Cyprus has had its first verified breeding record of Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca. Though there were very old records of this globally Near Threatened species nesting occasionally in the distant past, none had ever been authenticated.

The breeding took place at the Phassouri reedbeds, a freshwater marsh complex on the Akrotiri peninsular which is a BirdLife Important Bird Area (IBA) and protected under the Ramsar Convention.

The adult pair of Ferruginous Ducks arrived at the site in late March with the female of the pair seen in company of nine newly hatched chicks on 25 May. By mid-June, eight juveniles were still present.

"Phassouri reedbeds is a series of freshwater pools surrounded by thick stands of reeds. This wetland normally dries up during the summer but for the past three years it has remained full of water, creating a favorable nesting habitat for various waterbirds." —Michael Miltiadou, Conservation Officer, BirdLife Cyprus

Other species that nested at the site in 2005 are: Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Garganey Anas querquedula, Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides, Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, Common Coot Fulica atra and Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus. Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus also usually nest in the area – but because of the high water levels avoided doing so this year.

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