A rare European duck whose habitat is changing because of global warming is doing twice as well in conservation areas protected by the EU, research has shown.
But more needs to be done to safeguard the smew, a seldom seen but striking winter visitor to the UK, say experts.
Smew drakes are instantly recognizable by their dramatic black and white plumage.
The duck has been spreading northwards across Europe as temperatures rise. A study of wetland data shows that nearly a third of the birds now spend winter in north-east Europe, compared with just 6% two decades ago.
In that region, smew populations have grown twice as fast within Special Protection Areas established under the EU Birds Directive.
In the UK, a small population of less than 200 smew can be found wintering in favored gravel pits and reservoirs in lowland England.
This population has roughly halved in size since the late 1990s.
Protected areas still need to be maintained at the southern end of the bird’s range so they have somewhere to retreat to during particularly harsh winters, say the authors.
PHOTO: A smew drake, a rare European duck, is doing twice as well in conservation areas protected by the EU, research has shown.
CREDIT: WWT/PA.
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