Northern Shoveler
(Spatula clypeata) (Anas clypeata)
Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern
Population size: 2020: 3-26 pairs (2007: 12-25 pairs)
Distribution pattern
A rare breeding species with a small population. Dispersed at isolated breeding localities, mainly along the Danube River, Black Sea coast, and some larger inland wetlands.
Population estimation for the period 2013 – 2020: During the period 2013-2020, the species was not found in 17 squares, where it was observed before 2013. The deterioration of some of the habitats explains their disappearance, but in most of these squares, the species was never confirmed as breeding. New habitats have been established in two squares.
Population size in Special Protection Areas of Natura 2000: 3-21 pairs (83% of the population). The highest numbers have been registered in the SPAs “Belene Islands Complex” (3-11 pairs), “Hadji Dimitrovo Fishponds” (0-3 pairs), and “Srebarna” (0-3 pairs).
Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.
Habitats
Breeds in larger wetlands, with large open water surfaces or close to such wetlands of various type: lagoons, standing fresh waters, standing brackish waters, bogs and marshes (water fringe vegetation), as well as in humid grassland and tall herb communities, when located along the bank of the wetland.
Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020
Short-term trend of population size: |
Stable with non-intermittent fluctuations |
Long-term trend of population size: |
Stable with non-intermittent fluctuations |
Short-term trend of distribution: |
Stable with non-intermittent fluctuations |
Long-term trend of distribution: |
Stable with non-intermittent fluctuations |
Threats
Drainage of wetlands, changes in the water levels and in the hydrological regime of water bodies during the breeding season, disturbance, poaching.
Svilen Chesmedjiev, Vladimir Mladenov