The State of Birds in Switzerland Report 2016 Headlines
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The State of Birds in Switzerland Report 2016 Headlines 2015 – a year of extremes: The floods in May led to lost broods for many wet- land species. In contrast, the hot summer provided ideal breeding conditions for mountain birds. page 6 All is not well in the mountains: The changes in agriculture and global warm- ing are increasingly causing distress for mountain birds. page 10 Comeback: After 140 years, the Bearded Vulture has once again become a regu- lar breeding bird in Switzerland. Already, more than a dozen pairs are producing offspring. page 14 In 2015, population counts of four wetland species were conducted for the new breed- ing bird atlas. Mild winters give Kingfisher populations a boost. page 18 2 Crowds of migrating waders were grounded in early May due to heavy orographic rainfall. The Wood Sand- piper was particularly well represent- ed. page 22 Common Pochard and Eurasian Coot populations have decreased throughout Europe in the past 15 years. Waterbird counts now confirm that winter visitors are declining in number in Switzerland, too. page 26 Field work for the European breeding bird atlas is making progress – not least thanks to considerable support from Switzerland, that hopefully will continue. page 30 Contents Editorial ........................................................................................ 4 Breeding birds .............................................................................. 6 Migrants ..................................................................................... 22 Winter visitors ............................................................................ 26 Further information: International news .................................................................... 30 You can find further information online, in- cluding population trends for breeding bird Methodology .............................................................................. 32 species and additional analyses: Thanks ......................................................................................... 34 www.vogelwarte.ch/state 3 EDITORIAL Monitoring to preserve The reintroduction of the Bearded This story goes to show: It takes Vulture is a remarkable success sto- tremendous effort to reintroduce a ry uncommon in nature conservati- species. We must do everything we on: The species bred in Switzerland in can to prevent the disappearance nine out of the last ten years, which of rare species, and to make sure means that starting in 2015, we can that common species never become once again count the Bearded Vulture scarce. This is what the Ornithological among our regular breeding birds! Institute stands for. The monitoring This success cannot be taken for department, with the invaluable sup- granted given the decade-long strug- port of more than 2000 volunteers, gle that eventually led to the Beard- compiles the data for the annual up- ed Vulture’s reintroduction: In 1978, date on trends for breeding and visit- following several failed attempts, 35 ing birds in Switzerland. The key find- experts met in Morges on Lake Ge- ings are summarised in the present neva to launch an international pro- report. This kind of basic research is ject to reintroduce the Bearded Vul- essential in that it allows us to de- ture in the Alps. It took perseverance tect changes early and respond im- not stop at the foot of the Alps. Pas- and a great deal of personal commit- mediately when a species is in decline. tures are abandoned or intensified, ment before the first birds were re- Who would have expected that the temperatures rise, glaciers melt – the leased in Austria in 1986, thus pav- European Greenfinch, a widespread living conditions for alpine species, ing the way for success. A project like species, has declined by a third since too, are undergoing massive change. this relies on several necessary condi- 2012? Of course, positive develop- We hope you enjoy reading the re- tions: A solid foundation of scientific ments are also recorded – the Eur- port. Thank you for your continued knowledge must be established and asian Crag Martin, for example, has support of our work for the benefit the causes for extinction recognized increased by about 40 % since 2005. of our birds and nature in general! and remediated. Various disciplines This year’s report shines a spotlight and institutions need to collaborate on mountain birds. The harsh condi- Dr Thomas Sattler across national borders, and the pub- tions allow only a few well-adapted lic and the authorities must be kept species to survive in this environment. informed to ensure the acceptance Switzerland’s geographical location of the project and to secure funding. gives us a special responsibility for The dedicated members of Pro Bart- these breeding birds. At first glance, geier» and the Vulture Conservation the mountain habitats appear barely Foundation have earned our heartfelt touched by humans. But agricultural respect and gratitude! developments and climate change do The Greenish Warbler, originally a northeast- ern species, has in the past years expanded its range towards southwestern Europe. In 2015, F. Schneider and L. Maumary record- ed a pair with at least 6 fledglings in the al- pine foothills in the Canton of Vaud – this makes it the 222nd species with a breeding record in Switzerland! The species appears to be undemanding and would find an abundance of breeding sites in our semi- open woodlands. 4 A species occurring at high altitudes, the White-winged Snowfinch may react sensi- tively to climate changes. A new research project by the Ornithological Institute will examine the situation more closely. The floods in May 2015 destroyed many waterbird nests. Thanks to replacement clutches and the fine summer weather, the Great Crested Grebe still achieved considerable breeding success on many lakes. The situation of breeding birds «From one extreme to the other» second hottest nationwide. After a Sandpiper, or Common Reed Bunting, might accurately describe the situ- brief return of winter at the end of the flooding came at a bad moment. ation of breeding birds in the past March, breeding activity began with It also caused some reed breeders to years. Climate change has become a a buzz in the mild April weather, and desert the flooded areas. For example, reality and presents new challenges at first, the weather conditions were Savi’s Warblers were heard in places for breeding birds. In 2015, the an- favourable for breeding. In the first where they do not normally nest, es- nual temperature was 1.3 °C above week of May, certain locations saw pecially around the Lake of Neuchâ- the 1981–2010 average. In the south a lot of rain, and streams, rivers and tel, which is the main breeding site for of Switzerland, the 2014/15 winter lakes overflowed in many places. For Savi’s Warblers in Switzerland. Further was the second warmest since 1864. species such as Mute Swan, Mal- rainfall made this year’s month of May The summer of 2015 was actually the lard, Great Crested Grebe, Common one of the wettest on record. The Heideweg at Lake Biel during the floods in May 2015 (left) and in normal May weather. 6 BREEDING BIRDS Winners and losers of the sum- 160 mer heat Dunnock In June, the weather changed, and 140 Common Firecrest in many places, this was the fourth European Robin warmest month of June on record. 120 July, in some places, was the hot- test month since records began 150 100 Index years ago. The first week of July es- 80 pecially brought record temperatures. The stable weather meant that hay 60 was harvested early. Grassland birds therefore probably suffered more 40 nest loss than usual. Distressed by the heat, many Common Swifts left 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 their nests under the roofs too early and fell to the ground. Alpine Swifts were also affected. This is a phenom- enon not seen before on such a scale. The unusual heat continued into Au- gust, causing drought. These condi- tions improved breeding success for many mountain birds. The beneficia- Some partial and short-distance migrants, like Dunnock, Firecrest and European Robin, ries of the hot spell include Grouse reached peak population numbers in 2015 after two mild winters. and Rock Partridges, whose breeding is most successful in warm and dry summers. The aridity made foraging breeding birds» scheme recorded difficult for species like the Thrush an increase compared to the previ- that normally feed mainly on worms. ous year in as many as 14 species: European Green Woodpecker, Great Slight population increases, hard- Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Jay, ly any declines Great Tit, Coal Tit, Eurasian Nut- Mild winters with little precipita- hatch, Goldcrest, Eurasian Bullfinch tion increase the chances of sur- and Red Crossbill. For Winter Wren, vival for resident birds. When win- European Robin, Common Blackbird, ter cold weather is absent from Firecrest and Dunnock, we even re- Italy and the western Mediterranean, corded the largest populations since too, many of our short-distance mi- the start of the counts in 1999. Only grants also benefit. Both conditions one species, the Common House Further information: were met in the winter of 2014/15. Martin, declined significantly com- www.vogelwarte.ch/state/breeding In total, the «Monitoring common pared to the previous years. 160 140 120 100 Index 80 60 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Cause for alarm: The European Greenfinch has declined significantly