A colony of White-headed Ducks, a globally threatened species and extremely rare in the Ukraine, was seen at the Lake Yarylhach together with other rare birds. Despite the obvious importance of the Yarylhach wetland in terms of biodiversity richness, the conservation status of this area is at high risk. 

At the occasion of the International geese count that took place during the first weekend of February in the Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania, 30 White-headed ducks were registered by the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds (USPB; BirdLife in the Ukraine).

The White-headed duck is a globally threatened species originated in the Palearctic. In the second half of the 20th century the population has decreased in the Ukraine and has just recently started to recover. One reason, confirmed by a survey run by USPB in February, is that the Ukrainian wetlands are rich habitats for waterfowls and water birds, providing them with resources they need to survive and reproduce.

Indeed, the survey showed that the Ukrainian wetlands are key wintering areas to tens of thousands of geese, different species of ducks, swans, herons, sandpipers and gulls. Rare species, such as the White-headed ducks also gather in these wetlands.

“Registration of White-headed ducks is an extremely important event for the Ukraine, as it is an indication that our wetlands meet international standards,” says Oleg Dudkin, Director of the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds.

However, USPB recorded a series of alarming threats to birds and the wetlands they inhabit; Ukrainian wetlands and especially the lake Yarylhach coast where the White-headed ducks nest, are suffering from pollution and destruction due to salt mining, which is also a violation of Ukrainian and International laws.

It is important that Ukrainian wetlands are protected by an effective legislation and preserved from damages linked to human activities.

For more information please contact Olga Yaremchenko, Conservation Projects Director at the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds (BirdLife in the Ukraine)

White-headed Ducks

The White-headed Duck - Oxyura leucocephala - is a small stiff tailed duck. They are resident in Spain, Algeria and Tunisia. A larger population breeds primarily in Russia and Kazakhstan, also Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Mongolia. Its status in China is unclear. Unusual for ducks, the adults moult twice each year, once in winter and again after breeding.

Description

A chestnut-brown diving duck with long tail, often cocked vertically. Adult males have a grey and reddish body, a blue bill and a largely white head with a black cap and neck. Adult females have a grey-brown body with a white face and a darker bill, cap and a cheek stripe. Both males and females are chestnut-brown, with short, black webbed feet.

Call

Low rattling noise uttered during display. Otherwise generally silent.

Food

They are omnivorous, with vegetable matter predominating. They dive and swim underwater to feed.

Breeding

This duck breeds in Spain and North Africa, with a larger population in western and central Asia. It breeds on small, enclosed, semi-permanent or temporary freshwater, brackish or eutrophic lakes with a fringe of dense emergent vegetation. Between four and nine eggs are laid and incubated for 22 to 24 days. Eight to nine weeks after hatching, the young fledge.

Conservation Status – Endangered

This duck is considered endangered due to a large reduction in populations in the last ten years. Most of this decline is due to habitat loss and hunting.

The greatest long-term threat to the species survival is thought to be competition and introgressive hybridisation with the non-native North American Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis.

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours to create a tour for you to see these endangered duck.