Status and Trends of the Ferruginous Duck’s (Aythya nyroca) Wintering Population in Morocco: Analysis of 35 Years of Winter Census Data (1983-2017)

Abstract

The Ferruginous duck is a winter visitor and breeding resident in Morocco. The species breeds regularly in several coastal and inland wetlands, with remarkable numbers in some marshlands (Sidi Boughaba, Fouwarate, Bargha, Bas Loukkos, etc.). This duck is listed as near threatened in the IUCN Red List, and its populations have been in decline in many European countries. In Morocco, the national wintering population has known, during the last decade, a strong increase, in both its numbers (from tens to thousands of individuals) and distribution area (from a couple of sites to more than 21 wetlands). The North-West region of Morocco has been hosting regularly, during the last decade, between 31 and 91% of the Moroccan wintering population, which is mainly concentrated in two marshlands: Merja de Fouwarate and Merja de Sidi Boughaba. A small reservoir, Barrage Hassar, recently created in the Centre-Atlantic region, has also been, in recent years, one of the most important wintering sites of the species. 15 wetlands have hosted, at least once during the last decade, more than 1% of the regional population of “West Mediterranean/North and West Africa”. This work is an important step to a better knowledge of the Ferruginous duck’s population. This knowledge is the basis for adopting adequate measures for the conservation of the species at the national and international level.

The avifauna of two high atlas valleys: breeding assemblages in forest stands and open lands

“…In Morocco, ornithology studies started in the early decades of the 20th century 1976 (Smith 1965;Thévenot 1976;Ater et al 2008;Cherkaoui et al 2009). These studies have investigated terrestrial and aquatic birds from the Mediterranean coasts to the extreme Southern Atlantic coasts (Green et al 2002;Hilgerloh et al 2006;Ouassou et al 2018;Squalli et al 2020;Touhami et al 2020;Salai et al 2021).…”

Assessing the effectiveness of the Ramsar Convention in preserving wintering waterbirds in the Mediterranean

“…However, in Morocco at least, the Ramsar network was enlarged in 2005 from 4 to 24 sites (Dakki et al 2011), based on wetlands previously included in a national network of protected areas, defined in 1996 (AEFCS 1996) and designated later as permanent hunting reserves (Dakki et al 2016). Ramsar sites in the Maghreb have proved to be very important for species of international conservation concern, like the Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) and the Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), which favour high water levels and habitat quality (Cherkaoui et al 2016, Ouassou et al 2018. Contrary to the situation with HCC species, LCC species decreased in Ramsar sites, suggesting that Ramsar designation and site management effects may depend on the species requirements (e.g.…”

Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata: a possible first breeding record for Algeria

“…In North Africa, the Northern Shoveler is one of the most widespread and abundant wintering duck species. For example, in Morocco the average wintering population of the species is more than 30,000 individuals in at least 60 sites, which represent c. 23% of the total population of wintering ducks (Anatidae) in the country (Ouassou et al 2017. It is also one of the most widespread wintering duck species in Tunisia; it can attain an abundance of more than 23,000 individuals (Azafzaf et al 2015).…”