Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Wolff W.J. (1966) Migration of Teal ringed in the Netherlands. ARDEA 54 (3-4): 230-270
1. From 1911 to the end of 1961 27,000 Teal have been ringed in the Netherlands, the larger part in decoys. Up to the end of 1962 4,700 of them were recovered, 75% being shot. 2. In the autumn Teal were recovered in the Netherlands which as nestling had been ringed in Iceland, England, Sweden, Norway, the U.S.S.R., and Belgium. 3. The breeding area of the Teal which in autumn and winter are passing through the Netherlands comprises Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the part of the U.S.S.R. situated north of the 60th degree of latitude and extending to the Ural 4. The male Teal which are passing through the Netherlands, may probably moult everywhere in the northern part of Europe where they find a suitable place, but the females moult probably mainly in the breeding places. 5. From the beginning of September to the end of October or to the beginning of November very large numbers of Teal are interrupting their migration in the region of the Frisian Islands and in the Netherlands also in the vicinity of the IJsselmeer. This leads to a very large assemblage of Teal in this region. This concourse is to some extent only due to a convergence of migration routes. 6. The winter-quarters of the Teal which pass through the Netherlands, comprise Ireland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, the north-western part of Africa and Northern Italy. In the second and following years the number of Teal that are wintering in France shows a stronger decrease than that of those wintering in Great Britain; this is probably due to the fact that in France the shooting of Teal is practised on a larger scale. 7. The Teal which, especially in August and September, are passing through the northern provinces of the Netherlands come from the south-western parts of the breeding area and are going to winter mainly in the British Isles. The Teal which, especially in November and December, are passing through the southern provinces come from the eastern part of the breeding area and are going to winter on the Continent in an area extending from these southern provinces to North Africa. The migration pattern of these two groups remains the same when the birds grow older. In the central part of the Netherlands the groups are not readily recognizable. 8. Migration in western and southern directions is noted even in February; they are due to weather-conditions and often take the form of rushes. The correlation between the average geographical position of the places in which the birds are found in the various winter months, and the average daily temperature registered in these months is but weak. A more distinct correlation is found between the average geographical position which they occupy in the various months and the number of ice-days in the latter. This means that with an increasing number of ice-days the Teal migrate further to the south. 9. In their first year as well as later the male Teal are arriving in the Netherlands and also in the Camargue before the females. 10. The Teal which are bred in the Netherlands migrate in their first year at least partly, to England and France. The adults possibly behave as resident birds.


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