The gray teal is a critically endangered type of duck. In the Community of Madrid it was possible, for the first time, to breed two specimens of this species, already released in the Southeast Regional Park. The recovery of these animals was possible thanks to the work of experts from the Wild Animal Recovery Center (CRAS), of the regional government.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this duck species is currently in a critical state of extinction. The Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Interior, led by Carlso Novillo, proposed and carried out the reproduction of this bird for the first time in the region.
Last May, two eggs of this species were spotted near one of the acclimation enclosures. They were at high risk of falling, as they were in an elevated area without a built nest. For this reason, the field technicians decided to remove them and transfer them to CRAS. There they were subjected to a morphological examination which confirmed that they were teal gray specimens. Then they proceeded with incubation. The chicks were born approximately 24 days later and required assistance from the team of veterinarians specializing in neonatal care.
After five months of admission to the Wild Animal Recovery Center (CRAS), where their incubation and complete development were carried out, and once their growth was complete, they were released in the El Porcal farm, in the Regional Park. the southeast, as well as 20 other specimens, the latter coming from La Granja de El Saler, belonging to the Government of the Valencian Community.
Since March 2023, the Regional Executive has reintroduced around 80 units of this species into the natural environment during four different releases. In order to subsequently track released specimens and monitor their dispersal, locate resting or breeding areas and identify threats or causes of death, new specimens before being released are marked with a metal ring with -official header and another PVC ring, making it easier to read distance. monitoring and individualization in the field.
In addition, a third of them will be equipped with a transmitter with a global positioning system (GPS), which makes tracking even easier and provides a large amount of data such as daily movements, locations possible roosts and nests or health status. This telescope is also used to establish visual contact with the released teals, which makes it possible to assess their state of health and the social behaviors they develop among themselves.
The main threats to this type of duck are habitat degradation due to poor water management, illegal hunting, lead poisoning, diseases linked to poor water quality and the presence of invasive alien species.
These birds are found mainly in the Andalusian Guadalquivir marshes and in the El Hondo lagoons of the Valencian Community. Due to its poor state of conservation, several conservation and recovery programs have emerged, the main representative being the LIFE Gray Teal program, which benefits from European funds.
