Spatula clypeata -- (Linnaeus, 1758) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ANSERIFORMES -- ANATIDAE Common names: Northern Shoveler; Canard souchet; Shoveler Assessment Information European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) European Red List Assessment Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom Vagrant: Faroe Islands (to DK); Greenland (to DK); Svalbard and Jan Mayen (to NO) Population The European population is estimated at 170,000-233,000 pairs, which equates to 340,000-466,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 27,100-42,900 pairs, which equates to 54,300-85,700 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be stable. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend Habitats and Ecology It inhabits permanent shallow freshwater wetlands (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), preferred sites being those surrounded by dense stands of reeds or other emergent vegetation whilst being free of overhanging trees or fringing forest (Snow and Perrins 1998). Suitable habitats include well-vegetated lakes and marshes and with muddy shores and substrates in open country (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), as well as oxbow lakes, channels and swamps (former U.S.S.R.) (Flint et al. 1984). It also frequents artificial waters bordered by lush grassland (Snow and Perrins 1998) such as sewage farms, rice-fields (Kear 2005) and fish ponds (Musil 2006). In the winter it can be found on coastal brackish lagoons, tidal mudflats (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), estuaries (Madge and Burn 1988), coastal shorelines, fresh and brackish estuarine marshes (Johnsgard
1978), inland seas and brackish or saline inland waters (Snow and Perrins 1998), occasionally occurring (briefly) on marine waters during migration (Madge and Burn 1988, Snow and Perrins 1998). It arrives on the breeding grounds from March where it breeds in solitary pairs or loose groups in the northern spring (chiefly from mid-april to June). The nest is a scrape or depression (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014) on the ground in tall grass, among hummocks, in the open (Flint et al. 1984) or (rarely) in bulrush marshes (Kear 2005). Normally between nine and eleven eggs are laid. Its diet consists of small aquatic invertebrates such as adult and larval insects, molluscs, the seeds of emergent and aquatic plants (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), planktonic crustaceans (Snow and Perrins 1998), annelids, amphibian spawn, tadpoles, spiders, fish and the vegetative parts of aquatic plants (Johnsgard 1978, Brown et al. 1982). This species is highly migratory although it may be present all year round in parts of Europe (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable non-breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Wastewater Treatment Areas suitable breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Wastewater Treatment Areas suitable non-breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable non-breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable non-breeding Marine Intertidal - Mud Flats and Salt Flats suitable non-breeding Marine Neritic - Estuaries suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) major non-breeding Altitude Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The species is threatened by habitat loss from drainage and changing farmland practices (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997), is occasionally killed by collisions with power transmission lines (Malcolm 1982), and suffers from nest predation by American Mink (Neovison vison) (Opermanis et al. 2001, Nordstrom et al. 2002, Bartoszewicz and Zalewski 2003). It is susceptible to avian influenza (Melville and Shortridge 2006, Gaidet et al. 2007) and avian botulism (Forrester et al. 1980) so may be threatened by future outbreaks of these. The species suffers mortality as a result of lead shot ingestion (Camargue, France and Spain (Mateo et al. 1998, Mondain-Monval et al. 2002)). The species is a favoured quarry species throughout most of the world, but is rarely taken in large numbers (Kear 2005). It is hunted for sport in Denmark (Bregnballe et al. 2006) and the Po delta, Italy (Sorrenti et al. 2006). The eggs of this species used to be (and possibly still are) harvested in Iceland (Gudmundsson 1979). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Agriculture & Agro-industry aquaculture farming Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Ecosystem conversion Biological resource use Invasive and other problematic Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (intentional use - species is the target) American Mink (Neovison vison) Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact
Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Invasive and other Avian Influenza problematic Virus (H subtype) Past, Likely to Majority (50-90%) Rapid Past Impact Return Invasive and other problematic Natural system modifications Transportation & service corridors Clostridium botulinum Abstraction of surface water (unknown use) Utility & service lines Past, Likely to Return Majority (50-90%) Rapid Past Impact Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Ecosystem conversion Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact Conservation Conservation Actions Underway CMS Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex II and III. Some studies have been done on the requirements of this species. A study in the Czech Republic found that fish ponds with a fish stock density of less than 400 kg/ ha, water transparency of more than 50 cm, mixed fish stocks (e.g. tench and pike or perch) rather than monospecific stocks (e.g. of carp), and systems that include ponds with fish fry (to provide areas with low fish competition and high invertebrate availability) are more successful in supporting breeding pairs of this species (Musil 2006). The cyclical removal of adult fish from an artificial waterbody (gravel pit) in the U.K. attracted nesting pairs to the area by causing an increase in invertebrate food availability and an increase in the growth of submerged aquatic macrophytes (Giles 1994). The removed fish (dead or alive) were sold to generate funds (Giles 1994). Conservation Actions Proposed A network of key sites needs to be preserved and low-intensity farmland practices encouraged to help preserve habitat for this species. Power lines should be moved or made more visible and appropriate predator control undertaken in breeding areas. The impact of hunting should be researched and monitored to ensure bag numbers are sustainable. Bibliography Bartoszewicz, M. and Zalewski, A. 2003. American mink, Mustela vison diet and predation on waterfowl in the Slonsk Reserve, western Poland. Folia Zoologica 52(3): 225-238. Bregnballe, T., Noer, H., Christensen, T.K., Clausen, P., Asferg, T., Fox, A.D. and Delany, S. 2006. Sustainable hunting of migratory waterbirds: the Danish approach. In: Boere, G.; Galbraith, C. and Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 854-860. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK. Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. and Newman, K. 1982. The birds of Africa vol I. Academic Press, London. Carboneras, C. and Kirwan, G.M. 2014. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/52896 on 3 March 2015). Flint, V.E., Boehme, R.L., Kostin, Y.V. and Kuznetsov, A.A. 1984. A field guide to birds of the USSR. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. Forrester, D.J., Wenner, K.C., White, F.H., Greiner, E.C., Marion, W.R., Thul, J.E. and Berkhoff, G.A. 1980. An epizootic of avian botulism in a phosphate mine settling pond in northern Florida. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 16(3): 323-327.
Bibliography Gaidet, N., Dodman, T., Caron, A., Balança, G., Desvaux, S., Goutard, F., Cattoli, G., Lamarque, F., Hagemeijer, W. and Monicat, F. 2007. Avian Influenza Viruses in Water Birds, Africa. Emerging Infectious Diseases 13(4): 626-629. Giles, N. 1994. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) habitat use and brood survival increases after fish removal from gravel pit lakes. Hydrobiologia 279/280: 387-392. Gudmundsson, F. 1979. The past status and exploitation of the Myvatn waterfowl populations. Oikos 32(1-2): 232-249. Hagemeijer, W.J.M. and Blair, M.J. 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London. Johnsgard, P.A. 1978. Ducks, geese and swans of the World. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London. Kear, J. 2005. Ducks, geese and swans volume 2: species accounts (Cairina to Mergus). Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. Madge, S. and Burn, H. 1988. Wildfowl. Christopher Helm, London. Malcolm, J.M. 1982. Bird collisions with a power transmission line and their relation to botulism at a Montana USA wetland. Wildlife Society Bulletin 10(4): 297-304. Mateo, R., Belliure, J., Dolz, J.C., Aguilar-Serrano, J.M. and Guitart, R. 1998. High prevalences of lead poisoning in wintering waterfowl in Spain. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 35: 342-347. Melville, D.S. and Shortridge, K.F. 2006. Migratory waterbirds and avian influenza in the East Asian- Australasian Flyway with particular reference to the 2003-2004 H5N1 outbreak. In: Boere, G., Galbraith, C. and Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 432-438. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK. Mondain-Monval, J.Y., Desnouhes, L. and Taris, J.P. 2002. Lead shot ingestion in waterbirds in the Camargue, (France). Game and Wildlife Science 19(3): 237-246. Musil, P. 2006. A review of the effects of intensive fish production on waterbird breeding populations. In: Boere, G., Galbraith, C. and Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 520-521. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK. Nordström, M., Högmander, J., Nummelin, J., Laine, J., Laanetu, N., Korpimäki, E. 2002. Variable responses of waterfowl breeding populations to long-term removal of introduced American mink. Ecography 25: 385-394. Opermanis, O., Mednis, A. and Bauga, I. 2001. Duck nests and predators: interaction, specialisation and possible management. Wildlife Biology 7(2): 87-96. Scott, D.A. and Rose, P.M. 1996. Atlas of Anatidae populations in Africa and western Eurasia. Wetlands International, Wageningen, Netherlands. Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Sorrenti, M., Carnacina, L., Radice, D. and Costato, A. 2006. Duck harvest in the Po delta, Italy. In: Boere, G., Galbraith, C. and Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 864-865. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK. Map (see overleaf)