The plight of British pochard and pintail

In August, I wrote about BASC’s Sustainable Shooting Code of Practice for Wildfowl Quarry Species and recommended actions for various birds (BASC comment, 28 August). This time, let’s look at pochard and pintail. 

Pochard: no shooting 

Pochard are found on bodies of water across the UK that are deep enough to accommodate their diving behaviour in search of food. The UK breeding population is around 700 pairs, mostly in England. Up to 30,000 individuals migrate here in winter. 

Pochard show widespread declines across their range, in part a result of a downward trend relative to an all-time high. The species originally expanded in size and range due to development of inland fisheries in Eastern Europe, which have now been abandoned or intensified, making them less suitable. The highest breeding numbers are now found in Russia and Eastern Europe. 

The UK wintering population shows a 10-year decline of greater than 25% between 2008 and 2018. This decline has been seen on a UK, European and global level and is predicted to continue. The species has been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list. 

Studies have shown that pochard are particularly susceptible to poisoning from ingested lead shot. Therefore increased use of non-lead shot will be helpful for this species. Action to prevent further population declines is required across the flyway too and BASC is recommending a voluntary cessation of shooting for the three to five years. 

We must better understand the species distribution, abundance and historic harvest of pochard to encourage the small UK breeding population to thrive. 

Habitat management measures to help the species include maintenance or restoration of freshwater floodplains to provide optimum feeding and roosting environments with water up to 2.5m deep; and maintenance or creation of abundant aquatic plant areas which provide roots, shoots and seeds for food. 

Targeted predator control in areas where known breeding populations exist will also help. 

Pintail: only two per day 

Pintail are rare as a UK breeding species, with a few dozen pairs most likely to be found in coastal East Anglia and the northern and western isles of Scotland. 

In winter, up to 20,000 birds arrive and they prefer habitats with low vegetation and shallow water. They will also frequent large inland lakes, ponds, marshes and coastal lagoons. Many pintail can be found in Lancashire, and south and north Wales. 

The overwintering UK population shows a 10-year decline of greater than 25% between 2008 and 2018. This decline is reflected on the European continent and within breeding populations in European Russia, Finland and Sweden, and is thought likely to continue. 

However, due to their large range and relatively high abundance, pintail are not yet considered vulnerable to extinction at a global level, but the species is classed as vulnerable on the red list. Population trends appear to be driven by pressures at breeding grounds and poor breeding success, as opposed to overharvesting of adult birds. 

For the UK, as a precautionary measure, some voluntary shooting restrictions are recommended for the next three to five years. They include a bag limit of two pintail per person, per day; to target males where possible; and not to sell shot pintail. 

Pintail pair up during the winter and undertake the return migration as a pair, known as a winter pair bond. Improved understanding of optimal wintering habitat requirements within and outside wetland reserves in the UK, particularly on neighbouring agricultural land, is vital. 

To provide an abundant supply of high-energy and nutritional foods for pintail, wetland water depths should be less than 45cm, but preferably less than 15cm for an abundant food source. Weed management will also improve habitat for pintail while benefiting native plant species.