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Executive Summary

The Ferruginous Duck is a little studied, partial migrant, widely distributed in Europe, Asia and Africa. During the first quarter of the 20th century, it was described as one of the most plentiful Anatidae species over a great part of its range. Since then, it has undergone a large, long-term decline globally. The species is regularly recorded in 77 countries and in at least 26 others as a vagrant. The most important known countries for breeding birds are Romania (5,500-6,500 pairs), Azerbaijan (1,000-3,000 pairs), Croatia (2,000-3,000 pairs) and Kazakhstan (2,000-3,000 pairs). In winter, significant numbers of birds have been counted in Bangladesh (70,000 birds), Turkmenistan (21,000
birds), Mali (up to 14,300 birds), Kazakhstan (10,500 birds), Uzbekistan (>7,000 birds), Sudan (>5,000 birds), Egypt (7,500 birds), and Azerbaijan (1,000-9,000 birds).
Simply adding the national population estimates for the 35 countries with data on numbers of breeding pairs resulted in an estimated global breeding population of 14,000-23,000 pairs. Assuming winter numbers = breeding pairs x 3, this would equate to a wintering population of 42,000-69,000.
Such calculations are fraught with difficulty, and taking into account recent winter counts of 70,000 birds in Pakistan, 21,000 in Turkmenistan, 14,000 in Mali, and 8,530 in Chad, it does seem that the global population is somewhat higher than the previous estimate of 50,000 birds. A minimum of at least 100,000 birds seems likely, but the true value may be even higher.

The Ferruginous Duck is thought to breed in 45 countries worldwide. Of the 43 countries with trend data, no estimate of population trend was available for 16 (37%) countries. Most (13 or 48%) of the remaining 27 countries had decreasing numbers of breeding Ferruginous Ducks over the last seven year period and only two (Greece and Italy) had increasing numbers. Six of the 27 countries (22%) dexperienced declines of at least 50%, and seven (26%) declines of 20-49%. In eight countries (30%)
breeding numbers were stable and in four (15%) numbers fluctuated with changes of at least 20%, but with no clear trend since 1995. Trends in wintering numbers are unclear. Of 69 countries thought to hold wintering Ferruginous Ducks, no estimate of population trend was available for 52 (70%) countries. Of the 17 countries for which data were available, 10 countries (56%) had fluctuating
numbers. Of the seven remaining countries, two experienced declines of at least 50%, three declines of 20-49% and two an increase of 20-49%.

The Ferruginous Duck is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. The species nearly qualifies for listing under criteria A1c and A2c. 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 III 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 in Table 1, Column A of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement action plan. The principal known threats to the Ferruginous Duck are habitat loss and degradation, climate change/drought, and over-hunting. Others include lead poisoning, drowning in fishing nets,
pollution, introduction of non-native species (particularly Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and Wels Catfish Silurus glanis), and human disturbance. This International Single Species Action Plan provides a framework for the conservation for the Ferruginous 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 broad aim of this Action Plan will be to remove the Ferruginous 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 specifically to facilitate the monitoring and evaluation of subsequent implementation, linking threats,
actions and measurable activities.

This plan will need implementation in 77 countries. The 30 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 increase knowledge on the Ferruginous Duck. These measures include protecting the Ferruginous Duck and its habitats, appropriate management of key sites, and increasing public awareness of the need to conserve the Ferruginous Duck. Each country within the range of the Ferruginous Duck should be committed to implement this plan and to develop National Action Plans and establish Ferruginous Duck Working Groups to help facilitate this.