It's That Ruddy Duck!

In the 1940's, Peter Scott (Founder of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) imported the Ruddy duck to his Slimbridge centre from North America. This turned out to be a bad mistake. Ruddy ducks thrived but their males were especially attractive to endangered female White-headed ducks in Southern Spain. Hybridisation threatened the survival of the White-headed duck (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/22/specieswatch-10-to-15-ruddy-ducks-left-in-uk-after-europe-wide-cull). The Ruddy duck was consequently ear-marked for destruction and thousands were killed. It is suspected, however, that 10-15 persist in the UK, because people are reluctant to report their presence. It only takes two to tango!