Anas acuta

Pintails, like other North Eurasian and Siberian breeding ducks, frequent freshwater wetlands in summer, then migrate southwards, regularly visiting estuaries (mudflats and salt meadows), bays and coastal lagoons along the French coast during their migratory stopovers and in winter. These ducks are subject to heavy hunting pressure, and the state of pintail populations in Europe is considered worrying. Several research programs are underway to better understand the areas of importance for wintering coastal ducks.

Ducks can be captured by traps located along their feeding paths. They are equipped with 11g GPS units attached to their backs by means of a harness passed around their wings as a backpack. This system, designed to last several months, will enable us to identify areas of importance for staging and wintering ducks, as well as their migration routes.

PHOTO: Aomorikuma –
Creative Commons
Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Migratory in France

Breeder in France

: Wintering in France