The Shelduck Tadorna tadorna in the Southern Po Delta (Northern Italy): Population evolution and distribution

The reproduction of the Shelduck in the Southern Po Delta (Northern Italy) has been related to the presence of the burrows of wild rabbit released during late 1960s for hunting purposes. Afterward the breeding population increased progressively. Wintering Shelduck in the River Po Delta shows the European positive trend. The first wintering attempts were in early 1980s and since then the wintering population has had an exponential growth. This trend is more evident at Comacchio salt-pans, where the overall wintering population gathers occasionally. An analysis of habitat preference with Bonferroni confidential intervals, shows that Shelduck uses different areas for breeding and wintering and migration pattern is likely the same as in the West Mediterranean.