5 thoughts on “Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis): Revise global status?”
The species seems especially attracted to sewage and other water treatment lakes/ponds, with often by far the largest counts around the continent being from these artificial wetlands. Extrapolation of population size beyond these refuges should be cautious.
The map of ‘native resident’ status in south-western Australia may be too generous. Although birds sometimes occur inland after exceptional rain events deeply fill (otherwise saline) lakes, freshwater swamps suitable for breeding are few. Due to salinisation of wetlands in the inland wheatbelt zone, ‘resident’ populations may now be confined to the narrow coastal zone, probably with a gap to the eastern outlier around Esperance.
Even in the Swan Coastal Plain, relentless urbanisation (Perth and beyond) is placing ever greater pressure on the resident populations, especially in terms of breeding habitat.
The south-western population ought to be examined most closely in terms of threatened status.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 21 February 2022. We will now analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’s Red List status on this page on 21 February 2022, when discussions will re-open.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2022.1 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 27 February 2022, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 7 March 2022.
Recommended categorisations to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Blue-billed Duck is recommended to be listed as Least Concern.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2022.1 GTB Forum process. The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
The species seems especially attracted to sewage and other water treatment lakes/ponds, with often by far the largest counts around the continent being from these artificial wetlands. Extrapolation of population size beyond these refuges should be cautious.
The map of ‘native resident’ status in south-western Australia may be too generous. Although birds sometimes occur inland after exceptional rain events deeply fill (otherwise saline) lakes, freshwater swamps suitable for breeding are few. Due to salinisation of wetlands in the inland wheatbelt zone, ‘resident’ populations may now be confined to the narrow coastal zone, probably with a gap to the eastern outlier around Esperance.
Even in the Swan Coastal Plain, relentless urbanisation (Perth and beyond) is placing ever greater pressure on the resident populations, especially in terms of breeding habitat.
The south-western population ought to be examined most closely in terms of threatened status.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 21 February 2022. We will now analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’s Red List status on this page on 21 February 2022, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2022.1 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 27 February 2022, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 7 March 2022.
Recommended categorisations to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Blue-billed Duck is recommended to be listed as Least Concern.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2022.1 GTB Forum process. The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.