CALANDRA VC (1981) Breeding of Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula in de Beemster (Noord- Holland) in 1979. LIMOSA 54 (4): 137-140.

This paper concerns an investigation on the breeding success of the Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula in one of the North-Holland polders, the Beemster (figure 1). The species under study was especially concentrated in the south-western part of the area; the number of breeding pairs was about 70. Initial production of young was estimated at about 200 belonging to 35 broods. The number quickly decreased in the week following the peak count stabilizing at about 100 belonging to some 25 broods (figure 2). The reasons for this decrease may be mortality, either by predation or disturbance, or emigration of some females with broods towards adjacent areas which may offer more food to the ducklings. This will have to be tested by further research concentrating on the ecology and the habits of the species during the breeding season. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

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