Coast birds

Das Wattenmeersekretariat hat jetzt den Brutvogelreport für das Wattenmeergebiet von den Niederlanden über Niedersachsen und Schleswig-Holstein bis nach Dänemark vorgestellt. Fast 60% der Brutvogelarten im Wattenmeer zeigen negative Trends. Typische Vogelarten wie Austernfischer, Säbelschnäbler, Seeregenpfeifer und Flussseeschwalbe zählen zu den 15 Brutvogelarten, die im Langzeittrend seit über 20 Jahren abnehmen, sieben Arten wie Löffler, Heringsmöwe und Kormoran nehmen in ihrer Anzahl zu und vier Arten verhalten sich stabil oder es können wegen schwankender Bestände keine Aussagen gemacht werden. Eine Stabilisierung zeigen nur wenige Arten. Vielmehr hat sich die Abnahme über den letzten Jahren noch gesteigert. Das zeigt der Bericht der trilateralen Vogelexpertengruppe über Zahlen und Trends der Brutvögel im internationalen Wattenmeer. Untersuchungen im Wattenmeer zeigen, dass die negative Bestandsentwicklung durch einen zu niedrigen Bruterfolg verursacht wird.

Wildlife experts in the United Kingdom report that the population of large puffins (Fratercula arctica) living on a Scottish has significantly dropped in the last three decades, from 20,000 individuals birds down to around 10,000 in recent years. In a long-term study featured in the PLOS ONE journal, scientists from the Fair Isle Bird Observatory noted that the dramatic reduction in the number of puffins on the island began during the 1980s. They believe that the failure of young birds to return to the island could likely be the cause of the decline. The researchers said that the puffins could be suffering from the lack of enough fish to feed on in the area.

Some of Australia’s best-known birds, including the magpie, the kookaburra and the willie wagtail, are in decline in parts of the country, a major government-funded survey has found. The State of Australia’s Birds report found common birds, as well as lesser-known species, have suffered surprising drops in their numbers, in what has been described as a “wake-up call” for bird conservation. The data, gathered from sightings by birdwatchers, show that the magpie, a familiar sight to many Australians – and occasional dive bomber of human craniums – has been in a consistent decline on the east coast since 1999. The laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is in decline in south-eastern Australia, as is the willie wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys). Meanwhile, birds of prey in Australia’s arid outback – including falcons, owls and eagles – are in “significant decline”, the report finds, while 22 of the 39 species found in the Mallee woodland region, which covers much of southern Australia, are also losing numbers. The rainbow bee-eater (Merops ornatus), an agile insect-devouring bird, is on a downward trajectory on the east coast, while hollow-nesting parrots such as lorikeets are disappearing from areas around Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra. Some species are in decline almost across the board, with the Boobook owl suffering declines in every region of Australia bar one. Bird Life Australia, which compiled the data with federal government funding, said the results were concerning.

Sea birds in Cornwall such as the puffin, fulmar, Kittiwake and Balearic shearwater have been listed as endangered and vulnerable in the new list of Euorpean birds. The EU Red List of Birds, which was published yesterday is a groundbreaking three-year study which describes the conservation status of over 500 species. At the European level it lists 13% birds as threatened, and a further 6% near threatened. Of particular concern in the West Country are a number of the region's seabirds. Topping the list is the critically endangered Balearic shearwater, a visitor to the region's coastal waters particularly in summer and autumn. With a population estimated at just 3,200 pairs globally this bird faces threats from predation by introduced mammals where it breeds, and from fishing by-catch. There are concerns too for the ever popular puffin – a bird that breeds on the Isles of Scilly, Lundy and occasionally on the mainland in the region.

Two iconic Australian shorebirds have been added to the critically endangered list. The extraordinary sickle-billed Eastern curlew, and its smaller cousin, the curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) , are the first shorebirds on the list. The Eastern curlew is the largest migratory shorebird in the world, known for using the length of its extraordinary bill to work deep down into mud and sand after prey. The curlew sandpiper was until recently one of the most common of the group of small shoreline-running birds found along Australia's coasts. At the furthest extent of the East Asian-Australasian flyway, in southern Tasmania, the most catastrophic losses have been counted. There, 90 per cent of curlews have gone and 100 per cent of curlew sandpipers, said Eric Woehler, convenor of BirdLife Tasmania. Across the country there has been an 81 per cent decline in curlews over three generations, and an 82 per cent decline in curlew sandpipers, according to official advice to the Environment Minister, Greg Hunt.

The critically endangered swift parrot (Lathamus discolor) could become extinct within less than two decades, says a new study published online in the journal Biological Conservation. The bird breeds only in Tasmania, and migrates to mainland Australia in autumn, undertaking the longest migration of any parrot species in the world. The breeding range is always within eight km of the coast, largely restricted to an area of less than 500 sq. km. During the breeding season, nectar from the flowers of Tasmanian blue gum is the principal food source. During the non-breeding period, swift parrots feed extensively on nectar and lerp and other items from eucalypt foliage. The bird also eats psyllid insects and lerps, seeds and fruit. The new five-year study discovered that swift parrots move between different areas of Tasmania each year to breed, depending on where food is available. “Swift parrots are in far worse trouble than anybody previously thought. Everyone, including foresters, environmentalists and members of the public will be severely affected if they go extinct,” said Prof Robert Heinsohn of the Australian National University, who is the lead author on the study. Prof Heinsohn and co-authors predicted that the population of the swift parrots will halve every four years, with a possible decline of 94.7 per cent over 16 years.

Die Lachmöwe (Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Syn. Larus ridibundus) ist eine der bekanntesten Bewohner unserer Küste und kann leicht am Strand beobachtet werden. Doch der Schein trügt: Kaum eine andere Vogelart hat einen so deutlichen Bestandsrückgang erlitten. Der Rückgang des Bestandes von Mecklenburg-Vorpommern beträgt in den letzten 20 Jahren über 50 %, so dass sie den Gefährdungsgrad 3 nach Roter Liste erhielt. Auch in den Küstenvogelbrutgebieten des Nationalparks „Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft“ sind die Bestandsänderungen deutlich sichtbar: Von ehemals 15.000 Brutpaaren im Jahr 1990 konnten 2010 nur noch 1985 Brutpaare beobachtet werden. Die Besiedlung traditioneller Brutgebiete wie z.B. die der Insel Heuwiese ist zudem komplett erloschen. Einzig die Inseln Kirr und Barther Oie werden von den zierlichen Vögeln noch besiedelt. Der starke Rückgang sowohl im Binnenland als auch an der Küste wird durch eine Vielzahl von Faktoren bedingt. Als eine Ursache werden die Veränderungen der Landwirtschaft und der Küstenfischerei und der damit einhergehende Mangel an Jungvogelnahrung angesehen.