Teal are the smallest UK dabbling duck and gather in large flocks at productive wetlands in winter. Their welfare is affected by wetland availability, food supply and shooting pressure.
Teal in actively managed shooting wetlands experience repeated disturbance that reduces foraging time and increases the energetic cost of winter survival. Repeated flushing from feeding areas forces birds to travel to alternative sites, depleting fat reserves needed for the return migration. Shot but non-lethally injured birds that survive initial shooting die slowly from infection, lead poisoning from ingested shot or predation. The welfare of individual teal is significantly affected by the quality and disturbance level of the wetlands they occupy during winter, when maintaining adequate energy balance is critical for survival and subsequent breeding success.