Sorry if I’ve got the wrong end of a stick here, but a tweet found its way to me which seems to be suggesting a new re-introduction project for white-headed ducks at S’Albufera. My Spanish is pretty much non-existent, so hopefully someone can clarify?
http://www.caib.es/pidip2front/jsp/...-seva-extincioacute-a-les-illes-balearsstrong
Stew
Hi Stew
I always put things like this through google translate (Catalan - English).
For interest, this is what it says (with a few minor corrections):
"The white-headed duck returns to the Natural Park of s’Albufera 15 years after its extinction in the Balearic Islands.
Eight specimens from Valencia have been released in an environmentally restored area.
The Minister of the Environment and Territory, Miquel Mir, attended this Friday the release of eight specimens of white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) in the Natural Park of s’Albufera in Mallorca. It is a species that became extinct approximately 15 years ago in the Balearic Islands and is included in the Homeier Plan for the recovery of waterfowl.
Mir was "very pleased" with this "key action in favor of the archipelago's biodiversity", especially after the serious fire that affected the Natural Park at the end of September. The councilor explained that the release was already scheduled before the accident and stressed that it was not necessary to delay it, a "convincing sign", as he said, "that the Albufera is very much alive".
The eight specimens come from the Fauna Recovery Center of the Generalitat Valenciana "Granja del Saler" and arrived in Mallorca this Friday. In this sense, the Minister thanked the transfer of the specimens by the Generalitat and framed it in a "continuous and reciprocal collaboration in biodiversity" while recalling that, from the Balearic Islands, have been sent ospreys and land turtles in that community.
The reintroduction of the white-headed duck has been possible after a series of actions that have allowed the creation of a lagoon (called Es Forcadet) that meets the ideal characteristics for the species: deep and fresh water, with abundant vegetation.
This species is distributed throughout the Palearctic from the Iberian Peninsula to China. The population in the state has increased considerably in recent years, going from a critical situation in 1977 (with 22 pairs) to counting thousands of specimens.
Possible threats to the species include possible confusion with other ducks of hunting interest and hybridization with specimens of a similar species (Oxyura jamaicensis). However, it is worth mentioning that this species does not reach the Balearic Islands easily and, therefore, the Species Protection Service considers that, if the reintroduction is a success, Mallorca could represent a new sanctuary for the white-headed duck."
Martin
