The Eurasian wigeon is a handsome grazing duck that winters in huge numbers on British estuaries and flooded grasslands, with its welfare dependent on the availability of short, nutrient-rich grass swards near water.
Wigeon welfare on estuarine and grassland wintering grounds is affected by disturbance that prevents access to feeding areas during critical tidal and daylight windows. The drainage of traditionally flooded water meadows has removed core inland wintering habitat. Coastal development and recreation pressure on key estuaries can displace flocks to lower quality habitats with higher energetic costs. Hunting pressure on migration routes through continental Europe affects the wintering population size arriving in Britain.