Long-term population developments in typical marshland birds in the Netherlands

Abstract

In this paper long-term developments in the breeding populations of 23 typical marshland bird species in The Netherlands are reconstructed, using data of several monitoring schemes and atlas studies, as well as published sources. Twelve species increased in numbers since the 1950s: Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Great Egret Casmerodius alba, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, Greylag Goose Anser anser, Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina, Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, Bluethroat Luscinia svecica, Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia, European Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus and Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus. Nine species declined: Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris, Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Blackcrowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, Black Tern Chlidonias niger, Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides, Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus and Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus. For Water Rail Rallus aquaticus and Spotted Crake Porzana porzana numbers fluctuated without a clear trend. Species typical of uncut reedbeds over standing water declined most strongly, whereas the majority of species preferring drier marshlands with shrubs and bushes, and species with a rather broad habitat choice, on average increased. Possible causes of long-term population developments are discussed. At present, changes in water table management, falling water tables, terrestrialization and eutrophication have the highest impact on trends of marshland birds in The Netherlands.