El H
ouareb r
eservoir
1200
35.5
89.9
0
w
inter
334
individuals
A1, A
4i
Tunisia
El H
ouareb r
eservoir
1200
35.5
89.9
0
1999
resident
unset
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 61
Cou
ntry
In
tern
ation
al N
am
e
Area (H
a)
Location
Y
ear
Season
P
op
ulation
U
nits
Criteria
Lat
Lon
g
Min
M
ax
Tunisia
Ichkeul
12600
37.1
79.6
7
w
inter
12
600
individuals
A1, A
4i
Tunisia
Lebna r
eservoir
1000
36.7
010.9
3
resident
unset
A1
Tunisia
Masri r
eservoir
150
36.5
210.4
8
resident
10
50
breeding p
airs
A1
Tunisia
Mlaâbi r
eservoir
200
36.8
510.9
3
resident
12
80
breeding p
airs
A1
Tunisia
Mornaguia r
eservoir
300
36.8
310.2
2
1999
breeding
12
220
adults o
nly
A1, A
4i
Tunisia
Sebkhet K
elbia
13000
35.8
310.3
3
w
inter
5
40
individuals
A1
Tunisia
Sebkhet S
idi M
ansour
11000
34.2
39.0
5
w
inter
40
80
individuals
A1
Tunisia
Sidi A
bdelm
onem
reservoir
250
36.8
310.9
7
resident
15
80
breeding p
airs
A1
Turkey
Agyatan l
ake
2200
36.6
035.5
2
1993
winter
191
191
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Akkaya R
eservoir
500
37.9
534.5
6
2001
non-breeding
20
30
individuals
A1
Turkey
Akyatan l
ake
14000
36.6
235.2
7
1993
winter
230
978
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Bostankaya L
ake
300
39.4
837.0
2
2001
breeding
5
10
breeding p
airs
A1
Turkey
Burdur l
ake
25000
37.7
330.1
8
1996
winter
342
10927
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Çali l
ake
25
40.5
243.2
7
breeding
10
10
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
Turkey
Çol l
ake a
nd Ç
alikdüzü
23000
39.3
032.9
0
1991
non-breeding
27
27
individuals
A1
Turkey
Çorak l
ake
1150
37.6
829.7
7
1974
winter
85
930
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Erçek l
ake
9520
38.6
743.5
8
breeding
2
2
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
Turkey
Erçek l
ake
9520
38.6
743.5
8
breeding
2
2
breeding p
airs
B2
Turkey
Eregli m
arshes
37000
37.5
333.7
5
1996
non-breeding
80
508
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Eregli m
arshes
37000
37.5
333.7
5
breeding
50
50
breeding p
airs
A1, A
4i, B
1i, B
2
Turkey
Esm
ekaya m
arshes
11250
38.2
533.4
7
1998
breeding
0
2
breeding p
airs
B2
Turkey
Hasan L
ake
200
38.9
043.0
3
2001
breeding
5
10
breeding p
airs
A1
Turkey
Hirfanli r
eservoir
26300
39.1
733.6
5
1996
winter
19
122
individuals
A1, B
1i
Turkey
Hotam
is m
arshes
16500
37.5
833.0
5
1991
passage
37
354
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Hotam
is m
arshes
16500
37.5
833.0
5
0breeding
40
40
breeding p
airs
A1, B
1i, B
2
Turkey
Karatas l
ake
1190
37.3
829.9
7
1995
winter
47
82
individuals
A1
Turkey
Kaz L
ake
200
38.5
144.2
2
1988
breeding
5
breeding p
airs
A1
Turkey
Kizilirm
ak d
elta
16110
41.6
036.0
8
1995
winter
15
1246
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Kozanli G
ökgöl
650
39.0
232.8
3
breeding
10
10
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
Turkey
Kulu l
ake
860
39.0
833.1
5
1993
non-breeding
85
319
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Kulu l
ake
860
39.0
833.1
5
1996
winter
56
600
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Kulu l
ake
860
39.0
833.1
5
breeding
30
30
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
Turkey
Kus l
ake
16000
40.1
827.9
7
1996
winter
20
34
individuals
A1
Turkey
Kuyucuk l
ake
219
40.7
543.4
5
breeding
2
2
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
Turkey
Kuyucuk l
ake
219
40.7
543.4
5
breeding
2
2
breeding p
airs
B2
Turkey
Lake V
an
390000
38.6
742.9
2
2001
breeding
30
35
breeding p
airs
A1
Turkey
Marm
ara l
ake
6800
38.6
228.0
0
1990
winter
50
120
individuals
A1, B
1i
Turkey
Mogan l
ake
1500
39.7
732.8
0
breeding
2
2
breeding p
airs
B2
Turkey
Salda l
ake
4370
37.5
529.6
7
1993
winter
40
128
individuals
A1, B
1i
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
62 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Cou
ntry
In
tern
ation
al N
am
e
Area (H
a)
Location
Y
ear
Season
P
op
ulation
U
nits
Criteria
Lat
Lon
g
Min
M
ax
Turkey
Sarikum
lake
785
42.0
234.9
2
1995
winter
55
55
individuals
A1
Turkey
Sodalìgöl
1500
38.8
242.9
8
1990
non-breeding
101
750
individuals
A1, A
4i, B
1i
Turkey
Sodalìgöl
1500
38.8
242.9
8
breeding
30
30
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
Turkey
Süküm
bet L
ake
300
38.9
043.6
4
2001
breeding
1
breeding p
airs
A1
Turkey
Sultansazligi
39000
38.3
335.2
7
breeding
20
20
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
Turkey
Ulas L
ake
350
39.4
637.1
3
2000
breeding
5
10
breeding p
airs
A1
Turkey
Uyuz l
ake
15
39.2
532.9
5
1994
breeding
10
10
breeding p
airs
A1, B
2
Turkey
Yarisli l
ake
1400
37.5
729.9
7
1989
winter
46
46
individuals
A1
Ukraine
Karkinitska a
nd D
zharylgatska b
ays
87000
45.9
733.2
0
1949
Migration
1
1
Individuals
A1, A
4i, A
4iii, B
1i, B
2
Ukraine
Karkinitska a
nd D
zharylgatska b
ays
87000
45.9
733.2
0
1977
Migration
1
1
Individuals
A1, A
4i, A
4iii, B
1i, B
2
Ukraine
Karkinitska a
nd D
zharylgatska b
ays
87000
45.9
733.2
0
1990
Migration
1
1
Individuals
A1, A
4i, A
4iii, B
1i, B
2
Ukraine
Karkinitska a
nd D
zharylgatska b
ays
87000
45.9
733.2
0
1991
Migration
1
1
Individuals
A1, A
4i, A
4iii, B
1i, B
2
Ukraine
Karkinitska a
nd D
zharylgatska b
ays
87000
45.9
733.2
0
1992
Migration
1
2
Individuals
A1, A
4i, A
4iii, B
1i, B
2
Ukraine
Tarkhankutskyi p
eninsula
4200
45.4
232.6
3
1999
Migration
5
5
Individuals
B1i, B
2
Ukraine
Tarkhankutskyi p
eninsula
4200
45.4
232.6
3
2000
Migration
1
2
Individuals
B1i, B
2
Ukraine
Tarkhankutskyi p
eninsula
4200
45.4
232.6
3
2000
Winter
8
8
Individuals
B1i, B
2
Criteria
: th
e fo
llo
win
g criteria w
ere u
sed
to
id
en
tify
IB
As fo
r th
e W
hite-h
ead
ed
D
uck
.
Ca
teg
ory
A
1: S
pecies o
f g
lo
bal co
nserv
atio
n co
ncern
: T
he site reg
ularly
h
old
s sig
nifican
t n
um
bers o
f a g
lo
bally
th
reaten
ed
sp
ecies, o
r o
th
er sp
ecies o
f g
lo
bal co
nserv
atio
n co
ncern
.
Ca
teg
ory
A
4: C
on
greg
atio
ns: i) T
he site is k
no
wn
o
r th
ou
gh
t to
h
old
, o
n a reg
ular b
asis, ≥
1
% o
f a b
io
geo
grap
hic p
op
ulatio
n o
f a co
ng
reg
ato
ry
w
aterb
ird
sp
ecies.
Ca
teg
ory
B
1: C
on
greg
atio
ns: i) T
he site is k
no
wn
o
r th
ou
gh
t to
h
old
≥
1
% o
f a fly
way
o
r o
th
er d
istin
ct p
op
ulatio
n o
f a w
aterb
ird
sp
ecies.
Ca
teg
ory
B
2: S
pecies w
ith
an
u
nfav
ou
rab
le co
nserv
atio
n statu
s in
E
uro
pe: T
he site is o
ne o
f th
e ‘n
’ m
ost im
po
rtan
t in
th
e co
un
try
fo
r a sp
ecies w
ith
an
u
nfav
ou
rab
le co
nserv
atio
n statu
s in
Eu
ro
pe (S
PE
C 2
, 3
) an
d fo
r w
hich
th
e site-p
ro
tectio
n ap
pro
ach
is th
ou
gh
t to
b
e ap
pro
priate.
Ca
teg
ory
C
1: S
pecies o
f g
lo
bal co
nserv
atio
n co
ncern
: T
he site reg
ularly
h
old
s sig
nifican
t n
um
bers o
f a g
lo
bally
th
reaten
ed
sp
ecies, o
r o
th
er sp
ecies o
f g
lo
bal co
nserv
atio
n co
ncern
.
Ca
teg
ory
C
2: C
on
cen
tratio
ns o
f a sp
ecies th
reaten
ed
at th
e E
uro
pean
U
nio
n lev
el: T
he site is k
no
wn
to
reg
ularly
h
old
at least 1
% o
f a fly
way
p
op
ulatio
n o
r o
f th
e E
U p
op
ulatio
n o
f a sp
ecies
th
reaten
ed
at th
e E
U lev
el (listed
o
n A
nn
ex
1
an
d referred
to
in
A
rticle 4
.2
o
f th
e E
C B
ird
s D
irectiv
e).
Ca
teg
ory
C
6: S
pecies th
reaten
ed
at th
e E
uro
pean
U
nio
n lev
el: T
he site is o
ne o
f th
e fiv
e m
ost im
po
rtan
t in
th
e E
uro
pean
reg
io
n (N
UT
S reg
io
n) fo
r a sp
ecies o
r su
bsp
ecies co
nsid
ered
th
reaten
ed
in
th
e E
uro
pean
U
nio
n (i.e. listed
in
A
nn
ex
1
o
f th
e E
C B
ird
s D
irectiv
e).
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 63
An
nex 4
. P
ro
tectio
n sta
tu
s o
f Im
po
rta
nt B
ird
A
rea
s fo
r th
e W
hite-h
ea
ded
D
uck O
xy
ura leu
co
cep
hala. D
ata
fro
m th
e B
ird
Life In
tern
atio
na
l W
orld
B
ird
d
ata
ba
se, a
ccessed
o
n
12 M
ay 2004. N
o data for A
lgeria and M
orocco, poor coverage for A
sia. N
ote: som
e key W
hite-headed D
uck sites m
ay be m
issing fro
m this list (e.g. C
añada de las N
orias,
Andalucía, Spain).
Cou
ntry
In
tern
ation
al N
am
e
Protected
A
rea
Design
ation
IU
CN
Category
Man
agem
en
t
Plan
Afghanistan
Kole H
ashm
at K
han
Kole H
ashm
at K
han
Waterfow
l S
anctuary
IV
no
Azerbaijan
Lake A
ggel
Agh-G
hol
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Azerbaijan
Lake A
ggel
Ak-G
el g
oryhy
Zapovednik
I
no
Azerbaijan
Lake A
ggel
Ak-G
el Z
akaznik
Zapovednik
?
no
Bulgaria
Burgasko l
ake
Vaya
Protected L
andscape
?
no
Bulgaria
Mandra-P
oda c
om
plex
Izvorska M
outh
Protected L
andscape
?
yes
Bulgaria
Mandra-P
oda c
om
plex
Poda L
agoon
Protected L
andscape
?
yes
Cyprus
Akrotiri s
alt-lake i
ncluding B
ishop's
Pool
Akrotiri L
ake
Gam
e R
eserve
IV
yes
Cyprus
Larnaca s
alt-lakes
Larnaca L
ake P
erm
anent G
am
e R
eserve (
SpP
A)
Gam
e R
eserve
IV
yes
Cyprus
Larnaca s
alt-lakes
Larnaca S
alt L
ake
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Cyprus
Larnaca s
alt-lakes
Unknow
n n
am
e
Gam
e R
eserve
?
yes
Georgia
Javakheti P
lateau
Borjom
i-K
haragauli N
ational P
ark
National P
ark
II
no
Georgia
Kolkheti
Ispani I
I M
arshes
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Georgia
Kolkheti
Kolkheti N
ature R
eserve
Zapovednik
?
yes
Georgia
Kolkheti
Wetlands o
f C
entral K
olkheti
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Greece
Lake K
erkini
Artificial L
ake K
erkini
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Greece
Lake K
erkini
Techniti L
im
ni K
erkinis
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
no
Greece
Porto L
agos, L
ake V
istonis, and c
oastal l
agoons (
Lakes o
f T
hrace)
Fanariou /
Porto L
agos
Gam
e R
efuge
?
no
Greece
Porto L
agos, L
ake V
istonis, and c
oastal l
agoons (
Lakes o
f T
hrace)
Lake V
istonis, P
orto L
agos, L
ake I
sm
aris &
adj. la
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Greece
Porto L
agos, L
ake V
istonis, and c
oastal l
agoons (
Lakes o
f T
hrace)
Lake V
istonis, P
orto L
agos, L
ake I
sm
aris &
adj. la
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
no
Greece
Porto L
agos, L
ake V
istonis, and c
oastal l
agoons (
Lakes o
f T
hrace)
Porto L
agos, L
ake V
istonis, and c
oastal l
agoons (
P
rotected A
rea
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Anzali M
ordab c
om
plex
Anzali M
ordab (
Talab) c
om
plex
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Anzali M
ordab c
om
plex
Selkeh
Wildlife R
efuge
IV
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Anzali M
ordab c
om
plex
Siahkesheim
P
rotected A
rea
V
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Dasht-e A
rjan a
nd L
ake P
arishan
Arjan
Protected A
rea
IV
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Dasht-e A
rjan a
nd L
ake P
arishan
Arjan P
rotected A
rea
Biosphere R
eserve
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Dasht-e A
rjan a
nd L
ake P
arishan
Lake P
arishan a
nd D
asht-e-A
rjan
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Gori G
ol
Lake G
ori
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Hilleh r
iver d
elta
Heleh
Protected A
rea
V
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Lake A
lagol, L
ake U
lm
agol a
nd L
ake A
jigol
Alagol, U
lm
agol a
nd A
jigol L
akes
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Lake K
obi
Lake K
obi
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Lapoo--Z
argm
arz a
b-bandans
Miankaleh P
eninsula, G
organ B
ay a
nd L
apoo-Z
aghm
arz
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Miankaleh P
eninsula a
nd G
organ B
ay
Miankaleh
Wildlife R
efuge
IV
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Miankaleh P
eninsula a
nd G
organ B
ay
Miankaleh P
eninsula, G
organ B
ay a
nd L
apoo-Z
aghm
arz
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Miankaleh P
eninsula a
nd G
organ B
ay
Miankaleh P
rotected A
rea
Biosphere R
eserve
?
no
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
64 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Cou
ntry
In
tern
ation
al N
am
e
Protected
A
rea
Design
ation
IU
CN
Category
Man
agem
en
t
Plan
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
Shur G
ol, Y
adegarlu a
nd D
orgeh S
angi l
akes
Shurgol, Y
adegarlu &
Dorgeh S
angi L
akes
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Iran, Islam
ic R
epublic o
f
South e
nd o
f t
he H
am
oun-i P
uzak
Ham
oun-e-P
uzak, south e
nd
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Israel
Zevulun v
alley
Afek s
wam
p
Nature R
eserve
IV
no
Israel
Zevulun v
alley
Zevulun V
alley
Nature R
eserve
IV
no
Rom
ania
Danube D
elta a
nd R
azelm
-S
inoe c
om
plex
Danube D
elta
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Rom
ania
Danube D
elta a
nd R
azelm
-S
inoe c
om
plex
Danube D
elta B
iosphere R
eserve
Biosphere R
eserve
?
yes
Rom
ania
Danube D
elta a
nd R
azelm
-S
inoe c
om
plex
Danube D
elta B
iosphere R
eserve
World
Heritage S
ite
?
yes
Russia
Eastern c
oast o
f t
he S
ea o
f A
zov
Kuban D
elta: A
khtaro-G
rivenskaya g
roup o
f l
im
ans
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Russia
Eastern c
oast o
f t
he S
ea o
f A
zov
Kuban D
elta: l
im
ans b
etw
een r
ivers K
uban &
Protoka
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Russia
Eastern c
oast o
f t
he S
ea o
f A
zov
Priazovskiy
Zakaznik
IV
no
Russia
Eastern c
oast o
f t
he S
ea o
f A
zov
Tam
ano-Z
aporozhski
Zakaznik
?
no
Spain
Albufera d
e M
allorca a
nd A
lbufereta d
e P
ollença m
arshes
S'A
lbufera d
e M
allorca
Natural P
ark (
Spain)
V
yes
Spain
Albufera d
e M
allorca a
nd A
lbufereta d
e P
ollença m
arshes
S'A
lbufera d
e M
allorca
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Spain
Albufera d
e M
allorca a
nd A
lbufereta d
e P
ollença m
arshes
S'A
lbufera d
e M
allorca
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
yes
Spain
Alcázar d
e S
an J
uan-Q
uero e
ndorreic l
agoons
Hum
edales d
e l
a M
ancha
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
no
Spain
Alcázar d
e S
an J
uan-Q
uero e
ndorreic l
agoons
Lagunas d
e A
lcázar d
e S
an J
uan
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Spain
Conde, C
hinche a
nd H
onda l
akes
Laguna d
el C
hinche
Natural R
eserve
IV
yes
Spain
Conde, C
hinche a
nd H
onda l
akes
Laguna e
l C
onde
Natural R
eserve
IV
yes
Spain
Conde, C
hinche a
nd H
onda l
akes
Laguna H
onda
Natural R
eserve
IV
yes
Spain
Conde, C
hinche a
nd H
onda l
akes
Lagunas d
el S
ur d
e C
ôrdoba
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
yes
Spain
El H
ondo w
etland
El H
ondo
Natural P
ark (
Spain)
V
yes
Spain
El H
ondo w
etland
El H
ondo
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
I
yes
Spain
El H
ondo w
etland
El H
ondo
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
yes
Spain
Fuente d
e P
iedra, G
osque a
nd C
am
pillos l
akes
Laguna d
e C
am
pillos
Natural R
eserve
?
no
Spain
Fuente d
e P
iedra, G
osque a
nd C
am
pillos l
akes
Laguna d
e F
uente d
e P
iedra
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Spain
Fuente d
e P
iedra, G
osque a
nd C
am
pillos l
akes
Laguna d
e F
uentepiedra
Natural R
eserve
IV
no
Spain
Fuente d
e P
iedra, G
osque a
nd C
am
pillos l
akes
Laguna d
e F
uentepiedra
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
no
Spain
Fuente d
e P
iedra, G
osque a
nd C
am
pillos l
akes
Laguna d
e l
a R
atosa
Natural R
eserve
?
no
Spain
Fuente d
e P
iedra, G
osque a
nd C
am
pillos l
akes
Laguna d
el G
osque
Natural R
eserve
?
no
Spain
Guadalquivir m
arshes
Brazo d
el E
ste
Natural L
andscape
V
yes
Spain
Guadalquivir m
arshes
Doñana
Biosphere R
eserve
I
yes
Spain
Guadalquivir m
arshes
Doñana
National P
ark
II
yes
Spain
Guadalquivir m
arshes
Doñana
Natural P
ark (
Spain)
V
yes
Spain
Guadalquivir m
arshes
Doñana
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Spain
Guadalquivir m
arshes
Doñana
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
yes
Spain
Guadalquivir m
arshes
Doñana N
ational P
ark
World H
eritage S
ite
?
yes
Spain
Lebrija, L
as C
abezas a
nd E
spera l
agoons
Com
plejo e
ndorreico d
e E
spera
Natural R
eserve
?
no
Spain
Lebrija, L
as C
abezas a
nd E
spera l
agoons
Com
plejo e
ndorreico d
e L
ebrija-L
as C
abezas
Natural R
eserve
?
no
Spain
Lebrija, L
as C
abezas a
nd E
spera l
agoons
Lagunas d
e E
spera
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
no
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck 65
Cou
ntry
In
tern
ation
al N
am
e
Protected
A
rea
Design
ation
IU
CN
Category
Man
agem
en
t
Plan
Spain
Medina a
nd P
uerto R
eal l
agoons
Com
plejo e
ndorreico d
e P
uerto R
eal
Natural R
eserve
I
yes
Spain
Medina a
nd P
uerto R
eal
lagoons
Laguna d
e M
edina
Natural R
eserve
IV
yes
Spain
Medina a
nd P
uerto R
eal l
agoons
Laguna d
e M
edina
Special P
rotection A
rea
IV
yes
Spain
Medina a
nd P
uerto R
eal l
agoons
Lagunas d
e C
ádiz (
Laguna d
e M
edina y
Laguna S
alada
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Spain
Medina a
nd P
uerto R
eal l
agoons
Lagunas d
e l
as C
anteras y
El T
ejón
Natural R
eserve
I
yes
Spain
Medina a
nd P
uerto R
eal l
agoons
Lagunas d
e P
uerto R
eal:T
araje,C
om
isario y
San A
nto
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
yes
Spain
Pedro M
uñoz-M
anjavacas e
ndorreic l
agoons
Hum
edales d
e l
a M
ancha
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
no
Spain
Pedro M
uñoz-M
anjavacas e
ndorreic l
agoons
Laguna d
e l
a V
ega (
o d
el P
ueblo)
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Spain
Pedro M
uñoz-M
anjavacas e
ndorreic l
agoons
Laguna d
e M
anjavacas
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Spain
Tablas d
e D
aim
iel m
arshes; 'V
icario' and 'G
asset' reservoirs a
nd M
alagón l
akes
La M
ancha H
úm
eda
Bio
sphere R
eserve
I
yes
Spain
Tablas d
e D
aim
iel m
arshes; 'V
icario' and 'G
asset' reservoirs a
nd M
alagón l
akes
Las T
ablas d
e D
aim
iel
Integral N
ature R
eserve
I
yes
Spain
Tablas d
e D
aim
iel m
arshes; 'V
icario' and 'G
asset' reservoirs a
nd M
alagón l
akes
Las T
ablas d
e D
aim
iel
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Spain
Tablas d
e D
aim
iel m
arshes; 'V
icario' and 'G
asset' reservoirs a
nd M
alagón l
akes
Tablas d
e D
aim
iel
National P
ark
II
yes
Spain
Tablas d
e D
aim
iel m
arshes; 'V
icario' and 'G
asset' reservoirs a
nd M
alagón l
akes
Tablas d
e D
aim
iel
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
yes
Spain
Tem
bleque-L
a G
uardia p
lains
Área E
steparia d
e l
a M
ancha N
orte
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
no
Spain
Tem
bleque-L
a G
uardia p
lains
Hum
edales d
e l
a M
ancha
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
no
Spain
Terry l
agoons
Lagunas d
e C
ádiz (
Laguna d
e M
edina y
Laguna S
alada
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Spain
Terry l
agoons
Lagunas d
e T
erry: S
alada, Juncosa y
Chica
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
yes
Spain
Terry l
agoons
Lagunas S
alada, Juncosa y
Chica
Natural R
eserve
I
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Em
balse d
e C
ordobilla
Natural L
andscape
V
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Em
balse d
e M
alpasillo
Natural L
andscape
IV
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Em
balses d
e C
ordobillo y
Melpasillo
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Lagun
a A
marga
Natural R
eserve
IV
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Laguna d
e l
os J
arales
Natural R
eserve
IV
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Laguna d
e T
iscar
Natural R
eserve
IV
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Lagun
a d
e Z
óñar
Natural R
eserve
IV
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Laguna d
el R
incón
Natural R
eserve
IV
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Lagunas d
el S
ur d
e C
órdoba
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
yes
Spain
Wetlands a
t s
outh C
órdoba
Lagunas d
el s
ur d
e C
órdoba (
Zóñar, R
incón y
Am
arga
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Spain
Wetlands o
f w
estern A
lm
ería
Albufera d
e A
dra
Natural R
eserve
?
no
Spain
Wetlands o
f w
estern A
lm
ería
Albuferas d
e A
dra
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Spain
Wetlands o
f w
estern A
lm
ería
Punta E
ntinas--S
abinar
Natural L
andscape
?
no
Spain
Wetlands o
f w
estern A
lm
ería
Punta E
ntinas--S
abinar
Natural R
eserve
V
no
Spain
Wetlands o
f w
estern A
lm
ería
Punta E
ntinas--S
abinar
Special P
rotection A
rea
?
no
Tunisia
El H
aouareb r
eservoir
Barrage E
l H
aouareb
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Tunisia
Ichkeul
Parc N
ational d
e L
’Ichkeul
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
yes
Tunisia
Ichkeul
Parc N
ational d
e L
’Ichkeul
Biosphere R
eserve
?
yes
Tunisia
Ichkeul
Parc N
ational d
e L
’Ichkeul
World H
eritage S
ite
?
yes
Tunisia
Ichkeul
Parc N
ational d
e L
’Ichkeul
National P
ark
?
yes
CMS Technical Series No. 13 AEWA Technical Series No. 8
66 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the White-headed Duck
Cou
ntry
In
tern
ation
al N
am
e
Protected
A
rea
Design
ation
IU
CN
Category
Man
agem
en
t
Plan
Tunisia
Lebna r
eservoir
Barrage L
ebna
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Tunisia
Masri r
eservoir
Barrage M
asri
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Tunisia
Mornaguia r
eservoir
Barrge M
ornaguia
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Tunisia
Sebkhet K
elbia
Sebkhet K
elbia
Nature R
eserve (
partial)
?
yes
Tunisia
Sebkhet K
elbia
Sebkhet K
elbia
Gam
e R
eserve
?
yes
Tunisia
Sebkhet S
idi M
ansour
Sebkhet S
idi M
ansour
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Tunisia
Sidi A
bdelm
onem
reservoir
Barrage S
idi A
bdelm
onem
G
am
e R
eserve
?
no
Turkey
Akyatan l
ake
Akyatan G
ölü
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Turkey
Akyatan l
ake
Akyatan G
olu G
R
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Turkey
Burdur l
ake
Burdur G
olu
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Turkey
Burdur l
ake
Burdur G
olu G
R
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Turkey
Eregli m
arshes
Eregli S
azligi
Nature R
eserve
?
no
Turkey
Eregli m
arshes
Eregli S
azligi S
IT
S
IT
?
no
Turkey
Esm
ekaya m
arshes
Esm
ekaya S
azligi
SIT
?
no
Turkey
Esm
ekaya m
arshes
Esm
ekaya S
azlýgý G
R
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Turkey
Hotam
is m
arshes
Hotam
is S
azligi S
IT
S
IT
?
no
Turkey
Karatas l
ake
Karatas G
olu
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Turkey
Kizilirm
ak d
elta
Kizilirm
ak D
eltasi
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Turkey
Kizilirm
ak d
elta
Kizilirm
ak D
eltasi
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Turkey
Kizilirm
ak d
elta
Kýzýlýrm
ak D
elta S
IT
S
IT
?
no
Turkey
Kozanli G
ökgöl
Kozanli G
okgol
SIT
?
no
Turkey
Kulu l
ake
Kulu G
olu
SIT
?
no
Turkey
Kus l
ake
Kus G
olu
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Turkey
Kus l
ake
Kus G
olu G
R
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Turkey
Kus l
ake
Kus G
olu N
P
National P
ark
IV
no
Turkey
Kus l
ake
Kusgolu S
IT
S
IT
?
no
Turkey
Kuyucuk l
ake
Kuyucuk G
olu
Gam
e R
eserve
?
no
Turkey
Lake V
an
Van G
olu
SIT
?
no
Turkey
Mogan l
ake
Mogan G
olu
Specially P
rotected A
rea
?
no
Turkey
Salda l
ake
Salda G
olu S
IT
S
IT
?
no
Turkey
Sarikum
lake
Sarikum
Golu
Nature R
eserve
I
no
Turkey
Sarikum
lake
Sarikum
Golu S
IT
S
IT
?
no
Turkey
Sultansazligi
Sultan S
azligi
Gam
e R
eserve
VI
no
Turkey
Sultansazligi
Sultan S
azligi
Nature R
eserve
IV
no
Turkey
Sultansazligi
Sultansazligi
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Turkey
Sultansazligi
Sultansazligi
SIT
?
no
Turkey
Uyuz l
ake
Uyuz G
olu
SIT
?
no
Ukraine
Karkinitsky a
nd D
zharylgatsky B
ays
Karkinitsky a
nd D
zharylgatsky B
ays
Ram
sar W
etland S
ite
?
no
Ukraine
Karkinitsky a
nd D
zharylgatsky B
ays
Lebyazhy I
sland (
Section o
f K
rym
skyi z
apovednik)
Zapovednik (
nature r
eserve)
I
no
Ukraine
Karkinitsky a
nd D
zharylgatsky B
ays
Karkinitsky B
ay
Zakaznik (
protected a
rea)
IV
no