The European Atlas: J. T. R. Sharrock

The EO AC, formed in 1971, now has 20 member countries. Results from 15 national atlas schemes have been com• bined in the compilation of some provisional maps

ven in well-watched Britain and Ireland, the atlas fieldwork of 1968-72 E provided observers with new discoveries, and the final maps (Sharrock 1976) included unexpected—and some inexplicable—distributions, even of common species. Those who took part found the project exciting and interesting: it provided a reason for thorough investigation of all habitats in home areas and a good excuse for travelling to explore new ones. Many participants commented that it gave a welcome purpose to their normal, casual birdwatching. Even after five years of such work, en­ thusiasm had not wholly waned and enquirers were asking the date of a repeat survey. The success of similar completed atlas projects in Den­ mark (Dybbro 1976) and France (Yeatman 1976), and others still in progress, bears witness to observers' enthusiasm. It is little wonder, therefore, that the plans for a Europe-wide mapping project are pro­ gressing steadily under the aegis of the European Ornithological Atlas Committee. The main aims of the EOAC are to standardise and co-ordinate atlas work throughout the continent, and to ensure that fieldwork on a 50-km square grid is carried out by every member nation during 1985-88, leading to the eventual publication of The European Atlas of Breeding (see Sharrock 1973a, 1974; Sharrock, Bogucki and Yeatman in press). In preparation for this project, most countries represented on the EOAC have carried out, or are currently engaged in, national atlas schemes. These serve three purposes: first, to provide a baseline with which to compare 1985-88 results; secondly, to solve the administrative problems; and, thirdly, to train a team of observers in the special methods required in efficient atlas fieldwork (see Sharrock 1971, 1973b). A national atlas project based on 50-km squares has already been completed in the German Federal Republic (Rheinwald 1977). There are now 20 delegates on the EOAC, representing Belgium, Bul-

476 [Brit. Birds 70: 476-488, November 1977] European Atlas: woodpeckers 477 garia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonian SSR, Finland, France, German Federal Republic, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia. Ten major European nations, however, remain unrepre­ sented: Albania, Austria, German Democratic Republic, Greece, Hun­ gary, Iceland, Luxemburg, Portugal, Romania and USSR. The com­ mittee hopes, therefore, that publicity created by publication of some of its incomplete data may encourage non-members to join and participate (it is very aware, for instance, that almost half of the 50-km squares in Europe are in European Russia, and would especially welcome repre­ sentation and participation from the USSR). One provisional map has already been published—Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio (Sharrock 1975)-—but the delegates at the 3rd meeting of the EOAC, at Symbark in Poland in October 1976, selected the wood­ peckers (Picidae) and pipits Anthus for the first series of comparative maps. These have now all been plotted and those of the woodpeckers are shown here (.figs. 1-10). Even though very incomplete (the unsurveyed areas are shaded), they begin to show the patterns which we may hope for as a result of Europe-wide mapping in 1985-88. The up-to-date distribution maps in The European Atlas will have a far greater precision—based on actual fieldwork within proscribed areas during a defined period of time —than was possible in the pioneer work of, for example, Hollom (in Peterson et al. 1954) and Voous (i960). By spring 1977, data were available from half of the countries of Europe. Although coverage was complete in some, in others, which had started atlas projects more recently, it was only partial. There was in­ formation from the high total of 1,098 50-km squares, but this repre­ sents only one-quarter of the area of Europe.

Acknowledgements The maps display the results of national atlas schemes; they are shown by courtesy of the atlas organisations in the member countries and the delegates to the EOAC who supplied the data: Dr Z. Bogucki, Dr P. Devillers, Dr St. Dontschev, T. Dybbro, K. Hyytia, R. F. Porter, Dr F. Purroy, Dr G. Rheinwald, Dr A. Schifferli, D. Scott, Dr K. Slasny, Dr S. Svensson, Drs R. M. V. Teixeira and L. J. Yeatman. The base map is reproduced by permission of the secretariat of the European Invertebrate Survey.

Summary Provisional atlas data from 15 countries are shown for the woodpeckers (Picidae); maps of the pipits Anthus have also been plotted. These are the first such series of maps to be derived from the fieldwork by member nations of the European Ornithological Atlas Committee. Delegates are sought from the ten major European countries not yet repre­ sented on the EOAC. Europe-wide mapping is planned for 1985-88.

Figs. 1-10 show 1968-76 breeding season records within 50-km squares. Large dots indicate confirmed breeding, medium dots probable breeding and small dots mere nresenre in suitable breeding habitat 128. Left, pair of Wrynecks Jynx torquilla at nest-hole, Austria, June 1972 1 {A. M. H. Peach). Fig. 1. In view of marked withdrawal from Channel coast of France and Belgium, surprising that any English Wrynecks left at all. Colonisation of Scotland, never occu• pied in Wryneck's heyday in early 19th century, being watched with interest: note that in Finland breeding occurs well to north of Arctic Circle 129. Below, male Black Dryocopus martins at nest-hole, Sweden (M. D. England). Fig. 2. Range of this shy species, occupying mainly larger woods and forests, has been slowly expanding westwards in Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium and France. Adults largely sedentary, but ringing has shown that young may travel considerable distances (over 500 km); there is, however, still no satisfactory record of vagrancy to Britain and Ireland

130. Right, female Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus at nest-hole, Finland, June 1973 (J. B. and S. Bottomley). Fig. 3. Close relation of Green Woodpecker, but with far more widespread world range, extending east to Japan; distinct races in Malaysia and Sumatra. Range slowly expanding westwards across traditional Green Woodpecker territory in Europe, in narrow finger extend• ing towards Finistere

131. Left, male Green Woodpecker Picus viridis at nest-hole, Sussex, July 1975 (A. JV. H. Peach). Fig. 4. Closely related to more wide• spread Grey-headed Woodpecker, from which probably separated by'geographical isolation during Pleistocene glaciation, and also to relic North African Green Woodpecker P. vaillantii. Currently, spreading northwards in Scotland. Note absence from Finland, although present to south and east in uncover• ed areas of Baltic States

133- Left, female Syrian Woodpecker syriacus at nest-hole, Hungary, June 1961 {Eric Hosking). Fig. 5. Expanding colonist from southwest Asia, having been recorded in Europe for first time in 1890. In eastern Europe, where closely-related mainly found in moun• tain regions, Syrian has colonised lowlands. 133. Below, female Great Spotted Wood• pecker Dendrocopos major, Cumbria, March 1961 {J. B. and S. Bottomley). Fig. 6. Most widespread woodpecker in Palearctic and in Europe, but note lack of records in southern Bulgaria, central southern Sweden around Lake Vanern and Ireland (apart from one unpaired male which excavated nest-hole); note also lack of proved breeding records in extreme northern Finland and northwest Sweden (cf Lesser Spotted Woodpecker)

134- Right, Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius, Austria, summer 1972 (R. G. Carlson). Fig. 7. Thin and patchy west European distribution suggests that this species, typical of vanishing virgin broadleaved forest fauna, may be failing to adapt so well as its close relation the Great Spotted Woodpecker to man's changes to woodland distribution, structure and composition. Note isolated Pyrenean population (c/"White-backed Wood• pecker)

135. Left, female White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos, Sweden (Gunnar Lind). Fig. 8. Europe's most sparse woodpecker, being found in only 5% of surveyed 50-km squares, with highly disjunct distribution. World distribution resembles Grey-headed Woodpecker, extending east to Japan and Kamchatka, and, similarly, has apparently reinvaded Europe from the east since last glaciation. Note relic population in Pyrenees

136. Above, male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor at nest- hole, Norfolk, summer 1973 (M. D. England). Fig. 9. Virtual absences from Denmark and Scotland appear strange in comparison with presence in Sweden and Finland north to 70°N. So far, records surprising• ly few in Spain.

137. Left, male Three- toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus, Finland, summer 1972 (Hannu Hautala). Fig. 10. Only European wood• pecker to occur in North America as well as Eurasia. Not wide• spread, however, within Europe, with distinct central and southeast European mountain pockets, completely divorced from more continuous population of northern coniferous and birch forests

488 European Atlas: woodpeckers References DYBBRO, T. 1976. De Danske Tnglefugles Udbredelse. Copenhagen. PETERSON, R., MOUNTFORT, G., and HOLLOM, P. A. D. 1954. A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. 1st edn. London. RHEINWALD, G. 1977. Atlas der Brutverbreitung westdeutscher Vogelarten: Kartierung 1975. Bonn. SHARROCK, J. T. R. 1971. Seasonal changes in ease of proving breeding. Study 18:

1973a. Ornithological atlases. Auspicium 5 (supplement): 13-15. 1973b- Rate of species-registration in atlas work. Bird Study 20: 88-90. ■ 1974. Minutes of the second meeting of the European Ornithological Atlas Com­ mittee. Acta Orn. 14: 404-411. I975- Dot-distribution mapping of breeding birds in Europe. Ardeola 21: 797-810. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. , BOGUCKI, Z., and YEATMAN, L. J. In press. Bird atlas studies: introduction and minutes of third meeting. Polish Ecol. Studies. Voous, K. H. i960. Atlas of European Birds. London and Amsterdam. YEATMAN, L. J. 1976. Atlas des Oiseaux Nicheurs de France. Paris. Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ