Eurobirdwatch 2007: Fascinating Bird Migration

41’000 people in 31 countries in Europe followed the invitation of BirdLife International to watch in the field the fascinating annual phenomenon of the bird migration to the south. The birdwatchers observed over 2 millions of birds at 1’120 events from Spain to Azerbaijan, from Malta to Sweden.

With the Europe wide birdwatching BirdLife International points to the importance of the great efforts needed to save threatened bird species and their habitats. “The migrating species need multifaceted breeding opportunities, safe stopovers along their way to the south and convenient wintering areas” pointed out Fritz Hirt, coordinator of the Eurobirdwatch 07 at SVS/BirdLife Switzerland, organizing this year Europe’s largest birdwatch event. Just before this event for a better protection of the birds from Spain we got the bad news that the Catalan Government intends to legalize the bird trapping with lime sticks! BirdLife International is protesting against this dolorous and unspecific trapping method.

The national BirdLife partners organize various events to encourage people of all ages to go out, observe, explore and enjoy the birds. At these observation posts they count the birds and report the results to the national centre and from there the total number of observed birds, number of participants in all events and the special happenings are referred to the European Centre for the compiling of the European result.

Ornithological highlights were the first observation of Eider duck in Marmara Sea in Turkey and the first White tailed eagle in the Skocjan Bay in Slovenia.

In Latvia a new booklet “How to start birdwatching” was launched. The minister of environment won with his team the VIP-Birdrace. BirdLife Slovakia offered special competitions in painting and photographing birds to school children.
In Azerbaijan the ambassadors of Germany and Greece visited the birdwatch event.

The most frequently observed species were:
1. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
2. Black headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
3. Mallard (Anas plathyrhynchos)

Complete Results (End of October)

country	partner	#events	#participants	#birds observed	three most abundant species	interesting observations and remarks
Austria	BirdLife Österreich					Not joining rapid information action
Azerbaijan	AOS	2	30	8780	1. Coot, 2. Cormorant, 3. Common Redshank	VIP guests: The ambassador of Germany and the representative of Greek embassy were our guests. We had Birdwatching and a workshop dedicated to it.
Belarus	APB	126	606	24872	1. Starling, 2. Crane, 3. Jackdaw
Bulgaria	BSPB	37	1813	11147	1. Coot, 2. Starling, 3. Cormorant	Collared Pratincole, Ferruginous Duck, Olive-tree Warbler
Croatia	CSBNP	10	53	30893	1. Starling, 2. Mallard, 3. Spanish Sparrow	youngest counters were school children in Borovo (8-year-old), heavy rains whole Saturday throughout the country
Cyprus	BirdLife Cyprus	4	125	4422	1. Spanish Sparrow, 2. Shoveler, 3. Mallard	Our most successfull addended Eurobirdwatch. Although large passage of raptors during week unfortunately very few around over weekend, although a Black Kite was seen by one observer. Most of Spanish Sparrows seen were passage migrants.
Czech Republic	CSO	29	1009	22161	1. Mallard, 2. Greylag Goose, 3. Starling	30 Caspian Gulls, 2 Savi's Warblers, 1 Spoonbill, 15 Eurasian Curlews. Events: ringing, elevating of nest-boxes, exhibition and talks, competitions for children
Estonia	EOS	4	52	49790	1. Barnacle Goose, 2. Bean Goose, 3. Fieldfare	Jack Snipe, Little Grebe, Cappercaille, White-backed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker
France	LPO	21	722	142368	1. Wood pigeon, 2. Common chaffinch, 3. White wagtail	Pigeons are in advance this year. 1000 red kite
Germany	NABU	104	1147	173310	1. Crane, 2. Starling, 3. Bean Goose	9 Red Kites, 4 Golden Orioles, 1 Red-backed Shrike
Gibraltar	GONHS	2	320	700	1. Yellow-legged Gull, 2. House Sparrow, 3. Sandwich Tern	Our visitors were very impressed by our bird of prey display, particularly by a Golden Eagle. Also noteworthy was passage of Sandwich Terns throug the Strait of Gibraltar.
Greece	HOS					Not joining rapid information action
Hungary	MME	209	5038	469825	1. Starling, 2. Black-headed Gull, 3. Mallard	White Pelican, Whiskered Tern, Barnacle Goose
Italia	LIPU	63	632	130461	1. Starling, 2. Mallard, 3. Chaffinch
Latvia	LOB	61	390	82808	1. Starling, 2. Bean Goose, 3. Crane	6th October: VIP bird race "Let's run after birds!", won by the team of the Minister of Environment which observed 25 species within 2 hours.
Lituania	LOD	34	662	97783	1. Starling, 2. Lapwing, 3. Crane	1 White Stork observed feeding. Average number of different species observed: 30. The biggest number of different species observed during one event: 62.
Luxembourg	LNVL	2	30	200		1 Great Bittern
Malta	BirdLife Malta	1	20	4788	1. Spanish Sparrow, 2. Starling, 3. Barn Swallow	1 Lesser-Spotted Eagle, 1 Bluethroat, 1 Gannet, 1 Yelkouan Shearwater, several Marsh Harriers, Honey Buzzards, Hobbies and Common Kestrels stopped to roost in Buskett as they usually do while on their way to Africa during the Autumn migration.
Netherlands	VBN	150	1000	340854	1. Starling, 2. Lapwing, 3. Greylag Goose	2 Little Buntings, 1 Long-tailed Skua, 1 Black Stork, 7 Yellow-browed Warblers, 12 Lesser White-fronted Geese and 1 Cattle Egret
Norway	NOF	4	91	35657	1. Herring Gull, 2. Fieldfare, 3. Brambling
Poland	OTOP	163	2407	107127	1. Starling, 2. Greylag Goose, 3. Crane	Yellow-legged Gull, Levant Sparrowhawk
Portugal	SPEA	16	213	9200	1. Mallard, 2. Yellow-Legged Gull, 3. Spotless Starling	6 Black Stork, 1 Egyptian Vulture, 1 Black Vulture, 1 Spanish Imperial Eagle, 42 Little Bustard, 25 Great Bustard, > 150 Red-billed Chough
Romania	ROS	45	154	60000	1. Starling, 2. Black-headed Gull, 3. Mallard
Russia	RBCU	207	2167	103791	1 Hooded Crow, 2. Rock Dove, 3. Rook	Globally threatened birds observed in Dagestan region: 30 Pygmy Cormorants, 300 Lesser White-fronted Geese, 5 Red-breasted Geese, 2 Marbled Ducks, 2 White-headed Ducks, 4 Imerpial Eagles and 1 Sociable Lapwing.
Serbia	ORNISS	8	111	21117	1. Starling, 2. Black-headed Gull, 3. Mallard	The number of observed species was 105. Highlights include Osprey, Stone-curlew, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, 57 Long-eared Owls, 6 species of Woodpeckers, Bearded Tit, Penduline Tit and 3 Shrikes: Red-backed, Lesser Grey and Northern Grey Shrike.
Slovakia	SOS	23	453	26674	1. Coot, 2. Mallard, 3. Starling	We have observed some rare species e.g.: 2 Imperial Eagles, 1 Pygmy Cormorant, 33 Dunlins, 1 Little Stint, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Great Bittern, a Saker Falcon which has attacked the flock of 800 individuals of Turtle Doves, 1 Montagu's Harrier, 1 Ferruginous Duck. Our visitors and participants were very dedicated and enthusiastic in bird ringing (it was very attractive for children).
Slovenia	DOPPS	10	140	5774	1. Coot, 2. Mallard, 3. White Wagtail	White-tailed Eagle at several locations, observed first time in Skocjan bay, first Bramblings and Great Grey Shrikes, still some Barn Swallows on many locations, several Woodpecker species observed in the park in the capital City.
Spain	SEO / BirdLife	125	22000	88000	1. House Sparrow, 2. Chaffinch, 3. Spotless Starling
Sweden	SOF	40	1205	908558	1. Barnacle Goose, 2. Wood Pigeon, 3. Eider
Switzerland	SVS	49	3986	170199	1. Wood Pigeon, 2. Chaffinch, 3. Starling	Sunny weather, strong migration, esp. Raptors. Special species: Ospreys, one Booted Eagle
Turkey	DD	8	164	49842	1. Ruddy Shelduck, 2. Coot, 3. Shoveler	An Imperial Eagle and the first record of an Eider in Marmara Sea were spectacular.
Total		1441	44763	2851678

Media release

Media release (7 october 2007, 19.00) and free images >>>

For more information please contact:

European Birdwatch Centre 2007
SVS/BirdLife Switzerland
P.O. Box
Wiedingstr. 78
CH-8036 Zürich
Tel. +41 (0)44 457 70 20
Fax +41 (0)44 457 70 30
svs@birdlife.ch