Wildlife

Wild Bird: Tufted Duck Welfare on Reservoirs

Tufted ducks are common diving ducks that breed on reservoirs and lakes across the UK, with welfare linked to water quality and invertebrate food supply.

Key Facts

Tufted ducks dive to feed on molluscs, aquatic invertebrates, and plant material
UK breeding populations have increased, partly due to colonisation of new reservoir habitats
The species is more abundant in winter when Icelandic and Scandinavian birds join UK residents
Water quality determines the abundance of diving invertebrate food available to tufted ducks
Recreational disturbance on reservoirs during breeding season can reduce nesting success

Welfare Considerations

Tufted duck welfare is linked to the quality of their aquatic habitat, particularly the invertebrate food community. Water quality improvements that increase mollusc and invertebrate abundance directly improve food availability and welfare. Breeding tufted ducks in dense reedbeds near open water are vulnerable to disturbance from water sports during the breeding season.

What You Can Do

Submit tufted duck counts to WeBS monitoring schemes
Support water quality improvement campaigns that benefit lake and reservoir invertebrates
Avoid water sports in areas with nesting tufted ducks during May-July
Report significant tufted duck mortality events to local wildlife authorities
Visit reservoirs for birdwatching and appreciate the wetland habitats they provide