Anthus spinoletta -- (Linnaeus, 1758) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PASSERIFORMES -- Common names: Water ; Rock Pipit and Water Pipit European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

In Europe this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.

Within the EU27 this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Faroe Islands (to DK); Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom Vagrant: Belarus; Latvia; Gibraltar (to UK) Population The European population is estimated at 1,620,000-3,160,000 pairs, which equates to 3,230,000-6,320,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 392,000-704,000 pairs, which equates to 783,000-1,410,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe the population size is estimated to be stable. In the EU27 the population size trend is unknown. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. and Ecology The species breeds on alpine pastures and high-lying mountain meadows with short and scattered rocks, bushes or trees, usually with some wet areas and often on mountain slopes. In the winter it is found on coastal saltings, lagoons, marshes, grassy edges of lakes and rivers, sewage farms, watercress farms, rice fields and other irrigated cultivation. In Europe, egg-laying occurs from the end of April to early June. The nest is a cup made of grass stems and leaves with some moss incorporated and lined with finer material and some hairs. It is sited on the ground in the side of a bank or hollow, usually well concealed by vegetation or sometimes at the end of a tunnel. Normally four to six eggs are laid. It feeds mainly on but also takes some plant material. The species is chiefly a short-distance or altitudinal migrant (Tyler 2004). Habitats & Altitude (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels) suitable non-breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Wastewater Treatment Areas suitable non-breeding Grassland - Temperate major breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable non-breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breeding Altitude 1400-2600 m Occasional altitudinal limits 615 m Threats In some areas, grazing have been shown to have a significant negative impact on the nesting success of this species (Pavel 2004). It is also thought to be threatened by climate change (Ebenhoh 2003, Melendez and Laiolo 2014). In addition, the spread of ski pistes has also been shown to be detrimental to this species (Caprio et al. 2014). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture grazing, ranching or Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact farming Declines Stresses Species mortality Climate change & Habitat shifting & Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather alteration Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown Stresses Ecosystem degradation; Indirect ecosystem effects Human intrusions & Recreational Timing Scope Severity Impact disturbance activities Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Species disturbance Conservation Conservation Actions Underway Bern Convention Appendix II. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species.

Conservation Actions Proposed In some areas, low-intensity grazing should be promoted. Important areas should also be protected from disturbance from skiing activities. Bibliography Caprio, E., Chamberlain, D. and Rolando, A. 2014. Skiing, and biodiversity in the .Proceedings of the BOU’s 2014 Annual Conference: Ecology and conservation of birds in upland and alpine habitats. Ebenhöh, H. 2003. Zur Bestandsentwicklung von Berg-und Wiesenpieper (Anthus spinoletta und A. pratensis ) am Feldberg im Schwarzwald. Naturschutz südl. Oberrhein 4(2003): 11-19. Melendez, L. and Laiolo, P. 2014. The role of climate in constraining the elevational range of the water pipit Anthus spinoletta in an alpine environment. Ibis 156(2): 276-287. Pavel, V. 2004. The impact of grazing animals on nesting success of grassland in farmland and natural habitats: a field experiment. Folia Zoologica-Praha 53(2): 171-178. Bibliography Tyler, S. 2004. Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/57804 on 23 March 2015). Map (see overleaf)