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Eurobirdwatch 2009 results

06/10/2009 22:53:41 63,000 birdwatchers see off winter migrants across Europe

October 2009. Despite stormy weather across Europe last weekend, more than 63,000 adults and children from 35 countries set out to bid farewell to migratory birds, as many flew south for the non-breeding season. It was all part of EuroBirdwatch, the annual event organised by BirdLife International and its national Partners across the continent. This year BirdLife used EuroBirdwatch to highlight Born to Travel, the BirdLife Flyways Campaign, which aims to save migratory birds and their habitats.

Mallard was the second most commonly seen
bird across Europe. Copyright Wildlife Extra.

1,700 events
BirdLife Partners from Portugal to Turkey and from Malta to Norway together organised more than 1,700 different events, from birdwatching excursions to bird ringing demonstrations. Central to these events was the enjoyment, observation and counting of birds. The results were collected and will be analysed by Vogelbescherming Nederland (BirdLife in the Netherlands).

2.64 million birds counted - 900,000 in Russia alone
A total number of 2,640,944 birds were counted during the past weekend. Russia recorded most sightings in the whole of Europe (nearly 900,000) followed by Hungary (495,453). Russia also held most events (837) and Spain attracted most visitors in Europe (30,000). Each country gave their top three observed birds. The most frequent number one on those lists was European Starling Sturnus Vulgaris; second and third positions went out to Mallard Anas platyrhynchos and Common Coot Fulica atra.

Poor weather restricted numbers
Hard winds and rains teased most of the European continent on Saturday. As a result most BirdLife Partners reported that there were very few birds migrating compared to previous years. Migratory birds tend to stay put until the weather conditions are favorable. Only then they continue on their challenging journeys southwards. But for bird watchers there were perks to those strong winds.

Rarities
Seabirds that are usually only spotted far out at sea were blown towards the coast. Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus (Critically Endangered), Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea and Leach´s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa provided welcome treats for EuroBirdwatch participants.

"It is a delight to many Europeans to spot rarities such as Balearic Shearwater near their coast, as well as more familiar migrants such as Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica inland," said Ania Sharwood Smith, Coordinator of the Born to Travel Campaign. "Unfortunately it is those inspiring bird watching moments that are becoming increasingly rare. We can, and need to, save migratory birds and their habitats, before we lose the miracle of migration altogether."

EuroBirdwatch 2009 FINAL RESULTS

Country	Organisation	No. events	No. participants	No. birds total	Top 3 birds	Special stories and migratory birds
Armenia	ASPB	6	117	962	1. Long-legged buzzard 2. White Stork 3. Common Buzzard	Great contribution was made Peace Corps Volunteers based in Armenian villages that organized bird watching trips and provided data. Unusual sightings: 1 Imperial Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle (2), Steppe Eagle (1), Jack Snipe (3) and the Northern Harrier (1).
Azerbaijan	AOS	2	35	2149	1. Coot 2. Cormorant 3. Mute Swan	Very good weather, Majority of participant were members of Students nature Watching Club created with support of AOS. Participants demonstrated very big interest for watching of birds.
Belarus	APB	101	2353	21357	1. Rook 2. Starling 3. Mallard	A woman saw her pearl-hen being attacked by a goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). He already grabbed when two ravens appeared. It seemed that they tried to save the bird. The goshawk dropped her and flew away. The pearl-hen survived.
Belgium	VZW	42	141	23356	1. Meadow pipit 2. Finch 3. Starling	Very stormy. Several observed Merlins Falco columbarius, at sea also a Sabine's Gull Xema sabini. For the first time contact with Dutch birders as well
Bulgaria	BSPB	15	221	9153	1. Starling 2. Common Pochard 3. Coot	Due to rain many activities were cancelled. There was coverage on national television. Activities included searches for illegal poaching, together with the ministry of Environment. Special observations incl. Griffon Vulture; Roller; Short-toed Eagle.
Cyprus	BirdLife Cyprus	6	52	4592	1. Spanish Sparrow 2. Barn swallow 3. House sparrow	Many Yellow wagtails (on 4^th place) and total of 107 species seen.
Czech Republic	CSO	40	1243	38164	1. Starling 2. Mallard 3. Black-headed gull
Estonia	EOS	6	65	112000	1. Chaffinch 2. Widgeon 3. Barnacle Goose	Spotted 147 species. A short clip on Birdwatch aired in evening tv news.
Finland	BirdLife Finland	No specific events	623	492 140	1. Barnacle Goose 2. Fieldfare 3. Widgeon	23 migrating Golden Eagles. 4938 Common Crane (not all left yet!) A visit from two brown bears to a bird watching post.
Germany	NABU	89	262	31255	1. Starling 2. Mallard 3. Lapwing	Bad weather in the North. Results are from 39 post only. Late Swifts (12). 9 White-tailed Eagles.
Gibraltar	GONHS	4	300	700	1. Cory's shearwater 2. Yellow legged gull 3. Northern Gannet	As for 2008, Northern Gannet, Cory's shearwater feeding on flying fish (Exocetidae) together with Yellow-legged gulls. Small observable migration of raptors, including Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrow hawk, Common kestrel and Honey Buzzard.
Hungary	NME	137	4393	495453	1. Starling 2. Common Crane 3. Mallard	Sunny and windy. Interesting observations incl. 1 American Golden Plover, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper. Unusual observations Eagle Owl, Red Kite, Roller. Thousands of Barn Swallow and one Sand Martin were ringed.
Italy	LIPU	47	646	148391	1. Starling 2. Mallard 3. Flamingo	Interesting observations incl. Ural Owl Laughing Dove
Latvia	LOB	60	450	73496	1. Chaffinch 2. Lapwing 3. Great Tit	Bad weather! Rare observations: 7 Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritime. Events incl. opening of two bird watching towers: Kanieris Lake (funded by CEMEX & Dviete Floodplain Nature Park (funded by Vogelbescherming Nederland)
Country	Organisation	No. events	No. participants	No. birds total	Top 3 birds	Special stories and migratory birds
Lithuania	LOD	24	417	79643	1. Chaffinch 2. Wood Pigeon 3. Coot
Macedonia	MES	3	240	70	1. Rock pigeon 2. Jackdaw 3. Great Tit	Heavy rain and clouds.
Malta	BirdLife Malta	2	36	3068	1. Spanish Sparrow 2. Barn Swallow 3. Yellow- legged gull	Weather not favourable Highlights previous week 6 Black Stork, 1 Egyptian Vulture, 1 Hen Harrier, 2 Pallid Harrier, 3 Lesser-spotted Eagle and 1 Eurasian Spoonbill. Illegal hunting: birds shot:1 Great White Egret, 2 Barn Swallow, Common Kestrel and little egret. Poachers shooting two Black Storks, a Lesser-spotted Eagle and many Marsh Harriers, Honey-buzzards and falcons.
Netherlands	VBN	130	1500	145450	1. Starling 2. Black-headed gull 3. Greylag Goose	Stormy conditions. Low counts but some interesting species incl. Balearic Shearwater, Richard's Pipit & White-tailed Eagle. Events incl. 380 km hiking trail with special watch posts from North Sea coast to German border.
Poland	OTOP	104	1100	94093	1. Sparrow 2. Mallard 3. Starling	Weather terrible. Interesting observations: Yellow-legged Gull, Water Rail
Romania	SOR	32	125	54178	1. Starling 2. Mallard 3. Coot	Raining and strong winds in most of the locations
Country	Organisation	No. events	No. participants	No. birds total	Top 3 birds	Special stories and migratory birds
Russia	RBCU	837	15456	896716	1. Blue Rock Pigeon 2. Hooded Crow 3. Rook
Serbia	ORNISS (LOA & BSPSV)	9	137	24071	1. Starling 2. Black-headed gull 3. Coot	Sunny weather! Interesting observations incl. Long-legged Buzzard and Little Grebe. This year's EBW marks the start of Common Bird Monitoring into Serbia.
Slovakia	SOS	14	745	5328	1. Mallard 2. Coot 3. Grey Heron	Special observations: Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Numenius arquata. 3 Great White Egrets. 150 Common Crane. Migration of the Wood lark at Žitava meadow. Activities incl. information stands, habitat care activities and nest boxes building.
Slovenia	DOPPS	6	140	2900	1. Wood pigeon 2. Mallard 3. Black-headed gull	Sunny and warm, interesting observations incl. Sanderling and Curlew Sandpiper
Spain	SEO	168	30000	25000	1. House Sparrow 2. Spotless Starling 3. Chaffinch	Kyte fly, Birdwatching- Bike, Moon watching
Sweden	SOF	various	1075	506017	1. Greylag Goose 2. Common crane 3. Bean goose	Storm and heavy rains. Rare birds like Sabine´s Gull, Corys Shearwater, Leach´s Storm-petrel, Manx Shearwater, the 4 species of Skuas. Best was a Golden Oriole in Norther Sweden (extremely rare this time of the year). Also a Roller and a Woodchat Shrike.
Switzerland	SVS	55	5465	44329	1. Starling 2. Chaffinch 3. Coot	Sunny and windy...Few passerines but rather good migration of raptors: Ospreys, Red-footed falcons, Merlin.
Turkey	DD	9	162	33365	1. Starling 2. Ruddy Shelduck 3. Coot
Ukraine	USPB		45	1062	1. House Sparrow 2. Rook 3. Great Tit	Only part of results. Unusually warm weather and a flock of 45 Common Cranes.
TOTAL		1.812	67.544	2.876.318

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