Ferruginous duck  (Aythya nyroca)

Although protected by law, the ferruginous duck is still excessively hunted due to misidentification or ignorance of the law. It is also at risk from habitat loss as wetland habitats are drained for agriculture (8).

A European Action Plan was published in 2000 and an International Single Species Action Plan is being developed under the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement. Bulgaria plans to restore the habitat of two key breeding sites on the Danube, and has received funding for this purpose (8).