Atlas of Anatidae Populations in Africa W Eurasia

Atlas of Anatidae Populations
in Africa and Western Eurasia

Derek A. Scott and Paul M. Rose
based on a project initiated by Marc W.J. van Roomen and Gerard C. Boere
With financial support from the
Directorate for Nature Management Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, The Netherlands
Joint Nature Conservation Committee, United Kingdom
Wetlands International Publication 41
1996
Wetlands International 1996.

All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism, or review (as permitted under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988) no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright holder. ISBN 1 900442 09 4 (Limpback) 1 900442 10 8 (Hardback) This publication should be cited as follows: Scott, D.A. & Rose, P.M. (1996). Atlas of Anatidae Populations in Africa and Western Eurasia. Wetlands International Publication No. 41, Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Published by: Wetlands International, Marijkeweg 11, 6700 CA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Cover photographs, clockwise from bottom: White-faced Whistling-ducks Dendrocygna viduata. C HRISTIAN PERENNOU. Wigeon Anas penelope. MARK HULME. Smew Mergellus albellus. M ARK HULME. Bewicks Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii. M ARK HULME. Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons. MARK HULME.
Background photograph: Garganey Anas querquedula and White-faced Whistling-ducks Dendrocygna viduata at Lac Debo, Inner Niger Delta. JAN VAN DE KAM.
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The presentation of material in this book and the geographical designations employed do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Wetlands International concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
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Foreword
For centuries, migratory birds have been in the forefront of the interest of man in nature. In the past, their disappearance and return were not understood and the most fantastic stories have been published to account for it. Knowledge about the movements of migratory birds have increased enormously since about 100 years ago when the Danish teacher Mortensen started to put numbered rings on birds feet. Bird-ringing has been of utmost importance in understanding the timing and routes of migratory birds and in identifying the areas used for staging and wintering on their flyways. In recent years, modern tracking techniques using satellites have provided revealing information on the behaviour of bird species, in particular geese, swans and cranes. Migratory birds are not aware of national boundaries and obviously their wise management and conservation is a responsibility of all states on the flyways. With its large number of wetlands of international importance and millions of waterbirds passing through or wintering here, the Netherlands has a special responsibility. Against this background, it is not surprising that our country, in close cooperation with the Secretariat of the Bonn Convention and Wetlands International, has been instrumental in concluding the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement. Comprehensive and reliable data is a key asset for international nature conservation and the management of populations. This book brings together a wealth of data to support the implementation of the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement, both on the flyway as a whole and on the states on its route. At the same time, it shows that large gaps in information still exist, in particular with respect to Africa. The book is also an important tool for all Range States to achieve the main objectives of the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement which is the conservation of wetland habitats and the conservation and sustainable management of waterbird populations. I will definitely continue to support these objectives, including the collection of data that are not plentifully available, such as on the Arctic breeding areas and in West Africa, and I look forward to join forces with other countries to realize the objectives of the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement in full.
Jozias J. van Aartsen Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries
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African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement

The African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) is an Agreement under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals commonly referred to as the Bonn Convention. AEWA aims to create a legal basis for a concerted conservation and management policy by the Range States for migratory waterbird species. It covers the entire continent of Africa and Europe, as well as parts of Asia and a few Arctic islands of North-eastern Canada encompassing about 120 Range States and it covers 170 species. AEWA has an Action Plan, which specifies actions Parties shall undertake in relation to priority species and issues, under the following headings: a) species conservation; b) habitat conservation; c) management of human activities; d) research and monitoring; e) education and information and; f) implementation. The present Action Plan is restricted to geese, swans, ducks, spoonbills, ibises and storks. The drafting of the Flyway Atlas is financed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, United Kingdom and the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries as a project in the framework of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement. Interim Secretariat AEWA, c/o Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, P.O. Box 20401, 2500 EK The Hague The Netherlands Tel: (+31) 70 3792982, Fax: (+31) 70 3793751, E-mail b.lenten@n.agro.nl
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Acknowledgements
Stefan Pihl of the National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark (NERI) has made an outstanding contribution to all aspects of this report. He has fulfilled the role of national coordinator for Denmark. He has worked as Seaduck Specialist Group Coordinator that required him to give advice on some of the most difficult species in the publication, and as coordinator of both the decentralised seaduck database and decentralised goose database he was also responsible for ensuring that data for these species were available to feed into the many analyses that were undertaken. No other contributor has undertaken more than one of these four roles, so the authors would like to give special thanks to Stefan Pihl and NERI for the enormous amount of work he undertook so willingly. The authors would like to thank the specialist group coordinators, national coordinators and species experts that responded to our requests for assistance so enthusiastically, willingly and with outstanding technical quality. The specialist group coordinators were Jeff Kirby (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT)) for the Duck Specialist Group, Jesper Madsen (NERI) for the Goose Specialist Group, Eileen Rees (WWT) for the Swan Specialist Group and Andy Green and Janet Hunter (WWT) for the Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group. All national coordinators of the monitoring schemes that supply information as part of the International Waterfowl Census are also essential to the production of international overviews like this. Many work as volunteers, undertaking tremendous amounts of work under the most difficult of conditions. Their efforts and those of the thousands of volunteer waterfowl counters they coordinate are very greatly appreciated. Comments and hitherto unpublished information of the highest possible standard were received from John S. Ash, the late Dylan Aspinwall, Gerhard Aubrecht, Nicola Baccetti, Neil Baker, Behrouz Behrouzi-Rad, Leon Bennun, Cor Berrevoets, Vincent van den Berk, D. R. Bishop, Jeff Black, Gerard Boere, Djahida Boukhalfa, John Bowler, Des Callaghan, Luis Costa, Peter Cranswick, Matt Cummins, A. Darolova, Simon Delany, Koen De Vos, Gerald Dick, Lieuwe Dijksen, Tim Dodman, Bob Douthwaite, Jan Durinck, Sandor Farago, Lincoln Fishpool, Arnthor Gardarsson, Jeff Gordon, Andy Green, Ward Hagemeijer, George Handrinos, Ibrahim Hanna, James Harrison, J. C. Hillman, Baz Hughes, Janet Hunter, Verena Keller, Jeff Kirby, Kees Koffijberg, A. Kozulin, A. S. Koryakin, Eckhart Kuijken, Andres Kuresoo, Olivier Langrand, Bjarke Laubek, Karsten Laursen, Aivar Leito, Peter Leonard, Leho Luigujoe, Jesper Madsen, Peter L. Meininger, Branko Micevski, Tanu Michev, Joszef Mikuska, Carl Mitchell, Johannes Mooij, Ramon Marti Montes, Wim C. Mulli, Dan Munteanu, Petr Musil, Johannes Naacke, H. W. Nehls, Stephen Newton, Leif Nilsson, Torgeir Nygrd, T. D. Paneva, David B. Paynter, Jitka Pellantova, Stefan Pihl, Gert Polet, Ljubo Profirov, John Quinn, Eileen Rees, Colin Richardson, David V. Rockingham-Gill, Marc van Roomen, E. Rutschke, Luc Schifferli, Paul Scholte, Arnor Sigfusson, Rob Simmons, Chris J. Spray, Antra Stipniece, David Stroud, Christoph L. Sudfelt, Saulius Svazas, Per Ole Syvertsen, Pavel Tomkovich, Jose Antonio Torres Esquivias, Bernard Trca, Berend Voslamber, J. F. Walsh, Eric van Winden, Sergai N. Yerokhov, Pierre Ysou, Glyn Young and Ronald Zollinger. The authors would also like to thank Val Taylor and Marie Callaghan for painstakingly producing the species maps so exactly, Mike Moser, Janine van Vessem and Mark Hulme for proof reading the text, and Sharon Favell for an extremely diverse array of secretarial and administrative tasks all performed with great efficiency. Financial support for the project as well as for the production of this voluminous publication was kindly provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, the Netherlands and by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, United Kingdom. The authors would like to thank them for their significant contribution to increasing the knowledge of Anatidae population ecology. The disappearance of Dylan Aspinwall during the course of compiling this publication was a great loss to wetland and waterbird conservation. His enthusiasm and expertise will be sorely missed by all who worked with him.
Conserving wetlands for people and wildlife

Wetlands International, the worlds leading non-profit wetland conservation organisation, was created in 1996 by the integration of the Asian Wetland Bureau, the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, and Wetlands for the Americas. The achievements of the founding organisations date back 40 years, and include the launch of (and support to) the Ramsar Convention, major regional surveys and conservation programmes for wetlands and wetland species, and the development of international programmes for migratory waterbird conservation in particular technical support to the Bonn Conventions Agreement on the Coservation of African/Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. Sound technical information is the basis for Wetlands Internationals work, which includes: coordinating conservation, management and assessment projects at international level; providing technical and fundraising support to national and local projects, and helping to build the capacity of relevant agencies. Wetlands International produces a wide range of publications and awareness materials, and organises numerous workshops, training courses and conferences each year. The global network of Wetlands International provides rapid access to specialists on wetland conservation throughout the world. These are supported by 13 regional and project offices on five continents, providing a unique force for supporting wetland conservation activities. Partnership is at the heart of Wetlands International, and strong links exist with other international conservation agencies such as IUCN, WWF and BirdLife International, and the secretariats of the Ramsar and Bonn Conventions. Global and regional programmes are supported by over 120 government agencies, NGOs, foundations, development agencies and private sector groups. For further information please contact the appropriate regional office. Wetlands International Asia Pacific Institute of Advanced Studies University of Malaya 50603 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Tel: +60 3 756 6624 Fax: + 60 3 757 1225 EMAIL: awb@pop.jaring.my Wetlands International Africa, Europe, Middle East Marijkeweg 11 PO Box 7002 6700 CA Wageningen The Netherlands Tel: +31 317 474711 Fax: +31 317 474712 EMAIL: post@wetlands.agro.nl Wetlands International The Americas 7 Hinton Avenue North, Suite 200 Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4P1 Canada Tel: +1 613 722 2090 Fax: +1 613 722 3318 EMAIL: davidson@wetlands.org
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Contents
Foreword Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Identification of population limits 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Summary of populations used in this Atlas History of Anatidae population delineation in Western Eurasia and Africa Practical versus biogeographic units of population Existing reviews of Anatidae populations in the Western Palearctic Geographic regions not adequately discussed in previous flyway studies Sedentary species iii v 1 3 3 3 4 5 6 10 15 17 17 17 18 18 18 23 24 25 25 26 26 Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Thalassornis leuconotus Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura maccoa Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus columbianus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser fabalis Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Branta leucopsis Branta bernicla Branta ruficollis Cyanochen cyanopterus Alopochen aegyptiacus Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna cana Tadorna tadorna 28 31 34 37 42 45 50 54 58 61 65 69 73 78 81 85 88 91 94 98 100
3. Establishment of a network of protected areas 4. Methods 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Regional scope Taxonomic scope, treatment and nomenclature Population estimates Population trends Selection of key sites Information on key sites Limitations
5. Species accounts and maps 5.1 Species accounts 5.2 Maps 5.3 Key to maps Fulvous Whistling-Duck White-faced Whistling-Duck White-backed Duck White-headed Duck Maccoa Duck Mute Swan Whooper Swan Bewicks Swan Pink-footed Goose Bean Goose Greater White-fronted Goose Lesser White-fronted Goose Greylag Goose Barnacle Goose Brent Goose Red-breasted Goose Blue-winged Goose Egyptian Goose Ruddy Shelduck South African Shelduck Common Shelduck
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Spur-winged Goose Hartlaubs Duck Comb Duck African Pygmy-goose Eurasian Wigeon Gadwall Common Teal Cape Teal Madagascar Teal Mallard Yellow-billed Duck Mellers Duck African Black Duck Northern Pintail Eatons Pintail Red-billed Duck Hottentot Teal Garganey Cape Shoveler Northern Shoveler Marbled Teal Red-crested Pochard Southern Pochard Common Pochard Ferruginous Duck Madagascar Pochard Tufted Duck Greater Scaup Common Eider King Eider Stellers Eider Harlequin Duck Long-tailed Duck Common Scoter Velvet Scoter Common Goldeneye Barrows Goldeneye Smew Red-breasted Merganser Goosander 6. References
Plectropterus gambensis Pteronetta hartlaubii Sarkidiornis melanotos Nettapus auritus Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas capensis Anas bernieri Anas platyrhynchos Anas undulata Anas melleri Anas sparsa Anas acuta Anas eatoni Anas erythrorhyncha Anas hottentota Anas querquedula Anas smithii Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Netta erythrophthalma Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya innotata Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Somateria mollissima Somateria spectabilis Polysticta stelleri Histrionicus histrionicus Clangula hyemalis Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Bucephala clangula Bucephala islandica Mergellus albellus Mergus serrator Mergus merganser
104 107 110 113 116 119 122 125 128 131 135 138 140 143 147 150 153 156 160 162 166 170 173 176 179 183 186 189 193 198 200 203 206 210 213 216 219 222 225 229 233 241 257
Annex 1: Revised population estimates for some Anatidae in Western Eurasia Annex 2: Key sites for Anatidae in Africa and Western Eurasia
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1. Introduction
The swans, geese and ducks (Anatidae) are characterised by two features which give rise to very special requirements for their conservation: Firstly, most Anatidae depend on wetlands throughout much of their life-cycle. These habitats are usually rather discrete and separated from each other by vast areas of non-wetland habitat; they are also one of the most threatened habitats in the world, having suffered losses exceeding 50% of original area in many countries during the last century. Wetlands are also highly productive habitats, enabling relatively small areas to support large waterbird concentrations. Secondly, the Anatidae family includes many migratory populations. The individuals of these populations depend on the utilisation of a network of sites throughout their range in order to complete their annual cycle. This network of sites may extend over thousands of kilometres, and traverse numerous political boundaries and biogeographical zones. Each site in the network plays a critical role, enabling the individuals that use it to move on to the next site in the network. The importance of individual sites is shown by the concentrations of birds which occur there and by the traditional use that many individuals make of individual sites and site networks, year after year. These features combine to require that any effective conservation programme for the Anatidae must incorporate internationally coordinated measures for site conservation, species monitoring and regulation of any forms of taking. Knowledge of the network of key sites used by each population is thus a basic need for the implementation of policy tools such as the Ramsar Convention and the Bonn Conventions Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. This document aims to provide this information for the Africa/Eurasian region. There have been few attempts to describe the networks of key sites used by the Anatidae in the African/Eurasian region, with the exception of intensive studies of one or two well-known species (e.g. Barnacle Geese in Black, in prep.). Historically, Atkinson-Willes (1976) listed 166 key-sites for European wintering species of Anatidae; this study was revised and updated to 180 sites by Monval & Pirot (1989). These two lists only included wintering sites, so in terms of providing a conservation tool they were very incomplete. The first real attempt to produce a complete key sites network for European Anatidae was by van Roomen & Boere (1989). Their draft report was never published but has been used as a foundation for this publication. A number of other wetland inventories, and the Important Bird Areas (IBA) project of BirdLife International (Grimmett & Jones 1989, Evans 1995), have provided additional information for this study. The objectives of the present document are therefore to contribute to the conservation of the Anatidae by: delineating units of population for each Anatidae species, as a basis for the application of conservation measures; providing estimates of the numbers of individuals in each population unit; identifying the key sites used by each population; indicating the protection status of each site. In order to achieve these objectives it has been necessary to adopt a number of criteria and definitions which are described in the methods section. The results are then presented in the form of species texts and maps, followed by a large table giving additional data for each key site. Inevitably, for a major international work of this kind there will be gaps in the information provided. These are due both to existing information not being found or made available, and due to the simple lack of information for certain countries and species. It is hoped and expected that the publication of this document will stimulate further research and the provision of additional data, so that future editions can be even more complete. Already a great deal of information exists for the Anatidae, not least because of the International Waterfowl Census, which has provided site-based data for many species since 1967. Thus, this document already provides a useful baseline from which to define measures for the recovery of threatened species and populations, for the establishment of protected areas, for the definition of wise use programmes, and for the improvement of monitoring and research programmes.
1. Introduction
The compilers hope that this document will act as a stimulus to initiate work to prepare similar atlases for other taxonomic groups of migratory waterbirds and for the Anatidae in other parts of the world. Finally, this publication could not have been written without major input from a large number of key people who are all listed in the Acknowledgements section. Without their helpful information this report could not have been compiled.
2. Identification of Population Limits

2.1 Summary of populations used in this Atlas
The biogeographical populations which are treated as separate units in this Atlas are listed in Table 1. Several types of populations are recognized: the entire population of a monotypic species. the entire population of a recognized subspecies. a discrete migratory population of a species or subspecies, i.e. a population which rarely if ever mixes with other populations of the same species or subspecies. that population of northern hemisphere birds which spends the winter in a relatively discrete portion of Western Eurasia and/or Africa (e.g. northwest Europe, the Black Sea/Mediterranean region, Southwest Asia, West Africa, eastern Africa). In many cases, these populations may mix extensively with other populations on the breeding grounds, or may mix with sedentary populations of the same species during the migration seasons and/or on the wintering grounds. The birds wintering in two or more adjacent regions have often been grouped together into a single larger region, when it seems likely that they belong to the same population (e.g. Black Sea/Mediterranean and West Africa, Southwest Asia and eastern Africa). a regional group of sedentary, nomadic or dispersive birds with an apparently rather continuous distribution and no major gaps between breeding units sufficient to prohibit interchange of individuals during their normal nomadic wanderings and/or post-breeding dispersal.
2.2 History of Anatidae population delineation in Western Eurasia and Africa

Pioneering work by Russian ornithologists in the 1960s identified the main geographical populations of Anatidae in the western part of the former USSR and Europe. Isakov (1967) recognized four major flyways for Anatidae in western Eurasia, and provided a preliminary list of 44 wetlands in the former USSR which were of great FIGURE 1: Isakovs main geographical significance as breeding, moulting, staging and/or wintering grounds. populations of Anatidae in Western Eurasia Isakovs four populations were: (1) northern White Sea/North Sea population; (2) European Siberia/Black Sea-Mediterranean population; (3) West Siberian/Caspian/Nile population; and (4) Siberian-Kazakhstan/Pakistan-India population (see Figure 1). Isakov (1970a) attempted to define the breeding grounds of these populations in greater detail, and demonstrated that there was extensive overlap between the various regions. Shevareva (1970) analyzed 10,600 recoveries of ducks ringed in the former USSR and confirmed the basic geographical populations outlined by Isakov (1967) for Anas platyrhynchos, A. crecca, A. acuta, A. penelope and A. querquedula. The concept of biogeographical populations was elaborated in some detail by Atkinson-Willes et al. (1982), and the following account is based largely on these authors. In its simplest form, a population comprises a discrete unit with a clearly defined flyway linking the breeding and moulting grounds to the terminal winter quarters. In some cases, the unit will comprise the entire population of a species or subspecies, as in Branta ruficollis, Anser albifrons flavirostris and Branta bernicla bernicla. (Note that in North America, the term flyway is used in a rather different manner to refer to an
administrative unit for the management of waterfowl populations, and is identical for virtually all duck species). A number of other species and subspecies are known, from ringing and migration studies, to have two or more distinct populations which seldom if ever mix at any stage in their annual cycles, and should therefore be treated separately. The conditions which these various populations experience are likely to be quite different; it is therefore reasonable to suppose that each of them will, in isolation, have evolved its own peculiar adaptations. The Western Palearctic provides several examples of these discrete units, notably the two populations of Anser brachyrhynchus, the three populations of Branta leucopsis and the isolated west Mediterranean population of Marmaronetta angustirostris. Such a division of species into discrete population units is, however, usually impossible, especially amongst the common and widespread species. For most species of Anatidae which have been the subject of intensive ringing studies, it is clear that no such biogeographically discrete populations exist. Thus in most of the Palearctic ducks, there is no clear-cut relationship between the various breeding and wintering grounds. The flocks wintering in any given area are likely to contain individuals from several of the main breeding grounds, and similarly birds from the same breeding areas may often occur in a number of widely separated winter quarters. In most species, there is a great deal of mixing across huge longitudinal ranges, and clear dividing lines are seldom present. An alternative method of sub-dividing species into convenient units for conservation and management action must therefore be devised. Otherwise the total numbers would be so large that the 1% criterion would cease to be relevant and priorities for conservation and management would be difficult to define.
2.3 Practical versus biogeographic units of population

Atkinson-Willes (1976) and Atkinson-Willes et al. (1982) recommended that the flyway concept be abandoned for common and widespread species in the Western Palearctic, and that population units be based on the main wintering regions. On this basis, the individuals wintering in a given region are treated as a single population, regardless of their distribution at other times of the year. This concept was applied to the Palearctic ducks wintering in Western Eurasia and the northern half of Africa. Within this area, a total of five biogeographical regions were defined: northwest Europe, Black Sea/Mediterranean, Caspian/Gulf, Turkestan/Pakistan, and Tropical West Africa (AtkinsonWilles, 1976). Atkinson-Willes set the line between northwest European and the Black Sea/ Mediterranean regions north of the Alps, and included central Europe in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region. He included the Nile Delta (Egypt) and Azraq Oasis (Jordan) in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region, and remained undecided as to the location of the important wetlands of the Seistan Basin on the border between Iran and Afghanistan. The principles involved in defining these particular wintering regions were as follows: a region must be large enough and have a sufficiently wide range of habitat and climate for the birds to remain within its boundaries in all normal winters; it should, as far as possible, be bounded by physical barriers sufficient to prevent the easy movement of birds from one region to another, or by zones in which the species under review is either scarce or absent; the boundaries of the region should preferably be uniform for all species; the alignment may, however, be varied to take into account specific peculiarities in distribution; the boundaries of the wintering regions should include the migration routes leading to them. In support of the population boundaries chosen by Atkinson-Willes (1976), there is a considerable body of evidence, mostly from ringing studies such as those by Shevareva (1970) and Perdeck & Clason (1980), that most Anatidae in Western Eurasia follow a southwesterly course from their breeding grounds to their winter quarters. For species with a relatively continuous breeding range across northern Eurasia and a relatively continuous wintering range across southern Eurasia (to Africa, India and southeast Asia), there is a very strong tendency for birds in the west to winter in the west, and birds in the east to winter in the east. For many species of Anatidae, ringing recoveries have demonstrated that the majority of birds breeding in northwest Europe (including Scandinavia) winter from western Europe south in varying degrees to the west Mediterranean and northwest Africa. The majority of birds breeding in northeast and central Europe (in the east up to the Urals) generally follow a more easterly route to winter from the Black Sea and southeast Europe through the Mediterranean basin to West Africa and the central Sahel zone. Birds breeding in western Siberia (notably in the basin of the Ob and Irtysh rivers) generally migrate southwest through the Caspian region to the Middle East and, in some cases, also to northeast and eastern Africa.
Atkinson-Willes et al. (1982) discussed some of the problems arising from this rather arbitrary approach to the selection of geographical units of population. The main problem arises in cases where a species is abundant in one region, but scarce and at the edge of its range in the next. If the populations in the two regions are treated separately, the 1% criterion will place undue emphasis on sites in the region of minimal importance. The obvious solution is to combine the two regions, or to amend the boundary between them, so that the marginal overspill is included in the main population. However, it is important to distinguish between small relict populations, which are genetically and geographically isolated from all other populations of the species, and those which comprise no more than a minor extension of the normal distribution. The former should be treated separately, the latter as part of the main population. Another problem arises where the number of individuals wintering in a region is very much smaller than the number passing through on migration. It has been suggested that two 1% levels should be adopted in this situation, one based on the number occurring on passage, for use in autumn and spring, the other on the number remaining in winter. Atkinson-Willes et al. (1982) regarded this as an unnecessary complication, and recommended that the small winter remnant be lumped with the main population with which it is associated; the same 1% level should then be used throughout. For example, the small numbers of Anas querquedula which remain throughout the winter in the Mediterranean Basin and Middle East should be regarded as part of the main populations wintering in West Africa and eastern Africa, respectively. An exception to this should, however, be made in those instances in which two populations from distinct breeding areas are involved. In this situation, separate criteria might be justifiable. Examples might occur in Anas acuta and A. clypeata in northwest Europe. The rather small wintering populations in this region consist of birds from Fennoscandia, the Baltic States and northwest Russia, while many of the birds occurring on migration originate from breeding areas further to the east and winter in the Mediterranean basin and West Africa. Meininger et al. (1995) have suggested that when two or more populations use a site during the course of a year, the 1% level used at a particular time of year should be the 1% level of that population which is most abundant at that time of year. When it is unclear which population dominates, the highest level should be applied. In most cases, there should be no difficulty in separating recognized subspecies as discrete populations of the species considered. The recognized subspecies of Anatidae treated in this report are either (a) totally discrete, e.g. the African and Madagascar subspecies of Thalassornis leuconotus, (b) show only a narrow zone of intergradation or secondary contact zone where they come together e.g. the two subspecies of Anser fabalis and the two subspecies of Plectropterus gambensis; or (c) are separated from other populations during the breeding season by unsuitable terrain e.g. the three subspecies of Somateria mollissima.
2.4 Existing reviews of Anatidae populations in the Western Palearctic

Atkinson-Willes (1976) described the main wintering regions for twelve species of Anatidae in the Western Palearctic (Cygnus columbianus, Tadorna ferruginea, T. tadorna, Anas penelope, A. crecca, A. platyrhynchos, A. acuta, A. clypeata, Aythya ferina, A. fuligula, A. marila and Mergellus albellus). AtkinsonWilles then went on to discuss the numbers and distribution of five species of seaducks (Somateria mollissima, Clangula hyemalis, Melanitta nigra, M. fusca and Bucephala clangula) in Europe, and defined northwest European populations for these, but noted that S. mollissima (with several isolated and relatively sedentary populations) and C. hyemalis (still at that time poorly known) did not fit so neatly into the system of wintering regions (Atkinson-Willes, 1978). Finally, he examined the winter distribution of the three swans Cygnus spp. in northwest Europe, and identified the main wintering groups of these species (Atkinson-Willes, 1981). Detailed accounts of the populations of geese (Anser spp. and Branta spp.) occurring in the Western Palearctic have been given by Ogilvie (1978) and Timmerman (1981). More recently, Madsen (1991) has reviewed the status and trends of goose populations wintering and/or breeding in the Western Palearctic in the 1980s. He recognizes 21 populations of the eight species of geese occurring in the wild in substantial numbers, and also recognizes two populations of the introduced Branta canadensis (a British/Irish population and a Scandinavian population) and a feral population of Anser anser (in the British Isles). The present report follows Madsen (1991), except that two additional populations in Southwest Asia are included (for Anser albifrons and A. anser). Ruger et al. (1986) adopted the by now traditional approach for the purposes of analysis of trends, but acknowledged that this did not necessarily reflect true biogeographical populations. They repeated the rationale of Atkinson-Willes (1976), and followed many of his wintering regions, adding further
justification for some of the regional boundaries. Their division of France, Germany and Spain between the northwest European and Black Sea/Mediterranean regions followed Atkinson-Willes (1976). However, these authors described more exceptions for species for which better information was then available, e.g. these authors split off the western Mediterranean population of Tadorna tadorna from the rest of the Black Sea/Mediterranean group on the basis of a paper by Walmsley (1984). Ruger et al. (1986) concluded that the mid-winter waterfowl census data provide further support for the use of the biogeographical regions. While there is evidence of substantial internal redistribution of some northwest European waterfowl populations from year to year depending on weather conditions, large-scale movements out of the region apparently only occur in severe winters (e.g. 197879), when certain species, such as Anas penelope and A. crecca, move to southern Spain and probably northwest Africa. Monval & Pirot (1989) also adopted the wintering regions as defined by Atkinson-Willes (1976), and defined the northwest European and Black Sea/Mediterranean regions rather precisely, including central Europe (southwest Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria) within the Black Sea-Mediterranean region. Both Ruger et al. (1986) and Monval & Pirot (1989) divided the Black Sea/Mediterranean region into two sub-regions, east and west, because of differences in the quality of the data from these two regions, and not because they thought that the birds in these two sub-regions belonged to different populations. In their summary of waterfowl population estimates, Rose & Scott (1994) also followed the traditional approach, but made further adjustments to the limits of some populations in the light of recent information, and also made a first attempt at identifying population units in Afrotropical species.
2.5 Geographic regions not adequately discussed in previous flyway studies

i) Africa No attempt had ever been made to define populations of endemic African Anatidae before Rose & Scott (1994), and never has any discussion or justification of population boundaries been attempted. A West African region was defined by Atkinson-Willes (1976) solely on the basis of the winter distribution of Western Palearctic species within the region, and subsequent censuses of the region were organised primarily with these species in mind. Consequently, when Perennou (1991a) analysed the results of African Waterfowl Census data for all species of waterbirds, he also chose to concur with the traditional West African region due to the consistent, long time series of data available in comparison with the rest of the continent. In the present report, an attempt is made to identify the most appropriate population units for conservation purposes for all species of Anatidae occurring in Africa. This process has been greatly aided by the large amount of new information on African Anatidae which has become available in recent years through the African Waterfowl Census, which now covers much of the continent. In many of the more arid regions of Africa, most species of Anatidae are known to undertake lengthy movements in response to changing water levels. In areas where rainfall is infrequent and unpredictable, these movements are also likely to be infrequent and unpredictable, and might best be described as nomadism or irregular dispersive movements. In areas where the rainfall is more or less annual and seasonal, such movements could be classified as predictable migrations, in the sense of the Bonn Convention. At the same time, in all but the most arid regions, there will be permanent wetlands at which some individuals can remain resident all year round. From the limited information available, it would seem that most populations of Afrotropical Anatidae are to some extent sedentary and to some extent nomadic or dispersive, moving in response to changing water levels. Many also undertake regular, seasonal migrations within Africa, sometimes of great length, but these movements often appear to be rather complex and, in most species, are still very poorly understood. For many of the widespread Afrotropical species, it seems likely that there are several biogeographical populations with discrete or largely non-overlapping breeding areas and non-breeding ranges. This is particularly the case in species which have an extensive north-south range spanning the equator, since the northernmost and southernmost populations generally breed at opposite times of the year. However, until much more information becomes available on the movements of these populations, the timing of their breeding seasons, and their interactions with sedentary populations in equatorial regions, it is generally not possible to identify any particular migratory populations within the distribution of the species (or subspecies) as a whole. Five Afrotropical species,Dendrocygna viduata, Alopochen aegyptiacus, Plectropterus gambensis, Sarkidiornis melanotos and Nettapus auritus, are very widely distributed over Africa south of the Sahara, and there do
not appear to be any major gaps in their distribution except in the lowland forested areas of west-central Africa and in the deserts of the southwest. Because of the extent of movements shown by these species in Africa, their entire African populations are probably best treated, biologically, as single, very large populations. However, while there would appear to be no significant barriers to movement of birds within the eastern and southern parts of the species ranges, the lowland forests of west-central Africa and the arid regions of southern Chad and Sudan, with little suitable habitat for the species, presumably restrict movement to some extent between the West African populations and other populations. There does indeed appear to be something of a break in the distribution of many species along a line from the Gulf of Guinea and forested highlands of Cameroon through the arid uplands of southeastern Chad and the Darfur region of western Sudan to the Nile north of Khartoum. In three species,Dendrocygna bicolor, Thalassornis leuconotus and Anas hottentota, there is a very pronounced break in this region. It is proposed that, for conservation purposes, a similar break be adopted along this line to create separate West African populations of the five widespread species. These West African populations extend east to Chad and western Sudan, and south to the Central African Republic. It is acknowledged, however, that there may be a considerable amount of interchange between these populations and birds in eastern Africa. While it has been argued that there is some justification for the recognition of West African populations of some Afrotropical Anatidae (as identified by Perennou, 1991a), there would seem to be little justification for the recognition of separate West African populations of Western Palearctic ducks, as identified by various earlier authors (e.g. Atkinson-Willes, 1976; Ruger et al., 1986; Monval & Pirot, 1989; Perennou, 1991a). Most species of Anatidae wintering in the southern Mediterranean are also found wintering in West Africa. For species such as Anas penelope, A. strepera, A. crecca, Aythya ferina and A. fuligula, from Western Eurasia, wintering in West Africa is annual, but the numbers are very small and are clearly overspill from the large concentrations in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region. Clearly, the small numbers of birds reaching West Africa do not merit treatment as distinct populations. Similarly, the residue of Anas querquedula remaining in the Mediterranean does not warrant treatment separately from the great majority of birds which winter in West Africa. It would seem inconsistent, therefore, to treat the Mediterranean and West African wintering populations of species divided more evenly to the north and south of the Sahara as distinct. For this reason, it is recommended in the present Atlas that the populations of Anas acuta and A. clypeata wintering in West Africa be combined with those wintering in the Black Sea/ Mediterranean region. Some support for this decision comes from recoveries of ringed birds which, although few in number, suggest similar origins for the birds wintering north and south of the Sahara.
ii) Africas offshore islands The ten species of Anatidae which breed in Madagascar are said to be mainly sedentary. Three species are confined to Madagascar and the Madagascar population of a fourth (Thalassornis leuconotus) is recognized as being subspecifically distinct. In the other six species, there is no indication of any interchange between the Madagascar populations and those on the mainland of Africa, except perhaps in the case of Anas erythrorhyncha. In all cases, therefore, the Madagascar populations of Anatidae are treated as separate populations in this Atlas. Very few Anatidae occur on Africas other offshore islands, except as scarce migrants or vagrants. Young (1996) summarizes the status of those Anatidae that do occur. Moreau (1966) lists only one species for the Cape Verde Islands, one for Mafia, three each for Zanzibar and Pemba, and none for the Canary Islands, Gulf of Guinea Islands (Fernando Po, Principe, Sao Tome and Annobon), Comoro Islands and Socotra. Marmaronetta angustirostris bred in the Canary Islands in the 19th century and probably up to about 1914, but the principal site had been largely drained by 1948, and the species has disappeared from these islands (Cramp & Simmons, 1977). M. angustirostris possibly also bred on the Cape Verde Islands in the late 19th century, but there have been no recent records (Cramp & Simmons, 1977). At least 14 other species of Anatidae have been recorded on the Atlantic islands off northwest Africa (Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Cape Verde), but most have been recorded only as rare vagrants, and none occur in significant numbers (Cramp & Simmons, 1977). The occurrence of Anatidae in Zanzibar and Pemba has been summarized by Pakenham (1979). Three species have been recorded: Dendrocygna viduata is an occasional visitor to both islands and may have bred; Thalassornis leuconotus formerly bred on Pemba (until the 1920s) and has possibly occurred on Zanzibar, but there are no recent records from either island; and Nettapus auritus was formerly a resident on both islands, but now occurs only as a scarce resident on Pemba. Staub & Chevreau de Montlehu (1973) refer to the occurrence of Dendrocygna viduata on Mayotte in the Comoro Islands, and Brown et al. (1982) also list D. viduata for the Comoros, but little information
seems to be available on this population, and it may be that the species occurs in the Comoros primarily as a wanderer from the African mainland. There are very few Anatidae on the Indian Ocean islands west of the Indian subcontinent. The only Anatidae known from Mauritius are Anas melleri, which is believed to have been introduced from Madagascar in the mid-19th century, and Dendrocygna viduata, which apparently reached the island naturally and apparently breeds (Staub & Chevreau de Montlehu, 1973). At least seven species of Anatidae have been recorded in the Seychelles (including Amirantes, Farquhar and Aldabra): Dendrocygna viduata, Anas crecca, A. platyrhynchos, A. acuta, A. querquedula, A. clypeata and Aythya fuligula. However, all of these are vagrants except for A. querquedula, which occurs as an occasional passage migrant in the granitic Seychelles and as an uncommon passage migrant in the coralline Seychelles (Skerrett & Bullock, 1992). In the South Atlantic south of the African continent, the Kerguelen and Crozet islands support extremely isolated populations of a pintail, considered by some authors to be a well-marked subspecies of Anas acuta, but now more widely recognized as constituting a distinct species, Anas eatoni, with two subspecies, A. e. eatoni on Kerguelen Island and A. e. drygalskii in the Crozet Islands. This latter treatment is adopted in the present report. It is concluded that the only Anatidae populations on Africas offshore islands which constitute discrete units are the populations of ten species on Madagascar, the populations of the two subspecies of Anas eatoni in the Kerguelen and Crozet Islands, and the introduced population of Anas melleri on Mauritius.
iii) Southwest Asia Although many earlier workers had referred to the existence of a west Siberian/Caspian flyway or Southwest Asian wintering region, it was not until the beginning of the 1990s that sufficient data were available to review the numbers and distribution of species of Anatidae within this region. In their summary of the first five years of data from the Asian Waterfowl Census (19871991), Perennou et al. (1994) recognized Southwest Asian populations of 28 species of Anatidae, and considered that for conservation purposes these should be treated separately from the Black Sea/Mediterranean populations to the west and south Asian populations to the east. For most species, the Southwest Asian populations were defined as those birds wintering in the Southwest Asian region. This region was defined as the whole of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kirghizistan, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; the north Caspian region (Russia), although in Europe, was also considered as part of this region. The region did not include Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel or Jordan, which had traditionally been included within the Black Sea/Mediterranean region. Perennou et al. (1994) noted that most if not all of the Palearctic Anatidae wintering in northeast and eastern Africa probably belonged to the Southwest Asian flyway, and in some cases, these authors included estimates of the numbers of birds wintering in northeastern Africa (excluding Egypt) in their population estimates for Southwest Asia. The concept of Southwest Asian populations based on a Southwest Asian wintering region (with northeastern Africa) is retained in the present report as a default population for conservation purposes. There is clearly a considerable amount of mixing both between the Southwest Asian and Black Sea/ Mediterranean populations, and between the Southwest Asian and south Asian populations. Evidence from ringing has shown that the vast wetlands of the west Siberian plain are a major breeding area for birds wintering in both the Black Sea/Mediterranean and Southwest Asia regions, while the wetlands of the Volga Delta in the north Caspian are a major staging area and moulting area for large numbers of birds from both these populations. Further east, there is evidence of a significant migration route through the east Caspian and wetlands of Seistan on the Iran/Afghanistan border to the wetlands of the Indus and Ganges plains in Pakistan and northern India. Finally, there is considerable overlap between the Southwest Asian and south Asian populations in the central Asian republics east of the Caspian Sea, with many birds from western and central Siberia staging in Kirghizistan, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on their way to winter quarters in southern Asia. The Southwest Asian flyway, as defined in this Atlas, extends from the principal breeding grounds on the Taymyr Peninsula and west Siberian plain southwest through the Aral and Caspian Sea regions to western Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, extreme eastern Turkey and the Euphrates valley, and thence southwest across the Arabian Peninsula to northeast Africa (Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia) and East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda). This flyway population closely follows the West Siberian-Caspian-Nile population described by Isakov as long ago as 1967 (see Figure 1). North of the Caucasus, the separation between the Southwest Asian and Black Sea/Mediterranean regions is set somewhat arbitrarily along the divide between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea catchments. However, in the north Caspian region,
no separation is possible because of the great importance of the wetlands of the Volga Delta as staging and moulting areas for both populations. Similarly, there is no clear separation between the Southwest Asian and south Asian populations in the central Asian republics. For the present purposes, the eastern limits of the Southwest Asian region are set along the eastern borders of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The wetlands of Khirgizistan and Tadjikistan are excluded, as these are probably of greatest importance as staging and wintering areas for Anatidae in the south Asian flyway. Birds breeding and/or staging in the wetlands in the region of Lake Van in extreme eastern Turkey are included in the Southwest Asian flyway, along with the very large numbers of birds occurring in the Uromiyeh Basin just across the border in northwestern Iran. Similarly, birds breeding, staging and/or wintering in the Euphrates valley in Syria are included along with the vast numbers of birds further down the Euphrates in Iraq. Azraq Oasis in Jordan is probably best placed within the Southwest Asian flyway because of its proximity to the Euphrates valley. However, this wetland has been almost totally destroyed and now supports only small numbers of Anatidae on migration. The wetlands of the Nile Delta, although previously linked with the Caspian region in the so-called West Siberian-CaspianNile flyway (e.g. see Isakov, 1967) are better placed within the Black Sea/Mediterranean region. There is no evidence to suggest that large numbers of birds wintering in eastern Africa enter Africa via the Nile Delta and then turn southeast to follow the Nile Valley across the desert to southern Sudan and Ethiopia. On the other hand, recent waterfowl censuses in the Arabian Peninsula suggest that many Anatidae cross the peninsula on a broad front to reach eastern Africa across the Red Sea. In the east, the wetlands of the Seistan Basin on the Iran/Afghanistan border are included in the Southwest Asian region, as it seems likely that many of the birds which winter there in wet years (up to 1,000,000) stage in autumn and spring in the south Caspian region and Kazakhstan. (In dry years, most of these birds presumably move on to winter in the Indian subcontinent). The wetlands of central and eastern Afghanistan, which are important mainly as staging areas for Anatidae, are excluded, as it seems likely that the birds passing through these regions winter in southern Asia.
iv) Greenland Most populations of Anatidae breeding in Greenland are either resident within Greenland (e.g. the endemic subspecies of Anas platyrhynchos and Mergus serrator), or migrate southeast to Iceland and/or northwest Europe. Both of these types of population have been included in the Atlas. However, the populations of Somateria mollissima and S. spectabilis breeding in west Greenland probably form part of much larger populations of these species in northeastern North America, and are perhaps best considered as belonging to the Nearctic/Neotropical bird migration system. For this reason, these two breeding populations have been excluded from the Atlas. v) Iceland The Icelandic populations of Anatidae include the full spectrum from large and definitely discrete populations to tiny, marginal populations clearly linked to northwest Europe. Two species, Histrionicus histrionicus and Bucephala islandica, are largely sedentary and occur nowhere else in northwest Europe. These clearly constitute discrete populations. The Icelandic populations of Cygnus cygnus and Anser anser, and the Greenland and Icelandic population of Anser brachyrhynchus winter mainly in Britain and Ireland and appear to be almost entirely separate from other populations of these species wintering on the mainland of northwest Europe. These have also traditionally been regarded as discrete populations. However, twelve species of duck which are common in northwest Europe have relatively small or very small breeding populations in Iceland. These have traditionally been lumped with the much larger northwest European populations. The species in question are Anas penelope (4,0006,000 pairs), A. strepera (200300 pairs), A. crecca (3,0005,000 pairs), A. platyrhynchos (10,00015,000 pairs), A. acuta (500 pairs), A. clypeata (1030 pairs), Aythya ferina (05 pairs), A. fuligula (5,0008,000 pairs), A. marila (3,0005,000 pairs), Melanitta nigra (400600 pairs), Mergus serrator (2,0004,000 pairs) and M. merganser (300 pairs). In most cases it is clear that the Icelandic birds mix extensively with other breeding populations on their wintering grounds in northwest Europe, and presumably, therefore, show a considerable degree of genetic mixing. These populations should continue to be lumped with their respective northwest European populations. However, in some cases there would appear to be greater justification for treating the Icelandic populations as discrete populations. This is particularly the case with Mergus merganser, as the Icelandic population appears to be entirely resident in Iceland, with no emigration in winter, and no immigration of birds from elsewhere. The Icelandic population, although very small, is apparently quite discrete, and for conservation purposes at least should be treated as a separate group.
The population of Mergus serrator breeding in Iceland winters partly in Icelandic waters, where it mixes with birds from east Greenland, and partly in northwest Britain and Ireland, where it mixes with local breeders. However, the birds breeding in Britain and Ireland show only limited movements within these islands, and it may be that there is very little mixing between birds wintering in Britain and Ireland and those wintering along the coasts of continental Europe, only a few of which reach Britain (mainly in the south and east). Thus there may be some justification for treating breeding birds from east Greenland, Iceland, Britain and Ireland as a separate group from those on the European mainland. The large Icelandic breeding population of Somateria mollissima has traditionally been lumped within a single, very large northwest European population of the species. This treatment is rejected in the present work because three recognized subspecies of S. mollissima breed in Europe, and several of the populations of these are mainly sedentary and apparently completed isolated from one another. In the revised treatment of S. mollissima proposed in this work, Icelandic borealis are lumped with borealis breeding in Greenland, Svalbard and Franz Joseph Land as a single European population of S. m. borealis, although it is acknowledged that the Icelandic birds, the Greenland birds and the Svalbard/Franz Joseph birds are unlikely to come into contact with one another, and might best be treated as discrete populations. Recent authors have tended to treat the Clangula hyemalis breeding in Iceland and Greenland as being a separate population from those breeding in northern Europe and Russia and wintering mainly in the Baltic Sea. This treatment is adopted here for conservation purposes, although it is acknowledged that, in view of the species very high mobility, there may be a considerable amount of movement between these two populations and biologically it might be more appropriate to lump all C. hyemalis from Greenland to Siberia in a single, very large North Atlantic population (cf. Somateria spectabilis).
2.6 Sedentary species

No species of Anatidae are totally sedentary, i.e. never move outside their breeding territories. Even if established pairs of breeding adults are sedentary, young birds must be at least dispersive if they are to establish their own territories. Where extensive ringing has been carried out, it seems that even in sedentary species, some individuals will undertake movements of at least 100 km and sometimes up to 500 km or more. It should, therefore, be possible to define the limits of a sedentary population on the basis of the extent of these dispersive movements. Breaks between sedentary populations might be expected to occur where the gap in distribution between breeding groups is considerably greater than the distance covered in the normal dispersive movements undertaken by the species. It must be assumed that the gap between breeding groups is a genuine gap (e.g. because of the absence of suitable habitat) and not an artifact resulting from a lack of information. This approach has been adopted here, especially for Anatidae populations in Africa. Thus population units have in many cases been established primarily on the basis of known occurrences of the species (e.g. as plotted in Snow, 1978) and the likely maximum distance of normal dispersive movements, as deduced from ringing recoveries. A more serious problem arises with species which have sedentary populations lying partly or entirely within the non-breeding ranges of migratory populations. While identification of key sites is often easy during the breeding season, when the populations are widely separated, it might be difficult or impossible at other times of the year, when large numbers of individuals from the migratory population may be present. In these cases, it is necessary to determine whether the sedentary populations in question are really discrete and self-sustaining populations which have little if any genetic input from migratory birds passing through and/or wintering in their ranges, or whether they are marginal outliers, i.e. small parts of a much larger population exploiting isolated patches of suitable (although perhaps only marginally suitable) breeding habitat at the limit of the populations breeding range. If the former is the case, treatment of the sedentary population as a separate unit is clearly warranted. If the latter is the case, the sedentary birds should be considered as part of a larger population containing both migratory and sedentary elements. In some cases, historical information will resolve this question, e.g. when an isolated sedentary population has re-appeared again after a period of extinction, or when it is known that the breeding areas were formerly much more extensive and more or less contiguous with the main breeding areas of the bulk of the population. Anser anser shows both types of sedentary population in the Western Palearctic: an isolated breeding population in northwest Scotland which shows little if any mixing with the Icelandic birds wintering in Britain and may even be morphologically distinct, and a number of small breeding groups in central Europe, Turkey and Iran which mix extensively with migratory birds outside the breeding season, and probably represent no more than relicts of a once much more widespread breeding population.
10
TABLE 1: Anatidae populations in Africa and Western Eurasia. Population sizes, population trends and recommended thresholds for use in Ramsar Convention criterion 3c (1% level).
1% thresholds in parentheses are provisional numerical criteria for use in this Atlas, and are not intended as official 1% levels for the identification of potential Ramsar Sites.
Species Population Size (individuals) Threshold used to select key sites Trend Sub-population
Dendrocygna bicolor
West Africa Eastern and Southern Africa Madagascar
100,000 200,000500,000 15,00025,000 250,000 20,00050,000 1,000 10,00025,000 1,0005,000 700 400 11,00015,000 300500 1,0005,000 15,00025,000 15,00025,000 170,000 20,000 16,000
1,000 (3,500) (200) 2,500 (350) 10 (180) (30) 7 4 130 4 (30) (200) (200) 2,100 not used not used not used 250 100 450 2,500 160 400 170 (200) 170 5 2,250 340 800 3,000 6,000 1,000 6,500 150 300 Not used 40 200
? ? Declining ?Increasing ?Increasing ?Declining Declining Stable Declining Increasing Stable ?Declining ?Stable ? ?Declining ?Increasing Increasing Increasing Stable Stable Increasing ? Increasing Increasing Stable Increasing Declining ?Declining ?Increasing ? Increasing Increasing Increasing ? Increasing Declining ? Declining Increasing Declining Declining Declining NE and SE Europe W Siberia/Caspian Scandinavian/Baltic BeNeLux countries Central Europe SW Iran
Dendrocygna viduata
1,000,0002,000,000 (15,000)
Thalassornis leuconotus
Oxyura leucocephala
West Mediterranean (Spain) North Africa (Algeria & Tunisia) SE Europe/Turkey/SW Asia
Oxyura maccoa
Ethiopian highlands East Africa Southern Africa
Cygnus olor
Northwest mainland and central Europe 210,000
Britain Ireland Black Sea/E Mediterranean W-C Asia/Caspian Region
25,000 10,000 45,000 250,000 16,000 40,000 17,000 (20,000) 17,000 500 225,000 34,000 80,000 300,000 600,000 100,000 650,000 15,000 30,000 15,00035,000 3,0005,000 10,00030,000
Cygnus cygnus
Iceland/U.K./Ireland NW Continental Europe W Siberia/Black Sea/E Mediterranean W Siberia/Caspian Region
Cygnus columbianus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser fabalis Anser albifrons
W Siberia/NW Europe N Siberia/Caspian Region E Greenland/Iceland/U.K. Svalbard/NW Europe NE & NW Europe (fabalis) W Sib./C & SW Europe (rossicus ) NW Siberia/NE & NW Europe W Siberia/Central Europe W Siberia/Black Sea/Turkey N Siberia/Caspian/Iraq Greenland/Ireland/U.K. (flavirostris )
Anser erythropus
West Eurasia
11
TABLE 1 ... continued

Anser anser
Branta leucopsis
Branta bernicla
Branta ruficollis Cyanochen cyanopterus Alopochen aegyptiacus Tadorna ferruginea
Tadorna cana Tadorna tadorna
Plectropterus gambensis
Pteronetta hartlaubii Sarkidiornis melanotos
Nettapus auritus
Anas penelope
Anas strepera
Anas crecca
Anas capensis Anas bernieri
Iceland/U.K./Ireland NW Scotland NW Europe/SW Europe Central Europe/N Africa Black Sea/Turkey W Siberia/Caspian Region/Iraq E Greenland/Ireland/Scotland Svalbard/SW Scotland Russia/Germany/Netherlands Entire population of bernicla Can./Greenland/Ireland ( hrota ) Svalbard/Denmark/U.K. ( hrota ) Entire population Entire population West Africa Eastern and Southern Africa Ethiopia NW Africa Black Sea/E Mediterranean/NE Africa W-C Asia/Caspian/Iran/Iraq Entire population NW Europe Black Sea/Mediterranean W Asia/Caspian/Middle East West Africa (gambensis) Eastern Africa (gambensis) Southern Africa ( niger) Central Africa West Africa (Guinea to Ghana) West Africa Eastern and Southern Africa Madagascar West Africa Eastern and Southern Africa Madagascar NW Europe NE Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean W Siberia/SW Asia/NE Africa NW Europe NE Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean W Siberia/SW Asia/NE Africa NW Europe NE Europe/Black Sea/W Africa W Siberia/SW Asia/NE Africa Eastern Africa Southern Africa Entire population
100,000 5,250 200,000 20,000 25,000 100,000 32,000 12,000 176,000 300,000 20,000 5,000 70,000 5,00015,000 10,00025,000 200,000500,000 200500 2,500 20,000 35,000 42,000 300,000 75,000 80,000 50,000 200,000300,000 50,000100,000 10,00050,000 1,000 50,000 500,0001,000,000 10,00025,000 20,00030,000 100,000250,000 5,00010,000 1,250,000 560,000 250,000 30,000 75,000150,000 130,000 400,000 750,0001,375,000 1,500,000 100,000250,000 100,000250,000 5001,000
1,000 50 2,000 200 250 1,000 320 120 1,760 3,000 200 50 700 (100) (175) (3,500) 4 25 200 350 420 3,000 750 800 500 (2,500) (750) (300) (10) 500 (7,500) (175) (250) (1,750) (75) 12,500 5,600 2,500 300 1,000 1,300 4,000 10,500 15,000 (1,750) (1,750) 8
Increasing Increasing Increasing Stable Stable Increasing Stable Stable Increasing Increasing Stable Stable ? Stable ? ? ? Declining ?Declining Increasing Stable Increasing ?Increasing Increasing ?Declining Stable Stable Declining Declining Stable Stable Declining ? ? Declining Increasing Declining Declining Increasing ?Declining ? Increasing Stable Declining Stable Increasing Declining
12

Anas platyrhynchos
Anas undulata
Anas melleri Anas sparsa
Anas acuta
Anas eatoni Anas erythrorhyncha
Anas hottentota
Anas querquedula Anas smithii Anas clypeata
Marmaronetta angustirostris
Netta rufina
Netta erythrophthalma Aythya ferina
Aythya nyroca
Aythya innotata
Greenland (conboschas ) 15,00030,000 NW Europe 5,000,000 N Europe/West Mediterranean 1,000,000 NE-C Europe/Black Sea/East Mediterranean 2,250,000 W Siberia/SW Asia 800,000 Northeast Africa (rueppelli) 20,00050,000 Eastern Africa ( undulata) 50,000100,000 Southern Africa (undulata) 60,000 Entire population 2,0005,000 Southern Africa (sparsa) 20,00050,000 Eastern Africa (leucostigma ) 10,00025,000 2,00010,000 Ethiopian highlands (leucostigma ) Cameroon highlands (leucostigma) 1,0005,000 Guinea 100 Gabon (maclatchyi ) 1,0005,000 NW Europe 60,000 Black Sea/Med/West Africa 1,200,000 W Siberia/SW Asia/E Africa 700,000 Kerguelen ( eatoni) 10,00040,000 Crozet Islands (drygalskii) 1,400 Southern Africa 500,0001,000,000 Eastern Africa 100,000300,000 Madagascar 15,00025,000 West Africa 5,00010,000 Eastern Africa 100,000300,000 Southern Africa 100,000200,000 Madagascar 5,00010,000 Europe/West Africa 2,000,000 W & SW Asia, NE & E Africa 100,000200,000 Entire population 20,00050,000 NW Europe/Central Europe 40,000 Black Sea/Med/W Africa 450,000 W Siberia/SW Asia/E Africa 400,000 W Mediterranean/W Africa 3,000 East Mediterranean 1,000 SW Asia 25,000 C & SW Europe/W Mediterranean 25,000 Black Sea/E Mediterranean 50,000 West-central Asia/SW Asia 200,000 Entire population (brunnea ) 30,00070,000 NW Europe 350,000 Central Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean 1,000,000 W Siberia/SW Asia 350,000 West Mediterranean/West Africa 10,000 East Europe/East Mediterranean 50,000 W & SW Asia/Northeast Africa 5,000 Entire population 010
(225) 20,000 10,000 20,000 8,000 (350) (750) 600 (35) (350) (175) (60) (30) (1) (30) 600 12,000 7,000 (250) 14 (7,500) (2,000) (200) (75) (2,000) (1,500) (75) 20,000 (1,500) (350) 400 4,500 4,000 30 10 250 250 500 2,000 (500) 3,500 10,000 3,500 100 500 50 1
Stable Stable Increasing Declining ? Stable Stable Stable Declining Stable ?Declining ? ? ? ? Declining Declining ? Declining Declining Stable Stable ?Declining ?Declining ?Stable ?Stable ?Declining ? ? Stable Stable ? Declining Declining Declining Declining Stable Declining Stable ?Stable Declining Declining ? Declining Declining Declining ?Extinct
13

Aythya fuligula
Aythya marila Somateria mollissima
NW Europe Central Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean W Siberia/SW Asia/NE Africa NW Europe W Siberia/Black Sea/Caspian borealis
faroeensis
mollissima
Somateria spectabilis Polysticta stelleri Histrionicus histrionicus Clangula hyemalis Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Bucephala clangula
Bucephala islandica Mergellus albellus
Mergus serrator
Mergus merganser
E Greenland/W Siberia/NE Europe W Siberia/NE Europe Greenland Iceland Iceland/Greenland W Siberia/NW Europe W Siberia/W Europe/NW Africa W Siberia/NW Europe Black Sea/Caspian NW & Central Europe NE Europe/Adriatic NE Europe/W Siberia/Black Sea W Siberi/Caspian Region Iceland NW & Central Europe NE Europe/Black Sea/E Mediterranean W Siberia/SW Asia West Greenland ( schioleri) NW & Central Europe E Greenland/Iceland/U.K. NE Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean W Siberia/SW Asia Iceland NW & Central Europe
NE Europe/Black Sea Balkans (breeding) W Siberia/Caspian Region
1,000,000 600,000 200,000 310,000 100,000200,000 675,0001,300,000 30,000300,000 600,000900,000 40,00080,000 18,00026,000 6,00012,000 12,00013,500 1,735,0002,355,000 65,00075,000 1,350,0001,700,000 300,000550,000 20,00030,000 300,000 30,000 1,0002,000 6,0009,000 150,000 4,600,000 1,600,000 1,000,000 1,500 300,000 75,000 20,000 (25,000) 2,000 25,00030,000 65,000 30,000 ? 125,000 15,00025,000 50,000 <10,000 900 200,000 5,0008,000 3,000 10,000 50100 20,000
10,000 6,000 2,000 3,100 (1,500) Not used (1,500) 7,500 (600) Not used 90 130 Not used 700 15,000 4,250 250 3,000 300 15 75 1,500 20,000 16,000 10,000 (15) 3,000 750 200 (250) 20 250 650 300 (100) 1,250 200 500 (100) 9 2,000 65 30 100 1 200
Increasing Increasing ? ? ? ? Declining Increasing Stable ?Stable Stable ?Stable ?Stable ?Increasing ?Stable ?Stable ? ? Increasing ?Stable ?Increasing ?Stable ?Stable Stable Stable ? Increasing ? ? ? Stable ? ? ? ? Stable ? ? ? Stable Stable Increasing Increasing ? ? ?
Greenland Iceland Svalbard/F Joseph Faroe Islands Shetland & Orkney Britain & Ireland Baltic, DK & NL Norway & Russia White Sea
U.K. C Europe breeding
14
3. Establishment of a Network of Protected Areas

The continued survival of many species of Anatidae in Western Eurasia and Africa is dependent on the protection and conservation of a network of wetland sites which are of critical importance as breeding, moulting, staging or wintering areas. In many parts of the region, some types of natural wetland ecosystems have now all but disappeared outside of protected areas. This is particularly the case with reed-bed ecosystems and natural flood meadows in parts of western Europe, and spring-fed marshes and shallow freshwater lakes in parts of North Africa and Southwest Asia. It seems likely that within the next two to three decades, many species of Anatidae in Western Eurasia and Africa will, at certain times of the year, have become almost confined to protected areas where they can find adequate natural foods, secure nesting and roosting sites, and freedom from persecution. Various migration strategies can be observed among the Anatidae. During the course of their migrations, most long-distance migrants need to break their journey, often at several points, to renew their fat and protein reserves. The presence of suitable staging areas with abundant food resources is thus of crucial importance. Some species use only a very small number of sites, probably because of their highly specialized feeding and habitat requirements. These sites may be extremely important, as it seems that in many cases no other suitable staging areas are available. Thus, the loss or degradation of even one of these sites could have serious consequences for the species concerned. The final staging area during the spring migration can be of crucial importance, especially for species breeding in the high Arctic. When these birds arrive on the tundra, feeding conditions may be poor, and the extra energy reserves obtained at the last staging area may prove vital in helping them to overcome this initial unfavourable period. In Branta bernicla, a correlation exists between body condition prior to departure from the Dutch Wadden Sea and breeding success in the same season (Ebbinge, 1985). At some staging sites the turnover rate may be very high, and thus the total number of birds using the site during the course of a migration season may be much higher than the number of birds present at any one time. In the case of Branta leucopsis wintering in the Netherlands, it has been shown that at one particular site, although no more than 10,00020,000 birds are present at the same time, the total number of birds which make use of the area is about 40,000, i.e. about 60% of the Dutch wintering population at that time (Ebbinge, 1985). The period of moult, especially wing moult, is a critical time in the annual cycle of Anatidae. Food requirements are high because of increased energy demand for thermo-regulation and feather synthesis (especially in herbivorous species). There is also an increased risk of predation because of decreased manoeuvrability or even complete flightlessness. It is therefore likely that most species will have special habitat requirements during the moulting period, relating to feeding conditions and safety from predators. In a number of species of Anatidae, huge numbers of birds concentrate at a few favoured localities for the wing moult, when they become flightless. At this time, the birds are extremely vulnerable to disturbance, over-exploitation and man-made catastrophes (e.g. oil spills in coastal areas used by moulting Tadorna tadorna). Thus, sites with large concentrations of moulting Anatidae have an added importance. Whether or not migratory populations of Anatidae will survive will depend on the effectiveness of the reserve networks in providing a green route from breeding grounds to wintering areas via a chain of protected wetlands which can serve as moulting and staging areas. The concept that countries should work together to conserve areas that are important for the same populations of migratory species but at different times of the year is fundamental to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds under the Bonn Convention. Thus, the establishment of an adequate network of protected areas to ensure the survival of migratory populations of waterfowl is a basic requirement of this Agreement. Range states should work together with international conservation bodies and funding agencies to provide funds for the acquisition and protection of critical wetland areas, to prepare and
15
3. Establishment of a Network of Protected Areas
implement management plans for these wetland reserves, and to restore degraded wetlands to their natural condition whenever possible. Ideally, all wetlands of international importance for species of migratory and non-migratory Anatidae should be safeguarded. In some cases, because of the fragility of the ecosystem or its high importance for threatened species, strict protection may be necessary in the form of a nature reserve or wildlife sanctuary. In other cases, however, designation under the Ramsar Convention might provide an effective level of protection, and would ensure that the site receives the international attention which it deserves. Designation under the Ramsar Convention has the advantage that it does not preclude the utilization of wetland resources at these sites. In most of the developing countries of Africa, the most cogent arguments for wetland conservation relate to the high economic values of wetlands and the potential for sustainable exploitation of their natural resources which include the migratory waterfowl. A network of wetland reserves already exists in Western Eurasia and Africa. However, the effectiveness of these reserves in protecting an adequate network of breeding, staging and wintering areas for the regions Anatidae has never been adequately assessed. One of the main aims of the present Atlas has been to determine the extent to which the various populations of Anatidae in Western Eurasia and Africa are protected within existing reserves, and thereby to assist in the identification of priorities for the establishment of further reserves. It is particularly noticeable that non-migratory Anatidae species are poorly represented by the current protected areas network.
16
4. Methods
4.1 Regional scope
The regional scope of this work is based on the Western Eurasian/African bird migration systems, the territorial limits being set by the limits of those populations of birds the bulk of the individuals of which spend the whole or a part of their annual cycle within Western Eurasia and/or Africa. Thus, the regional coverage closely follows that of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds under the Bonn Convention. For the purposes of this Atlas, Western Eurasia is defined as follows: the continent of Europe, including its offshore islands, from Greenland in the west to the Urals in the east; western and central Siberia east to the region of the Lena River delta (longitude 130E); the central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan; and Southwest Asia from Asia Minor through the Middle East, east to Iran and the Arabian Sea. Africa is taken to include all its offshore islands south to Kerguelen at about 50south. Afghanistan and the central Asian republics of Kirghizistan and Tajikistan are excluded, as most of the Anatidae occurring in these countries form part of a central Asian/south Asian flyway with the principal wintering areas in the Indian subcontinent.
4.2 Taxonomic scope, treatment and nomenclature

The species and populations of Anatidae included in this Atlas are listed in Table 1. Only species and populations which are indigenous to Western Eurasia and Africa are included. Thus, species and populations which occur in the region only as a result of introductions by man (e.g. Anser indicus, Aix galericulata and the feral population of Anser anser in the United Kingdom) have been excluded. Similarly, species and populations which occur in Western Eurasia and Africa only at the extreme limits of their normal distribution have been excluded, as have species which occur only as rare vagrants or stragglers from other regions. Species of Anatidae which occur in Western Eurasia and Africa but have been excluded from the Atlas are listed in Table 2. The taxonomic treatment at species level follows Sibley and Monroe (1990). Information on subspecies has been derived from a number of sources, the principal references being Brown et al. (1982), Cramp and Simmons (1977), del Hoyo et al. (1992) and Madge and Burn (1988). English names closely follow
TABLE 2: Species of Anatidae occurring in Africa and Western Eurasia but not included in this atlas
Ruddy Duck Bar-headed Goose Snow Goose Ross Goose Canada Goose Cotton Pygmy-goose Wood Duck Mandarin Duck American Wigeon Falcated Duck Baikal Teal American Black Duck Blue-winged Teal Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Spectacled Eider Surf Scoter Bufflehead Hooded Merganser
Oxyura jamaicensis Anser indicus Anser caerulescens Anser rossii Branta canadensis Nettapus coromandelianus Aix sponsa Aix galericulata Anas americana Anas falcata Anas formosa Anas rubripes Anas discors Aythya valisineria Aythya collaris Aythya affinis Somateria fischeri Melanitta perspicillata Bucephala albeola Lophodytes cucullatus
Introduced into western Europe from North America. Introduced into western Europe from Central Asia; possibly also a vagrant. Vagrant to Europe and Africa from North America. Vagrant to Europe from North America. Widely introduced into Europe from North America; also a vagrant. Very scarce winter visitor to the Arabian Peninsula from South Asia. Introduced into western Europe from North America. Introduced into western Europe from eastern Asia. Vagrant to Europe and Africa from North America. Vagrant to Europe and the Middle East from eastern Asia. Vagrant to Europe from eastern Asia. Vagrant to Europe from North America. Vagrant to Europe and Africa from North America. Vagrant to Europe from North America. Vagrant to Europe and Africa from North America. Vagrant to Europe from North America. Vagrant to western Siberia and northern Norway from northeast Asia (east of the Lena Delta). Vagrant to Europe from North America. Vagrant to Europe from North America. Vagrant to Europe from North America.
17
4. Methods
Sibley and Monroe (1990), although in several cases Old World names have been used in preference to the North American names advocated by these authors.
4.3 Population estimates

Unless otherwise stated, the population estimates used in this report follow recent published sources and are identical to those given by Rose & Scott (1994) in the first edition of Waterfowl Population Estimates. When the population estimates differ from those in Rose & Scott (1994) or more recent publications, justification for the new estimates is given in the species texts under the heading Population size or in Annex 1. All population estimates and the 1% criteria derived from them are given in Table 1. In most cases, estimates of total population size are based on the population in the non-breeding season. In some cases, the total population size has been derived from an estimate of the breeding population. In these cases, the number of individuals in the population is calculated as three times the number of breeding pairs, a formula proposed by Meininger et al. (1995) and adopted by Rose & Scott (1994). For most of the populations of Afrotropical Anatidae considered in this Atlas, no reliable estimation of population size is available. In these cases, provisional criteria for site selection have been developed on the basis of a provisional numerical criterion. This has been derived from a consideration of the minimum number of birds known to exist (from the African Waterfowl Census and miscellaneous individual counts) and an upper limit to the population size, derived from knowledge of the range of the species, maximum concentrations at important sites, miscellaneous national estimates of numbers, etc.). The provisional numerical criterion has been set at 1% of the middle of the range; thus, for example, the numerical criterion for a population estimated at between 100,000 and 1,000,000 would be 1% of 550,000 which rounded off would give 5,000. Provisional numerical criteria have also been produced for a few poorly known populations of Anatidae in Western Eurasia, mainly in Greenland.
4.4 Population trends

Table 1 also provides some information on population trends. For many of the Anatidae populations occurring in Europe and North Africa, the overall trend in numbers over the past twenty years is well documented, and the data are sufficiently comprehensive to permit the monitoring of population trends from year to year (see Rose, 1995). However, with only a few years of census data available for the great majority of wetlands in Southwest Asia and Africa south of the Sahara, it is not yet possible to determine long-term trends in the populations of most species in these regions. In sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, the existing statistical data on most migratory species and populations are quite inadequate to permit any precise statements concerning population trends during recent years. However, a considerable amount of ornithological exploration and research has been carried out in Africa since the mid-19th Century, and much of this has provided reliable, albeit anecdotal, information on the abundance of species. Much of the information on trends for African species and populations is derived from this type of information which has recently been summarized by Brown et al. (1982).
4.5 Selection of key sites

Numerical criteria are used to identify the key sites plotted in the species maps and listed in Annex 2.
i) The 1% criterion The basic criterion used throughout this Atlas for the selection of key sites is the 1% criterion developed as part of a larger set of criteria for the identification of wetlands of international importance for designation under Article 2 of the Ramsar Convention. This criterion has even been used to select some key sites that are not stricly wetlands as defined by the Ramsar Convention. These criteria were adopted by the Fourth Conference of the Contracting Parties in Montreux, Switzerland, in June 1990. Within this larger set of criteria the 1% criterion is referred to as criterion 3c. This states that a wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterfowl. This 1% level (or threshold) is applicable throughout the range of that population and at any time of the year.
18
4. Methods
The philosophy of the 1% criterion and its effectiveness in the identification of key sites for migratory Anatidae in the Palearctic have been discussed at some length by Atkinson-Willes (1976) and AtkinsonWilles et al. (1982). Atkinson-Willes (1976) examined the effect of using numerical criteria of varying stringency to identify sites of international importance to waterfowl, and concluded that the 1% level offered much the best compromise. Criteria set at lower levels would select far too many sites for some species to be manageable, while higher levels would favour species which concentrate on a few major resorts. As this criterion has now become widely accepted as a useful tool for the identification of sites of special importance for the conservation of species of waterfowl, no further attempt will be made to justify its use here. The Conference of the Contracting Parties in Montreux in 1990 formulated a series of guidelines for application of the Ramsar criteria. One of these guidelines states that The specific criteria based on waterfowl numbers will apply to wetlands of varying size in different Contracting Parties. While it is impossible to give precise guidance on the size of an area in which these numbers may occur, wetlands identified as being of international importance under Criterion 3 should form an ecological unit, and may thus be made up of one big area or a group of smaller wetlands. The application of the Ramsar criteria has also recently been discussed by Stroud et al. (1990), Rose & Scott (1994) and Meininger et al. (1995). For proper application of criterion 3c, it is essential that the term regularly be defined. AtkinsonWilles et al. (1982) recommended that regularly be defined as follows: A wetland regularly supports a population of a given size if: a) the requisite number of birds is known to have occurred in at least three-quarters of the seasons for which adequate data are available, the total number of seasons being not less than three. or b) the mean of the seasonal maxima, taken over at least five years, amounts to the required level: (means based on three or four years may be quoted in provisional assessments only). These authors go on to say that the records on which the assessment is based should not be more than ten years old unless they belong to a continuing series or are confirmed by recent data; the months to which they refer are immaterial. In recent years, most authors have taken an average of the annual peak numbers over the last five counts to give a five-year average (five-year mean FYM) for use with this criterion (e.g. Rugeret al., 1986; Monval & Pirot, 1989; Perennou et al., 1994). Perennou et al. (1994) also used the frequency of occurrence of 1% or more of the individuals in a population at a site to identify international importance, although they chose the qualifying level as three years out of five, rather than three-quarters of the seasons, as proposed by Atkinson-Willes et al. (1982). The value of this approach is that it assists in the selection of sites which are genuinely important for a population but which fail to achieve the necessary five-year mean either because they have been counted in only three or four years, or because in one or two of the five most recent counts, coverage of the site was very poor and only a small (and therefore misleading) number of birds was recorded. In the present report, we follow Perennou et al. (1994) in adopting three years out of five as the qualifying level because at many of the large and important wetlands in the less well-known regions of Southwest Asia and Africa, fewer than five counts have been made and coverage is generally poor.
ii) Criteria for globally threatened species The Ramsar criteria also contain a criterion relating specifically to rare, vulnerable or endangered species or subspecies of plants and animals. This criterion (2a) states that a wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports an appreciable assemblage of rare, vulnerable or endangered species or subspecies of plant or animal, or an appreciable number of individuals of any one or more of these species. Although not specifically stated, it has generally been assumed that rare, vulnerable or endangered species are species which have been identified as being globally threatened by IUCN in their Red Data Books. Green (1996) has recently published a list of globally threatened and near-threatened Anatidae taxa, on the basis of the new IUCN criteria for globally threatened status (Mace & Stuart, 1994; IUCN, 1994). Ten species and one subspecies of Anatidae included in the present Atlas are identified as being globally threatened by Green (1996) (see Table 3). A further species, Pteronetta hartlaubii of west and central Africa, is listed as being near-threatened, i.e. a species that is close to qualifying for one of the IUCN threatened categories. Clearly, all sites which regularly support 1% of a population of a threatened species are of international importance (under criterion 3c), and are included as key sites in this Atlas. However, for some of the numerically more abundant species or populations, there may be many sites which regularly support an appreciable assemblage of individuals of the species, but which hold less than 1% of the relevant population. Because of the globally threatened status of the species, these sites merit designation as sites of international
19
4. Methods
TABLE 3: Threatened and near-threatened species of Anatidae in Africa and Western Eurasia (as listed by Green 1996)
Madagascan White-backed Duck White-headed Duck Lesser White-fronted Goose Red-breasted Goose Hartlaubs Duck Madagascar Teal Mellers Duck Kerguelen Pintail Crozet Pintail Marbled Teal Ferruginous Duck Madagascar Pochard Stellers Eider
Thalassornis leuconotus insularis Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Branta ruficollis Pteronetta hartlaubii Anas bernieri Anas melleri Anas eatoni eatoni Anas eatoni drygalskii Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Aythya innotata Polysticta stelleri
Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable Near-threatened Endangered Vulnerable Vulnerable Endangered Vulnerable Vulnerable Critical Vulnerable
importance under criterion 2a. Unfortunately, no guidance has been given on interpretation of thephrase an appreciable assemblage. The number of individuals or breeding pairs which constitutes an appreciable assemblage of a species is likely to vary from species to species, depending on its breeding strategy, population dynamics, dispersion, migratory behaviour and so on. With the exception of Anas bernieri and Aythya innotata, both of which have tiny world populations and 1% levels of only 13 individuals, all of the threatened Anatidae in Western Eurasia and Africa have populations in excess of 10,000 individuals and hence 1% levels exceeding 100 birds. For species which are highly gregarious outside the breeding season, notably Branta ruficollis (population 70,000) and Polysticta stelleri (population 30,000), application of the 1% criterion alone will select sites holding the great bulk of the population, and there may seem little need for an additional, lower numerical criterion. However, for species with a much more dispersed distribution, notably Oxyura leucocephala (Southwest Asian population 11,00015,000) and Aythya nyroca (east European/east Mediterranean population 50,000), strict application of the 1% criterion will select only a small number of super sites, and will overlook many less important sites which cumulatively may account for a large part of the population. If adequate protection is to be given to globally threatened species through a key site approach, it is apparent that a much lower numerical criterion is required if all important sites for the species are to be identified. For the purposes of the present Atlas, levels below the 1% level have been selected for globally threatened species based on the ecology and biology of the species concerned. The rigid application of Ramsar criteria 3c and 2a, as outlined above, identifies sites which are known to be of international importance for the population of waterfowl in question.
iii) Staging areas with a reasonable or high turnover rate In its guidelines for application of the Ramsar criteria, the Conference of the Contracting Parties in Montreux in 1990 stated that consideration may also be given to turnover of waterfowl at migration periods, so that a cumulative total is reached, if such data are available. This indicates that a site may qualify as being of international importance for a species or population if the total number of birds using that site during the course of a spring or autumn migration regularly exceeds the 1% level of the population in question. While considerable interest has been expressed in the application of this criterion, no adequate guidelines have as yet been provided for its application. In the report of van Roomen and Boere (1989) it was recommended that sites for which a moderate to high turn-over rate (during migration or moult) can be expected should be included if the number counted on one occasion is at least 75% of the 1% level. The problem with any criterion relating to turn-over rate is that it should also take into account the extent of usage of the site, and hence dependence on the site, by the birds which pass through. Highest turn-over rates, and hence highest numbers of individuals, will occur at sites where birds pass through very quickly, perhaps staying only a few hours or a few days. Such sites are probably far less important for the species as a whole than those sites which are used by a lesser number of birds but for a much longer period of time, and thus constitute major staging or refuelling areas for the species. In most cases, staging birds which make significant use of a site during a migration period will stay for a substantial proportion of the migration season in that region, and will thus overlap with most if not all other individuals which are also using the site for staging. This being the case, the application of the 1% criterion to the peak count during the migration period should identify most sites which are being used to a significant extent by 1% or more of the population in question.
20
4. Methods
iv) Hard weather/drought refuges Some sites may act as important refuges during years with unusually adverse weather conditions. Under normal conditions, these sites may hold only small numbers of birds, but in certain years, very large numbers of birds may be present. Although these sites may not qualify as wetlands of international importance on the basis of the Ramsar numerical criteria, they can be of vital importance for some species in some years. Cold weather movements of eight species of Anatidae (Tadorna tadorna, Anas penelope, A. crecca, A. platyrhynchos, A. acuta, A. clypeata, Aythya ferina and A. fuligula) and the coot Fulica atra in western Europe have been described in some detail by Ridgill and Fox (1990). Using both waterfowl counts and ringing recovery data, these authors showed that severe weather causes movement to a differing extent in all the nine species considered. During hard weather, Tadorna tadorna moved out of continental coasts to Britain and possibly Ireland, while Anas penelope, A. crecca, A. acuta, A. clypeata, Aythya fuligula and A. ferina moved out of northern Britain and the Wadden Sea to southern and western Britain and northern and western France, with some species moving down into Spain and Portugal. Longer and more extensive movements occurred during the most severe conditions. Similar cold weather movements have also been documented in southwest and central Asia, the winter of 1971/72 being an obvious example in the Caspian region. Species which seem particularly susceptible to hard weather movements in Southwest Asia are Cygnus olor, C. cygnus, Anas platyrhynchos, Netta rufina and Mergellus albellus (Perennou et al., 1994). Ridgill and Fox concluded that while it had not been demonstrated that the hard weather movements had any effect on overall population size, it would be wise to protect birds which have fled to refuge areas as a result of harsh conditions in their normal wintering ranges. The importance of protecting sites which serve as refuges for waterfowl during periods of unusually severe weather (either cold or drought) has often been stressed. Such sites, which may hold rather small numbers in mild or average years, may provide a vital hard weather refuge for several per cent of a population during exceptionally harsh winters. The effectiveness of the 1% criterion (using either the mean of the last five mid-winter counts or requirement that the 1% level be exceeded in at least three of the last five counts) in picking out these important refuges would depend entirely on the frequency of hard winters during the period of the counts. In western Europe, periods of unusually severe weather occurred on only six occasions between 1950 and 1986, viz. in the winters of 1955/56, 1962/63, 1978/79, 1981/82, 1984/85 and 1985/86 (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). Obviously, a selection of sites meeting the 1% criterion on the basis of counts undertaken in the five-year period 1981/82 to 1985/86 (with three hard winters) would give very different results from a selection of sites based on counts undertaken in the fiveyear period 1986/87 and 1990/91 (no hard winters). To ensure that adequate attention is given to cold weather refuges, it is recommended that the 1% criterion be extended to apply to those sites which hold over 1% of a population of a species during unusually severe winters. Criteria for establishing the severity of a winter are discussed by Ridgill and Fox (1990), but without further work their definition is hard to apply. It is difficult to know whether a winter count was undertaken within the period of harsh weather displacement and whether all species were affected. There is also no possibility for assessing drought movements easily as rainfall is often very local and unrecorded. It is partly for this reason that all sites that have ever supported more than 1% of a population are plotted and listed in this Atlas. Sites for which internationally important status can be confirmed are plotted as solid points on the maps while those that have insufficient data or irregularly support high numbers appear as scaled open circles. This at least ensures that all possible refuges are included. v) Key sites for breeding birds The 1% criterion is applicable year round, and applies equally to sites which hold the requisite number of individuals either during the breeding season, during the migration seasons, or in the non-breeding season. Thus, any site which holds 1% of a population during the breeding season is included in the Atlas, irrespective of whether these birds are breeding adults or non-breeding birds. Obviously in the case of species which are almost entirely sedentary, a site which holds over 1% of the population at any time of the year is likely to be internationally important as a breeding area. However, many migratory species of Anatidae, especially those breeding at temperate and northern latitudes, are widely dispersed during the breeding season, nesting around lakes, ponds, marshes, tundra pools and along sea coasts over vast areas. Breeding densities may vary considerably from one area to another, depending on the abundance of suitable wetlands, but over vast tracts of the breeding range, few if any clearly delineated sites will hold a sufficiently high density to account for over 1% of the total breeding population. In such circumstances, the conservation of the species can seldom be achieved through the establishment of reserves alone, since this would require the creation of enormous reserves to protect a significant proportion of the
21
4. Methods
population. Effective conservation will be dependent on the implementation of ecologically sound landuse practices over large areas of the species range as part of an overall land-use strategy. For most species of Anatidae breeding at northern latitudes, the 1% criterion and the whole concept of site protection is of only limited usefulness during the breeding season. Areas of exceptionally high density of breeding birds may be identified, e.g. in the case of some of the high Arctic breeding geese which nest semi-colonially, but in general, a broader environmental conservation approach will be required if the breeding populations are to be maintained. At more southerly latitudes, and especially in arid regions, wetland systems are often very large, relatively isolated from other comparable systems, and often extremely productive. At the same time, many of the Anatidae populations inhabiting these regions are relatively small. Thus in many parts of Southwest Asia and Africa, the principal wetlands are sufficiently large to support in excess of 1% of a population of one or more species. Even here, however, a large proportion of the population may move to small, seasonal wetlands to breed, and will thus not be covered by the 1% criterion approach. This is particularly the case with many of the rains migrants in Africa. There is one other major problem with the use of 1% levels to identify key breeding areas for Anatidae at northern latitudes. This springs from the fact that many of the population estimates for the more widespread species are based primarily on passage and wintering populations which do not relate specifically to any one particular breeding area. It is known, for example, that a substantial proportion of the birds in the Black Sea/Mediterranean flyway, Southwest Asian/eastern African flyway, and central Asian/south Asian flyway breed in the vast marshes in the basins of the Ob and Irtysh Rivers in western Siberia. Because of the extent of the overlap between flyways on their breeding grounds, it is impossible to decide which 1% level should be applicable. In other cases, the passage/wintering population to which a particular breeding population should be assigned remains unknown, or at best a matter for supposition. Again, there might be uncertainty as to which 1% level applies on the breeding grounds. Thus, for example, it is tempting to suppose that the small population of Cygnus columbianus breeding on the Taymyr Peninsula is the origin of the similar number of birds found wintering in the Caspian region. If so, a 1% level of 5 individuals applies. However, if the Taymyr birds really belong to the northwest European population, then a 1% level of 170 applies. In view of these difficulties, no attempt has been made to identify sites of international importance for breeding Anatidae on the basis of the 1% criterion unless (a) the breeding population in question is sedentary or clearly belongs to one and only one of the passage/wintering populations; and (b) the site in question is clearly definable (e.g. a single wetland ecosystem with precise limits, an existing protected area, or an ecological unit which would be manageable as a protected area). Sites which are considered to be key breeding areas for a species simply because of the presence of unusually high densities of breeding birds have been ignored, unless the actual number of birds present is known to exceed the 1% level of the appropriate population.
vi) Provisional assessments In many parts of Southwest Asia and Africa, even some of the most important wetland systems remain poorly known. Few if any comprehensive waterfowl counts have ever been undertaken; in some cases no counts have been undertaken for many years (e.g. in the very important wetlands of Mesopotamia, Iraq), while in other cases, it is only within the last two or three years that counting has begun (e.g. in several African countries which have only recently participated in the African Waterfowl Census). The 1% criterion can still be used to identify sites which may, on subsequent study, prove to be of considerable international importance for one or more populations of Anatidae, but because of the paucity of data, cannot as yet be confirmed as sites of international importance. In the present analysis, poorly known sites (i.e. sites which have been counted on less than five occasions or have never been adequately censused) are provisionally identified as being of international importance for a population if they are known to have held more than 1% of a population at any time. For many populations of Anatidae in west Asia and Africa, no reliable estimate of population size is as yet available, and hence no reliable 1% level can be used to identify sites of international importance. However, during the present analysis, an attempt has been made to give at least a best guess of population size for all populations of Anatidae occurring in the region under consideration, so that some numerical criterion can be set for the identification of important sites. In some cases, this numerical criterion for site selection is merely the 1% level of the mid-point in a very broad population range reflecting the probable minimum and probable maximum sizes of the population. Clearly, any key sites identified on such provisional criteria are themselves highly provisional. In all cases, a distinction is made on the maps between those sites which definitely meet one or more of the Ramsar criteria, and thus can be confirmed as sites of international importance in the context of
22
4. Methods
the Ramsar Convention, and those sites which should be regarded provisionally as sites of international importance, either because there are too few years of data available to confirm their importance, or because they have been selected on the basis of provisional numerical criteria.
vii) Summary of criteria The criteria used in the identification of key sites in this atlas may be summarized as follows: A site is identified as being of international importance for a particular population if: a) the average of the peak counts in the most recent five years of counts exceeds 1% of the individuals in the population (i.e. five-year mean exceeds 1%). b) the 1% level has been exceeded in at least three of the last five counts. It follows that sites which have only been counted on three or four occasions will also qualify under this criteria if the 1% level has been exceeded on at least three occasions. c) the site regularly holds over 1% of the population during periods of unusually harsh weather (either severe cold or extreme drought). Because of the infrequency of such weather conditions and consequent low numbers of years available for analysis, regularly can be taken to mean in at least two years of the most recent two or three years available. d) the site regularly supports 20,000 individuals from the population. (Relevant only to populations which number more than 2,000,000 individuals). e) the site regularly supports over 50 individuals (or 15 breeding pairs) of a globally threatened species. (Relevant only when this number is lower than the 1% level for the population). The site is provisionally identified as a key site for a population if: a) the average of the peak counts exceeds 1% of the population, but the site has been counted in fewer than five years. b) the 1% level has been exceeded in fewer than three of the last five years of counts. c) the 1% level has been exceeded in one or two years at sites which have been counted in fewer than five years. (Sites which have only been counted once and exceeded the 1% level in that year will qualify for inclusion under this criterion). d) the site has been selected on any of the above criteria using a provisional numerical criterion based on a rough estimate of total population size.
Table 1 gives the 1% level or threshold, based on the best estimation of population size available, for each population included in the Atlas. This 1% level or threshold has been used to select all sites that have ever been known to support this number of individuals at any time. Maximum counts, rather than average counts, have been taken as an indication of the importance of a site for a particular species, and it is the value of the maximum count that is used to scale the key site symbols on the maps. This approach has been adopted for several reasons. Firstly, very few counts have been made at many of the important sites for Anatidae in Southwest Asia and Africa, and coverage has often varied enormously. Any average count which combines the results of comprehensive aerial surveys with partial ground counts is likely to give a very misleading results. Secondly, the maximum count is more likely to indicate the importance of a site as a staging area during the migration seasons than an average count which might include many counts which did not coincide with the peak migration period. Similarly, the maximum count is more likely to indicate the importance of a site as a refuge during periods of hard weather or exceptional drought than an average count which is likely to include counts made in mild winters or wet conditions.
4.6 Information on key sites

Much of the information on key sites contained within this Atlas has been derived from the International Waterfowl Census. Since its inception in Europe in 1967, the Census has rapidly grown to encompass over 20,000 sites in over 65 countries in Western Eurasia and Africa. The databases containing the results of the Census have been used to create basic lists of all those sites which meet the numerical criteria set out above for species of Anatidae in Western Eurasia and Africa. However, these lists contain only those sites which are important during the census period (January in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and January and July in sub-Saharan Africa), and are very incomplete for much of Africa, where the African Waterfowl Census is still in its infancy. Information on sites which meet the criteria at other times of the year (e.g. as moulting or staging areas), information on sites in areas poorly covered by the International Waterfowl Census, and information on the protection status of sites have been derived from a wide variety of sources. Major published sources
23
4. Methods
have included the reports of BirdLife Internationals Important Bird Areas projects in Europe (Grimmett & Jones, 1989) and the Middle East (Evans, 1994), the directories of wetlands of international importance in the Western Palearctic (Carp, 1980), Africa (Hughes & Hughes, 1992) and the Middle East (Scott, 1995), the directories of Ramsar Sites (WCMC, 1990; Ramsar Convention Bureau, 1993), and the IUCN directory of protected areas of the world (IUCN, 1992). Information on key sites for threatened species of Anatidae has been taken from regional and national red data books (e.g. Collar & Stuart, 1985; Thibault & Guyot, 1988) and various species reviews and actions plans prepared within the last few years (e.g. Anstey, 1989; Green, 1993; Hunter & Black, 1995; Madsen, 1995; van Vessem, 1994). The proceedings of recent symposia on swans (Sears, 1991) and geese (Fox et al., 1991) contain many papers with useful information on key sites for species in these groups, while the proceedings of the IWRB symposia held in Astrakhan in 1989 (Matthews, 1990) and Karachi in 1991 (Moser & van Vessem, 1993) include a number of papers with information on important sites for Anatidae in Russia and the new republics of the former USSR. The results of recent extensive programmes of waterfowl censuses in the Baltic (Durinck et al., 1994), the Wadden Sea (Meltofte et al., 1994) and Britain (Waters & Cranswick, 1993) have also been particularly valuable, as have recent, and as yet unpublished, inventories of internationally important wetlands in Latvia and Lithuania (Anon 1995a, Anon 1995b). Much of the information on key sites for Anatidae in Africa is widely scattered in the literature, although the handbook of the birds of Africa by Brown et al. (1982) contains a considerable amount of site-specific information, while the proceedings of an IWRB workshop on wetlands and waterbirds in eastern Africa (Finlayson & Pomeroy, 1991) include several useful summaries of key sites. Even more important than the published literature has been the very large amount of new and hitherto unpublished information that has been provided specially for this Atlas by Wetland Internationals large network of contacts throughout Western Eurasia and Africa. Many national coordinators have provided up-dated lists of key sites for Anatidae in their country, while the coordinators of the Swan, Goose, Seaduck and Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Groups have provided a considerable amount of new information for the species texts and maps.
4.7 Limitations
There remain large gaps in knowledge of the status and distribution of many migratory Anatidae in Western Eurasia and Africa. Many parts of Africa and some parts of Southwest Asia still remain poorly known, and until these areas are thoroughly investigated, knowledge of the status and distribution of many species and populations will remain incomplete. The situation is particularly confusing in equatorial regions. It is known that many species of Anatidae are rains migrants, moving away from the equator during the rainy season to breed in seasonal wetlands to the north or south, and retreating back to the humid equatorial zone during the dry season. However, the extent of these movements, the degree of isolation between the northern populations and southern populations (which breed at different times of the year), and the extent to which these mix with or form part of the sedentary populations which remain year-round in the humid equatorial zone, are generally unknown. Basic survey work is still, therefore, a high priority, especially in central and eastern Africa. Even in some of parts of Europe, there remains a need for basic survey work. Much more information is required on the densities of breeding species of Anatidae in the tundra and taiga zones of northern Europe, to enable the identification of areas with unusually high densities of dispersed species. There are still large gaps in knowledge of the moulting areas of some species in northern Europe and the winter distributions of several populations of seaducks. Despite the considerable amount of bird ringing which has been carried out in parts of Western Eurasia and Africa, knowledge of the migration routes of many species and populations of Anatidae remains fragmentary. This is particularly the case with many Afrotropical species, the movements of which are still very poorly understood. This could be partly remedied by a comprehensive analysis of existing ringing data, since much of the information derived from the recoveries of ringed birds has never been properly analyzed and remains difficult to access. High priority should be given to such an analysis and publication and dissemination of the results. There is also a need for more ringing programmes. In several key wintering areas for Anatidae in Africa and Southwest Asia, no ringing has ever been undertaken, and the local people (including hunters) have never been informed of the significance of ringed birds or what to do if they find a ring. Public awareness campaigns in these areas could greatly improve the effectiveness of ringing programmes by increasing the return rate of bird rings.
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5. Species Accounts and Maps

5.1 Species accounts
The species accounts contain information under the following headings: Subspecies: a note on the subspecies, if any. Distribution: a brief description of the world range of the species, with special emphasis on its distribution within Western Eurasia and Africa. Movements: information on the movements of the species in Western Eurasia and Africa, as deduced from ringing and migration studies. This information has been taken from the existing published literature, and no attempt has been made to undertake any new analyses of ringing results. Population limits: a description of those populations of the species which it is recommended should be treated as separate units for conservation purposes, with justification as far as possible on the basis of known movements of the species. In many cases, it is accepted that these populations overlap extensively with other populations of the species, and cannot therefore be justified on biological grounds. Justification then rests on the desirability of dividing the individuals in a species or subspecies into geographical units which are of a manageable size for conservation purposes, i.e. the so-called default populations. Population size: an estimate of population size for each of the populations identified in the foregoing section. Two types of estimates are presented: those which are considered to be sufficiently reliable to be used in the identification of Ramsar Sites on the basis of the 1% criterion, and those which are not. The latter, usually given in the form of a very broad range, are presented as best guesses of population size, and are used to derive a provisional numerical criterion for the identification of key sites for this Atlas. Most of the reliable population estimates are taken from the published literature, and are referenced accordingly. When the estimate follows that given by Rose & Scott (1994), reference is made to the original source of the estimate, but usually no further comment is made. When the estimate differs from that given by Rose & Scott (1994), justification for the revised estimate is given either in the ensuing text or in a separate section in Annex 1. In many cases, the revised estimate has been taken from a recently published source, in which case this is clearly stated. In a few instances, particularly in some of the seaducks in northwest Europe, the justification for the revised estimate is (at the time of writing) still in press. Justification for the provisional estimates, most of which are completely new, is given in the ensuing text. In many cases, these estimates are based on the range categories given by Rose & Scott (1994), but have been refined on the basis of consultation with experts in the appropriate regions and recent census data. Habitat/ecology: a brief note on habitat preference, social behaviour, moult, timing of the migrations, and any special features, such as unusual feeding habits, which might be of vital importance in the design and management of a suitable network of reserves. Conservation status: a summary of information on trends in the population or populations. For many of the Anatidae populations occurring in Europe and North Africa, trends in numbers over the past twenty years have been well documented. In these cases, only a short note is given on trends, appropriately referenced. However, in much of Southwest Asia and Africa south of the Sahara, only a few years of census data are available. In sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, the existing statistical data on most migratory species and populations are quite inadequate to permit any precise statements concerning population trends during recent years. In these cases, the remarks on trends have been based on
25
information in the published literature (often somewhat anecdotal) and comments received from Wetland Internationals network of contacts in the region. For most species, this section consists of only one or two paragraphs describing population trends, with appropriate references. However, in the case of globally threatened species and species with small populations which are declining rapidly, some attention is given to threats to the population and possible causes of any decline. Network of key sites: A brief appraisal of the value and completeness of the key sites listed in Annex 2 is given and major gaps are highlighted. Protection status of key sites: The protected status of key sites is very briefly summarised, with particular attention being placed on gaps in the protection of the key sites networks.
5.2 Maps
For each species included in this Atlas, a map is given showing the approximate limits of the populations as identified in the text. Population boundaries are solid lines when they delineate populations that are totally discrete or almost so, and broken lines when they delineate regional assemblages of birds that regularly exchange individuals with adjacent assemblages (the default populations). Dotted lines are used when there is a high degree of uncertainty as to where the best dividing line between two adjacent assemblages might be. Thus dotted lines are often used to delineate the main breeding ranges of migratory Palearctic ducks when there is known to be a considerable amount of overlap between different populations on their breeding grounds. The population limits as shown on the maps are intended to indicate the main range of the population in question, and do not necessarily indicate the total range of the individuals in that population. When small numbers of birds regularly undertake lengthy movements to areas outside the main range of the population, these movements are indicated with arrows. Breeding ranges are indicated with orange shading. This is restricted to the Western palearctic as breeding distributions are not adequately known for most African species. All key sites are plotted as circles scaled according to the size of the maximum count expressed as a percentage of the population estimate. This ensures that a site supporting 1% of the individuals in a small population is given equal representation to a site supporting 1% of a large population, and therefore considerably more individuals. All key sites selected on the basis of a 1% threshold level or a provisional numerical criterion are plotted on the maps. Sites represented by solid circles are sites which are known to fulfil the requirements of the Ramsar criteria, and can therefore be confirmed as sites of international importance for the species in question (i.e. sites at which the average count over five or more years exceeds the threshold, or sites which have held more than the threshold level on three or more of the last five counts). These sites have not necessarily been designated to the Ramsar List. Sites represented by open circles are sites which either: (a) have been counted on too few occasions, i.e. are data deficient; (b) fail to meet the definition of regularly as used in this Atlas; or (c) have been selected on the basis of a provisional numerical criterion. Such sites are provisional sites of international importance. Full details of the key sites can be found in Annex 2. No attempt is made on the maps to indicate the protection status of key sites. This information can be found in Annex 2.
5.3 Key to maps

Shading For Western Palearctic breeding species, the known breeding areas are shaded in orange. This is not repeated for Afrotropical species because breeding ranges are often either poorly known or they are not discrete for the nomadic species. Boundaries The boundaries of populations are represented by solid or dotted orange lines. Other colours are used if population boundaries overlap substantially. The boundaries are solid if they are based on good biological data. If the boundaries are relatively unknown or have very little biological significance they are
26
represented by dotted lines. Virtually all of the population boundaries crossing northern European breeding grounds are dotted in nature. When there is substantial overlap of populations, boundary lines are presented in contrasting colours.
Symbols All key sites identified from available breeding, passage, staging, moult and wintering data are represented as scaled circles. These are open if data is lacking or if the site can only be shown to support internationally important numbers of waterbirds irregularly. Closed circles represent sites that regularly support more than 1% of the estimated size of the population. The circles are scaled according to the size of the maximum count at the site. There are four sizes of circle. The largest circles are for sites that have supported 10% or more of the population at any one time. The intermediate two sizes are for sites that have supported 1%2% or 2%10% of the population and the smallest circles are for sites that are internationally important because the species is globally threatened or because they support more than 20,000 individuals of the population. Sites represented by the smallest circles have never supported as many as 1% of the population. Scale and projections The scale and projection of the maps is chosen independently, according to the range and distribution of the populations.
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FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna bicolor

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Pantropical, occurring in tropical South America, southern North America, Africa and southern Asia. The species occurs widely in Africa south of the Sahara and also in Madagascar, but is rather locally distributed, much more so than its congener, D. viduata. In West Africa, it is rare south of about 12N, except in the River Niger valley in Niger. The species is often abundant where present, and absent from other areas that seem suitable. Movements: There is no evidence for any regular migratory movements in Africa, but irregular, perhaps mainly local movements take place, and the periodic appearance of huge numbers of birds in some areas suggests that the species is highly mobile. Possibly the species is especially apt to undertake long-distance pioneering movements in search of suitable habitat. This is suggested by the very wide world range without geographical variation (Snow, 1978). Many populations, including those in Madagascar, appear to be mainly sedentary. However, the species is known to be at least locally migratory in East Africa, where it is present on some lakes in May to September and on other lakes in August to May. It is present in the Ruzizi Marshes in Zaire and Burundi in MayJune and NovemberMarch. There may be a regular movement of birds southwards into southern Africa during the hot wet season (austral summer), with most birds returning north after breeding and before the dry season. One bird ringed at Lochinvar in Zambia was recovered in Sudan (R.J. Douthwaite, in litt.). In Cameroon, the presence of the species is highly variable, and appears to be related to flooding conditions (P. Scholte, in litt.). Population limits: There is a considerable break in the distribution north of the Equator between the Lake Chad region and the Nile in western Sudan, but there are no major gaps in distribution from Sudan and Eritrea south to South Africa. West African birds are tentatively split off as a separate population, but because of the extent of movements shown by the species in southern and eastern Africa, birds in these regions are treated as a single, large population. The Madagascar birds appear to be mainly sedentary, and are therefore treated as a separate population. Population size: West Africa: 100,000 (Perennou, 1991a). 1% level 1,000. Locally abundant in West Africa, where the highest mid-winter count has been 85,000 in 1983. Populations in the Senegal Delta and Central Niger Delta are variable, with numbers in the Senegal Delta varying from a few hundreds in January 1972 and 1974 to many thousands. In Cameroon, concentrations of over 1,000 have been recorded on the shores of Lake Chad, while total numbers in the Logone floodplain are often thought to exceed 2,000 (P. Scholte, in litt.).
Eastern and southern Africa: 200,000500,000. Provisional numerical criterion 3,500. Said to be regular in small flocks in Eritrea (Smith, 1957); locally abundant in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971) and Somalia (Ash & Miskell, 1983); common and widespread in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Britton, 1980) and Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977); and locally common in northeastern Zambia (Benson et al., 1971), Botswana (Newman, 1989), Mozambique and Zimbabwe. High counts have included 2,300 at Lake Turkana, Kenya (1987), 5,000 in southeastern Zaire (July), 12,000 at Lake Chuali, Mozambique, flocks of up to 3,000 year-round in Malawi, 58,250 at Kafue Flats in Zambia (January 1994), 1,385 at Chivero Dam in Zimbabwe (January 1995), and 1,0002,000 in Transvaal, South Africa (February). It occurs seasonally in hundreds at a number of sites around Lake Victoria. However, only 1,945 were recorded at wetlands in Tanzania during a nationwide census in January 1995. The highest total during the African Waterfowl Census in eastern and southern Africa has been 60,750 in January 1994.
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0 0 500 km Key Sites Data deficient sites or sites that have occasionally supported internationally important numbers Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Sites that regularly support internationally important numbers Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Population Boundaries Well justified Uncertain Breeding areas 30S 20S 10S 1000 1500
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Madagascar: 15,00025,000. Provisional numerical criterion 200. Generally rare but still locally common in the west and north (e.g. at Sahaka Lake, Maromandia and Bealanana Marshes), where large gatherings can still be observed on the major lakes (e.g. 2,000 at Ihotry Lake in September 1983). 1,500 were recorded at Lake Bemamba in June 1982, and 750 were at this lake in June 1993. It is rather rare on the high plateau (31 at Alarobia Lake in November 1988). A total of 1,692 was recorded during the African Waterfowl Census in July 1993.
Habitat/ecology: D. bicolor frequents fresh waters of many sorts including lakes, pans, rivers, swamps and floodplains. Birds breeding north of the Zambezi breed during months of low rainfall, while those breeding to the south breed in the wet season. Moult has been recorded during AprilJuly (Zambia), AprilMay (Transvaal) and 510 months after breeding (Senegal). Conservation status: Some populations of D. bicolor in West Africa show large fluctuations which are at least partly related to the extent of rice cultivation (Trca, in prep.), and the species appears to be decreasing in some areas. It is now only an occasional visitor to northern Burkina Faso, where it was common prior to the mid-1970s, and there have been no recent records from Ghana and Togo (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Langrand (1990) reports a decline in the Madagascar population; the species was formerly common throughout the island, but is now rare in the east and rather rare on the high plateau. There has been a marked decline in numbers at Lake Alaotra, attributed to hunting (shooting and trapping), and only the inaccessible lakes of the west coast still harbour substantial numbers (Langrand, 1990). No information is available on trends in eastern and southern Africa. Network of key sites: Very little quantitative information is available on the distribution of D. bicolor outside of the December February season. All but one key sites have been selected on the basis of counts conducted during these months, so the feasibility of a key sites network approach in other seasons is unknown. All three populations can be shown to occur in large concentrations at key sites, but only two sites, both in Zambia, could be identified for the eastern and southern Africa population. This suggests that there are many more key sites still to discover for this population. For the Madagascar and West Africa populations, key sites networks could be a potentially useful conservation tool. In Madagascar, four key sites potentially support up to 20% of the estimated population size, while in West Africa the 15 key sites identified account for the majority of the January population. The distribution of birds between sites in West Africa is, however, highly variable between years, according to water regime. Protection status of key sites: Five of the 15 key sites in West Africa are protected and three are partially protected. There is at least some protection in all three major drainage basins on which D. bicolor so heavily depends (Senegal, Niger and Chad). No protected status information was available for Madagascar and both of the sites in Zambia are protected.
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WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna viduata

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Widespread in tropical South America, southern Central America and Africa. The species occurs widely in Africa south of the Sahara and also in Madagascar and on the Comoro Islands. It is abundant in suitable areas, being in many places the most abundant species of Anatidae, and is the only common species of Anatidae on the coastal plain of West Africa. Movements: Some populations, including the population in Madagascar, appear to be mainly sedentary, while others are migratory, undertaking long-distance movements during the wet season, especially in West Africa and southern Africa. Flocks, sometimes of several hundred birds, are subject to local movements according to food availability. There are reports of regular northward movements to breed during the rainy season in the northern tropics, and to higher ground from the lowlands in southern Africa (Snow, 1978). In West Africa, local movements have been recorded in Ghana and Senegal, and there is an influx of birds into coastal regions during the dry season. In southwestern Sudan, the species is a common breeding visitor during the wet season, and also a passage migrant (Lynes, 1925). Local movements have also been recorded in eastern Zaire and Kenya. In southern Africa, the species disperses to breed on small water bodies during the rains, and congregates at the end of the breeding season in suitable dry season habitat (R.J. Douthwaite, in litt.). Movements are generally in the order of tens to hundreds of km, but movements of up to 540 km have been recorded in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Population limits: The species is very widely distributed over Africa south of the Sahara, and there do not appear to be any major gaps in its distribution except in the lowland forested areas of Cameroon and in the deserts of the southwest. Because of the extent of movements shown by the species in Africa, the entire African population is probably best treated, biologically, as a single, very large population. However, for practical reasons it is proposed that the West African birds (east to Chad) be treated as a separate population, although it is acknowledged that there may be a considerable amount of interchange between this population and birds in central and eastern Africa. D. viduata is said to be mainly sedentary in Madagascar, and there is no evidence of interchange with the African population. Thus three populations are recognized: a West African population, an eastern and southern African population, and a Madagascar population. Birds occurring in the Comoro Islands are provisionally included in the eastern and southern African population even though some other species move from Madagascar to the Comoros (Young, 1996). Population size: West Africa: 250,000 (Perennou, 1991a). 1% level 2,500. A common and widespread resident almost throughout West Africa. The maximum midwinter count in West Africa was 200,000 in 1987. High counts have included up to 66,000 in Djoudj National Park in the Senegal Delta, up to 71,500 in the Central Niger Delta in Mali, and over 28,000 in Niger (mainly along the Niger River). In Cameroon, concentrations of several thousand occur in Waza National Park, in Kalamaloue National Park and on the Logone floodplain (P. Scholte, in litt.). Concentrations of over 1,000 have been recorded in the Middle River region of Gambia (Jensen & Kirkeby, 1980); flocks of 1,000 were regular in the Oti Valley of Togo in the late 1980s (Cheke & Walsh, in prep.), and flocks of up to 500 have been recorded in Ghana (Grimes, 1987). Perennou (1991a, 1991b) has estimated the West African population at 250,000, but this estimate makes little allowance for the large numbers of birds on the coastal plain, and the actual population may be nearer to 500,000 (J.F. Walsh, in litt.; W.C. Mulli, in litt.).
31
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32
Eastern and southern Africa: 1,000,0002,000,000. Provisional numerical criterion 15,000. An abundant duck, said to be common to locally abundant in Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Up to 16,000 have been recorded at Kafue Flats in Zambia (in June), and many thousands in the Luangwa Valley, also in Zambia. Other high counts have included: 5,000 in Zululand and 1,000 at Witwatersrand, Transvaal; 4,0005,000 in the Ruzizi Marshes (eastern Zaire and Burundi) in February; 1,410 at Lake Chivero in Zimbabwe (July 1994), and 2,225 at wetlands in Tanzania (January 1995). The maximum count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in eastern and southern Africa was 20,000 in July 1993. Madagascar: 20,00050,000. Provisional numerical criterion 350. Common throughout the country, and one of the two most frequently encountered ducks in Madagascar (Langrand, 1990). Very common in some locations, such as certain western lakes and rivers. About 500 were present at Lake Bemamba in JulyAugust 1992. A total of 4,135 was recorded during the African Waterfowl Census in July 1993.
Habitat/ecology: Dendrocygna viduata is found on waters of many kinds, including freshwater lakes, dams, swamps, flooded land and estuaries. In many areas, the species commonly feeds in rice-fields. It breeds mainly during the late wet season and early dry season (September to December in Togo, November to March in western Madagascar), while D. bicolor breeds during the dry. The moult (when mature birds are flightless) follows breeding: in MayAugust in Zambia, AprilMay in southern Zaire, and MayJuly in South Africa. Conservation status: Over much of Africa, the species has adapted well to man-made wetlands and locally has become a serious pest on rice-fields. It has probably benefited from the protection of extensive areas, and appears to be increasing in many areas. However, in Madagascar it is probably decreasing as a result of habitat alteration (O. Langrand, in litt.) and hunting (H.G. Young, in litt.). Network of key sites: In Madagascar, six key sites can be identified during the December to February season. These support up to 20% of the population and include the same four wetlands also listed for D. bicolor. No key sites could be identified for D. viduata in eastern and southern Africa. Here, D. viduata is highly dispersed and consequently it is probably not an appropriate candidate for the development of a key sites network. Information from seasons other than December to February would be necessary before this could be confirmed. In West Africa, the smaller population size and the extreme concentration of open water in the three main drainage basins at certain times of year, combine to give many enormous key site concentrations of D. viduata, although not quite so large as the concentrations of D. bicolor in the same region. During the December to February season, a network of 38 key sites can be identified for D. viduata. Depending on annual water regime, the numbers present at these sites vary markedly between years, but in an average year at least 60% of the population can be found at these 38 wetlands. Protection status of key sites: None of the wetlands in Madagascar are effectively protected. Only eight of the 38 key sites in West Africa are protected, three are partially protected and eight are not protected at all. Most key sites are of unknown protected status including six of the eight sites known to support over 10% of the population in optimum years.
33
WHITE-BACKED DUCK Thalassornis leuconotus

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: T. l. leuconotus of the African mainland and T. l. insularis of Madagascar. Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region. The nominate form occurs in West Africa from Senegal to Chad, and in eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia south to Cape Province, South Africa. T. l. insularis is confined to Madagascar. In West Africa, the species occurs regularly only in Senegal, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad, but there are two recent records from Togo (Cheke & Walsh, in prep.), and single records from Cameroon (three birds in July 1994; P. Scholte, in litt.) and Equatorial Guinea. The species formerly bred in Pemba (until at least the 1920s) and may have occurred in Zanzibar, but there have been no recent records from either island (Pakenham, 1979). Movements: The isolated populations of T. leuconotus in West Africa appears to be mainly sedentary, but others are at least partially migratory, with regular seasonal movements known to take place in eastern, central and southern Africa and in Madagascar. The movements are little understood, but apparently related to rainfall patterns throughout the species range. In southern Africa, the preference of the birds for often temporary pans causes birds to move to more permanent waters in drought periods. In Transvaal, the species apparently moves only following fairly consistent rains. In Zimbabwe, an influx occurs during the rains (DecemberApril), while in Zambia an influx occurs in the dry season (February September), peaking in MayJune. One bird ringed in Zambia was recovered 180 km to the northeast. In Madagascar there are certainly movements as birds disperse from the drying west coast lakes between April and October. Population limits: The small population in West Africa is widely separated from the main population in eastern and southern Africa, and clearly merits treatment as a separate population. There are no major gaps in the distribution of T. leuconotus from Ethiopia to South Africa, and because it exhibits regular seasonal movements throughout this range, there would seem to be little justification for splitting the population into separate units. Callaghan and Green (1993) also recognize two populations: one in West Africa and one in eastern and southern Africa. The subspecifically distinct Madagascar birds constitute a third population. Population size: West Africa: 1,000 (Perennou, 1992). 1% level 10. Perennou (1992) estimated the total population at no more than 1,000 birds, based on the tiny numbers recorded during the African Waterfowl Census. The maximum mid-winter count in West Africa has been only 20 birds in 1968.
Eastern and southern Africa: 10,00025,000 (Rose & Scott, 1994). Provisional numerical criterion 180. A locally common resident throughout much of southern Africa, and fairly common and widespread in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Described as frequent to uncommon in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), but recorded only once in Somalia (Ash & Miskell, 1983). In Botswana, said to be a sparse but locally common resident in the Okavango Delta (Penry, 1994). The Zimbabwe population was estimated to be in the thousands in the 1970s (Ewbank, 1993), and the South African population is also estimated to be in the thousands. The Swaziland population has been estimated at 10 breeding adults, and the Lesotho population at under 100 individuals (Callaghan & Green, 1993). High counts have included: up to 500 at Lake Naivasha, Kenya; 550 at Kuti Ponds in Malawi (1992); 133 at Miengwe, Zambia (November 1992); 174 at Luanshya, Zambia (November 1985); and 150 at Three Sisters, Zimbabwe (late 1985). There is an old record of 500 at Kafue Flats in Zambia (Douthwaite, 1977), but only small
34
50N
40N
30N
20N
10N
10W
10E
20E
30E
40E
50E
35
numbers have been recorded in this area in recent years (P. Leonard, in litt.). Only 182 were recorded at wetlands in Tanzania during the very extensive counts in January 1995. The maximum count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in eastern and southern Africa was 617 in 1992. The entire eastern and southern African population has been estimated to consist of fewer than 25,000 individuals (Rose & Scott, 1994), but seems certain to exceed 10,000 individuals (Callaghan & Green, 1993). Madagascar (insularis): <10,000 (O. Langrand, in litt.). Provisional numerical criterion 30. Found throughout the island with occasional records on the central high plateau, but now uncommon except at some of the smaller, relatively undisturbed lakes (e.g. Lake Antsamaka 252 January 1995) which are mainly in the western part of the country (Langrand, 1990 and in litt.). None have been recorded during the waterfowl censuses in Madagascar in recent years with the exception of 1995 (as yet unpublished) when 332 were counted.
Habitat/ecology: The species frequents quiet waters of lakes and ponds with abundant screening vegetation, from the lowlands up to 3,000 m (in East Africa). In some areas, e.g. parts of Zimbabwe, it has occupied dams and stock ponds in farming areas. It is usually found in pairs or small groups. When not breeding, it congregates in groups of usually 20100 individuals. The breeding season usually coincides with the period of higher and more stable water levels. Flightless birds in moult have been recorded in JuneJuly. Conservation status: According to Callaghan and Green (1993), despite local decreases, overall numbers in the population in eastern and southern Africa seem to be stable and may be increasing. The construction of artificial dams is thought to have resulted in local increases in several areas, e.g. in Zambia, the Transvaal region of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Malawi. According to Ewbank (1993), numbers have increased in Zimbabwe, although D.V. Rockingham-Gill (in litt.) records a slight decrease in this country in recent years. In the southern Rift Valley, numbers have declined sharply due to widespread, illegal use of gill nets, and the species is generally uncommon or rare in parts of its range in southern Africa, e.g. in Cape Province of South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho (Callaghan & Green, 1993). T. leuconotus is now very rare in West Africa (J.F. Walsh, in litt.), and Perennou (1991a) suggests that this discrete population is on the verge of extinction. In Nigeria, the species was previously a not uncommon resident in wetlands in the north, but there have been no records in the past 20 years (Elgood et al., 1994). The Madagascar subspecies T. l. insularis is listed as vulnerable by Green (1996). This subspecies was formerly quite common, but is now rather rare throughout its range, except at the lakes and marshes of Soalala, where it is fairly common. It has already disappeared from a number of sites, especially in the east and on the central high plateau (O. Langrand, in litt.), and was thought to be extinct at Lake Alaotra by 1989 (Young & Smith, 1989), however a single individual was captured here in October 1993 (Pidgeon, 1996). Langrand (1990) attributes the decline in numbers to hunting and trapping. Other factors include the transformation of habitat, widespread introduction of exotic fish that compete for food, introduction of exotic plants, and deterioration in water quality as a result of deforestation and soil erosion in catchment areas (Green, 1992; O. Langrand, in litt.). Network of key sites: Too little is known about the distribution and movements of T. leuconotus to speculate on how useful a key sites network could be. No concentrations of over 30 individuals have been recorded for the Madagascar subspecies and the only records of over 10 individuals for the now very small West Africa population are outdated (1967 and 1968). For the larger eastern and southern Africa population it is possible that many key sites remain to be found. Currently, Kuti Ponds in Malawi is the only key site known, and this has held large numbers in two of the last three years.
36
WHITE-HEADED DUCK Oxyura leucocephala

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic; a threatened species with a highly fragmented breeding distribution from southwest Europe and northwest Africa to central Asia (from 25N to 60N and from 10W to 100E); currently known to breed only in Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Romania (irregularly), Turkey, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia and Russia, and probably also in northwest China. The main breeding areas of the species are thought to be in the steppe and semi-desert regions of Kazakhstan. It has almost disappeared as a breeding species in Turkmenistan, although it still breeds in small numbers in the Middle Amu Darya Valley. The species has become extinct as a breeding species this century in Morocco, France (Corsica), Italy (Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily), Hungary, Yugoslavia (Serbia), Greece, Albania, Israel, Azerbaijan and Egypt. Attempts have been made to re-introduce the species in Hungary, Corsica, Sardinia and Majorca through captive-breeding programmes. Movements: The movements of O. leucocephala are very poorly understood, as there is an almost total lack of ringing data. The bulk of the west-central Asian population apparently migrates southwest to winter in the Caspian region and Turkey. The winter movements of this population are not well understood, but it is assumed that the central Asian republics retain only 510% of their breeding stocks in winter (Monval & Pirot, 1989), the remainder wintering to the south of Kazakhstan in countries bordering the Caspian Sea and Black Sea, but mostly in Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran. The Manych-Godilo and east Manych Lakes north of the Caucasus are a major staging area in spring and autumn, holding up to 1,000 birds in autumn (Krivenko, 1995), and the Kizilirmak Delta is also very important in spring (Green & Hughes, 1995). The origin of the small number of birds that winter regularly in the Dobrodja, Romania and Bulgaria, is unknown. There are no longer any known regular breeding areas in Romania or Ukraine, but the presence of an undetected breeding population to the north or northeast of the Black Sea remains the most likely explanation. The small population breeding in southwest Iran (and perhaps also Iraq) appears to be sedentary. Birds breeding in the western Mediterranean are chiefly sedentary, undertaking only short-distance movements. Population limits: Monval & Pirot (1989), and more recently Green & Hughes (1995), recognized two separate populations of O. leucocephala in Western Eurasia, one centred around the west Mediterranean and the other centred around the east Mediterranean and the coasts of the Black Sea and Caspian. However, the distribution of O. leucocephala has become increasingly fragmented in recent decades, especially in Europe, and it now seems likely that there are at least three isolated groups in Western Eurasia. The Spanish population would now appear to be discrete. There is no evidence of movement between the Spanish population and the population in Tunisia and Algeria, and the lack of recent records from Morocco suggests that little if any such movement occurs. The birds in Tunisia and Algeria are probably also isolated from populations further east. There is no indication of movement between Turkey and Tunisia, and there have been few counts of more than a few hundred birds in Tunisia. Anstey (1989) thought it most likely that the wintering population in Tunisia included the small resident Tunisian population and a substantial number of winter visitors from breeding areas in neighbouring Algeria (especially El Kala National Park). No wintering O. leucocephala were recorded at El Kala between 1972 and 1977, but since the major decline in numbers wintering in Tunisia in the mid-1970s, the El Kala winter counts have increased (Anstey, 1989). Boumezbeur (1992) also suggested that there was some post-breeding dispersal of O. leucocephala from El Kala to Tunisia. With the disappearance of a breeding population in south-central Europe (which may have contributed some birds to the Tunisian wintering population), and in the absence of direct evidence to suggest that any of the small numbers of birds wintering in Tunisia are immigrants from Asia, it would seem better, from a conservation standpoint, to treat the North African birds as a discrete
37
80
70N
60W
50W
Uncertain Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population
40
30
10
10E
20E
38
30E
40E
20
60N
Key Sites Data deficient sites or sites that have occasionally supported internationally important numbers Well justified Has supported < 1% of flyway population Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Sites that regularly support internationally important numbers
Population Boundaries
Breeding areas
90
40
30
20
10
80
70 E
500
1000
km
60
50 E
population. This discreteness may be a recent phenomenon resulting from range contraction and fragmentation. Further east, where the species undertakes much longer migrations, the presence of discrete subpopulations is less clear. The small population of about 300 to 500 birds in southwestern Iran appears to be largely sedentary, the birds concentrating at a few large wetlands in winter, and dispersing to smaller wetlands in the southern Zagros Mountains to breed. This group has traditionally been included within the main Southwest Asian population, and this approach is adopted here, although treatment as a separate population may be more appropriate. Similarly, the small population wintering in Pakistan is likely to be a discrete population, breeding at the extreme eastern limit of the species range in the region of Novosibirsk. Birds occurring in Seistan, on the Iran/Afghanistan border, may belong to this population, or may be stragglers from the main Southwest Asian population. This eastern population, now believed to number only about 300 birds (Perennou et al., 1994), is outside the geographical limits of the present study. Thus three populations are recognized in Western Eurasia: (1) a small population in Spain; (2) a small population in Algeria and Tunisia; (3) a large population breeding from Romania, Turkey and Iran to Kazakhstan and wintering mainly in Turkey and the Caspian region.
Population size: West Mediterranean (Spain): 700. 1% level 7. The Spanish population of about 400 in 1950 had declined to only 22 birds in 1977, but with protection of breeding areas, the population recovered to a total of 786 in January 1992 (Torres et al., 1994a). Subsequent high counts have included 697 in October 1993, 552 in January 1994 and 665 in October 1995 (J.A. Torres Esquivias, in litt.). Tucker and Heath (1994) give the Spanish breeding population as 50100 pairs, while A. Green (in litt.) suggests that the population currently numbers about 700 individuals.
North Africa (Algeria and Tunisia): 400. 1% level 4. Boumezbeur (1992) estimated the Algerian population (in El Kala National Park) at over 210 birds in March 1992. A. Green (in litt.) suggests that the total population in Algeria and Tunisia currently numbers about 400 individuals. Southeast Europe/Turkey/Southwest Asia: 8,00015,000. 1% level 115. As recently as the early 1990s, the population of O. leucocephala in southeast Europe and Southwest Asia was thought to number about 17,000 birds (Green & Anstey, 1992). Krivenko (1993) gives an estimate of 15,000 for the total population at the end of the breeding season in Kazakhstan and the Caspian region. Some 15,500 birds were counted during the International Waterfowl Census in 1991, with most of the birds at Burdur Golu (10,927) in Turkey and Aggel (Ah Gol) Lake (3,100) in Azerbaijan. However, only 3,010 were located at Burdur Golu during a comprehensive survey in the winter of 1992/93, and only 566 were found elsewhere in Turkey (Green et al., 1993). A. Green (in litt.) has suggested that while the population in the late 1980s/early 1990s probably reached 17,000 in good years, it could have been as low as 11,000 in poor years. Furthermore, there may have been a substantial further decline in numbers within the last few years, following the degradation of Burdur Golu (Green et al., 1993). A conservative estimate of 8,00015,000 is therefore considered more appropriate than the former 17,000 which represents a maximum population size in good years rather than the average population size (Green & Yarar, 1996; Green & Hunter, 1996). The possibly isolated population in southwestern Iran is thought to contain 300500 birds; recent mid-winter counts have included up to 455 at Lake Parishan, 285 at Izeh and Sheiko Lakes, 230 at Harm Lake and 173 at the Helleh Delta.
Habitat/ecology: Oxyura leucocephala prefers freshwater or brackish, alkaline, eutrophic lakes, which often have a closed basin hydrology and, in the case of breeding sites, are frequently semi-permanent or temporary (Green & Hughes, 1995). Breeding sites have dense emergent vegetation around the fringes, and are small or are enclosed areas within larger wetland systems. Outside the breeding season, the species generally occurs on larger and deeper lakes and lagoons, often with little emergent vegetation. O. leucocephala has a polygamous mating system (Torres et al., 1984), with nesting occurring in dense reed-beds and sometimes on top of old coot nests. In Kazakhstan, males leave the breeding grounds during the breeding cycle, and gather to moult on larger lakes (Cramp & Simmons, 1977). A flightless moult occurs twice a year, during the post-breeding season and in late winter (Anstey, 1989). The autumn departure from the breeding grounds begins in
39
late September, and the northern breeding grounds are deserted by mid-October. Numbers in the east Caspian, Azerbaijan and Turkey increase during the second half of October and November. The return passage begins in February, and in Kazakhstan, the main spring passage occurs at the end of April and in early May.
Conservation status: Oxyura leucocephala is a globally threatened species, listed as vulnerable by Collar et al. (1994) and Green (1996). The status and conservation of O. leucocephala have been described in some detail by Anstey (1989), Green & Anstey (1992), Green (in Tucker & Heath, 1994) and van Vessem (1994), and an Action Plan for the species in Europe has been compiled by Green & Hughes (1995). The west Mediterranean population is currently increasing after a long period of decline. This population was on the verge of extinction in the early 1970s, but has since increased from a low of 22 in 1977 to a peak of 786 in January 1992 and 665 in October 1995 (Torres et al., 1994a; J.A. Torres Esquivias, in litt.). The North African population appears to have been stable in recent years, after a sharp decline in the mid-1970s. The southeast European/Southwest Asian population is thought to have been relatively stable during the 1970s and 1980s. Krivenko (1993) reports only a slight decline in numbers in Kazakhstan and the Caspian region between 1972 and 1989, and some local increases have been reported, e.g. in Greece and Azerbaijan. However, numbers are probably now decreasing rapidly with the serious deterioration in the condition of Burdur Golu in Turkey. The small, possibly isolated population in southwestern Iran appears to have been relatively stable since at least the early 1970s. Oxyura leucocephala has undergone a considerable decline in range and population size this century that is almost certainly continuing. According to Green & Hughes (1995), the former world population of the species probably exceeded 100,000 individuals. By the early 1990s, the population had fallen to an estimated 19,000 birds (1,000 in the west Mediterranean, 13,000 in the east Mediterranean/Black Sea region, and 5,000 wintering in countries further east). Poslavski (1992) has documented a major decline in the wintering population on the Caspian coast of Turkmenistan from an estimated 47,000 in 1932 to less than 200 in recent years. The dramatic decline in numbers has been attributed to the destruction and degradation of habitat, especially on the breeding grounds in the former USSR and on the wintering areas in Pakistan and Turkey, and by excessive disturbance from hunting and fishing on the wintering areas. The species is very easy to shoot, making hunting a much more significant threat than for most other waterfowl. In recent years, it has become clear that the spread of the introduced Oxyura jamaicensis in western Europe poses the most severe threat to O. leucocephala, because of the free hybridization between the two species (Green et al., 1993; Torres et al., 1994b; Green & Hughes, 1995). Hybridization with O. jamaicensis has already affected the Spanish population; hybrids were first seen in Spain in 1991, and at least 49 had been shot by the end of 1994, including some that were at least second generation hybrids (Callaghan & Green, 1993; J.A. Torres Esquivias, in litt.). The eradication of hybrids and pure O. jamaicensis (at least 17 shot by the end of 1994) appears to have proved successful; the population of jamaicensis has declined rapidly since 1992. Network of key sites: As for all globally threatened species, all sites regularly used by an appreciable number of individuals are of international importance. Many major sites for the species are listed by Green & Hughes (1995), Anstey (1989) and Green & Anstey (1992). Moreno et al. (1994) provide a list of 86 sites at which the species is known to have occurred in Spain, including 21 sites at which there have been no records of the species since 1982. More recently, J.A. Torres Esquivias et al. (in litt.) have listed 87 sites in Spain at which the species has occurred since 1987. Handrinos (1995) lists the known sites in Greece and Annex 2 provides an extensive key sites listing for the Algeria/Tunisia and southeast Europe/Turkey/ Southwest Asia populations. In southeast Europe/Turkey/Southwest Asia few key sites can be identified outside of winter. In autumn concentrations have been found in Turkey (300 at Sodah Gol and 500 Moulting at Kulu Golu) and in Russia (1000 at Manych-Godilo Lakes) but more sites surely exist. The maximum breeding concentrations appear to be small colonies of up to 20 pairs in Turkey and Turkmenistan but very little is known about breeding densities in the major areas to the North of the population range. In winter 48 sites in southeast Europe/Turkey/Southwest Asia have supported up to 100 birds and 30 key sites over 100 birds. Until recently, Kizil Agach and Aggel (Ah Gol) Lake in Azerbaijan plus Burdur Golu in Turkey have accounted for virtually the entire wintering population but the recent demise in numbers wintering at Burdur Golu now leaves over 50% of the winter population unaccounted for. In Algeria and Tunisia O. leucocephala can be found in important concentrations
40
throughout the year but its occurrence is unpredictable. Consequently, very few key sites support the species on a regular basis. Concentrations thought to comprise virtually the entire population have been recorded sporadically on five key sites and concentrations of over 10% of the population on many others.
Protection status of key sites: Most of the important sites in Spain are protected, but two of the important sites in Algeria and Tunisia are unprotected and many others are of unknown protected status. All of the main breeding areas in the Black Sea region and Turkey are unprotected but although all of the extremely important wintering areas are protected there are still many important unprotected key sites. An important site in Azerbaijan (Kizil Agach) and many of the important sites in Iran are protected, but elsewhere in Southwest Asia, most sites are unprotected.
41
MACCOA DUCK Oxyura maccoa

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region, occurring from Ethiopia south to northern Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Zaire, and from Zimbabwe and Namibia south to Cape Province, South Africa. Its range in southern Africa, lying mainly within the 65F (18.3C) isotherm, suggests that temperature may be a limiting factor in its distribution (Snow, 1978). Movements: Largely sedentary, undertaking only small-scale dispersive movements. Some local movements have been observed in South Africa, with birds concentrating on large waters during the non-breeding season, and the species is said to be locally migratory in Transvaal (Brown et al. , 1982), but no regular migrations have been reported (Snow, 1978). In Witwatersrand, Transvaal, it is present all year, with the greatest numbers in summer (the breeding season) coinciding with the rains, and the lowest numbers in winter (the dry season) occurring when non-breeding birds move to large waters in Orange Free State. Population limits: The birds inhabiting the highlands of eastern and northeastern Africa are widely separated from the population of southern Africa (by about 1,500 km), and there would seem to be ample justification for treating the southern African birds as a separate population. Callaghan and Green (1993) recognized these two sub-populations: an eastern population in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire, Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda, a southern population in Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Namibia. However, there also appears to be a break in distribution between the birds in the Ethiopian highlands and the birds in the East African highlands. As O. maccoa is primarily a species of the highlands in eastern and northeastern Africa, and as it appears to be largely sedentary, the broad belt of unsuitable lowland habitat in southeastern Sudan, southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya probably acts as a barrier to interchange between the East African and Ethiopian birds. For this reason, the Ethiopian population is tentatively split off as a separate population. Thus, three populations are recognized: one in southern Africa (north to the Zambezi); one in East Africa; and one in the Ethiopian highlands. Within the East African population, there may be very little mixing between the birds inhabiting the highlands of Kenya and northeastern Tanzania, and those in the highlands of western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Zaire, as there are very few records of birds in the intervening lowlands of the Lake Victoria basin. However, very little information is available on the western group, and for the time being at least, it would seem best to treat these birds as part of a wider East African population. Population size: Ethiopian highlands: 1,0005,000. Provisional numerical criterion 30. Said to be common to locally abundant in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), but not known from Somalia. One hundred and twenty-one were recorded during the African Waterfowl Census in January 1994 but this was very incomplete.
East Africa: 15,00025,000. Provisional numerical criterion 200. Locally numerous on inland lakes in Kenya and northern Tanzania, especially when alkaline, but rare in coastal regions. O. maccoa was formerly common at Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha, but there have been no recent records from Nakuru and only small numbers now occur at Naivasha (L. Bennun, in litt.). Up to 1,000 occur seasonally on strongly alkaline lakes in Arusha National Park. A total of 427 was recorded at wetlands in Tanzania in January 1995. There are no recent records from Uganda, and the species is said to be uncommon in Malawi. The maximum count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in East Africa was 215 in January 1994.
42
Key Sites 20N Data deficient sites or sites that have occasionally supported internationally important numbers Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Sites that regularly support internationally important numbers Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population 10N Population Boundaries Well justified Uncertain Breeding areas
10S
20S
30S
500 km
1000
10E
20E
30E
40E
50E
43
Southern Africa (north to Zimbabwe): 15,00025,000. Provisional numerical criterion 200. Said to be fairly common in southeastern Botswana, uncommon in Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and apparently not recorded from Mozambique, but common to locally abundant in other parts of its range in southern Africa, except in arid and semi-arid zones and coastal Natal. The population in Zimbabwe was estimated to be in the hundreds in the 1970s (Ewbank, 1993), and in Lesotho there are an estimated 10100 individuals (Callaghan & Green, 1993). A total of 899 was counted in Namibia in July 1992. The total population in Cape Province, South Africa, is estimated at 2,400. A concentration of 1,024 birds was observed on Strandfontein Sewage Works in the Cape Town area, South Africa, in May 1980 (Callaghan & Green, 1993). The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in southern Africa was 1,116 in 1992. Callaghan and Green (1993) state that the total population seems certain to exceed 10,000 individuals.
Habitat/ecology: Oxyura maccoa prefers shallow, nutrient-rich lakes and ponds with extensive emergent vegetation. In eastern Africa, it is mainly a highland duck, recorded up to 3,000 m in the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia. In South Africa, it occurs from sea level to 2,150 m. Sedentary birds in southwest Cape Province moult their remiges twice yearly; in January and June. Conservation status: The species is thought to be decreasing in eastern Africa, but is probably increasing in southern Africa (Callaghan & Green, 1993). Numbers have declined markedly in Kenya in recent years (L. Bennun, in litt.); this decline in numbers has been attributed to the widespread illegal use of gill nets (Callaghan & Green, 1993). In southern Africa, the species is adaptable, colonizing artificial dams and reservoirs, and is subject to little hunting pressure. In South Africa and Namibia, numbers may have increased following the widespread construction of dams and sewage settlement lagoons. The situation in Zimbabwe is unclear; Ewbank (1993) suggests that numbers have increased in recent years, while D.V. RockinghamGill (in litt.) reports that numbers are decreasing. Trends in the small Ethiopian population are unknown. Network of key sites: No network of key sites can be identified for any of the three populations of O. maccoa. There is no seasonal pattern in the appearance of large concentrations and it is possible that many more key sites remain to be identified. Protection status of key sites: Arusha National Park Alkaline Lakes in Tanzania and Phakalane Sewage Ponds in Botswana are protected but no protected status information is available for Ashange Lake in Ethiopia and Swakoppoort Dam in Namibia.
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MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic; patchily distributed but locally common across temperate regions of the Palearctic, mainly between 40 and 60N, from western Europe to northeast China. Introduced in North America, South Africa and Australasia. In Western Eurasia, C. olor breeds widely in western and central Europe, and more locally in southeast Europe, the Black Sea and Caspian regions and central Asia east to about 90E; in winter it occurs south to the Mediterranean Sea and the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. It is only a rare winter visitor to North Africa (mainly Egypt) and Iraq. It has been introduced into eastern Cape Province, South Africa, where there is a population of a few hundred birds. Movements: Cygnus olor breeding in Ireland, Britain, the Low Countries, France and central Europe are very largely sedentary, with movements seldom exceeding some tens of kilometres. Recoveries of several thousand birds ringed in Britain and Ireland have shown that these populations are almost entirely sedentary. Very few of the movements recorded within Britain have exceeded 50 km, and there is no migration to or from the mainland of Europe, except in very cold winters (Atkinson-Willes, 1981). There is a small winter movement of Scottish swans into Northern Ireland, and there have been recoveries of birds from the north of England and the Isle of Man in Ireland, but remarkably few Irish swans cross the Irish Sea to Britain (OHalloran et al., 1995). Cygnus olor breeding in eastern Europe are mostly migratory or nomadic. Most swans breeding in Finland, Sweden, the Baltic countries, Poland, northern Germany and Denmark leave inland lakes to winter along the coasts of the Baltic Sea. Ringing recoveries have shown that birds breeding in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania winter mostly in the countries bordering the south and southwest shores of the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Sweden, eastern Germany and Poland). Swans breeding in Poland formerly wintered mostly on the Danish and Rugen coasts, but an increasing number of Polish swans are now migrating southwest or south to winter in eastern Germany, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Austria and Hungary. The bulk of the Baltic population remains in the Baltic Sea even in severe winters (when mortality may be very high), but some birds leave the area to winter around the southern North Sea and in central Europe. In recent years in which winters have been particularly mild, there has been an increasing tendency for birds in Sweden and the eastern Baltic to remain throughout the year in their breeding areas. Numbers wintering in Estonia have increased rapidly in recent years from none in the 1960s to about 12,000 in 1993, the numbers depending on the severity of the winter (Kuresoo, 1991; S. Pihl, in litt.), while in Lithuania, about 1,000 birds have remained throughout the winter in recent years (S. Svazas et al., 1995). Most C. olor breeding in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov region undertake only limited migratory movements, leaving inland breeding areas to winter on the coasts of the Black Sea. However, small numbers migrate to the south, to the Danube Delta, the Balkan peninsula, Greece, Turkey and even as far as southern Italy especially during severe winters. Swans ringed in the Black Sea Reserve in Ukraine have been recovered in Romania (6), Bulgaria (2), Greece (1) and Turkey (1) (Ardamatskaya & Korzyukov, 1991). Cygnus olor breeding in the Caspian region and central Asia also show limited migratory movements. A recent analysis of recoveries of swans ringed and colour-marked in the Volga Delta has shown that the greater part of the Volga Delta population remains throughout the year within the limits of the Caspian Sea and lakes adjoining it. Birds breeding in the Volga Delta return to the delta after wintering on the Caspian Sea, and there is no evidence that birds regularly change their breeding grounds. Most young birds also winter in the Caspian Sea, mainly in warm waters along the west coast. The more severe the winter, the further south they go. In particularly severe winters, a mass migration of swans occurs from the Caspian Sea to the interior lakes of Azerbaijan and Dagestan (Krivonosov, 1991b). In Azerbaijan, the wintering population fluctuates between 1,0002,000 in mild winters and as
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many as 11,00012,000 in cold winters (Patrikeev, in prep.). Exceptionally, over 10,000 swans, mainly immatures, winter in the south Caspian region of Iran, with stragglers reaching Iraq.
Population limits: Most authors recognize three main groups in Western Eurasia: a northwest and central European population, a Black Sea/Sea of Azov population, and a Caspian Sea/west-central Asian population. On the basis of ringing data and various national studies, Atkinson-Willes (1981) divided the northwest and central European population of Cygnus olor into seven groups, each of which was thought to be more or less independent.
1) Scandinavia-Baltic Group Finland, Baltic Republics, Poland, Sweden, eastern Germany, SchleswigHolstein and Neidersachsen in western Germany, Denmark and Norway. 2) Netherlands Group Netherlands, Nordrhein-Westfalen in Germany, Belgium and northwest France. 3) Central European Group Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Austria, central and southern Germany, Switzerland, southeast France and Italy. 4) England and Wales Group 5) Scotland (mainland and Orkneys) Group 6) Scotland (Hebrides) Group 7) Irish Group Ruger et al. (1986) and Monval & Pirot (1989) lumped the two Scottish groups with the birds in England and Wales and thus recognized five groups. Wieloch (1991) argued for the existence of a further group, the west Ukrainian-Hungarian group, which has recently become established in Ukraine, Hungary and the former Yugoslavia as a result of the eastward and southward spread of swans from the Scandinavian-Baltic and central European groups. However, because of the recent expansions in range, there is increasing contact between individuals from the different groups on the wintering and moulting areas (Wieloch, 1991), and sub-division of the populations in northwest and central Europe, at least on the mainland of Europe, is now doubtfully valid. Exchange between the northwest/central European population and the Black Sea/Sea of Azov population is also becoming increasingly likely as a result of the recent increase in numbers and expansion in ranges in both these populations. C. olor of the Scandinavian-Baltic and central European groups have expanded their ranges towards the south and east, establishing breeding populations in the former Yugoslavia, Hungary and particularly Ukraine, and moving closer to those breeding in the lower Danube Valley (Black Sea population). By the late 1980s, birds in the central European group and birds in the Black Sea population were nesting at the same latitude and separated by only some 150 km (Wieloch, 1991). Further east, the increase in numbers and range expansion have been even more marked, and the distribution of C. olor is now almost continuous between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. Ringing recoveries have shown that some interchange is now occurring between the Caspian and Black Sea populations. Seven young birds ringed in the Volga Delta in 1977, 1978 and 1983 were found in their first winter after ringing in the Black Sea region and north Caucasus, and colour-marked individuals have been sighted in the Black Sea region two years and five years after ringing (Krivonosov, 1991b). This interchange appears to be a recent phenomenon related to the massive increase in the Caspian population since the 1970s. Despite the evidence for interchange between the Caspian and Black Sea populations, and the increasing likelihood of interchange between the Black Sea and northwest/central European populations, these three main groups are retained in the present analysis, primarily for practical purposes. Subdivision of the northwest/central European population into separate groups may no longer be possible on the mainland of Europe because of range expansions, but there remain strong grounds for treating the closed British and Irish populations as separate units.
Population size: Northwest mainland and central Europe: 210,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 2,100. Britain: 25,750 (Delaney et al., 1993; see Annex 1).1% level 250. Ireland: 10,000 (Shepherd, 1993; see Annex 1). 1% level 100. Ruger et al. (1986) and Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the total population in northwest and central Europe (including Britain and Ireland) at 180,000, while Wieloch (1991) gave a figure of 175,000 for the population in 1989, based on breeding season counts of 28,400 pairs and mid-winter counts totalling
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152,500 individuals. Substantial increases have occurred in almost all regions since then, and recent counts suggest that the total population in northwest and central Europe (excluding Britain and Ireland) is now in the region of 210,000 birds (see Annex 1). The present estimates for the three main subgroups are as follows: Scandinavia/Baltic sub-group: 170,000 Netherlands sub-group: 20,000 Central European sub-group: 16,000 Extrapolation from tetrad counts during the 198891 atlas project in Britain and Ireland suggests that there may be a much higher population in Ireland (19,00020,000 birds) than has generally been supposed (M. Ogilvie and S. Delany in Gibbons et al., 1993). Black Sea/east Mediterranean: 45,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 450. Ruger et al. (1986) estimated the Black Sea/east Mediterranean population at only 20,000 birds, and this figure was repeated by Monval & Pirot (1989) and Rose & Scott (1994). However, Korzyukov et al. (1991) estimated the Azov-Black Sea population at over 50,000 birds. The population is currently estimated at 45,000 birds (see Annex 1). West-central Asia/Caspian region: 250,000. 1% level 2,500. The current estimate of 250,000 is derived from a comprehensive census of C. olor in the Caspian region, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in 1987. A census of C. olor throughout the former USSR in spring 1987 revealed that there had been a massive increase in the numbers of swans in the Caspian region since the previous census in the 1970s, and suggested that the total population in the central Asian republics and Caspian region was about 250,000 birds (Krivonosov, 1991a). This total included 13,370 pairs and 215,900 non-breeding birds in the north Caspian (mainly the Volga Delta), 4,000 pairs and 11,000 non-breeding birds in Kazakhstan, 600 pairs and 900 non-breeding birds in the north Caucasus, 100 pairs in Uzbekistan and 50 pairs in Turkmenistan. Krivenko (1993) gives an estimate of 200,000 for the population in Kazakhstan and the Caspian region in the late 1980s.
Habitat/ecology: Cygnus olor occurs in a variety of lowland freshwater habitats, including marshes, lakes, lagoons, rivers and canals, and also on estuaries and in sheltered coastal sites. During hard winters, most of the swans wintering in the Baltic move to marine areas. The species has adapted to living in close proximity to man, and now occupies many artificial water bodies such as park lakes, reservoirs and gravel pits, often in urban environments. Because of this adaptability and its tolerance of most human activities, C. olor is far less threatened by loss of habitat than most other species of Anatidae. Although usually territorial during the breeding season, the swans often form large flocks during the moult (July and August) and in winter, sometimes numbering thousands of birds, especially in the southwest Baltic, the northern Black Sea and the Volga Delta. The largely sedentary populations in Britain, Ireland, France, the Netherlands and central Europe are much less gregarious outside the breeding season than other populations, but form moulting concentrations in some areas. The swans are flightless for 68 weeks during the wing moult. Migratory populations in northwest Europe return to their breeding areas in March. Most of the swans breeding in the Black Sea and Caspian regions move to these seas to moult and spend the winter. Conservation status: The northwest European population of C. olor has undergone a slow but significant increase that has accelerated in recent years. The rate of increase suggests that the population size increased by 60% over the ten-year period to 1993 (Rose, 1995). This increase in numbers has been associated with an expansion in the breeding range. Increases have been recorded in almost all areas and have been especially marked in the Scandinavian/Baltic sub-group. However, numbers in the Netherlands sub-group seem to have stabilized in recent years, and may now be decreasing slightly (Pirot & Fox, 1990; Wieloch, 1991). In central Europe, numbers were relatively stable during the 1970s and 1980s, but have shown a slight increase within the last few years (Rose, 1995). In Britain, numbers of C. olor increased quite rapidly in the 1950s, and then went through a period of fluctuation in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, with some local rapid declines associated with lead poisoning caused by the ingestion of anglers weights (Sears and Hunt, 1991), but since then there have been widespread increases (M. Ogilvie and S. Delany in Gibbons et al., 1993). Trends in the Irish population are unknown.
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In the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region, mid-winter counts suggest that there was a slight increase during the period 19841993 (Rose, 1995). However, substantial increases have been reported in the Black Sea area and the northern Caucasus (Rostov region, Krasnodar and Starmopol) in recent years (Krivonosov, 1991a). In west-central Asia and the Caspian region, C. olor has expanded its range north and east into areas which were formerly occupied by swans, and this expansion is continuing. The number of breeding pairs in the Caspian Sea area tripled between 1978 and 1987 to 13,370 pairs, while the number of nonbreeding birds increased eight-fold to 215,900 (Krivonosov, 1991a). Further east in Kazakhstan, only a slight increase was reported during the same period (Krivonosov, 1991a).
Network of key sites: The Black Sea/east Mediterranean population has a good key sites network. In the breeding season, large colonies occur in the two major delta sites (Danube and Dnestr), and likewise the major breeding concentration for the Caspian population is in the Volga Delta. Almost all of the Caspian population moult in the northeast Caspian shallows. More than 10% of the Black Sea breeding population moult in Karkinitski Bay (Ukraine), and it is likely that other key moulting sites exist in the Black Sea/Sea of Azov. In winter, up to 70% of the Black Sea/east Mediterranean population can potentially be accounted for by a network of 18 key sites, but in the Caspian region only six key wintering sites can be identified accounting for only 10% of the population. Key site information for the Irish and British populations is only listed and plotted for January concentrations. In January, more than 25 key sites can be identified in Ireland, but these only account for about 20%25% of the population indicating its very dispersed nature. Similarly, 17 key sites in Britain account for approximately 20% of the population. In mainland northwest Europe 29 key wintering sites are listed plus 17 key moulting and passage sites. These are predominantly in the Baltic region which is representative of the situation in mild winters, but in harsh winters many of these birds can die and some move south, stressing the importance of more southerly key sites to this population. A large proportion of the population spends the winter and breeds in small groups that do not qualify as key sites. Protection status of key sites: In the Black Sea region nearly all of the major key sites are protected or partially protected in contrast to the Caspian population where many major sites are not protected or have unknown protected status. Most key sites in mainland northwest Europe are protected.
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WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic; breeds widely at northern latitudes, mainly between 55 and 70N, from Iceland to the Bering Sea, and winters south to western Europe, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, central China and Japan. C. cygnus formerly bred in Greenland, but has long been extinct there. In Western Eurasia, it breeds in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and northern Russia, and winters south to Britain, Ireland, Belgium, northern France, the northern Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, with small numbers of birds penetrating much further south during severe winters. Small numbers have also bred in Latvia, Lithuania and northeastern Poland in recent years. It is only a rare winter visitor to North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt). Movements: Almost entirely migratory, although some birds (5001,300) remain throughout the winter in Iceland. The bulk of the Icelandic population winters in Britain and Ireland, with only a small number continuing on to southern Scandinavia (southern Norway and Jutland) and the Netherlands. Cygnus cygnus breeding in Scandinavia and western Russia (west of the Urals) are thought to winter mainly in Denmark, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg (Germany), while birds breeding east of the Urals in western and central Siberia winter around the northern parts of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. The migration routes of Cygnus cygnus throughout the Western Palearctic have been summarized by Mathiasson (1991). The extent to which birds from continental northwest Europe reach Britain and Ireland in winter remains uncertain. Gardarsson (1991b) has suggested that as many as 3,000 of the C. cygnus wintering in Britain and Ireland may originate from the continent of Europe, but there is little evidence to support this. There have been no recoveries of continental birds in Ireland, and it is now known that many of the birds wintering in southeast England are of Icelandic origin. However, in the recent cold winter of 1995/96, at least 22 Finnish neck-banded birds from more than four families were observed in southeast England, and another neck-banded bird, probably of Scandinavian origin, was reported in Scotland (J. Bowler & B. Lambeth, in litt.). The species is subject to extensive hard weather movements, both in northwest Europe and in the Caspian region. Numbers wintering in the Baltic fluctuate widely according to the severity of the winter, with traditional wintering haunts in Sweden and the eastern Baltic being mostly deserted during severe winters. In the Caspian region, large numbers of C. cygnus reach the Caspian lowlands in northern Iran during severe winters. Population limits: Four populations are recognized in Western Eurasia: (1) a population which breeds in Iceland and winters mainly in Britain, Ireland and Iceland; (2) a population which breeds in Fennoscandia and northwest Russia (east to the Urals) and winters in northwest continental Europe; (3) a population which breeds in western Siberia and winters in the Black Sea and east Mediterranean; (4) a population which presumably breeds in western and central Siberia and winters in Southwest Asia from the Caspian Sea east to the region of Lake Balkash. The precise origins of the flocks wintering around the Black Sea and Caspian Sea are unknown, but it seems unlikely that they come from the same general breeding areas. Mathiasson (1991) studied C. cygnus in Sweden, and found that different wintering flocks, even those having winter quarters close to one another, may have different geographical origins and migration routes. There would seem ample justification, therefore, for treating the widely separated wintering flocks of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions as separate populations. Population size: Iceland/UK and Ireland: 16,000 (Cranswick et al., in press). 1% level 160. The Icelandic breeding population has recently been estimated at 1,5002,500 pairs (Koskimies, 1993), while the total population in Iceland in October has been estimated at 14,000, with about 6,000 in the east and 8,000 in the west (Gardarsson, 1991b). The population of C. cygnus wintering in Iceland,
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Britain and Ireland is currently estimated at 16,000 birds (Cranswick et al., in press). The estimate for this wintering population has traditionally been used as the estimate for the Iceland/UK/Ireland population, and this approach is adopted here, although it has been suggested that perhaps as many as 3,000 of the birds wintering in Britain and Ireland are of continental origin (Gardarsson, 1991b). Northwest continental Europe: 40,000 (B. Laubek, in litt.). 1% level 400. Ruger et al. (1986) estimated the northwest continental European population at 25,000 individuals, and this estimate was retained by Monval & Pirot (1989) and Rose & Scott (1994). However, mid-winter counts during the period 1988 to 1993 indicated that the population was in the region of 35,00040,000 birds (Laubek, 1995), while Pihl et al. (1995) estimated that there were about 28,000 in the Baltic region alone in January 1993. A major coordinated census of yellow-billed swans throughout northwest Europe in mid-January 1995 gave a total of about 40,000 for the northwest continental European population of C. cygnus (B. Laubek, in litt.). Some 27,500 C. cygnus were located in Denmark and Sweden alone. Gardarsson (1991b) has noted that as many as 600 of the birds wintering in northwest continental Europe may be from the Icelandic breeding population. The total breeding population in Europe (excluding Iceland) has been estimated at only 4,8006,300 pairs. As with other swan populations, the estimates of breeding populations seem low in relation to total population size, presumably because of the high proportion of non-breeding birds in the population. Western Siberia/Black Sea/east Mediterranean: 17,000 (Ruger et al., 1986). 1% level 170. Ruger et al. (1986) roughly estimated the population at 17,000 birds, and this figure was retained by Monval & Pirot (1989) and Rose & Scott (1994). In the absence of any better information on numbers wintering in the Black Sea, the estimate of 17,000 is retained here. Western Siberia/Caspian region: Provisional estimate 20,000. Provisional numerical criterion 200. Rusanov (1987) gives an estimate of 13,900 for the wintering population in the north Caspian between 1970 and 1980. A further 6,000 were recorded elsewhere in the region during the Asian Waterfowl Census between 1987 and 1991, and 5,880 were counted in the south Caspian region and at wetlands between the Caspian and Aral Seas in January 1994. These figures suggest a total population of about 20,000 birds.
Habitat/ecology: Cygnus cygnus breeds on northern pools and lakes of shallow fresh water, often in wooded country but also in open country (e.g. in Iceland) and peatlands; also occasionally on slow-flowing rivers and sheltered coasts, but only rarely on open tundra. It winters on freshwater lakes and marshes, and in western Europe especially on low agricultural land, generally not far from the coast. Concentrations of moulting birds are formed near the breeding grounds from the end of July until early September, often in shallow coastal waters. The swans are flightless for a period of 56 weeks during the wing moult. They depart from the breeding grounds in mid- to late September in northern Russia and in mid-October in Scandinavia. Birds arrive on their winter quarters in northern Germany and Denmark in October and November. Departure from the winter quarters takes place between mid-March and early May, the birds arriving on the breeding grounds in mid- to late May. Icelandic birds leave their breeding grounds between late September and November; the first birds arrive in Ireland in the third week of September, and the peak immigration occurs later in October. Birds leave their wintering grounds in Britain and Ireland in late March and the first week of April. Conservation status: The Icelandic breeding population is believed to be approximately stable (Gardarsson, 1991b), although there has been some indication of an increase in the last ten years (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). The wintering population in Britain and Ireland was thought to be increasing (Rose, 1995) but by far the most exhaustive analysis by Cranswick et al. (in press) shows a 12% decline since 1991. The wintering population in northwest continental Europe is increasing rapidly, and has doubled since 1974 (Rose, 1995). C. cygnus has been extending its breeding range southwards in Fennoscandia in recent decades. In Sweden, it now breeds throughout the country, although as recently as 30 years ago it was restricted to the far north (L. Nilsson, in litt.). In Finland, the species has increased in numbers by an average of 11% per year since 1950, and has generally expanded its range. It has recently colonized Latvia, where there are now some 2030 pairs (A. Stipniece, in litt.), and also now breeds in small numbers in Lithuania and northeastern Poland.
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Numbers wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region appear to be declining. Counts since 1984 have been decreasing, and if counts in the late 1960s and early 1970s are included in the trend analysis, the decrease is statistically significant (Rose, 1995). Further east, in the Southwest Asian region, the numbers of C. cygnus are probably also now declining. According to Rusanov (1987), the average count of C. cygnus wintering in the northern Caspian increased 7.5 fold from 1,850 during the period 19551969 to 13,900 during the period 19701980, following a shooting ban on swans in 1956 and a reduction in numbers wintering in the southern Caspian. More recently, however, Krivenko (1993) reports a slight decline in numbers at the end of the breeding season in the middle regions of the former USSR, and Perennou et al. (1994) indicate a decline in the wintering areas.
Network of key sites: There are only a few key sites identifiable in the breeding season. There are some very large concentrations recorded from northern Russia (28,500 individuals at the Mouth of the River Ob in summer) but it is unclear to which population(s) these birds belong or whether they were non-breeding, pre-breeding or post-breeding individuals. There is consequently a strong likelihood that many more important key breeding season sites remain to be identified. Throughout the range, enormous concentrations occur during spring and autumn passage. Early autumn and moulting concentrations in the far north of the range in Iceland, the northern Baltic and Russia tend not to be so large and it is possible that there are many more to identify for the northwestern Europe wintering population. In Iceland, nine key autumn staging and moulting sites are known to support approximately 20% of the population. From the limited information available, an extremely similar key sites network (eight key sites supporting up to 20% of the population) can be identified for the northwestern European wintering population in autumn. The Icelandic breeding population stages in the north of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland where all key sites are well known but are not listed as the key sites analysis was conducted using mid-winter data alone. For the northwestern Europe wintering population, key passage sites exist throughout the Baltic, especially in spring (21 key spring staging sites), and some of these can support enormous percentages of the whole population (100% at Matsalu Bay in Estonia, 10% in Kursiu Lagoon/ Nemunas Delta in Lithuania). Neither the migration routes nor the key passage sites are well known for the Black Sea wintering and Caspian wintering populations. Some key sites can be identified towards the southern end of the flyway around and between the Sea of Azov and the northeastern Caspian but these could be key sites for either or both populations. In winter, C. cygnus is much more dispersed with concentrations rarely exceeding 10% of the population. Most key wintering sites are known for all four populations. Key wintering sites in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland support over 50% of the population based on average counts. Exactly the same percentage of the northwestern European wintering population (based on maximum and average counts) is accounted for by the 37 key wintering sites known for this population. The Black Sea and Caspian wintering populations are more concentrated in winter. Ten key wintering sites in the eastern Black Sea and northeastern Greece support up to 45% of the population based on maximum counts and 20%30% of the population usually winters in the Danube Delta (Romania and Ukraine). Up to 35% of the Caspian wintering population is found on 18 key wintering sites in the southern Caspian and the Amu-Darya Valley in Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan. Protection status of key sites: Not many of the important breeding, moulting or wintering areas of the Icelandic population are protected. Most of the important wintering areas for the northwestern European wintering population are protected, but most of the important staging areas are unprotected. A notable exception is in Denmark, where all key passage sites known are protected. Several important breeding areas in Scandinavia are protected, but the situation in northern Russia is unclear. Nearly all key wintering sites known for the Black Sea wintering population are protected but very few key wintering sites for the Caspian wintering population are known to be protected. Most key sites for the Caspian wintering population are of unknown protected status.
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BEWICKS SWAN (TUNDRA SWAN) Cygnus columbianus

Subspecies: Polytypic. Three subspecies have been described: the nominate form (Whistling Swan) in North America, C. c. bewickii in Western Eurasia and C. c. jankowski in eastern Asia. The validity of jankowski has been questioned because of the the lack of any clear division between this and bewickii. Distribution: Holarctic, breeding in Alaska, northern Canada and Arctic Russia and wintering south to the USA, northwest Europe, the Caspian Sea, China and Japan. Only the subspecies bewickii occurs in Western Eurasia. This breeds from the Pechenga River, near the Fenno-Russian border, east to about the Lena Delta. The main wintering areas are in the coastal lowlands of northern Europe, but small numbers also winter in the Camargue, southern France, and there is a regular wintering population in the south Caspian region. As many as 50 have been recorded in the Black Sea area of the Ukraine during severe winters (Ardamatskaya & Korzyukov, 1991), and small flocks occasionally turn up in winter in Austria (maximum 6), Bulgaria (maximum 20), Greece (maximum 10), Turkey (62 in January 1994), Romania (maximum 4) and Switzerland (maximum 6) (Tucker & Heath, 1994). C. columbianus is only a rare straggler to North Africa (Algeria and Libya), Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula (Oman and United Arab Emirates). Movements: Migratory; wintering in temperate areas, sporadically in more southern latitudes during cold winters. Birds breeding west of the Taymyr Peninsula mainly migrate southwest through the White Sea and the Baltic to winter mainly in Denmark, the Netherlands, Britain and Ireland. The spring migration follows a similar route to that in autumn, although some birds also pass further north through central Sweden and southern Finland. A big change occurred in the winter distribution of this species in the 1950s and 1960s, with the appearance of large numbers in several areas of England, virtual abandonment of meadows along the lower Rhine and Waal, and a corresponding increase around the IJsselmeer and in southern Ireland (Atkinson-Willes, 1981). A small population of bewickii winters in the Caspian region and formerly around the Aral Sea. The origin of these birds is unknown, but it is tempting to suppose that they come from the eastern extremity of the breeding range in the Taymyr Peninsula, where the breeding population in the late 1970s was estimated at a maximum of 260 pairs (Rogacheva, 1992), a figure consistent with the known wintering population in the Caspian. Ravkin (1991) recorded up to 200 in the forested steppe zone of the western Siberian plain during the spring migration and small numbers have been seen in spring migrating north along the Urals east of Syktyvkar in the Komi District (Y. Mineyev, in litt.). Rees (1991) and Rees & Bacon (in press) have summarized recoveries and re-sightings, within the former USSR, of 1,511 C. columbianus ringed and colour-marked in Britain. Birds wintering at Slimbridge and Welney migrate along the Baltic coast, traverse Karelia and Vologda on a broad front, and follow the north coast of Russia to their breeding grounds. Two birds were recovered well outside this range: one in Perm on the west side of the Ural Mountains, and the other in Astrakhan in the north Caspian. This suggests that there may be some interchange between the population that winters in northwest Europe and the group that winters on the Caspian Sea. Such interchange also seems likely because of the frequency of occurrence of small parties of C. columbianus in intervening areas, especially in the Black Sea region. Population limits: Two populations are recognized: a large population breeding in arctic northeast Europe and northwest Siberia and wintering in northwest Europe (south in small numbers to the south of France), and a much smaller population which presumably breeds further to the east and winters in the Caspian region south to Iran. In January, almost the entire northwest European population is concentrated at a limited number of sites: along the west coast of Jutland, in the Netherlands, in southern England and in eastern Ireland (Tucker & Heath, 1994). It is thought unlikely that the tiny numbers which occasionally winter in central and southeast Europe belong to one or more separate populations; it
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seems more likely that they are individuals or family parties from one or other of the main populations which have joined up with larger flocks of C. cygnus.
Population size: Western Siberia/northwest Europe: 17,000 (Rose & Scott, 1994). 1% level 170. Ruger et al. (1986) estimated the northwest European population at 18,000 birds; three years later, Monval & Pirot (1989) revised the figure to 17,000. Four major international censuses of C. columbianus in northwest Europe during the 1980s gave totals of 15,35015,850 (1982/83), 16,300 (1983/84), 16,910 (1985/86) and 14,60015,950 (1986/87), suggesting a rather stable population of about 16,00017,000 birds (Dirksen & Beekman, 1991). There are indications that the population has increased since then. Even after two rather poor breeding seasons, as many as 18,600 were counted in the Netherlands alone in November 1993, and 17,791 were counted in January 1994 (SOVON Ganzenen Zwanenwerkgroep, 1995). An even higher count of 19,399 was obtained in January 1995 (SOVON Ganzen- en Zwanenwerkgroep, 1996), and 17,500 were recorded during the spring migration at Audru Polder in Estonia (A. Kuresoo and L. Luigujoa, in litt.). These recent high counts suggest that in some years the total population may be as high as 25,000 (P.L. Meininger, in litt.). According to the European Bird Database (1994), between 3,000 and 3,500 pairs breed in European Russia, an estimate which is consistent with a European wintering population of 17,000 birds. However, Mineyev (1991) estimated the population on the breeding grounds in northeastern European Russia to be 30,000 to 36,000 individuals. This figure is the result of an extrapolation of aerial counts of parts of the tundra between the White Sea and the Urals. In an attempt to account for this discrepancy, Dirksen and Beekman (1991) have suggested that either many of the birds from northeastern European Russia may winter in the Caspian region or elsewhere to the southeast in hitherto unknown areas, or that extrapolation from aerial censuses may have led to great over-estimation. However, an equally likely explanation for at least a part of the discrepancy is that the estimate of 17,000 for the northwest European wintering population is far too low.
Northern Siberia/Caspian region: 500. 1% level 5. Counts of C. columbianus in northern Iran suggest a total wintering population in the south Caspian of less than 500 birds. Some 843 were counted in Iran in 1969, but since then, counts have never exceeded 322 (in 1994). The estimate of 100 given by Perennou et al. (1994) would seem to be far too low, while the figure of 6,500 given by Rose & Scott (1995) is erroneous and was intended as 500.
Habitat/ecology: Cygnus columbianus breeds in the vicinity of shallow lakes and pools on the Arctic tundra, preferring sedge-grass and moss-lichen tundra with numerous small lakes; it winters on shallow freshwater lakes, marshes, flooded grasslands or agricultural fields, often in coastal regions. Much of its traditional winter habitat has been lost, and it is increasingly using arable land and wet pastures, sometimes conflicting with farming interests. Birds are present on the breeding grounds from late May until mid-October. Moulting and post-breeding flocks gather in shallow bays with abundant aquatic vegetation from late June to early September. The birds are flightless for around 30 days during the wing moult. Autumn migration in the Baltic occurs between early October and mid-November. Peak numbers appear in the Netherlands in December and in Britain and Ireland in January. The majority of birds leave their main wintering areas by mid-March and pass through the Baltic region until the second half of May. Conservation status: The population wintering in northwest Europe appears to have been more or less stable (at about 17,000 individuals) during the 1980s, although there was some shift of wintering birds from the Netherlands to Britain (Monval & Pirot, 1989; Pirot & Fox, 1990). Very high counts within the last few years suggest that the population has increased considerably since then, but a recent trend analysis of the data to 1993 has proved inconclusive (Rose, 1995). Krivenko (1993) reports an increase in numbers at the end of the breeding season on the tundras of western and central Siberia between 1972 and 1989. The status of the population wintering in the Caspian region is poorly known. However, the population breeding in the Taymyr Peninsula (and the most likely source of the birds wintering in the Caspian) was reduced by about one third during a period of 1213 years between 1966 and 1978/79 (Rogacheva, 1992).
56
Network of key sites: It seems likely that there are more important moulting, breeding and staging areas than are currently known, particularly in the north of the range, and that there may be major shifts in the distribution of moulting flocks between years. C. columbianus migrates in small groups and family parties, and probably requires more stop-over sites, spaced at shorter distances, than are indicated on the map. Thus many more sites are probably essential for the species, although most of these may hold far fewer than the 1% threshold, and for only short periods of time. Despite the possibility of more key staging sites existing for the northwestern European wintering population, 49 can already be identified, covering the entire flyway from the Netherlands in the South to the massive moulting site at the Pechora Delta (Russia) in the north. Some of these key passage sites can hold over 50% of the population at a single moment in time. In winter the northwestern European wintering population is concentrated on 77 known key sites which together constitute a relatively complete key wintering sites network. For the Caspian wintering population, nothing is known of the migratory route and no key sites are known for seasons other than winter when 16 key sites in the southern Caspian support most of the estimated 500 individuals in concentrations sometimes exceeding 50 birds. Protection status of key sites: A very large percentage of the important wintering areas for the northwestern European wintering population are protected. However, the species is increasingly utilizing arable fields for feeding in winter, and most of these sites are unprotected. In contrast, only 11 of the 49 key staging sites for this population are known to be fully protected and most are of unknown protected status. Most of the wintering sites in Iran are also protected. The largest known moulting area in the Pechora Delta is only partially protected.
57
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus

Subspecies: Monotypic. Formerly considered a subspecies of Anser fabalis, with which it forms a superspecies. Distribution: Confined to the Western Palearctic and Greenland, breeding in Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard, and wintering in northwest Europe south to Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium. Movements: Migratory, wintering at temperate latitudes; sporadically in more southern latitudes during cold winters. Birds breeding in east Greenland and Iceland winter almost entirely in Scotland and England, while birds breeding in Svalbard winter mainly in Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium. Birds breeding in Greenland stage in the interior of Iceland, while birds breeding in Svalbard stage on Bear Island (autumn only) and on islands off the north Norwegian coast. Judging from ringing recoveries, there is only slight interchange of individuals between the two populations (Madsen, 1991). Population limits: The existence of two almost entirely discrete populations of A. brachyrhynchus (one breeding in Greenland and Iceland, and one breeding in Svalbard) has been well documented (Ogilvie, 1978; Madsen, 1987 & 1991). Population size: East Greenland/Iceland/UK: 225,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 2,250. Counts over the five-year period to 1994/95 give an average population of 225,000 birds. The Icelandic breeding population has been estimated at 15,00025,000 pairs (Koskimies, 1993) and the Greenland population at 2,5005,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994).
Svalbard/northwest Europe: 34,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 340. Counts over the five-year period to 1994/95 give an average population of 34,000 birds.
Habitat/ecology: Anser brachyrhynchus breeds on palsas (tundra hummocks), rocky outcrops, crags and gorges in very open Arctic tundra, and winters on coastal estuaries and on agricultural land. Svalbard breeding birds moult near their breeding grounds in July and August, when they are flightless for 25 days. Autumn migration begins at the end of August; birds stop over on Bear Island and in Nordland (Norway) during September and early October, and the main arrival in Denmark occurs in October. From there they move to the Netherlands, where peak numbers are present in November, and also Belgium, where peak numbers occur in December and January. Return to Denmark may occur as early as January, depending on the weather, and by April almost the entire population is back in Denmark. The main departure from Denmark occurs at the end of April. Probably the entire population stages for 35 days on islands in Nordland before making the direct crossing to Svalbard, where the main arrival is during the last ten days of May. Anser brachyrhynchus breeding in Greenland and Iceland moult near their breeding grounds, while non-breeding birds from the Icelandic group migrate to east Greenland in June to moult there. The main departure of birds from Greenland to the interior of Iceland takes place during the first half of September; from there, the main migration to Britain is in the first half of October, but up to 50% of the population can be in Scotland before the end of September in some years (S. Newton, in litt.). Birds then disperse from key arrival sites to southwest Scotland, Lancashire and Norfolk. The return passage to Iceland is in April and May. The timing of the movement of birds from Iceland to Greenland in spring is uncertain, but the first eggs have been recorded in Greenland in the last week of May. Conservation status: Both populations have been increasing since at least the 1950s, probably because of increased protection of sites and reduction of hunting. The population breeding in east Greenland and Iceland has increased
58
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40
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Key Sites Data deficient sites or sites that have occasionally supported internationally important numbers Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Sites that regularly support internationally important numbers Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Population Boundaries Well justified Uncertain Breeding areas 0
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steadily from only 30,000 in 1950/51 to 172,000 by 1987/88 and an average of 225,000 in recent years (Madsen, 1991; Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group). The Svalbard population has increased from 10,00012,000 in the 1950s to a relatively stable level of 25,00030,000 in the 1980s and an average of 34,000 in recent years (Madsen, 1991; Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group).
Network of key sites: No key breeding sites are known except for one site in Iceland (Thjorsarver) which supports 30,000 breeding individuals. Both populations moult in or near the breeding grounds in small groups rarely exceeding the 1% threshold. Key staging sites for the Svalbard breeding population are very few but hold almost the entire population. In winter the population is more widely dispersed but over 50% can still be found on key wintering sites in Denmark. In harsh weather this population can be forced to move south, sometimes as far as Belgium and many key harsh weather refuges exist at these times in Netherlands and Belgium. The Greenland/Iceland breeding population stages in interior Iceland and then on relatively few key sites in the United Kingdom which are well known but are not listed as the key sites analysis for the United Kingdom was conducted using mid-winter data alone. Like the Svalbard breeding population, these birds then also disperse in winter, but a large proportion can still be found on key sites in the United Kingdom. Protection status of key sites: Several important breeding and moulting areas are protected for both populations, but other very important sites are unprotected, especially in Iceland. Most of the important wintering areas of both populations are protected, but few of the passage sites are adequately protected.
60
BEAN GOOSE Anser fabalis

Subspecies: Polytypic. Five subspecies have been described: A. f. fabalis of northern Europe; A. f. rossicus of northern Russia east to northwest Siberia; A. f. johanseni of north-central Asia; A. f. middendorfi of eastern Asia; and A. f. serrirostris of northeastern Asia. The validity of the central Asian johanseni has been questioned (e.g. by Burgers et al., 1991). Distribution: Palearctic, breeding widely across northern Eurasia and wintering south to southern Europe, the central Asian republics, China and Japan. Three subspecies occur in Western Eurasia. A. f. fabalis breeds in the taiga zone from northern Scandinavia and northwest Russia to the west Siberian lowlands east of the Ural Mountains, and winters on the coasts of Poland and eastern Germany, and in southern Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. A. f. rossicus breeds in the tundra zone of northern Siberia from Kanin to the Taymyr Peninsula and winters mainly in western and central Europe, occasionally reaching Morocco and Algeria. This form has straggled to Egypt. A. f. johanseni breeds in the taiga and forested tundra zones of north-central Asia from the Urals to Lake Baikal, and winters from Turkmenistan in the central Asian republics to western China. Some birds assignable to this subspecies have been recorded in central Europe. (A. f. middendorfi and A. f. serrirostris breed in the taiga and tundra zones, respectively, of eastern Asia and winter south to China and Japan). Movements: Migratory, wintering mostly at temperate latitudes, sporadically at more southern latitudes during cold winters. A. f. rossicus migrates south of the Baltic Sea to staging areas in eastern Germany and Poland, from which one group moves on to wintering areas in the Netherlands, western Germany and rarely France, and another group migrates to the central European floodplains of Hungary, the Czech and Slovak Republics and Austria (Madsen, 1991). Perhaps as many as 200,000 rossicus wintered in Spain until the 1940s, mainly in the Duero basin, but only some 5,00010,000 were present in the 1960s, and since then numbers have dwindled to a few tens of birds in recent years (Persson & Urdiales, 1995). A. f. fabalis breeding in Fennoscandia spend the autumn in southern Sweden and leave at the onset of cold weather to winter mainly in Denmark and the Netherlands. Up to 400 individuals regularly winter in the Yare Valley in East Anglia, England, and about 120 in the Carron Valley in Scotland. A. f. fabalis breeding in western Siberia winter mainly along the Baltic coast in eastern Germany; during severe weather, these birds move west to the Netherlands, where they may then far outnumber the Fennoscandian birds (Burgers et al., 1991). These authors analyzed recoveries of A. fabalis ringed in the Netherlands, and found that birds wintering in the Netherlands originate from at least three different breeding areas: A. f. rossicus from the Malozemelskaya and Bolshemelskaya tundras west of the Urals in northern European Russia; A. f. fabalis from Fennoscandia; and A. f. fabalis from the west Siberian lowlands east of the Urals. Some 96% of all recoveries east of the Urals were of fabalis-type birds, with one coming from 71E and one from the Altai region of southern Siberia at 93E. A. f. fabalis wintering in the Netherlands in mild winters originated mainly from Fennoscandia, while most fabalis wintering in the Netherlands in cold winters came from much further east. All of the recoveries of Dutch-ringed birds in France, Spain, Italy and central Europe were of birds resembling A. f. rossicus, while the great majority of recoveries from Sweden, Finland and western Siberia were of birds resembling A. f. fabalis. Both forms were recovered in Germany, Poland, the Baltic States and central Russia. However, in eastern Germany, recoveries of fabalis were concentrated mainly along the coast, while recoveries of rossicus were more frequent inland. There was no indication that any A. f. fabalis from the wintering areas in the Netherlands visit southeast Europe (Burgers et al., 1991). Population limits: Two populations are generally recognized in Western Eurasia, corresponding to the two subspecies (e.g. Madsen, 1987 & 1991; Pirot et al., 1989). Madsen (1991) noted that although some authors considered the two subspecies as doubtfully valid, from a population management and conservation point of view, it appeared relevant to separate the two forms into populations as they show morphological, ecological
61
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Key Sites Data deficient sites or sites that have occasionally supported internationally important numbers Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Sites that regularly support internationally important numbers Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Population Boundaries
40
30
Anser f. fabalis Anser f. rossicus

Breeding areas
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and distributional differences. Burgers et al. (1991) provide strong support for the existence of two subspecies amongst the A. fabalis wintering in the Netherlands, and found considerable differences in the locations of recovery between the two types. Neck-banding studies have revealed that there is some interchange of individuals between the western European and central European wintering groups of A. f. rossicus, even within the same winter, and it would therefore seem best to treat these two groups as a single population (Madsen, 1991; Burgers et al., 1991). However, Burgers et al. (1991) thought that there was very little interchange between the A. f. fabalis breeding in Fennoscandia and those breeding in western Siberia. It is possible, therefore, that these two groups of the nominate form are sufficiently discrete to merit treatment as separate populations.
Population size: Northwest Europe (fabalis): 80,000 (Pirot et al., 1989). 1% level 800.
Central and southwest Europe (rossicus): 300,000 (Pirot et al., 1989). 1% level 3,000. Madsen (1991) notes that counts of A. fabalis to date have been incomplete, and that the current population estimates are very imprecise and almost certainly too low. Some authors have suggested that the population of rossicus may be as high as 500,000, and that of fabalis about 100,000 (Pirot & Fox, 1990; Madsen, 1991).
Habitat/ecology: Anser fabalis breeds on lakes, pools and rivers in the high Arctic and taiga zones, and winters in open country, on marshes or on agricultural land. After breeding, large moulting concentrations are formed near open water. Major concentrations of moulting birds are found on the tundras of European Russia, mainly on low-lying sea coasts with an abundance of lakes (Mineyev, 1990). The moult takes place in July and August, when birds are flightless for about a month. A. f. rossicus begins the autumn migration during the first half of September; peak numbers occur on passage in Estonia in late September, and the birds arrive on their winter quarters in Poland, Germany and the Netherlands in November and December. Peak numbers occur in the Netherlands in January. In Hungary, large numbers of rossicus arrive on the wintering grounds in October, and numbers peak in November. Birds begin to leave the Netherlands as early as February, returning to Germany and Poland and also reaching central Europe. There is a rapid departure from these areas in March; spring passage in Estonia peaks in mid-April, and the birds reach their breeding grounds in late April. Peak numbers of A. f. fabalis occur at the staging areas in Sweden in October and March, and at the winter quarters in southern Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands in January and February. Conservation status: The numbers of A. f. fabalis are increasing (Madsen, 1991). The population of fabalis staging in southern Sweden in autumn increased from about 20,000 in the early 1960s to 50,00070,000 in the 1970s and 1980s (Madsen, 1991). The status of A. f. rossicus is uncertain; some increases have been reported on the wintering grounds in western Europe, but sharp declines have been reported on the breeding and staging areas in Russia (Flint & Krivenko, 1990; Krivenko, 1993). There has also been contraction of the wintering range in Italy between 1950 and 1980 (N. Baccetti, in litt.). The almost complete disappearance of the large wintering population in Iberia since the 1940s may be a result of shortstopping, but whether this was due to deterioration of conditions in Spain, or improvements at wintering areas further north is not known (Persson & Urdiales, 1995). The number of A. fabalis wintering in the Netherlands increased during the 1980s, but it is not known if a shift from more eastern wintering areas contributed to this increase (Nilsson, 1988; Madsen, 1991). In recent years, numbers in the Netherlands have been more or less stable, except for massive influxes during cold spells (L. Nilsson, in litt.). Network of key sites: It is very unlikely that A. f. fabalis occurs in concentrations exceeding the 1% threshold in the breeding season and, although one area of the Kola Peninsula, and perhaps many more areas, exceed the 1% criteria for breeding A. f. rossicus, it will never be possible to account for a large percentage of the breeding population unless the key sites are extremely large. A. f. fabalis does, however, occur on many key sites during passage and in the winter. Twenty eight key spring passage sites and 28 key autumn passage sites are known, mainly in Sweden but also in Denmark and Finland. Five of these key passage sites have been known to hold over 10% of the population at one time and Tkern in Sweden often supports over 10% of the population in both autumn and
63
winter plus over 5% in spring. Thirty-nine key wintering sites are known from Denmark and Sweden that together support much of the population in most winters, but many other very important key sites exist in Germany, Poland and the Netherlands particularly during harsh winters. Problems arise in identifying these sites due to mixing with the more numerous A. f. rossicus form. In autumn, 31 key passage sites can be identified for A. f. rossicus, from Hungary in the south of the flyway to Russia in the north. Of these 31 key sites, five can be used by flocks exceeding 10% of the population size and a maximum of 80,000 individuals occurred at Novy Mlyny Reservoir in the Czech Republic. Many fewer key spring staging sites (11) are known for A. f. rossicus and these tend to be further east. Much less information is available from the east of the A. f. rossicus flyway leading to speculation that the many spring staging sites remain to be discovered here. Over 100 key wintering sites are plotted and listed for A. f. rossicus and over 13 of these have supported over 30,000 individuals. This list must provide an excellent basis for a key sites network.
Protection status of key sites: Many of the important wintering and staging areas for A. f. fabalis and A. f. rossicus are protected. In many areas the geese feed mainly on arable land which is unprotected. Several of the important staging areas in eastern Europe are unprotected, and the status of other possible staging areas is poorly known. Neither of the two very important moulting areas for A. f. rossicus in Russia are protected.
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GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons

Subspecies: Polytypic. Five subspecies have been described: the nominate form from northern Europe and Asia; A. a. frontalis from northeastern Siberia and northern Canada; A. a. flavirostris from Greenland, A. a. gambelli from the Mackenzie Basin region of Canada; and A. a. elgasi from the Anchorage region of Alaska. The validity of elgasi has been questioned. Distribution: Holarctic, breeding at high latitudes in northern Europe, Asia and North America, and wintering south to Mexico, southern Europe, the Middle East, China and Japan. Two subspecies occur in Western Eurasia, the nominate form breeds in the Arctic tundra from the Kanin Peninsula in European Russia east to the Kolyma River, and winters from western Europe east to India and China (rarely in small numbers to Egypt, and a vagrant elsewhere in Africa). A. a. flavirostris breeds exclusively in low Arctic areas of west Greenland from 63 to 72N; it occurs on migration in southern and western Iceland, and winters exclusively in Britain and Ireland. Movements: Migratory, wintering at traditional sites mostly at temperate latitudes; occasionally further south during cold winters. Rogacheva (1992) suggests that virtually all of the western and central Siberian nesting birds migrate west to northwest and central Europe, while nearly all of the birds breeding in Taymyr migrate through Kazakhstan to the western Black Sea (and presumably also Turkey). The relatively small numbers of birds wintering in the Caspian region probably also originate from the Taymyr region. The movements of A. a. flavirostris and its major staging and wintering areas have been described by Stroud (1992). This subspecies stages in south and west Iceland in both spring and autumn, and some of the geese wintering in Ireland also stage in autumn in Scotland, mainly on Islay. Wilson et al. (1991) have shown that geese are extremely site-faithful in winter, with approximately 85% of the birds observed in successive winters returning to the same sites. Within the same winter, less than 1% of geese moved between sites, and most such movements were associated with autumnal staging en route to final destinations. Wilson et al. (1991) also found that dispersal from any one major summering area in Greenland is virtually throughout the winter range, implying that birds in one winter flock come from many different breeding areas. Population limits: Western populations of the nominate subspecies winter in four largely discrete wintering areas: in northwest Europe from Germany to France and Britain, with the major concentrations in the Netherlands; in central Europe; on the west coast of the Black Sea and in Turkey (south to Egypt); and in the Caspian region south to Iraq and east possibly as far as the Aral Sea. These four wintering groups are generally treated as separate populations, although as Madsen (1991) noted, the integrity of these populations and the rate of interchange of individuals between them have never been properly documented. The validity of a separate central European population, in particular, has been questioned (Mooij, 1996). However, although the divisions between the four populations may be difficult to justify on biological grounds, treatment of the major wintering groups as separate populations is favoured here for practical reasons. Ogilvie (1978) split the Black Sea/Turkey population into two, but apart from some geographical separation of the geese in mid-winter, there seems little justification for dividing the flocks in these regions into separate populations (Madsen, 1991). The entire population of A. a. flavirostris constitutes a fifth (and totally discrete) population. Population size: Western and central Siberia/northeast and northwest Europe: 600,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 6,000.
Western and central Siberia/central Europe: 100,000 (Pirot et al., 1989). 1% level 1,000.
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Northern Siberia/Black Sea and Turkey: 650,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 6,500. Northern Siberia/Caspian and Iraq: 15,000 (Rose & Scott, 1994). 1% level 150. Poorly known. Up to 10,000 have been recorded in the Volga Delta in mild winters (Krivonosov & Rusanov, 1990), and according to Tkachenko and Litvinova (1990) 6,00015,000 winter in the Kirov Bays in Azerbaijan in wet years. Patrikeev (in prep.) suggests that the total wintering population in Azerbaijan varies between 5,0006,000 in dry years and 20,00030,000 in wet years. Between 2,500 and 5,000 birds formerly wintered in Iran, but the species is now scarce there. Greenland/Ireland and UK (flavirostris): 30,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 300.
Habitat/ecology: Anser albifrons breeds in open tundra near marshes, lakes, pools and rivers, near coasts as well as inland, and winters in open country, on steppe and farmland, or on marshy plains. A. a. flavirostris is unusual amongst geese in still frequenting traditional haunts throughout much of its winter range, e.g. peatland roosting and feeding sites and wet grasslands such as callows and turloughs (Stroud, 1992). Nominate albifrons moult in large groups near their breeding grounds between about 25 July and 20 August, when they are flightless for about 25 days. The autumn migration begins in September, and birds reach Germany from early October. Arrival on the main winter quarters occurs in November and December, depending on the weather. Return passage begins in March, with birds reaching their breeding grounds at the end of May. A. a. flavirostris moult in small flocks on the breeding grounds in late summer; these flocks consist of families and non-breeding birds, and generally do not exceed about 30 birds. The geese leave the breeding grounds in September and early October, some moving east over the ice cap and probably staging in east Greenland before continuing on to Iceland. Others fly south, crossing the Atlantic direct to Ireland, where the first birds arrive at the end of September. Birds staging in Iceland arrive in Ireland in late October or November. Most birds leave the wintering grounds between mid-April and the third week of May, and stage in Iceland until early May before crossing the ice-cap or travelling around Cape Farewell to their breeding areas in west Greenland. In comparison with many other Arctic breeding geese, A. a. flavirostris are highly dispersed in summer, with the exception of a few areas where relatively dense concentrations occur (e.g. Naternaq and Aqaajarua-Sullorsuaq). Other relatively dense concentrations occur on arrival in spring, when large flocks gather in a few, traditional, early thawing lowlands (Stroud, 1992). Conservation status: The population of A. a. albifrons wintering in northwest Europe has increased from about 60,000 birds in the 1960s to about 400,000 in the late 1980s and 600,000 in recent years (Madsen, 1991; Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group). The number of albifrons wintering in Austria and Hungary decreased during the 1970s and 1980s, and this was thought to be the case for the entire central European population (Dick, 1990). Between 1950 and 1980 there was also a contraction of the wintering range northwards (N. Baccetti, in litt.). It has been suggested that the rapid increase in numbers in northwest Europe during the past two decades may have been due in part to a shift in birds from wintering areas in central Europe, but this remains uncertain (Pirot & Fox, 1990). Trends in the Black Sea/Turkey population are not visible. There is reported to have been an increase in the number of birds wintering in Bulgaria between 1977 and 1989. The situation in Turkey is uncertain, as the major wintering areas are not often counted, but numbers appear to have been relatively stable between 1967 and 1988 (Madsen, 1991). The population wintering in Southwest Asia is thought to be decreasing (Perennou et al., 1994). Enormous numbers are said to have wintered in Azerbaijan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but the numbers of this species and A. erythropus combined have not exceeded 20,00030,000 in recent decades (Patrikeev, in prep.). The wintering population in Iran and Iraq has decreased dramatically since the 1960s, perhaps largely because of excessive hunting and associated disturbance on the winter quarters (Scott, 1976; Scott & Evans, 1993). Numbers of A. a. flavirostris declined from 17,50023,000 in the 1950s to 14,40016,000 in the late 1970s, but then increased to 22,00025,000 in 198587, and have since increased to an average of 30,000 in recent years (Madsen, 1991; Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group). This increase has been attributed to the introduction of conservation measures on the wintering grounds and in Greenland during the early 1980s, and several successful breeding seasons in recent years. An
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International Conservation Plan has been prepared at the request of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Ireland and Wetlands International (Stroud, 1992).
Network of key sites: It is very difficult to identify key sites for A. a albifrons outside winter because of the lack of information and the rapid convergence and overlap of the four populations just north of the wintering areas. There is evidence that large concentrations can be found throughout the year leading one to conclude that most key breeding, moulting and passage sites remain to be identified, and that the key sites that are known outside of winter need to be more accurately assigned to wintering groups. The spring departure and autumn arrival sites are better known for the Black Sea/east Mediterranean and especially the Central European wintering groups, but even these sites are totally unknown for the Caspian wintering group and very few are listed for the northwestern European wintering group. In winter, over 50 key sites are listed for the northwestern European wintering group, 23 for the Central European wintering group, 31 for the Black Sea/east Mediterranean wintering group and 17 for the Caspian wintering group. All A. a. albifrons populations are very mobile in winter moving between roosting sites and feeding sites on which they can be very widely dispersed. This behaviour is not entirely suited to the development of a key sites network approach but the extensive list of key wintering sites identified for all four populations nevertheless provides a valuable basis for any conservation efforts. In particular, with the exception of the northwestern European wintering group, all wintering groups can, in exceptional conditions, be found almost entirely on one or two key sites. For example, 130,000 at Hortobagy in Hungary in 1992; 350,000 at both the Danube Delta and the Dobrodja in Romania in 1989 and 15,000 at Kizil Agach in Azerbaijan. The key sites for A. a. flavirostris at its staging areas in south and west Iceland and at its wintering areas in Britain and Ireland have been extensively listed by Stroud (1992) and form an excellent basis for an effective key sites network. Few breeding, moulting or staging areas in Greenland are known to exceed the threshold for inclusion as a key site probably due to a combination of little information and the very dispersed nature of the population. Protection status of key sites: Of the very few key sites known in Russia most are protected. For the Black Sea/east Mediterranean wintering group most known spring departure and autumn arrival sites are protected and the same is true for the Central European wintering group with the notable exception that Skadarsko Jezero on the Montenegro/Albania/Macedonia (former Yugoslav Republic of) border is unprotected and has been known to support 10,000 individuals in autumn. It is difficult to assess the protected status of the key wintering sites network in northwestern Europe as very little protected status information has been provided but in Central Europe most key wintering sites are protected. In the Black Sea/east Mediterranean many key wintering sites are not protected, especially in Turkey and Bulgaria and in the Caspian Basin 9 of 17 key wintering sites have some protected status. None of the main breeding areas of A. a. flavirostris are protected, and many of the staging and wintering areas are unprotected.
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LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser erythropus

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, breeding across northern Eurasia from northern Scandinavia to northeastern Siberia, and wintering south to southeast Europe, the Middle East and China. In Western Eurasia, the species breeds from northern Scandinavia east to western Siberia (southern Taymyr), with the main concentration being in the region of the Yamal Peninsula and lower reaches of the Ob River; it winters in southeast Europe (Black Sea to Greece) and the Caspian region. The species was formerly a rare winter visitor in very small numbers to Egypt, but there have been no recent records. Movements: Migratory, wintering on low-lying plains at temperate latitudes. The staging areas and wintering grounds of the tiny Scandinavian group are poorly known. Small flocks are known to stage in west Finland in May, and in the early 1990s, 3060 birds were found gathering in a post-moulting site in Porsanger Fiord in Norway (Madsen, 1995). There is unconfirmed information that staging areas exist in the Baltic Republics (Madsen, 1995), and satellite-tagged birds were found staging in autumn in eastern Germany in 1995. There are regular autumn and spring staging areas in Hungary, and from late autumn to early spring, small numbers of birds are present in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. Further east, there is a major staging and moulting area on the Kanin Peninsula, and staging areas on the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov, in the Manych-Godilo and east Manych Lakes north of the Caucasus, in the middle Ob River valley, and in Kazakhstan. The main wintering grounds in the Caspian region now appear to be in Azerbaijan (Madsen, 1995). According to Vinogradov (1990), massive shifts in winter distribution have occurred in the Caspian region within the last three to four decades. The most important wintering site in Iran was abandoned in the late 1970s, and there have been few records of the species in Iraq since the 1960s. Birds ringed in Sweden in the 1960s were recovered in Greece and the eastern Black Sea, and a bird ringed as a gosling on the breeding grounds in northern Finland in 1994 was recovered on the east side of the Sea of Azov (Lahti & Markkola, 1995). Four birds tagged on the breeding grounds in Norway in 1995 were tracked by satellite to the Kanin Peninsula in northern Russia. Two of these birds were subsequently tracked to eastern Germany, where one of the signals was lost, but the remaining bird continued on via Hungary and Bulgaria to the Evros Delta in Greece. Another bird tagged in Finland in 1995 also staged at the Kanin Peninsula, but them moved southeast to reach Kazakhstan by October (Anon, 1996). Birds ringed in European Russia have been recovered in Hungary, while a bird ringed on the breeding grounds in the southern Taymyr at 100E was recovered in the southeast Caspian region of Iran (Cornwallis & Ferguson, 1970). The re-introduction of captive-bred birds into a former breeding area in Sweden has resulted in the establishment of a small breeding population of about 2030 individuals. A new wintering area for some of these geese has been established in the southern Netherlands near Strijen, and a spring and autumn staging and moulting area has been established near Hudiksvall, along the coastal region of mid-Sweden (Callaghan & Green, 1993). Population limits: Because of present uncertainties in migration routes and wintering areas, it has been proposed that all breeding and wintering groups in Western Eurasia be treated as belonging to a single population (Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group, in litt.), and this treatment is therefore adopted here. However, there is a possibility that there are two relatively discrete populations: a population breeding in northern Scandinavia and European Russia, and wintering in southeast Europe and the Black Sea region; and a population breeding east of the Urals to the Taymyr region and wintering in the Caspian region, mainly in Azerbaijan. There are very few confirmed records of the species in Turkey (only two records are listed by Kirwan and Martins, 1994), suggesting that there is a substantial gap between the population wintering in the western Black Sea and the population wintering in the Caspian region. Recent estimates for the European breeding population (1,0002,500 pairs or 3,0007,500 birds) agree reasonably well with
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Key Sites Data deficient sites or sites that have occasionally supported internationally important numbers 0 500 km 1000 Has supported < 1% of flyway population Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Sites that regularly support internationally important numbers Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Population Boundaries Well justified Uncertain Breeding areas
110E
100E
80N
90E
80
70N
70
60N
60 E
50N
30
40N
20E
30E
40 E
50 E
70
recent counts from the staging and wintering areas in Belarus (some hundreds of birds), Hungary (1,200), Romania (900), Bulgaria (1,000) and Greece (140).
Population size: Western Eurasia: 15,00035,000. 1% level 250. Northeast Europe/Black Sea: 3,0005,000. 1% level 40. Western Siberia/Caspian region: 10,00030,000. 1% level 200. The world population of the A. erythropus was estimated at about 100,000 birds in the 1960s, with the majority wintering on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The population has now almost certainly declined to less than 50,000 individuals, with a few thousand wintering in Europe, possibly as many as 30,000 wintering in the Caspian region, and about 6,000 wintering in eastern Asia (Madsen, 1995; S. Pihl, in litt. ). The Fennoscandian breeding population was estimated at more than 10,000 individuals in the first half of this century, but since then the population has crashed, and by 1992 was estimated at only about 50 pairs. von Essen (1991) estimated the total number of breeding pairs in Sweden in 198488 at only 10 pairs, and the number of geese before breeding at less than 100 birds. Only small flocks (usually less than 50) are now seen at the staging areas in Finland, although in recent years, up to 97 have been observed on a pre-nesting staging area in Porsanger Fiord in northern Norway (Madsen, 1995). The breeding population in the European part of Russia is estimated at 1,0002,500 pairs (J. Madsen, in Tucker & Heath, 1994), but this has to be regarded as a best guess only, and may be too high (Madsen, 1995). About 1,500 birds have been recorded during spring migration on the Kanin Peninsula in recent years (Krivenko, 1995), and most of these are presumably European breeding birds. Up to 120,000 A. erythropus were thought to use the autumn staging areas in Hungary prior to the 1950s, but by the late 1960s, numbers had declined to approximately 5,000, and the decrease has continued since then so that in the late 1980s, only 200600 individuals were observed annually. However, in the winters of 1992/93 and 1993/94, increasing numbers (up to 1,200) have been observed staging and/or wintering in Hungary (Madsen, 1995). In Romania and Bulgaria, usually less than 10 Anser erythropus are observed during the mid-January waterfowl censuses. However, in January 1992, a total of 900 was estimated in Romania, and generally the species is overlooked in the large flocks of wintering A. albifrons. An hitherto unknown wintering site with up to 1,000 A. erythropus has recently been reported in northern Bulgaria, but these figures need to be confirmed. In Greece, up to 1,600 geese were observed in the 1960s, but since then numbers have declined dramatically. In recent winters, a small but reportedly stable wintering population of up to 140 birds has been established in northeast Greece. Based on surveys on the breeding grounds, Vinogradov (1990) estimated the total population in Russia to exceed 100,000 individuals. However, these figures have not been confirmed by recent winter counts. The only large concentrations of wintering A. erythropus in the Caspian region in recent years have been in Azerbaijan, where there have been reports of up to 30,000 birds in winter (Madsen, 1995), and as many as 11,00025,000 at Kizil Agach alone. However, Patrikeev (in prep.) disputes these high figures, and believes that the total number of A. erythropus wintering in Azerbaijan varies between about 1,500 in wet winters and 6,0007,000 in dry winters. Only about 1,100 were observed in Azerbaijan during a thorough survey in January 1996, but by this time most of the geese had moved on (D.B. Paynter, pers. comm.). Up to 10,000 A. erythropus are said to occur on migration at the Manych-Godilo and east Manych Lakes north of the Caucasus (Krivenko, 1995), but where these birds winter is unknown. In the early 1970s, between 4,500 and 7,500 A. erythropus wintered in Iran, mainly in Miankaleh Protected Region (Scott, 1976). However, the Miankaleh birds disappeared suddenly in the late 1970s, and since then, only small flocks of A. erythropus have been observed in Iran. According to Patrikeev (in prep.), very few A. erythropus wintered in Azerbaijan during the period 197176, but numbers increased rapidly to some thousands in the late 1970s. It seems possible that these were the birds which had spent the early 1970s wintering in Iran. The decline in numbers at Miankaleh has been attributed to the sudden rise in the level of the Caspian Sea in the late 1970s, which flooded the main feeding area of the geese (Scott, 1995); the increase in Azerbaijan has been attributed to the planting of crops especially for the geese at the main wintering site in Kizil Agach Reserve. It remains possible that there are important and hitherto unknown wintering areas east of the Caspian in northeastern Iran and Turkmenistan, but there have been few records from this area since a flock of 1,770 was found on the Turkoman Steppes north of Gomishan in Iran in January 1969 (Scott, 1995). It is also possible that some A. erythropus still winter in northern Iraq, but there have been no reports from this country since 1972, when 70 were present at Haur Al Shuwaija (Koning & Dijksen, 1973). It seems unlikely that A. erythropus winters in significant numbers in Turkey.
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The above figures suggest that the total population of A. erythropus in Western Eurasia is very unlikely to exceed 35,000, and may now be as low as 15,000, with some 3,0005,000 breeding west of the Urals and wintering mainly in the Black Sea region and the Balkans, and 10,00030,000 breeding east of the Urals and wintering mainly in the Caspian region.
Habitat/ecology: A. erythropus breeds in the taiga and tundra zones, especially in the scrub ecotone in areas dominated by dwarf birch Betula nana. In Scandinavia, the geese nest inland at relatively high altitude (up to 700 m) (Madsen, 1995). In winter, the species traditionally occurred in the steppe zone, foraging on short grassy, so-called sodic-pasture, vegetation (Madsen, 1995). Since the transformation of much of this habitat into agricultural land, the species now winters mainly on farmland. The birds arrive on the breeding grounds from late May to mid-June. In Siberia, non-breeding birds undertake a moult migration to areas north of the breeding range; in Fennoscandia, non-breeding birds moult at high altitudes. The moult takes place in July and August, during which the birds are flightless for about 25 days. Birds depart from the breeding areas from mid-August through to mid-September, and arrive on the wintering grounds in the south Caspian region as early as mid-October. In Azerbaijan, the main arrival occurs in late October and early November. However, further west, the arrival is later, with migration occurring in the Sea of Azov region until December. The wintering areas in the Caspian region are deserted by late March; in the Sea of Azov, the spring migration occurs in late April. Birds pass through the middle Ob Valley in the second half of May, and through the Kanin Peninsula in the last few days of May and early June. Conservation status: A declining and threatened species, listed as vulnerable by Collar et al. (1994) and Green (1996). There has been a drastic decline in the world population of A. erythropus during the present century, accompanied by widespread contractions in breeding and wintering range. In Europe, the population size has probably been reduced by more than 90% since the 1940s. Reasons for the decline are virtually unknown; the combination of negative factors on the breeding grounds, e.g. habitat loss, disturbance, shooting and increased predation, is probably not sufficient to explain the rapid rate of decline that took place in the 1950s (Madsen, 1995). The most likely causes for the decline are deleterious factors on the staging areas and winter quarters, especially loss of feeding habitat and heavy hunting pressure. Large areas of former wintering habitat in the Caspian region and southeast Europe have been lost through the conversion of natural short-grass pastures to unsuitable agricultural land (e.g. cotton). A project to re-introduce A. erythropus in Swedish Lapland commenced in 1979. Adult Branta leucopsis were used to foster A. erythropus goslings, and by 1989, 172 geese had been released. Released birds were first found breeding in Lapland in 1987; in winter, the birds have been found in the North Sea area, mainly in the Netherlands (von Essen, 1991; Madsen, 1995). A re-stocking project has also been in operation in Finland since 1988; by 1995, 121 geese had been re-introduced to northern Finnish Lapland near areas which are known to have naturally occurring populations (Lahti & Markkola, 1995). The status and conservation of A. erythropus in Europe have recently been summarized by J. Madsen (in Tucker & Heath, 1994) and van Vessem (1994), and an Action Plan for A. erythropus in Europe has been compiled by Madsen (1995). Network of key sites: As for all globally threatened species, all sites regularly used by an appreciable number of individuals are of international importance. Outdated key site information should be discounted for A. erythropus because of its rapidly changing conservation status and because of the strong evidence for relatively recent shift in wintering range. Currently, the only appreciable numbers of this species regularly recorded are during spring and autumn staging in Hungary and it is likely that large moulting concentrations will soon be confirmed on the Kanin peninsula. Satellite tracking results are eagerly awaited to improve the much needed key sites network and to confirm the importance of many suspected key sites near the breeding areas, along the eastern Baltic, in Belarus, around the Sea of Azov, in Kazakhstan, around both the southwestern and eastern Caspian and probably in many other areas. Protection status of key sites: Many important breeding and moulting areas appear to be unprotected. Staging areas are poorly known, especially in the west where many of the geese are probably overlooked in large concentrations of other species. The main wintering area in Azerbaijan (Kizil Agach) is protected, as is the former most important wintering area in Iran (Miankaleh), but other important sites in the Caspian region are unprotected.
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GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form from west and northwest Europe and A. a. rubrirostris from southeast Europe and Asia. Birds in central and eastern Europe, which are somewhat intermediate, are usually lumped with the nominate form. In western Europe, interbreeding between wild A. anser and feral stocks (especially of rubrirostris) may be reducing the genetic purity of the wild stocks. Distribution: Palearctic, breeding widely at boreal and temperate latitudes across Europe and Asia and wintering south to North Africa, the Middle East, India and southern China. Both subspecies occur in Western Eurasia. The nominate form breeds west of the Urals and winters throughout southern and western Europe south to North Africa (Morocco to Tunisia). A. a. rubrirostris breeds from the Urals, southeast Europe, the Pannonic region and Turkey east across Asia. Western populations of this subspecies winter in the Black Sea and Caspian regions south to southern Iran and Iraq, in Tunisia/Algeria and rarely to Egypt. Feral populations have been established from introduced birds in several parts of western Europe, and some of these populations (e.g. in Belgium) are rubrirostris type birds. The British population of wild Anser anser is now confined to the far northwest of Scotland and the Hebridean Islands off the west coast (Paterson, 1991). Movements: A few populations are sedentary or locally dispersive (e.g. the birds breeding in northwest Scotland and many of the birds breeding in the Black Sea region and Turkey), but most birds move southwards to winter in traditional sites at lower latitudes. Birds breeding in Iceland winter almost exclusively in Scotland, with only small numbers reaching northern England and Ireland. Birds breeding in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and western Germany migrate through the Netherlands to winter mainly in Spain, although the number remaining throughout the winter in the delta region of the Netherlands has increased considerably in recent years (Nilsson & Persson, 1991). Much the most important wintering areas for this population are the Guadalquivir Marismas and Villafafila in western Spain. Birds breeding in the eastern Baltic, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Austria winter almost exclusively at just three sites in North Africa: Lake Ichkeul in Tunisia and Marais de Mekhada and Lake Fetzara in Algeria (Dick, 1993). Birds breeding in the Black Sea region and central Turkey (apparently rubrirostris) undertake only limited movements to wintering areas in coastal regions. A. a. rubrirostris breeding in the north Caspian and western Siberia winter mainly in the south Caspian, Iran and Iraq. The small number of birds breeding in extreme eastern Turkey and northwestern Iran vacate their breeding grounds in winter, and presumably join up with the much larger flocks of migrants from the north. Population limits: Six relatively discrete populations are recognized: (1) a population breeding in Iceland and wintering in Britain and Ireland; (2) a small resident population breeding in northwest Scotland and undertaking only local movements; (3) a population breeding in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and western Germany and wintering from the Netherlands to southern Spain and Morocco; (4) a population breeding in northeast Sweden, Finland, the Baltic States and central Europe and wintering in Tunisia and Algeria; (5) a population breeding in the Black Sea region and Turkey and wintering within that region; (6) a population breeding in western Siberia south to the Caspian region and wintering in the south Caspian, Iran and Iraq. The first five of these populations have been documented by Ogilvie (1978) and Madsen (1987). The sedentary Scottish birds are treated as a separate population as there is no evidence that they mix extensively with Icelandic birds at any time, and indeed they may be morphologically distinct (Paterson, 1991). Recent work (Nordic Greylag Goose Project) has shown that the geese breeding in Norway and those breeding in southern Sweden and around the southwestern Baltic have markedly different migration and staging patterns, although they overlap extensively on their winter quarters
73
80
70N
60N
90 E
50W
50N
40N
60W
100E
40
30
20
30
10
20E
10E
74
30E
80
40 N
N
70 E
500
1000
20
km
60
50
40E
(L. Nilsson, in litt.). Further work is required to determine the extent of mixing between these two groups and whether or not they merit separate treatment. Ringing recoveries have shown that there is some interchange between the western and central European populations. There have been 21 recoveries in Spain of birds ringed in the former Czechoslovakia and southwest Poland (Calderon et al., 1991), and one recovery in Tunisia of a bird ringed in Sweden. One bird ringed in eastern Germany was observed in Tunisia in the winter of 1981/82 and in southwest Spain in the following winter (Dick et al., 1991). Dick et al. (1991) concluded that the Atlantic and central European flyways are quite well separated, although the different populations may meet at pre-migratory assemblies, e.g. at the moulting places at Gotland in Sweden, or at the autumn gathering area at Lake Gulpe in eastern Germany. These authors thought that the border between the two populations ran southwards through the Baltic west of Finland and east of the former German Democratic Republic through Poland and southern Bohemia. Some authors (e.g. Madsen, 1991) treat the feral birds in Britain and Ireland as a distinct population, currently numbering about 18,900 birds (Delany et al., 1992) and still increasing. This population (and all other introduced populations of Anatidae) are excluded from the present review.
Population size: Iceland/UK and Ireland: 100,000 (Pirot et al., 1989). 1% level 1,000. The Icelandic breeding population is currently estimated at 10,00020,000 pairs (Koskimies, 1993).
Northwest Scotland: 5,250 (D.A. Stroud, in litt.). 1% level 50. In the late 1980s, the total population of native wild birds in Scotland was estimated at 500700 pairs, with total post-breeding numbers at 2,5003,000 individuals (A.J. Prater in Gibbons et al., 1993). By the early 1990s, the population was estimated at 5,250 individuals, with 2,115 on the Uists, 110 on Colonsay, 1,390 on Tiree, 450 on Coll and 1,200 in Caithness and Sutherland (D.A. Stroud, in litt. to IWRB, February 1994). Northwest Europe/southwest Europe: 200,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 2,000. Central Europe/North Africa: 20,000 (Pirot et al., 1989). 1% level 200. This estimate may now be too low, as up to 16,000 have been recorded on passage in Estonia in August and September in recent years (A. Leito, in litt.). Black Sea/Turkey: 25,000 (Pirot et al., 1989). 1% level 250. This estimate may now be too low. Some 25,000 were counted during the 1992 census, and 32,000 were counted in coastal Ukraine alone in 1995. Western Siberia/Caspian region/Iraq: 100,000 (Perennou et al., 1994). 1% level 1,000.
Habitat/ecology: Anser anser breeds in a variety of wetland habitats, often with a fringe of vegetation or near grasslands; it winters on farmland in open country or in swamps, lakes, saltmarshes and coastal lagoons. During the wing moult, the geese are flightless for about one month. Non-breeding birds in Iceland moult in large groups in July and early August. Non-breeding birds in northwest and central Europe migrate in summer to moulting areas in the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. The Volga Delta is a major moulting area for birds in the Southwest Asian population, with up to 25,000 birds assembling there (Krivonosov, 1970). The main autumn migration of Icelandic birds is in October. Large concentrations occur in Scotland in October and November, with birds dispersing from there during the winter. The return migration to Iceland takes place from early March to April. The continental northwest European population begins its autumn migration in September; peak numbers occur in Denmark in September, and in the Netherlands in October and November. The main arrival in Spain occurs in December; numbers begin to decrease there as early as January, and the main spring migration in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark takes place in March. Geese in the central European population normally arrive at Lake Ichkeul in North Africa in early November, and build up rapidly to a peak in December. The autumn passage reaches a peak in Estonia in August and September (A. Leito, in litt.). In dry winters, the whole population probably passes most of the winter at Ichkeul; in a wet year, many of the birds move on to Garaet El Mekhada and Lake
75
Fetzara in Algeria (Dick et al., 1991). The birds return to their breeding areas in central Europe and the Baltic by mid-March.
Conservation status: The Icelandic breeding population of A. anser increased from about 25,000 individuals in 1952 to 110,000 in 1987, and has averaged about 100,000 in recent years (Madsen, 1991; Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group). The small resident population in northwest Scotland has been increasing since the 1960s. Numbers more than doubled over the 20 year period from the late 1960s to late 1980s (A.J. Prater in Gibbons et al., 1993), and has apparently almost doubled again since then. The continental northwest European population increased from approximately 30,000 birds in 1967/68 to 120,000130,000 in the 1980s, and has since increased to about 200,000 (Madsen, 1991; Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group). Numbers wintering in the Guadalquivir Marismas in southwest Spain increased from peaks of around 20,000 in the early 1970s to 75,00080,000 by the mid-1980s (Calderon et al., 1991), but have decreased somewhat since then. However, the numbers remaining throughout the winter in the Netherlands (Dutch Delta) have increased in recent years to over 45,000 in January 1994 (P.L. Meininger, in litt.). The central European/North African population of about 20,000 birds appears to be relatively stable (Pirot & Fox, 1990; Madsen, 1991), although there have been some local increases, e.g. the small breeding population in Lithuania increased from nil in the 1970s to about 100 pairs in 1995 (S. Svazas, in litt.) and the wintering population in Italy (c. 1,000) is obviously increasing (N. Baccetti, in litt.). Long-term trends in the Black Sea/Turkey population are unknown, although recent count data suggest that numbers are relatively stable. However, wetland drainage and severe hunting pressure are believed to have reduced the population in Turkey from 8,000 in the early 1970s to only 600 by the late 1980s (Pirot & Fox, 1990). The population wintering in Southwest Asia is thought to be increasing, at least in some areas (Perennou et al., 1994). Krivenko (1993) reports an increase in the numbers at the end of the breeding season in the middle regions of the former USSR. Network of key sites: The small resident population in the northwest of Scotland can form very large flocks in winter but these tend to roam over fairly wide areas rather than concentrate on key sites. Towards the south of its breeding range A. anser tends to breed in large colonies so is well accounted for by the six key breeding sites in Central Europe, the five key breeding sites around the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, and the Volga Delta and surrounds. The Central European and Volga Delta breeding A. anser are only parts of the larger Central Europe/North Africa and Caspian wintering groups respectively, but the Black Sea/east Mediterranean population is thought to breed almost exclusively at the five key sites listed. No key breeding sites are known for the Icelandic breeding population or for the Spain/northwest Europe wintering population which both breed further north. Numerous key passage sites are identified for all populations except the northwest Scotland and Black Sea/east Mediterranean populations which are resident and short-distance migrants respectively. The key passage sites are least known for the Caspian wintering population, and for the northwest Europe/Spain wintering group only three key spring passage sites are identified. Key passage sites for the Icelandic breeding population are in the United Kingdom and they are well documented, but are not listed, as this analysis was conducted using mid-winter data alone. For the North Africa wintering population the network of key passage sites is very complete in both spring and autumn, and very major passage concentrations can occur in Estonia/Lithuania and in Central Europe. Most of the key moulting sites listed are probably important for non-breeding individuals. The only exception is the Caspian wintering population which seems to moult almost entirely at three sites. In winter the key sites networks appear both extensive and complete for all 5 migratory populations. Three populations are fairly widely dispersed at many key wintering sites, occasionally occurring in enormous concentrations under particular conditions. The most dispersed population in winter appears to be the Icelandic breeding population which occurs on 42 key wintering sites in the United Kingdom of which a few regularly support over 10% of the individuals. Thirty-three key wintering sites are identified for the Black Sea east Mediterranean population of which 11 have supported over 10% of the population and the Danube Delta regularly supports over 50% of individuals. In the Caspian region 9 sites have supported over 10% of individuals and 55 key wintering sites are listed in Annex 2. In contrast, the northwest Europe/Spain and North Africa wintering populations are concentrated at a few sites. Two of
76
the seven key wintering sites in Spain, namely Marismas del Guadalquivir and Villafafila, support up to 60% of the Spain/northwest Europe wintering population the remainder wintering at key sites further north, the most important of which are in the Netherlands delta region. The North Africa wintering population can be found entirely at Lac Ichkeul in Tunisia but also occurs in major concentration earlier in the winter at many sites in Central Europe 13 of which can hold over 10% of individuals (e.g. sites in Hungary, Neusiedlersee in Austria and Vrsacki Rit in Yugoslavia).
Protection status of key sites: Almost all the main wintering areas for the Icelandic population are protected, but most of the breeding and moulting areas are unprotected. Most of the breeding, moulting and wintering areas of the Spain/ northwest European wintering population are protected. The main wintering area of the Central European population is protected, but other wintering areas and several of the most important staging areas are unprotected. Most of the important sites for the Black Sea population are unprotected, although important roosting sites are protected in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in Romania and 2 of the 5 major breeding areas are protected. Only 11 of the key wintering sites for the Caspian wintering population are protected.
77
BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Western Palearctic and Greenland, breeding in Greenland, Svalbard and northern Russia and wintering in northwest Europe (mainly Ireland, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands). The species has occurred as a vagrant in North Africa (Morocco and Egypt). B. leucopsis has bred on islands in the Baltic Sea in Sweden since 1971, in Estonia since 1981 and in Finland since 1983. Movements: Migratory, wintering at temperate latitudes and only rarely occurring further south. Birds breeding in Novaya Zemlaya and Vaigach Island winter in the Netherlands and stop over in spring in Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Estonia. Smaller number also stop over in Estonia in autumn. The largest breeding colony within the Baltic is situated on three small islands off the east coast of Gotland, Sweden. Birds from Novaya Zemlaya and Vaigach have used this area as a spring staging area for many years, and it is thought likely that the founders of the Baltic population originated from this population (Forslund & Larsson, 1991). The Svalbard population stages on the archipelagos of the Helgeland district of western Norway, up to 50 km out to sea. The entire population is believed to make the 1,500 km journey from the winter quarters in southern Scotland in a non-stop flight of 24 hours. The Greenland population winters in Britain and Ireland, and stages in spring and autumn in Iceland. Population limits: There are three almost entirely discrete populations of Branta leucopsis: one breeding in east Greenland and wintering mainly along the northern and western coasts of Ireland and on certain islands in northwest Scotland; one breeding in Svalbard and wintering in the Solway Firth in southwest Scotland; and one breeding in northern Russia (Novaya Zemlaya and Vaigach Island) and wintering mainly in Germany and the Netherlands. Ringing has shown that despite the proximity of the wintering ranges of the Greenland and Svalbard populations, there is only slight interchange of individuals between these two populations, and little contact between these and the Russian population (Madsen, 1991). Population size: East Greenland/Ireland/northwest Scotland: 32,000 (Pirot et al., 1989). 1% level 320.
Svalbard/southwest Scotland: 12,000 (Pirot et al., 1989). 1% level 120. Russia/Germany/Netherlands: 176,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 1,760. The breeding population in the Baltic had increased to over 2,000 pairs by 1994, with 1,730 of these at the largest and oldest colony at Laus Holmar off the eastern coast of Gotland, Sweden. Breeding occurred at 26 other localities in the Baltic in the 1990s (six in Sweden, six in Finland and 14 in Estonia), with these sites together holding over 500 pairs in recent years (Forslund & Larsson, 1991; Leito, 1993; A. Leito, in litt.).
Habitat/ecology: Branta leucopsis breeds on islets or on crags and rocky outcrops in the Arctic tundra, preferably near water bodies; it winters on natural and cultivated grassland on islands and along sheltered coasts. In spring, birds shift from cultivated grassland to saltmarshes, but in the Baltic, Norway and Iceland, agricultural fields are now becoming increasingly important as feeding areas at this season (Tucker & Heath, 1994). This is particularly the case at the staging areas in Norway where, since 1980, an increasing number of the geese have ranged away from the maritime islands to feed on small agricultural fields on larger islands nearer the mainland. Here, and also in Ireland and Scotland, feeding conditions have deteriorated on the traditional islands used by the geese because of a reduction in grazing by livestock.
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The geese moult their flight feathers near the breeding grounds between mid-July and mid-August; during this period they are flightless for three to four weeks. Birds breeding in Greenland leave for Iceland between the end of August and mid-September, and arrive on their winter quarters during the second half of October. Birds concentrate in large flocks in northern Britain from late March onwards, and the main departure for Iceland occurs during the second half of April and first half of May. The geese arrive on their breeding grounds in Greenland in late May to coincide with the thaw. The Svalbard population leaves the breeding grounds during September, stages on islands along the Norwegian coast, and begins to arrive at the Solway Firth in Britain by the end of September. The main departure is in the second half of April, birds again staging on islands off the Norwegian coast and arriving on the breeding grounds at the end of May. Birds breeding in Novaya Zemlaya leave the breeding grounds at the end of August and in early September, and arrive in large numbers in the Netherlands in October. An increasing number of birds stop over in Estonia during the autumn migration between the end of September and the beginning on November. The geese leave the main wintering areas in the Netherlands during the second half of March, and move to the early spring staging areas in Denmark and Germany. In April and May, virtually the entire population is concentrated on Gotland (Sweden) and in Estonia, with mass arrivals occurring in Estonia in the second half of April. The birds leave these areas in the second half of May, and arrive on the breeding grounds during the last ten days of May.
Conservation status: The Greenland population increased from only about 8,000 birds in 1959 to 25,00032,000 in the 1980s, and since then has remained relatively stable at around 32,000 birds (Madsen, 1991; Madsen et al., 1996). The Svalbard population increased rapidly from a low of perhaps as few as 550 birds in 1950 to 11,400 in 1987/88. Since then, the population has remained relatively stable at about 12,000 birds (13,000 in 1993) (Madsen, 1991; Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group). The Russian population has increased from about 20,000 birds in 1960/61 to about 50,000 in the 1970s, 120,000130,000 in the late 1980s, and as many as 175,000 in recent years (Madsen, 1991; Madsen et al., 1996). The numbers staging in western Estonia in spring increased from 15,00020,000 in the early 1970s to 35,00057,000 in the late 1980s (Leito, 1991). A total of 187,264 was recorded in the Netherlands in February 1995 (SOVON Ganzen- en Zwanenwerkgroep, 1996) and even more (188,761) in January 1994 (SOVON Ganzen- en Zwanenwerkgroep, 1995). The numbers staging in western Estonia in spring increased from 15,00020,000 in the early 1970s to 80,000100,000 in the beginning of the 1990s (A. Leito, in litt.). Some expansion in the breeding range in Russia has been reported (Filchagov & Leonovich, 1992). The massive increase in numbers of B. leucopsis in all three populations since the 1950s has been attributed to increased habitat protection and greatly reduced hunting pressure almost throughout the species range. Network of key sites: The Svalbard breeding population of B. leucopsis must have the most complete key sites network of any Anatidae population (Black, in press). Over 50% breed on 9 key sites on Svalbard, 25% moult on one of these sites, then the entire population migrates to winter on the Solway Estuary in the United Kingdom before returning en mass via the Helgeland Archipelago in Norway to Svalbard. The Greenland breeding population is also represented by a fairly complete key sites network although important breeding concentrations are not known. Up to 50% of the population can be found staging at Eyelendid in Iceland and >10 key wintering sites in Ireland and on the west coast Islands of Scotland account for virtually all of the population in winter (up to 95% on the island of Islay). In contrast to these two populations, the Russian and Baltic breeding population of B. leucopsis is poorly known outside of winter. Several major spring staging sites on the Swedish and Estonian Baltic islands are, however, known. In winter this population is also very concentrated on key sites in the Netherlands delta, the Wadden Sea (Dutch, German and Danish) and along the Elbe in Germany. Protection status of key sites: The main wintering areas of all three populations are at least partially protected. Important breeding areas are protected in the east Greenland National Park and on Svalbard, but many of the other breeding areas, especially in Russia are unprotected. Staging areas for the Greenland and Svalbard populations are unprotected but in Estonia, about 10% of the spring staging areas (holding about 30,000 birds) are protected.
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BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla

Subspecies: Polytypic. Four subspecies have been described: the nominate form from northern Siberia east to the Taymyr Peninsula, orientalis from northeastern Siberia, nigricans from northern Alaska and Canada east to the Perry River; and hrota from northeastern Canada, Greenland, Svalbard and Franz Joseph Land. The validity of orientalis has often been questioned, the northeast Siberian birds usually being lumped with nigricans. Distribution: Holarctic, breeding at high latitudes in North America and Eurasia, and wintering south along the Atlantic and Pacific coast to North Carolina (USA), France, Japan and Baja California (Mexico). Two subspecies occur in Western Eurasia: the nominate form and hrota. The former breeds in northern Russia east to the Taymyr Peninsula and winters along the coasts of northwest Europe south to France and occasionally Iberia. It is probably a regular visitor in very small numbers to the Atlantic coast of Morocco and Mauritania (Banc dArguin), and has occurred as a vagrant in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. B. b. hrota breeds in northeast Canada, Greenland, Svalbard and Franz Joseph Land, and winters mainly in Ireland, Britain and Denmark. Movements: Migratory, wintering at temperate latitudes; occasionally at more southern latitudes during very severe winters. B. b. bernicla migrates through the White Sea and Baltic to staging areas in the Dutch, German and Danish Wadden Sea and wintering areas mainly in England and France. B. b. hrota breeding in Svalbard and Franz Joseph Land migrate to and from Denmark via Bear Island and west Norway, although most birds apparently do not stop over in these areas. The number of birds crossing the North Sea to winter in northeast England is dependent on the severity of the weather. In very severe winters, small numbers (up to 200) also reach the Netherlands. The population of B. b. hrota breeding in northeast Greenland and northeast Canada migrates to and from the wintering areas in Ireland via staging areas in western Iceland. Large numbers stage in early autumn at HjorseyStraumfjordur in western Iceland, and over 75% of the population then stage at Strangford Lough in Ireland, before large-scale dispersal to sites around the coast. Some 300400 B. b. hrota regularly overwinter in northwestern France, mainly along the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula. It is not known for certain to which population these birds belong (Debout et al. , 1990), but it seems most likely that they are part of the Canada/Greenland population, as the migration dates match those of this population, and there has been a single recovery of a Canadian bird in northwest France. The breeding range of the B. b. hrota wintering in Ireland lies close to that of birds wintering on the Atlantic seaboard of the USA. Ringing suggests that birds on Ellesmere and the Axel Heiberg Islands, and perhaps some of the smaller islands in the north and west of the Queen Elizabeth Archipelago, winter in Ireland, while birds breeding further south on Southampton Island and Baffin Island, and on some of the islands to the south of Melville Sound, winter on the Atlantic seaboard of the USA. Further west, birds breeding on Melville Islands and those on Prince Patrick Island probably all winter on the Pacific coast of North America, chiefly in the state of Washington (Boyd, 1979; Ogilvie, 1978). Of 557 B. b. hrota ringed on Bathurst Island in Canada between 1984 and 1986, 78% were subsequently observed in Ireland (up to 1987/88). Single birds ringed in the Canadian Arctic have also been recovered in France, the Netherlands, the Channel Islands and southwest England, but the numbers of birds using these areas are negligible (OBriain & Healy, 1991). Population limits: There are three discrete populations of B. bernicla in Western Eurasia: the entire population of the nominate form and two discrete populations of B. b. hrota, one breeding in northeast Canada and Greenland and wintering mainly in Ireland, and one breeding in Svalbard and Franz Joseph Land and wintering in Denmark and northeast England (Ogilvie, 1978; Madsen, 1991). The Svalbard population of hrota is one of the smallest discrete populations of geese in the world.
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Population size: Entire population of bernicla: 300,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 3,000. Estimates from the breeding grounds in western and central Siberia almost exactly match wintering numbers.
Northeast Canada and Greenland/Ireland (hrota): 20,000 (Pirot et al., 1989). 1% level 200. Svalbard/Denmark and UK (hrota ): 5,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 50. The numbers of this species are subject to large fluctuations from year to year because of the highly variable breeding success.
Habitat/ecology: Branta bernicla breeds on lowland tundra in the high Arctic, generally near the coast and often in colonies on islets. The nesting success varies greatly from year to year, depending on the timing of the snow-melt and predation levels. In winter, the geese frequent estuaries and sandy shores; in autumn and winter, they feed mainly on algae and Zostera spp. growing on inter-tidal mudflats, while in spring they often move to saltmarshes. In recent years, B. b. bernicla has increasingly grazed on cultivated grassland and winter cereal fields near the coast, and has thus come into conflict with farming interests, e.g. in the Netherlands, Germany and Britain (Salmon & Fox, 1991; Tucker & Heath, 1994). Branta bernicla moult near the breeding grounds from mid-July to mid-August; at this time the geese are flightless for about three weeks. B. b. bernicla leave their breeding grounds between mid-August and the end of the first week of September, and arrive in the Danish and German Wadden Sea in October. Peak numbers occur on the main wintering areas in France, Britain and the Netherlands in December. Most birds have left Britain and France again by mid-April. Almost the entire population gathers in the Wadden Sea in May, prior to the main spring migration, and then stages at just four or five sites in the White Sea. Birds return to the breeding grounds during the first half of June. B. b. hrota breeding in Svalbard leave the breeding grounds in September and arrive in the Danish Wadden Sea at the end of the month. From there they move to eastern Jutland and, especially in severe winters, to Northumberland in Britain, where peak numbers occur in December and January. From March until the end of May, the entire population is concentrated in northwest Jutland. Birds arrive on the breeding grounds in late May or early June. Birds breeding in Greenland and northeast Canada start to leave for Iceland in late August, and arrive on their winter quarters in Ireland during the second half of October. Strangford Lough is used as a staging area for 68 weeks in autumn, with peak numbers occurring in mid-October (OBriain & Healy, 1991). The spring migration begins in early April, with the peak occurring in the second half of the month. From late April to mid-May, most of the population is concentrated on the west coast of Iceland. From there, the birds cross the ice cap of Greenland to reach their breeding grounds in the first week of June. Conservation status: During the early 1930s, the population of B. b. bernicla decreased to about 10% of its former levels, probably because of a disease affecting the main food plant, Zostera marina. There has been a rapid recovery in the population since the 1950s, with numbers increasing from about 16,500 in 1955 to 30,000 in 1960, 40,000 in the late 1960s, 80,000 in the 1973/74, generally between 100,000 and 200,000 during the 1980s, and an average of about 300,000 in recent years (Madsen, 1991; Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group). B. bernicla was removed from the UK quarry list in 1954. The numbers wintering and/or staging in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Britain and France have all shown significant increases and are apparently still increasing (Pirot & Fox, 1990; Mitchell et al., 1994). Some expansion in the breeding range in Russia has been reported in recent years (Filchagov & Leonovich, 1992). The population of B. b. hrota breeding in northeastern Canada and Greenland and wintering in Ireland increased from a relatively stable level of 8,00013,000 birds in the 1960s and 1970s to some 18,00024,000 birds in the late 1980s, and has now apparently stabilized at about 20,000 birds (Madsen, 1991; Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group). The Svalbard population of B. b. hrota declined from about 40,00050,000 individuals in the early part of this century to as few as 2,000 in the late 1960s. This decline was attributed to the reduction in food supply following the effects of the disease on Zostera marina and shooting pressure (Madsen, 1991). Since then, the population has shown some recovery, with numbers increasing to 3,0004,000 in the 1970s, and ranging between 4,000 and 5,000 during the late 1980s (Madsen, 1991). The population
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may now have stabilized at about 5,000 birds (Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group). The fact that numbers have not returned to their former levels is considered due to increased competition on the breeding grounds with the expanding Branta leucopsis population and to predation there (Pirot & Fox, 1990).
Network of key sites: Breeding densities tend not to be high enough for many key breeding sites to be identified. A site on Svalbard where over 30% of this population breed is a notable exception. Almost all of the northeast Canada/Greenland population stage at 4 key sites on Iceland, and a large number of Branta b. bernicla stage on the Kanin peninsula but not many other staging sites are known, apart from the autumn arrival sites relatively close to wintering areas. In winter the northeast Canada/Greenland population winters on key sites in Ireland that account for virtually all individuals. The Svalbard breeding population winters almost entirely on key sites in Denmark and on the Island of Lindisfarne in northeast England. Branta b. bernicla stages in late autumn in the Wadden Sea and then disperses to winter predominantly on 34 key sites in the Wadden Sea, Netherlands delta region and North Sea/Channel sites in the United Kingdom and France. These account for most of the wintering population of B. b. bernicla. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important staging and wintering areas of B. b. bernicla and the Svalbard population of B. b. hrota are protected, while almost all of the important breeding and wintering areas for the northeast Canada/Greenland population are unprotected. However, two of the three most important staging areas in Iceland (Breidafjordur and Grunnafjordur) are now protected.
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RED-BREASTED GOOSE Branta ruficollis

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, breeding in the Taymyr, Gydan and Yamal peninsulas of northern Russia (between 70E and 110E) and migrating southwest to winter in southeast Europe, mainly in Romania and Bulgaria. Seventy per cent of the population are said to breed in the Taymyr. The species formerly wintered in large numbers in the south Caspian region, but now appears to be only an occasional visitor or vagrant in this area. Some birds winter irregularly in Hungary, Greece and Turkey, and formerly also in Egypt and Iraq. Movements: Migratory; the species formerly wintered mainly in the south Caspian region south to Iraq and also near the Aral Sea. A major change occurred in the migration route between 1940 and 1970, with birds taking a more southwesterly route to winter in the Black Sea region. Prior to the late 1960s, the main wintering areas were on the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea, particularly in Azerbaijan. Some 60,000 were said to winter in the south Caspian region in the mid-1950s, and almost 24,000 were present at Kizil Agach Reserve in Azerbaijan in January 1967. However, counts in 1968 indicated that at least half of the wintering population had shifted to the west coast of the Black Sea (some 1,800 km west of the Caspian). The species was not recorded wintering in Romania until 1940, but 25,000 were counted there in 1968/69. Since then, counts in the south Caspian region have not exceeded 1,0002,000. Only a few hundred birds were found on the main wintering grounds in Azerbaijan the 1970s, only a few tens of birds in the early 1980s, and only a few individuals since then (Patrikeev, in prep.). The current wintering areas on the Black Sea coast are the Shabla and Durankulak lakes of Bulgaria, the RazelmSinoe lagoon complex and the Danube Delta in Romania, and the Dobrudja plateau which lies between the River Danube and the coast between Bulgaria and Romania (Hunter & Black, 1995). A few birds may still occasionally visit the south Caspian region (Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iran), and small flocks occasionally reach Hungary, Turkey and Greece. The migration route and staging areas of Branta ruficollis have been summarized by Hunter and Black (1995). Almost all of the geese migrate down the eastern side of the Ural Mountains, pass through the Turgay lowlands between the southern end of the Urals and the Kazakh uplands, turn southwest over the northern Caspian, and then continue on towards the western Black Sea coast. Staging sites are thought to be the same for both spring and autumn migrations. There appear to be four major staging areas: the Ob floodplains on the Arctic circle; the Middle Ob near Khanty-Mansisk in Russia; the Tobol-Ishim forest-steppe and the watersheds of the Ubagan, Ulkayak and Irgizin rivers in the Kazakh uplands; and the Manych Valley in Russia. Some birds may also stage on the Sea of Azov, and may remain to winter on the northern Black Sea coast. Population limits: Only one population is recognized, viz. the entire population of the species. Population size: Entire population: 70,000 (Madsen et al., 1996). 1% level 700. Hunter and Black (1995) suggest that the world population is currently in the region of 70,000 to 74,000 birds, although it is thought that there may be as many as 80,000 birds in total (J. Hunter, in litt.). A conservative estimate of 70,000 is adopted here, on the recommendation of the Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group. Based on aerial surveys during the post-hatching period in 197879, Vinokurov (1982) estimated the total population at 22,00027,000 birds. Counts in the 1970s and 1980s in Romania and Bulgaria suggested a population of about 25,000 birds, but estimates from the breeding grounds in the 1980s suggested that the population had increased somewhat to around 35,000 birds (Vinokurov, 1990; Madsen, 1991). Counts in the winter of 1991/92 found 26,000 in Romania and an estimated 42,000 in Bulgaria, suggesting a minimum population of 68,000 for the two countries (Owen, 1992). Some 74,00075,000
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were counted in Bulgaria and Romania in the winter of 1992/93 (with 59,000 at the Shabla-Durankulak lakes in Bulgaria). This probably represents the entire population. (No young birds were observed, indicating a complete breeding failure in 1992).
Habitat/ecology: Branta ruficollis breeds on dry shrub- and lichen-covered tundra not far from water, and often in small groups near nests of Buteo lagopus and Falco peregrinus. Steppe habitats are apparently used on migration. The species formerly wintered on steppic grasslands, mainly in the south Caspian region, but now winters almost exclusively on agricultural land dominated by cereal crops and grassland around lakes and lagoons on the west coast of the Black Sea. On their winter quarters, the geese roost in remote parts of wetlands, in the middle of large lakes, and, if it is calm, on the Black Sea. The proximity of drinking and roosting sites to feeding areas may influence winter distribution (Hunter & Black, 1995). The birds moult on or near the breeding grounds between mid-July and late August; during the wing moult, birds are flightless for 1520 days. The autumn migration begins in mid-September, birds reaching Kazakhstan by the end of September, and arriving on their winter quarters in Bulgaria and Romania in October and November. The spring migration begins in March, and the geese arrive on the breeding grounds in early June. Conservation status: Branta ruficollis is a threatened species, listed as vulnerable by Collar et al. (1994) and Green (1996). Population trends are uncertain, because of inadequacies in the previous population estimates. There is believed to have been a dramatic decline in numbers in the middle of this century, from an estimated 60,000 birds in the mid-1950s to only about 25,000 in the 1960s and 1970s, and perhaps as few as 20,000 (6,000 pairs) in the 1980s. However, high counts in southeast Europe in the late 1980s suggested a somewhat higher population of 35,000 birds, and with the discovery of some 70,000 birds in Romania and Bulgaria in the early 1990s, the earlier population estimates have come under considerable doubt (Callaghan & Green, 1993; Hunter & Black, 1995). The disappearance of the wintering flocks from the south Caspian region has been attributed to the widespread conversion of natural grasslands and cereal crops to cotton fields and vineyards. A decline in numbers in the 1960s may also have been due to a decline in Falco peregrinus, which are thought to protect nesting geese from Arctic Foxes (Hunter & Black, 1995). B. ruficollis continues to suffer hunting pressure on the breeding, moulting and wintering grounds, and is now especially vulnerable to changes in land use and disturbance on its winter quarters because almost the entire population concentrates at only three or four apparently fixed roosts (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Other potential threats to the species include deliberate and accidental poisoning on the main wintering grounds in Bulgaria and Romania, and oil exploration on the breeding grounds in Russia (Hunter & Black, 1995). The status and conservation of B. ruficollis have recently been summarized by J. Madsen (in Tucker & Heath, 1994) and J. Hunter and J. Black (in van Vessem, 1994), and an Action Plan for B. ruficollis has been compiled by Hunter and Black (1995) for BirdLife International. Network of key sites: As for all globally threatened species, all sites regularly used by an appreciable number of individuals are of international importance. In recent years, 90% of the population have had winter roosts on only three or four sites in Bulgaria and Romania, but feeding areas are not included in these sites. Many of the key sites listed around the Black Sea represent historic wintering sites only. Some very major staging areas are known at the Mouth of the Ob river, Manych Godilo Lakes/Velvskoye Reservoir in the Caucasus and the Ukrainian coast. Protection status of key sites: Most major roosting sites in Bulgaria and Romania are protected to some extent, but most of the other wintering areas around the Black Sea are unprotected. The main staging areas are poorly known, but most identified are apparently protected.
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BLUE-WINGED GOOSE Cyanochen cyanopterus

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Afrotropical; the species is almost confined to the highlands of Ethiopia above about 1,800 m, although it has straggled to extreme northern Kenya. Movements: Cyanochen cyanopterus is mainly sedentary, undertaking only small-scale movements, generally related to altitudinal shifts, with birds deserting the breeding grounds at high elevations and congregating at lakes to moult during the rainy season (Urban, 1991). Pairs remain constantly together, and are probably territorial (Brown et al., 1982). Population limits: Only one population is recognized, viz. the entire population of the species. Population size: Entire population: 5,00015,000. Provisional numerical criterion 100. Callaghan and Green (1993) state that the total population seems certain to exceed 5,000 individuals. It is reported to be fairly common (Brown et al., 1982) or frequent to locally abundant (Urban & Brown, 1971). It is fairly common in the Web Valley marshes; 30 pairs were seen in a 40 km stretch in 1966, and the population in the entire valley was estimated at possibly 200300 birds (Brown et al. , 1982). Important concentrations occur on the Sululta Plain area during the rains and post-rains period, with 240 birds recorded in July 1992, and over 350 in October 1992. Up to 190 have been recorded during the rainy season at Gaferssa Reservoir; the species is present year-round at this site, but average monthly totals fluctuate from less than 10 between December and March to a peak of 154 in August (Urban, 1991). A concentration of over 500 at a reservoir in the highlands north of Hosaina in February 1994 was recorded on the only occasion this locality has been visited (P.O. Syvertsen, in litt.), so the importance of this site could be high but remains to be determined. Habitat/ecology: Cyanochen cyanopterus is restricted to the vicinity of ponds and streams on the open uplands of Ethiopia, above about 1,800 m. The reason for the species limited range is clear, as it is a grazer on short grass, both as a gosling and when adult, and permanent grassland of this kind is found practically nowhere else in Africa (Snow, 1978). These and other highland habitats in Ethiopia support a great diversity of other endemic animal populations, such as the Simian Fox Canis simensis. The globally threatened White-winged Flufftail Sarothrura ayresi, which also occurs in far southern Africa, has recently been rediscovered in these Ethiopian highland habitats and Rudds Lark Heteromirafra ruddi is also endemic to this habitat type in Ethiopia and far southern Africa. In the Bali and Arussi Mountains, it inhabits marshes, bog pools, swamps and streams with abundant grassland surroundings; it also occurs in Afro-alpine moorland up to 4,500 m or more. In most suitable breeding habitat, it occurs sparsely in pairs, less often in small groups. It nests during the dry season, and then moves downwards several hundred metres in elevation to highland lakes where it congregates in flocks of 50100 or more and undergoes the moult at the peak of the big rains in August (Brown et al., 1982; Urban, 1991). Egg-laying has been reported in MarchJune and in September. Conservation status: The population is apparently stable, and there has been no evidence so far of any changes in distribution or decline in numbers (Callaghan & Green, 1993). The species is said not to be threatened by hunting, as it is not eaten for religious reasons (Brown et al., 1982). It is, however, almost certainly now under pressure from the rapidly expanding human population and resulting
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degradation of grasslands and increased levels of disturbance. Agricultural intensification and droughts are also possible threats.
Network of key sites: Too little is known about this species to determine whether an effective key sites network is potentially possible or not. Key concentrations have been seen at most times of year, and one site (Sululta Plain) supported large numbers throughout most of 1992. Protection status of key sites: Important breeding areas in the Bale Mountains National Park are protected.
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EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Mainly Afrotropical; now confined to the continent of Africa, but formerly bred in Palestine (until the 1930s) and in the Danube Valley until the early 18th century. The species occurs widely in Africa south of the Sahara and also in lower Egypt. In West Africa, it is rare south of 10N. There are no recent records from Burkina Faso south of 12N, no 20th century records from Togo, and very few recent records from Ghana and Ivory Coast (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). It breeds along the length of the Nile Valley north to Aswan at 24N, and occasionally reaches Algeria and Tunisia as a migrant from the south. It has been introduced in Britain and the Netherlands. Movements: The species appears to be at least partially migratory over much of its range, but its movements are poorly understood. Ringing has shown that individual movements of up to 1,100 km are regular in southern Africa, and even longer movements may occur in West Africa, where there is some evidence of transSaharan migrations to Tunisia and Algeria during the wet season. In Chad, some birds move north into the Sahel zone, even to Tibesti, with the summer rains, and may breed there (Salvan, 1967). In Nigeria, it breeds only on the northern savanna, and there is a big influx into Lake Chad in the latter half of the dry season as inland pools dry out. The population in the upper Nile Valley appears to be mainly resident, and there is no evidence of long-distance movements from there, although a portion of the large breeding population at Lake Nasser moves north outside the breeding season into the Nile Valley almost as far north as Cairo (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). However, very few birds now reach the Nile Delta, the most recent record being in 1974. Population limits: The species is very widely distributed over Africa south of the Sahara, and there do not appear to be any major gaps in its distribution except in the lowland forested areas of Cameroon and Gabon and in the deserts of the southwest. Because of the extent of movements shown by the species in Africa, the entire African population is probably best treated, biologically, as a single, very large population. However, for practical reasons it is proposed that the West African birds (east to Chad) be treated as a separate population, although it is acknowledged that there may be a considerable amount of interchange between this population and birds in central and eastern Africa. Thus two populations are recognized: a West African population and an eastern and southern African population (including the Nile Valley birds). Population size: West Africa: 10,00025,000. Provisional numerical criterion 175. The West African population has been estimated at 5,000 birds (Perennou, 1991a, 1991b), but up to 4,828 have been counted in a single mid-winter census (1978). High counts have included up to 2,660 in Djoudj National Park in the Senegal Delta (P. Ysou, in litt.), and up to 1,600 in the Central Niger Delta (January 1972). During the African Waterfowl Censuses of 19911994, the sum of the maximum national totals was 4,679, i.e. 94% of the population estimate. The sum of maximum national totals for all other species for which an estimate of population size is available (except Anas clypeata) was between 11% and 26% of the population estimate. This suggests that the estimate of 5,000 for A. aegyptiacus is far too low. The real figure seems certain to exceed 10,000, and may be as high as 25,000. A provisional 1% level of 175 is recommended.
Eastern and southern Africa: 200,000500,000. Provisional numerical criterion 3,500. Common to locally abundant, especially in the south and east; said to be a fairly common and widespread visitor in Somalia (Ash & Miskell, 1983), locally common in Eritrea, although rare on the coast (Smith, 1957), common to abundant in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), widespread and common in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Britton, 1980), widespread but very uncommon in Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977), very common in parts of Zambia, e.g. the Luangwa Valley (Benson et al., 1971), common to very
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common in the Okavango, Linyati, Chobe, Shashe and Limpopo areas of Botswana (Penry, 1994), and very common throughout southern Africa (Sinclair et al., 1993). There are thought to be thousands of birds nesting at Lake Nasser in Egypt; flocks of up to 2,000 occur along the banks of the Nile between late September and late March, and as many as 11,000 were observed in the Nile Valley south of Sohag in February 1976 (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). High counts in eastern Africa have included 4,420 at Lake Ashange, Ethiopia, in December 1993 (L. Dijksen, in litt.), 1,525 at Gaferssa Reservoir, Ethiopia, in February 1965 (Urban, 1991), and 1,740 birds at Lake Turkana, Kenya, in 1987. A total of 3,873 was recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. Up to 1,500 have been recorded at Kafue Flats in Zambia (July 1994), 1,600 at Aiselby Sewage Pools in Zimbabwe (July 1994), and 480 at Lake St Lucia in South Africa. In Zimbabwe, A. aegyptiacus is commonest at Lake Kariba where there are an estimated 2.3 individuals per kilometre of shoreline (D. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). During the African Waterfowl Census (199194), the highest count in eastern and southern Africa was 25,766 in 1994. A. aegyptiacus is one of the commonest and most widespread species of Anatidae in Africa. Brown et al. (1982) describe it as common to locally abundant over much of its range, which covers about 15 million square kilometres. A. aegyptiacus is badly covered by waterfowl counts, as it often occurs in small groups far from water, and yet over 25,000 were observed during the 1994 African Waterfowl Census. The total population seems certain to exceed 200,000 individuals, and may well exceed 500,000.
Habitat/ecology: Alopochen aegyptiacus is a versatile, adaptable species, frequenting all kinds of fresh waters and ranging well away from open water to forage, especially at night, on crop residue. Originally a bird of large rivers and floodplains, it has taken readily to man-made lakes of all sizes. It is tolerant of a wide range of altitudes (up to 4,000 m in Ethiopia), and is generally distributed throughout Africa except for the most arid areas and densely forested areas. It generally occurs in small family parties on small waters, but flocks of up to 100 or more often occur on large waters, especially outside the breeding season, when the birds are undergoing their wing moult. The post-nuptial moult occurs throughout the year, and is apparently related to the timing of breeding and local wet seasons, both of which vary geographically. Conservation status: The species has shown a marked increase in South Africa during the present century as a result of the construction of dams and irrigation schemes, but there has been some retraction of range in the north. It is said to be decreasing in Gambia (Gore, 1981) and Nigeria (Elgood, 1982; Elgood et al., 1994), and in Egypt, where it was once common along the entire Nile, it is now largely confined to the south where it is still fairly common (Brown et al., 1982). Network of key sites: A fairly comprehensive network of 26 key sites is listed for West Africa in DecemberFebruary but almost no information is available for other times of year. These key sites could potentially support the whole population but due to the large year to year fluctuation in water regime, it is difficult to know what proportion of the population they support annually. For the southern and eastern Africa population only three key sites are listed and too little is known of the populations distribution and movements to confirm whether A. aegyptiacus occurs commonly in key concentrations in this area or not. It could be that wetlands are generally not large enough to support the number of birds necessary to qualify as a key site for this population. This is not however supported by the size of the few key sites selected, perhaps with the exception of Lake Nasser. Protection status of key sites: Only five of the 26 key sites in West Africa are known to be protected and the two sites that regularly support the largest numbers are not protected. Both of these sites are in Niger.
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RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadorna ferruginea

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Mainly Palearctic, with a wide breeding distribution from southeast Europe through the Middle East and central Asia to the region of Lake Baikal and Mongolia. Western populations winter south to the Nile Delta (where now rare) and southern Iran. There are also isolated populations in northwest Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) and the Ethiopian highlands (first discovered in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, in February 1967 and found breeding on the Saneti Plateau in the mid-1970s). The species has occurred as a vagrant in Eritrea and Kenya (two records), most probably from the Ethiopian highlands. Movements: Most Asian populations (except in the extreme southwest) are largely migratory, moving south to winter at lower latitudes and altitudes. Two birds ringed at the Kurgaldzhin Reserve, Tselinograd (70E) were recovered in northwestern Iran (Cornwallis & Ferguson, 1970). Birds breeding in southeast Europe and Turkey are chiefly sedentary or dispersive, with movements linked to the availability of suitable water. T. ferruginea was formerly a common winter visitor to the Nile Delta, presumably from Turkey, but has become scarce and irregular in Egypt, with a maximum count in recent years of only six birds (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). Northwest African birds are sedentary or nomadic, undertaking only short-distance movements from the mountains to the coastal plain; some of these birds formerly wintered in the Guadalquivir Delta in southern Spain. Concentrations in the Moulouya Delta, Morocco, in JulySeptember are presumably moulting birds. The breeding population in the Ethiopian highlands is apparently resident (Urban, 1993) and virtually restricted to the Bale Mountains National Park. Brown et al. (1982) thought that numbers in Ethiopia were augmented in some years by non-breeding visitors from further north, but the scarcity of the species in Egypt in recent years and lack of records in Sudan since 1955 suggest that few if any birds now reach Ethiopia from the east Mediterranean or Southwest Asian populations. Population limits: Four main groups are recognized: (1) a discrete, mainly sedentary population of 200500 birds in Ethiopia; (2) a discrete population of about 2,500 birds in northwest Africa; this population is mainly dispersive or nomadic, with up to 200 birds formerly occurring in southern Spain in winter; (3) a population which breeds in Greece, west and central Turkey and the Black Sea area, and winters in the east Mediterranean south in small numbers to the Nile Delta; (4) a large southwest and central Asian population which breeds from eastern Turkey to Afghanistan and the central Asian republics and winters mainly in Iran and Iraq. The separation between the Black Sea/east Mediterranean population and the Southwest Asian population is at best poorly defined, with the dividing line following the default boundaries used for many other Anatidae populations in this region, and therefore cutting through the breeding ranges of the species in eastern Turkey. However, the two groups of birds are widely separated in winter, and there has been no evidence of any east-west migration of the birds from the Caspian region to the Black Sea. Birds breeding and occurring on passage in the Van Golu area of eastern Turkey are probably linked to the large breeding population in northwestern Iran, and thus best treated as part of the Southwest Asian population. Population size: Ethiopia: 200500 (Urban, 1993). 1% level 4. Urban (1993) has estimated the total population in Ethiopia at 200500 birds, or about 100200 pairs. (The estimate of 250600 birds given by Rose & Scott (1994) erroneously included an estimated 50100 thought by Urban (1993) to winter in Egypt). There have been observations of one or two birds from Asmara in the north, Dubte and Bahadu in the east, Akaki and Gaferssa in the central west Highlands, and Lake Abiata in the Rift Valley (lowest elevation at Dubte, at 380 metres above sea level).
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Northwest Africa (west Mediterranean): 2,500. 1% level 25. In the 1960s, there were thought to be about 1,0001,500 pairs in northwest Africa, with as many as 1,000 pairs in the Atlas Mountains, several hundred pairs in the southern Sahara (Algeria) and about 50 pairs at Iriki, Morocco (Vieillard, 1970; Brown et al., 1982). However, Monval & Pirot (1989) thought that the population was almost confined to Morocco, and estimated the total at only 1,500 birds (although 2,030 were recorded in Morocco in 1983). Recent reports from Algeria and Morocco indicate that the species extends at least as far south as Dakhla Bay (Morocco) in winter, and is common at the mid-Saharan chotts and sebkhas in southern Algeria, where it is possibly a resident breeding bird. Two hundred were counted in Algeria during the mid-winter census in 1994. The estimate of Monval & Pirot (1989) (repeated by Rose & Scott, 1994) is therefore considered to be too low, and a minimum population estimate of 2,500 individuals is now considered to be more appropriate. A pair was found breeding in central Tunisia in 1995, the first definite breeding record of this species in Tunisia since the late 1950s or early 1960s (Ysou & South, 1995) and subsequently two more pairs have been found (Ysou, 1995). Black Sea/east Mediterranean: 20,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 200. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the wintering population in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region at 20,000 birds, and this figure was repeated by Rose & Scott (1994). The current European breeding population of at least 6,000 pairs is consistent with this estimate, although there is some evidence from mid-winter counts to suggest that a decline has occurred in the population since the 1980s (Tucker & Heath, 1994). West-central Asia/Caspian/Iran and Iraq: 35,000. 1% level 350. Perennou et al. (1994) estimated the Southwest Asian population at over 30,000 birds. However, over 33,500 were counted during the mid-winter census of 1994, suggesting a minimum population size of 35,000.
Habitat/ecology: Tadorna ferruginea occurs at a wide variety of brackish to saline wetlands, generally in open country, but also on sparsely forested elevated ground in the Asian part of its range. In southeast Europe and Southwest Asia, it is primarily a bird of shallow, sparsely vegetated brackish marshes and lakes in semi-arid regions. In Ethiopia, it occurs on tarns and marshes mainly between 2,000 and 3,700 m above sea level (Urban & Brown, 1971). The species depends much less on water bodies for resting and feeding than do most other Anatidae, often occurring a considerable distance from water during the breeding season (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Although normally occurring in small flocks outside the breeding season, concentrations of several hundreds of birds can occur in favoured localities, especially in Southwest Asia. The moult takes place between mid-July and September, usually on large areas of open water on or near the breeding grounds. During the wing moult, the birds are flightless for about four weeks. In the Caspian region, autumn migration takes place until November, with birds returning to the breeding grounds from early March to early April. Conservation status: No information is available on trends in the small Ethiopian population. T. ferruginea has declined markedly at the western extremity of its range in North Africa and Europe, but the Asian populations appear to be relatively stable or increasing. The species was formerly common and widespread in North Africa, but is now extinct as a breeding species in many areas, and no longer occurs as a winter visitor to the Guadalquivir Delta in southern Spain. In southeast Europe, major decreases were recorded during the early part of the present century in Bulgaria, Romania and the western parts of the former USSR, but recent trends do not show a consistent pattern, with increases being reported in Bulgaria and Russia, and further declines reported in Ukraine and Romania (Tucker & Heath, 1994). It was once fairly common as a winter visitor to the Nile Delta and Nile Valley south to northern Sudan (Brown et al., 1982), but is now scarce in Egypt and very rare in Sudan. Recent mid-winter counts in northwest Africa and the east Mediterranean have shown very large year to year fluctuations that obscure any population trends, although there is a suggestion of a rapid decline in the east Mediterranean (Rose, 1995). Recent mid-winter counts in Turkey suggest that the Turkish population has undergone a rapid decline since the late 1980s, but this has still to be confirmed. Further east, however, Krivenko (1993) reports an increase in the numbers of birds at the end of the breeding season in Kazakhstan and the Caspian region
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between 1972 and 1989, while the wintering population in Iran has increased dramatically in the last 1520 years, the mid-winter waterfowl counts suggesting that a five- or six-fold increase has occurred (Perennou et al., 1994). The most likely causes for the decreases in Europe are the widespread drainage of shallow marshes and lakes and excessive hunting. In Turkey, the species is threatened by heavy hunting pressure, over-grazing, increasing salt extraction and most importantly decreasing water supply to seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands as a result of upstream irrigation systems (Tucker & Heath, 1994).
Network of key sites: In winter T. ferruginea occasionally occurs in very large concentrations but only a few wetlands support such large numbers regularly. The Black Sea/east Mediterranean population, concentrated in Turkey, has the most complete key sites network of all four populations. Only three breeding sites exceed key site qualifying criteria, but Burdur Golu has up to 25% of the entire breeding population. Sodah Golu and Ericek Golu provide the moulting sites for the population which disperses in autumn to Kulu Golu and Sultansazligi at which over 50% of the population has been counted. In winter 27 sites are recorded as having held internationally important numbers. The very large breeding, autumn and moulting concentrations recently discovered for this population imply that similar sites could exist for the other three populations. The North Africa/Spain population winters at 26 key sites but only one (Lagune de Layoune) supports very large numbers (over 20% of the population regularly). No information is available for this population in other seasons. The Ethiopian population is virtually restricted to the Bale Mountains NP where up to 200 birds are thought to breed at Lake Deemtu. Of all four populations, the Caspian wintering group is by far the most migratory and must rely heavily on major staging and moulting sites which urgently need to be identified. Twenty-seven key wintering sites are listed in Annex 2. Protection status of key sites: Protected status information was not supplied for most key sites in North Africa and Spain. The population in Ethiopia is probably well protected due to its dependence on the Bale Mountains National Park. The network of sites for the Caspian wintering population has many protected areas but it is noticeable that some of the major sites such as Harm Karion in Iran are not protected. The protected status is worse for the Black Sea/east Mediterranean population where Burdur Golu and Sultansazligi are the only two sites protected from the network of five extremely important breeding, moulting and autumn staging sites and only four of 37 key wintering sites are protected.
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SOUTH AFRICAN SHELDUCK Tadorna cana

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Afrotropical; the species is confined to southern Africa south of 19S (South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana), and is most abundant in arid Orange Free State and southern Cape Province, South Africa. It has been seen once in 1973 in Zimbabwe. Movements: In some areas, the species is mainly sedentary, but over much of its range it is at least partially migratory, with substantial numbers of birds undertaking seasonal movements related to the moult and to the availability of water. In Botswana, the largest numbers occur during the breeding season (MaySeptember), although some birds are resident year-round in the southeast (Penry, 1994). Individual movements of up to 1,000 km have been reported. Moult migrations (to the northeast) occur in November and December, with birds returning to their breeding areas after the moult. Population limits: Only one population is recognized, viz. the entire population of the species. Population size: Entire population: 42,000 (Brown et al., 1982). 1% level 420. A common resident throughout South Africa, Swaziland and much of Namibia (Sinclair et al., 1993); an uncommon and localized resident and dry season visitor to southern Botswana (Newman, 1989). The total population was estimated at about 42,000 birds in 1981 (Brown et al., 1982). Up to 30,000 birds, or about 70% of the total population, have been recorded at the known moulting areas, with 25,000 of these in Orange Free State. The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) was 5,676 in 1994. Habitat/ecology: Tadorna cana frequents shallow fresh waters and brackish wetlands in open country with nearby grassland. In western Orange Free State, it shows a preference for seasonal brackish pans, if filled by summer rains. The species is dependent on mammal burrows for nest sites. For the wing moult, birds move northeast in November and December to large, fresh, deep-water lakes and dams (17 sites in Orange Free State, three in Transvaal and three in Cape Province). At these times, the species forms flocks of a few hundred to as many as 5,000 moulting and first-year birds. After moulting, the majority of birds move southwest to seasonal, shallow, brackish pans (Brown et al., 1982). Conservation status: Brown et al. (1982), quoting Geldenhuys (1981), state that the numbers are stable. However, the species is potentially vulnerable because of its small population size, its dependence on very few localities where it concentrates in large numbers to moult, its dependence on mammal burrows for nest sites, and the elimination of the jackal Canis mesomelas which normally kills the small predators which take its eggs (del Hoyo et al., 1992). Network of key sites: Only one key site is listed and too little relevant information is available to ascertain if a more extensive key sites network could ever be established.
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SOUTH AFRICAN SHELDUCK Tadorna cana
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COMMON SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, with a somewhat fragmented breeding distribution from coastal western Europe east through southern Europe, the Middle East and central Asia to northeast China. Western populations winter south to North Africa and the Gulf. The species occurs as a vagrant south to Senegal, Ghana and Sudan. Movements: Partially migratory or dispersive; most northern and inland populations move southwards to winter at lower latitudes, and even within mainly sedentary populations, major moult migrations occur to favoured moulting areas where spectacular concentrations can occur. In early summer, birds from all over northwest Europe as well as some west Mediterranean breeding birds migrate to the German Wadden Sea to moult. Significant cold weather movements occur in northwest Europe, with birds moving away from the major wintering areas of the Dutch and Danish Wadden Sea to Britain and Ireland, and to a lesser extent, north and west France. Some birds also reach Iberia, North Africa and Italy during very cold winters (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). The southern populations in the Black Sea and Caspian regions are believed to be mainly sedentary, although long-distance movements may occur during exceptionally cold weather, and moult migrations are known to occur in some areas (e.g. northwestern Iran). Birds breeding south to Romania and east in southern Siberia are migratory. Those breeding east of the Ob River are believed to join the birds in the Caspian region in winter (Cramp & Simmons, 1977). The wintering population in Egypt, which may number 10,000 birds in some years, is thought to be mainly of Turkish origin, although a recovery in Egypt of a bird ringed at Lake Tengiz, Kazakhstan (69E), suggests that at least some of the Egyptian birds belong to the southern Siberian breeding population (Meininger & Atta, 1994). Other birds ringed at Tengiz Lake have been recovered in the Caspian region and northwestern Iran (Argyle, 1975). Population limits: Only three populations are recognized in Western Eurasia: (1) a population in northwest Europe distributed around the North Sea, in the Baltic and on the Atlantic coasts of Britain, Ireland and France; (2) a Black Sea/Mediterranean population wintering south to the Nile Delta and northwest Africa; and (3) a population breeding from eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran and the Caspian region eastwards through Kazakhstan and wintering from the south Caspian through Iran and Iraq to Arabia. Atkinson-Willes (1976) and Scott (1980) recognized only two populations in Europe, one in northwest Europe and one in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region. However, Ruger et al. (1986), following Walmsley (1984), considered the birds in the west Mediterranean (Italy, France, Spain and the Maghreb) to be a separate population from those in the east Mediterranean and Black Sea. Monval & Pirot (1989) thought that the birds breeding around the Black Sea and east Mediterranean were mainly sedentary, moving further south only during cold spells, and concluded that it was unlikely that exchanges occurred between these T. tadorna and those present in the west Mediterranean. The validity of a separate west Mediterranean population is clearly questionable. On the one hand, there is a considerable amount of intermixing between the northwest European population and the west Mediterranean birds, with many of the 600 pairs breeding in Spain, southern France and Italy migrating to the Wadden Sea to moult (Walmsley, 1987), and some of the northwest European breeding birds moving into the west Mediterranean during severe winters. On the other hand, there is now evidence which suggests that large numbers of birds from the Black Sea/east Mediterranean move into the west Mediterranean during severe winters. The large numbers of wintering T. tadorna in Algeria in recent years (up to 20,000) are more likely to be birds forced out of the Black Sea region by hard weather, than birds from hitherto unknown breeding areas in northwest Africa. Such hard weather movements would be consistent with the unprecedented series of harsh winters that have prevailed in the Black Sea during the 1990s, and would explain why recent mid-winter counts in the northern Black
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Sea have been considerably lower than the numbers believed to be present during the more normal winters of the 1980s (Monval & Pirot, 1989). Tadorna tadorna breeding in the west Mediterranean should perhaps be treated as part of the northwest European population, while many of the wintering birds almost certainly belong to the Black Sea/east Mediterranean population. Since the number of birds breeding in the west Mediterranean is relatively small in relation to the wintering population, the west Mediterranean birds are here included within a single large Black Sea/Mediterranean population. There is also likely to be a considerable amount of inter-mixing between birds in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region and those in Southwest Asia. There are no major gaps in the breeding range of T. tadorna between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, and evidence from ringing suggests that some of the birds wintering in Egypt originate from breeding areas east of the Caspian. Occasionally some birds are found as far south as Jeddah in the central Red Sea (S. Newton , in litt.). As for many species of Anatidae, the distinction between a Black Sea/Mediterranean population and a Southwest Asian population is maintained primarily for practical reasons, with the dividing line following the default line through the Caucasus, eastern Turkey and Syria.
Population size: Northwest Europe: 300,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 3,000.
Black Sea/Mediterranean: 75,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 750. Western Asia/Caspian/Middle East: 80,000 (Perennou et al., 1994). 1% level 800. The estimate of 80,000 (Perennou et al., 1994) was based on counts from 1987 to 1991; in recent years, the totals counts have ranged between 55,000 and 60,000 birds, and thus agree well with the original estimate.
Habitat/ecology: Tadorna tadorna is a bird of coastal mudflats, estuaries and brackish to saline lakes, generally occurring in saline waters, but often intentionally seeking fresh water in order to drink. In northwest Europe, T. tadorna is a maritime species largely confined to sheltered coasts and estuaries. Almost the entire northwest European population gathers in the Wadden Sea to moult, along with some birds from the west Mediterranean. Immatures arrive from June and adults from July. During the wing moult, the birds are flightless for 2531 days. Birds from breeding areas to the west of the moulting area return to their breeding grounds after the moult, between October and December; birds from breeding areas to the east of the moulting area remain throughout the winter in the southern North Sea and return to their breeding grounds in March. Birds from the west Mediterranean return to their breeding grounds in November, via the Rhone and the Rhine. The moulting behaviour of birds breeding further east is poorly understood. No major moult migrations have been documented, but very large numbers of birds gather at Lake Uromiyeh in northwestern Iran to moult, and these presumably include migrants from central Asia as well as local breeding birds. Birds wintering in Algeria and Tunisia begin to arrive in September, and reach a peak in November, December and January. Conservation status: The northwest European population of T. tadorna increased by at least 50% between the late 1960s and the late 1980s. However, in recent years the rate of increase has slowed down, and the population may now be stabilizing (Rose, 1995). Numbers wintering in the west Mediterranean increased considerably between 1967 and 1987, but have started to stabilize since then (Rose, 1995). Numbers wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean have increased significantly in the last ten years, although over the last 20 years there has been stability or even a slow decline in numbers (Rose, 1995). Much of the increase in the west Mediterranean may have been a result of increased immigration of birds from the Black Sea region, especially during the long series of cold winters in recent years. The population in Southwest Asia appears to be increasing. Flint and Krivenko (1990) report a general increase in numbers of T. tadorna in the former USSR, while Krivenko (1993) reports an increase in the numbers of birds at the end of the breeding season in Kazakhstan and the Caspian region between 1972 and 1989. The number of birds wintering in Iran increased by over 50% between the early 1970s and the late 1980s (Perennou et al., 1994). As these birds account for almost half of the Southwest Asian population, it seems likely that the population as a whole has been increasing.
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Network of key sites: All three populations of T. tadorna are dispersed while breeding but come together in autumn, spring and during moult at a few extremely important sites. In winter they are more dispersed and rather mobile but nevertheless the species remains appropriate for the development of a key sites network. The northwest European population stages and moults in the Wadden Sea and to a lesser extent at Bridgwater Bay in the United Kingdom. Manych-Godilo Lakes in the Caucasus can have over 100,000 individuals after moult when 22,000 are present. This autumn concentration must include both Caspian and Black Sea/east Mediterranean wintering birds, and it is likely that other major moulting sites still exist for the Black Sea/Mediterranean population. Up to 35,000 (40% of the population) T. tadorna moult at Lake Uromiyeh in Iran where numbers can nearly double in exceptional winters. Networks of key wintering sites are fairly extensive for all three populations with 42 key sites listed for northwest Europe, 52 for the Black Sea/Mediterranean and 25 for the Caspian. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important sites for the northwest European population are protected and so are most of the major sites for the Southwest Asian population, including the moulting area at Lake Uromiyeh in Iran. Only wintering sites are well known for the Black Sea/Mediterranean population, and 20 of the 52 key wintering sites here are protected, including the most important.
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SPUR-WINGED GOOSE Plectropterus gambensis

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies are recognized: P. g. gambensis from Gambia to Sudan and south to Zambia, and P. g. niger in southern Africa. The two subspecies are distributed north and south of the Zambezi River, but intermediates are frequent in the border region. The situation suggests that they were formerly isolated and have quite recently come into secondary contact (Snow, 1978). Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region. P. g. gambensis occurs from Gambia east to Ethiopia and south to Angola and the Zambezi River; P. g. niger occurs in southern Africa from Namibia and Zimbabwe to Cape Province, South Africa. P. g. gambensis breeds north along the Nile to the region of Khartoum, and has been recorded as far north as Abou Simbel in Egypt, but the records of birds in Egypt may relate to semi-domesticated individuals (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). In West Africa, the species is very uncommon south of 9N in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Movements: At least partially migratory over most of its range, undertaking marked seasonal movements (of up to several hundred kilometres) in many parts of its range. These movements are poorly understood, but appear to be mostly related with the availability of water. The species is mainly a dry season visitor to Gambia. Seasonal influxes occur in the Senegal Delta in January, in northern Togo in DecemberApril (dry season), at Lake Chad in FebruaryMay, and in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia, chiefly in October March. Moult migrations have been observed in the Niger Delta, Senegal Delta and South Africa. Birds ringed in South Africa have been recovered up to 570 km away. Population limits: The nominate form is very widely distributed in western, central and eastern Africa, and there do not appear to be any major gaps in its distribution. Because of the extent of movements shown by the species, the entire population of this subspecies is probably best treated, biologically, as a single, very large population. However, for practical reasons it is proposed that the West African birds (east to Chad) be treated as a separate population, although it is acknowledged that there may be a considerable amount of interchange between this population and birds in central and eastern Africa. Three populations are therefore recognized: the entire population of the subspecies niger in southern Africa, and two populations of the nominate form, one in West Africa (east to Chad), and one in eastern and southcentral Africa (south to the Zambezi). Population size: West Africa (gambensis): 50,000 (Perennou, 1991a). 1% level 500. The maximum mid-winter count in West Africa was 38,000 in 1987, but the maximum count in recent years has not exceeded 5,000. Concentrations of over 10,000 were recorded in the Senegal Delta in the 1970s (Trca, 1978), but numbers have been much lower since then, with the recent maximum in Djoudj National Park being only 2,470 in January 1988 (P. Ysou, in litt.). Other high counts have included up to 25,000 at Lake Maga in Cameroon, up to 1,500 in the Central Niger Delta and 1,850 at Lac dAleg, Mauritania, in January 1996. Flocks of up to 500 have been recorded along the Middle River in Gambia (Jensen & Kirkeby, 1980), and flocks of up to 300 have been recorded during the dry season in northern Togo (Cheke & Walsh, in prep.). Some 440 were observed at Lagoa de Cufada, Guinea-Bissau, in February 1990 (Scott & Pineau, 1990).
Eastern and south-central Africa (gambensis): 200,000300,000. Provisional numerical criterion 2,500. Frequent to locally abundant in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), widespread and locally numerous in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Britton, 1980), widespread in rather small numbers (generally in flocks of less than 50 birds) in Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977), and widespread and common in Zambia (Benson et al., 1971). Only 1,214 were recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in
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January 1995, although concentrations of up to 10,000 have been recorded in the south of the country in recent years (N. Baker, in litt.). Recent counts in Zambia have included 8,215 at Kafue Flats in January 1994 and 2,133 in Bangweulu Swamps in July 1994. The highest count of gambensis during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) was 9,572 in January 1994. Southern Africa (niger): 50,000100,000. Provisional numerical criterion 750. Seasonally common to very common on most large inland waters almost throughout its range (Sinclair et al., 1993). In Botswana, it is a very common resident on the floodplains in the north of the country, and common at wetlands south to Lake Ngami (Newman, 1989; Penry, 1994), while in Zimbabwe, it is one of the commonest of the Anatidae (D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). About 2,000 moulting birds have been recorded at Barberspan, western Transvaal, in JuneAugust. The highest count of niger during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) was 8,999 in 1993. The population seems unlikely to exceed 100,000.
Habitat/ecology: P. gambensis is found in a wide range of habitats, occurring on most kinds of fresh water (marshes, grassy swamps, rivers, lakes, reservoirs etc.), particularly where these are surrounded by scattered trees and near grassland or arable land. The species often feeds well away from open water. In the dry season, large flocks gather at permanent water, these often undergoing the wing moult, e.g. in the Central Niger Delta and Senegal Delta. In West Africa, it breeds during the late wet season (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Conservation status: The West African population of gambensis is said to have been affected by desiccation of the Sahel zone (del Hoyo et al., 1992), and may now be decreasing. Network of key sites: Similar to many other species of endemic African Anatidae, P. gambensis has a very inadequate key sites networks in southern and eastern Africa. This could be because it is very dispersed, because information is lacking, because censuses are undertaken in inappropriate seasons or because the population estimate, and hence the threshold for selection, is too high. As for all other African Anatidae much more quantitative site based distribution data is required for all times of year. In West Africa 22 key sites can be selected on the basis of DecemberFebruary data and the few counts available from other months suggest that the species probably occurs in large concentrations in all seasons. The largest count recorded is of 22,000 at Lac Maga in Cameroon which also has the highest average annual maximum of 7000 individuals. The key wintering sites network is probably quite complete, but year to year variations in the suitability of the sites makes it very hard to predict the value of the network in advance. Protection status of key sites: Only six key sites are known to be protected.
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HARTLAUBS DUCK Pteronetta hartlaubii

Subspecies: Monotypic. Birds with extensive white on the head from east-central Africa (mainly Zaire) were formerly considered as a subspecies, albifrons, but this variation is no longer considered to be geographically discrete. Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region, occurring in equatorial West and central Africa from Sierra Leone and Guinea east to Ghana, and from Nigeria east to extreme southwest Sudan and south to central Zaire. There are no records for Benin or Togo (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Movements: As far as is known, the species is sedentary throughout its range, with only local movements recorded (Brown et al., 1982). It is said to be resident in Cameroon (Louette, 1981), Ghana (Grimes, 1987) and Nigeria (Elgood, 1982). Population limits: The only major break in the historical distribution of the species is between the forested regions of western West Africa (Guinea and Sierra Leone to Ghana) and those extending from Nigeria east into central Africa, and only two populations are therefore recognized. However, severe deforestation and resulting fragmentation of forest blocks during the present century has undoubtedly broken up this sedentary species into many more isolated population units which, from a conservation viewpoint, should perhaps merit treatment as separate populations. Because of the paucity of information available on the present distribution and abundance of the species, only the two historical population units are recognized. Population size: Central Africa (west to Nigeria): 10,00050,000. Provisional numerical criterion 300. In central Africa, the species appears to be widespread and locally quite numerous throughout its range, and is described as common by Brown et al. (1982). It seems to be most numerous in Cameroon, Gabon, Congo and Zaire. Until quite recently, it was well distributed and not uncommon in Nigeria (Elgood, 1982), but recent reports suggest that it is now uncommon to rare there (J.F. Walsh, in litt. ).
West Africa (Guinea to Ghana): Probably less than 1,000 (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Provisional numerical criterion 10. Pteronetta hartlaubii is now very scarce throughout its range in West Africa. It is now rare throughout Ghana, and is an uncommon breeding bird in Ivory Coast, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The only published records for Guinea are of two pairs at 8N in March 1984 and 1985 (J.F. Walsh, in litt. ). The largest concentration reported in West Africa in recent years was a flock of at least 30 plus a further 39 birds in small groups on the Comoe River between 8N and 8.30N in Ivory Coast (J.F. Walsh, in litt. ). J.F. Walsh (in litt. ) has recently estimated the West African population at probably less than 1,000 birds. Only a few individuals have been recorded during the African Waterfowl Census in recent years (maximum of five in 1994), but very few counts have been undertaken within the species range. Callaghan and Green (1993) state that the population is likely to be in the range 10,000100,000 individuals.
Habitat/ecology: P. hartlaubii is the only African species of Anatidae whose distribution is confined to the Guinea forests, with outlying populations along rivers in wooded savanna north and south of the main forest block (Snow, 1978). It is a bird of secluded pools, streams and small rivers in lowland rainforest, broad gallery forest and well-wooded savannah. It is normally found in pairs, but small flocks of up to about 15 birds
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have been reported on larger, more open rivers, and are presumed to be moult gatherings. The breeding season seems to be during AugustNovember, when ducklings have been seen in the wild, but no wild nest has yet been described.
Conservation status: Pteronetta hartlaubii is listed as near-threatened by Green (1996), and as vulnerable by Ellis-Joseph et al. (1992), who state that the primary threat is habitat loss due to forest destruction. Major declines have been reported in West Africa, but further east, the extent and rate of any decline are unclear. Elgood (1982) and Elgood et al. (1994) noted that a decline in numbers had occurred in Nigeria, and attributed this to habitat destruction. Grimes (1987) described P. hartlaubii as not uncommon along the major rivers in Ghana (Ancobra, Bia, Prah, Offin and Tano), but by 1990 it had disappeared from the north of the country (southern reaches of Black Volta and Tain River) and had become very scarce further south (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Recent declines have also been noted in Ivory Coast (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Numbers seem certain to be declining elsewhere because of the dependence of the species on rainforest and the rapid rate at which forests are being destroyed almost throughout its range. Network of key sites: One untraceable set of counts from Cameroon lists 289 P. hartlaubii in January 1987 and there are recent observations from the Comoe River in Cote dIvoire (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Almost no other quantitative information exists for any of the range of this species, so its status is totally unknown.
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COMB DUCK (KNOB-BILLED GOOSE) Sarkidiornis melanotos

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate form in Africa and southern Asia, and S. m. sylvicola in tropical South America (sometimes considered a separate species). Distribution: Pantropical, occurring in tropical South America, sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia (Pakistan to south China). In Africa, the nominate form occurs widely throughout the continent south of the Sahara, except in densely forested and arid areas. It also occurs in Madagascar. It is locally common to abundant on well-watered savannas throughout its range. Movements: Primarily an intra-African migrant, although some populations, including the Madagascar population, are mainly sedentary. A large part of the African population is highly migratory, undertaking lengthy transequatorial migrations in response to seasonal rains and changing water conditions. This mobility probably accounts for the fact that no geographical variation has been detected in the Old World part of the species range (Snow, 1978). In southern Africa, the species is mainly a summer (wet season) visitor (Sinclair et al., 1993). Birds ringed in Zimbabwe have been recovered in Mozambique, Zambia, Zaire, northern Tanzania, Chad (3,879 km) and Sudan (3,600 km). In Zambia, it is essentially a rains visitor, with maximum numbers occurring in March and April after breeding, and minima in JuneSeptember (D.R. Aspinwall, in litt.). Large concentrations of non-breeding birds have been observed in Zambia, and also in Zaire and Kenya. The species is a common visitor to southern Sudan, mainly on passage at the start and at the end of the rains (Lynes, 1925), and is sometimes an abundant visitor to southern Somalia, although there are no breeding records from this area (Ash & Miskell, 1983). Flocks have been observed flying north up Lake Albert in June, suggesting that the western rift valley may be a migration route for this species into Sudan (R.J. Douthwaite, in litt.). In Eritrea, the species is a common visitor to the western plains during the rains (JulyDecember) (Smith, 1957). In West Africa, S. melanotos is a seasonal visitor to the lower Senegal region, probably from breeding quarters in more humid country to the southeast, although breeding has been recorded at Lac de Gueirs in northern Senegal (Trca & Rouchouse, 1990). A bird ringed in northwestern Senegal has been recovered 900 km away in Mali. The species is a common dry season visitor to Gambia, where concentrations of over 1,000 have been recorded in March, but it is not known to breed (Gore, 1981). In northern Togo, S. melanotos is a common dry season visitor (December to April), occasionally extending south to about 940'N (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Large concentrations of non-breeding birds have been observed in the Senegal Delta, in the Central Niger Delta in Mali and in Chad. In Cameroon, the species occurs as a common non-breeding visitor to the south during the rainy season (Louette, 1981). Population limits: S. melanotos is very widely distributed over Africa south of the Sahara, with no apparent major gaps in its distribution, and shows a high degree of mobility. Thus, the entire African population is probably best treated, biologically, as a single, very large population. However, for practical reasons it is proposed that the West African birds (east to the Chad basin) be treated as a separate population, although it is acknowledged that there is probably a considerable amount of interchange between this population and birds in central and eastern Africa. S. melanotos is said to be mainly sedentary in Madagascar, and there is no evidence of interchange with the African population. Thus three populations are recognized: a West African population (east to Chad); an eastern and southern African population; and a Madagascar population. Population size: West Africa: 50,000 (Perennou, 1991a). 1% level 500. This estimate of 50,000 (Perennou, 1991a & 1991b) may be too low. W.C. Mulli ( in litt.) has suggested that 60,000 may be more realistic, and that the population may be as high as 70,00075,000. Up to 32,800 have been counted during mid-winter waterfowl censuses in West Africa (maximum in 1987).
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Notable counts have included: 2,920 at Lac dAleg, Mauritania, in January 1996, 1,250 at Jakhaly Swamp, Gambia, in March 1975 (Jensen & Kirkeby, 1980); up to 790 in Djoudj National Park in the Senegal Delta (P. Ysou, in litt.); 2,500 in the Central Niger Delta, Mali, in January 1973 and 15,000 in January 1978; 7,770 along the Niger River between Labezanga and Niamey, Niger, in January 1995 (W.C. Mulli, in litt.); and over 600 on the Logone floodplain in Cameroon in February 1995 (Scholte et al., 1995). Eastern and southern Africa: 500,0001,000,000. Provisional numerical criterion 7,500. Generally widespread and locally abundant; described as a common summer visitor to the western plains of Eritrea (Smith, 1957), frequent to locally abundant in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), sometimes abundant in Somalia (Ash & Miskell, 1983), widespread and fairly common in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Britton, 1980), common in flocks of up to 50 in Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977), widespread and common in Zambia, especially in the west (Benson et al., 1971), common throughout Zimbabwe, often in concentrations of several hundred birds (D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.), and fairly common in Botswana (Newman, 1989). Some 20,435 were recorded at Kafue Flats, Zambia, in January 1994. A total of 357 was recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. The highest count in eastern and southern Africa during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) was 21,674 in 1994. It has been suggested that the total population in eastern and southern Africa probably exceeds 1,000,000 (D.R. Aspinwall, in litt.). Madagascar: 10,00025,000. Provisional numerical criterion 175. According to Langrand (1990), widespread throughout Madagascar in small numbers, though abundant in places, especially in the west and north (e.g. at Lake Bemamba, the Soalala lakes and marshes, and Betsiboka River). Some 1000 were recorded at Lake Bemamba in June 1993 (Young et al., 1993) and 258 at Lake Amboromalandy in October 1993 (F. Hawkins, in litt.). Up to 865 have been recorded in recent waterfowl censuses in Madagascar.
Habitat/ecology: Sarkidiornis melanotos is a bird of lowland tropical swamps, lakes and rivers in open, lightly wooded country (marshes, temporary pans in woodland, woodland-fringed lagoons in inundated floodplains and river deltas). Breeding generally occurs during the rainy season. The species needs trees for nesting, but prefers savanna country rather than thick forest, and in many parts of its range breeds mainly in areas of temporary inundation. In Zimbabwe, it has been recorded at gravel pits in woodland. There is marked segregation in feeding areas between the sexes; females and juveniles feed largely on ripening grass seeds, while males feed largely on aquatic plant seeds, especially water lilies, which appear in the wake of the rains (R.J. Douthwaite, in litt.). S. melanotos usually forages in small groups, but occasionally forms large flocks, especially during the late dry season. After the first rains, large flocks may gather to feed on germinating wheat from crop residue (D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). Conservation status: Populations on the mainland of Africa are thought to be stable, although a slight decrease has taken place in Zimbabwe in the last ten years (D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). In Madagascar, the species has become rare on Lake Alaotra and generally in the east, due to hunting pressure (Langrand, 1990). S. melanotos is trapped throughout Madagascar and persecuted when feeding in rice fields. It is often found on sale in markets (H.G. Young, in litt.) Network of key sites: Much more information and research is necessary in southern/eastern Africa and Madagascar before the one and two key sites respectively can be supplemented to provide the basis of a key sites network. The 33 key sites selected for West Africa on the basis of December to February censuses do provide a rudimentary key sites network but its value will vary between years according to water distribution. Nothing is known about key sites for other months. Highest numbers are most regularly counted at Lac Fitri and Mare de Katoa in Tchad but the highest recorded concentration is of 15,000 in the Southern Inner Niger Delta during 1978. Protection status of key sites: Only a few of the key wintering sites in West Africa are protected.
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AFRICAN PYGMY-GOOSE Nettapus auritus

Subspecies: Monotypic. Madagascar birds are not distinguishable from African birds. Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region. The species occurs widely in Africa south of the Sahara from Senegal and Ethiopia southwards, and also in Madagascar. It formerly occurred in Zanzibar and is probably still a resident in Pemba, in small numbers (Pakenham, 1979). The distribution over its entire range is sporadic, dictated by rainfall and availability of suitable habitat. Movements: Chiefly sedentary; the species is not known to be a long-distance migrant, but in regions with seasonal rainfall, it makes nomadic movements during the dry season in response to changing water levels. Some seasonal movements have been recorded in West Africa; it is resident in northern Ghana, Togo and Benin, but occurs in the coastal zone only during the dry season (J.F. Walsh, in litt.), while in Chad, it seems to be entirely migratory (Salvan, 1967). In Sudan, most records and numbers are in the rainy season (Nikolaus, 1987). It is partly migratory in northern Botswana, the highest numbers occurring in December (during the breeding season), and lowest in AprilMay; movements in this area are thought to be linked with the moult (Douthwaite, 1980). The population in Madagascar appears to be mainly sedentary but occasionally it is highly dispersive when west coast breeding lakes become too saline (or dry out) during MarchOctober. Population limits: The species is very widely distributed over Africa south of the Sahara, and there do not appear to be any major gaps in its distribution. However, for practical reasons it is proposed that the West African birds be treated as a separate population, although it is acknowledged that there is probably some interchange between this population and birds in central and eastern Africa. The Madagascar population is mainly sedentary, and there is no evidence of interchange with the African population. Thus three populations are recognized: a West African population (east to Chad); an eastern and southern African population; and a Madagascar population. Population size: West Africa: 20,00030,000. Provisional numerical criterion 250. Widely distributed but generally uncommon over much of the region. Formerly widespread in the Senegal Delta but now rare there (P. Ysou, in litt.). Said to be an uncommon resident in the Middle Valley of Gambia, occurring in concentrations of up to 30 birds (Jensen & Kirkeby, 1980), and described as not uncommon in Ghana, occurring in small groups of four to six birds (Grimes, 1987). In Nigeria, said to be widespread and not uncommon from the great rivers northwards, but uncommon in the southwest and rare in the southeast (Elgood, 1982; Elgood et al. , 1994). Uncommon in Cameroon, although occasionally occurring in substantial numbers, e.g. 60 at Lake Maga in January 1993 (P. Scholte, in litt. ). One of the most important sites in West Africa is Lagoa de Cufada in Guinea-Bissau, where 250 were recorded in February 1990 (Scott & Pineau, 1990). The maximum mid-winter count in West Africa was 300 in 1975. Rose & Scott (1994) estimated the total West African population at less than 10,000, but a recent assessment suggests that the population may exceed 25,000 birds (J.F. Walsh, in litt.).
Eastern and southern Africa: 100,000250,000. Provisional numerical criterion 1,750. Generally rather uncommon, but locally common to abundant; described as uncommon to frequent in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), rather uncommon in Kenya (where mainly along the coast), Tanzania and Uganda (Britton, 1980), widespread in small numbers in Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977) and Zambia (Benson et al., 1971), locally common to very common in Botswana (Newman, 1989; Penry, 1994), and locally common throughout much of southern Africa (Sinclair et al., 1993). The species is abundant at Lake Tana, Ethiopia, and in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The population in the Okavango
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Delta was estimated at 10,600 +/- 4,400 in JulyOctober 1978, and as many as 15,000 have been recorded there more recently. Dry season flocks of up to 1,000 have been observed in north Zululand, South Africa. The population in Zimbabwe is estimated to number in the hundreds of birds (Ewbank, 1993). A total of 330 was recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. The maximum count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in eastern and southern Africa was only 542 (in 1993). Madagascar: 5,00010,000. Provisional numerical criterion 75. Occurs throughout Madagascar, except for the High Plateau. Common in the west, particularly at Lake Bemamba and Lake Antsamaka, in the vicinity of Morondava, and at the Soalala lakes, and in the north, e.g. at Sahaka Lake, Antsohihy and Maromandia Marshes; uncommon in the east, and rare in south and at Lake Alaotra (Langrand, 1990). Usually found in groups of 1040, occasionally more (e.g. 120 on a pond at Morondava in October 1983). Up to 92 have been recorded during waterfowl censuses in recent years.
Habitat/ecology: Highly aquatic, frequenting undisturbed freshwater ponds and lakes with rich emergent vegetation, especially water-lilies (Nymphaea spp.). In many parts of its range, and particularly in West Africa where it is uncommon, the species seems to be tied to the presence of water-lilies, although in Cameroon it also occurs in mangroves (Louette, 1981). It is semi-gregarious, normally occurring in groups of 10 to 200 birds. Conservation status: The species has become very rare in the Senegal Delta in recent years (P. Ysou, in litt.), and is becoming rare in Kenya, perhaps because of the disappearance of large water-lily beds from many wetlands (L. Bennun, in litt.). It is the only species of duck thought to be threatened at national level in Zimbabwe, where it is under pressure from the destruction of aquatic vegetation by herbivorous fish (Ewbank, 1993). Aquatic vegetation is also being destroyed by siltation and cattle when pans and stock ponds dry up during the dry season (D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). In Madagascar, numbers have declined considerably through hunting and trapping (Langrand, 1990) and the destruction of aquatic plants by introduced exotic herbivorous fish has been a large problem (H.G. Young, in litt.). Network of key sites: The Lagoa de Cufada in Guinea Bissau had a maximum count 250 N. auritus in 1990, which is exactly 1% of the population. No other count is known to have equalled 1% of the population anywhere in Africa so a key sites network will probably never be possible for this species.
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EURASIAN WIGEON Anas penelope

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, with a wide breeding distribution across northern Eurasia from Iceland eastwards. Western populations winter south to North Africa and the Gulf, with only small numbers continuing on south into West and East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In eastern Africa, A. penelope is common to abundant in Eritrea, Ethiopia and northern Sudan, less common in Kenya, scarce in Tanzania and only a vagrant in Uganda. It is generally scarce in West Africa, with only small numbers reaching northern Nigeria (maximum 30), Chad (maximum 300), Mali (maximum 295) and Senegal (maximum 70). Movements: Almost entirely migratory, although some populations (e.g. the British breeding population) are mainly sedentary. The species winters mainly at temperate latitudes, although small numbers penetrate much further south in West and East Africa. The relatively small Icelandic population (4,0006,000 pairs) winters mainly in western Britain and Ireland, with some birds continuing on to adjacent parts of the continent. There have also been at least five recoveries of Icelandic birds in northeastern North America (Gardarsson, 1991a). Birds breeding in Fennoscandia and European Russia winter in northwest Europe, along with a large number of birds from further east in northern Siberia, where there have been recoveries from as far east as 80E. Most of the A. penelope breeding in west and central Siberia, however, winter around the Caspian and Black Seas and in the Mediterranean Basin westwards to southern Spain. The main wintering areas for birds moulting in the Volga Delta are in countries around the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea, but about 20% of the birds ringed in the Volga Delta have been recovered in northwest Europe (Shevareva, 1970). Most of the birds wintering in Southwest Asia probably originate from the west Siberian plain. The birds wintering in northeast Africa are also thought to originate from west-central Siberia (Brown et al., 1982). Anas penelope undertakes significant cold weather movements of varying magnitude depending on the absolute severity of the cold winter. Increases occur in east and west Britain and Ireland and north and west France in severe winters, and dramatic increases occur in Iberia in very severe winters (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). At such times, birds from northwest Europe presumably mix with birds wintering in the Mediterranean Basin (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). Population limits: No discrete populations are identifiable. On the basis of ringing recoveries, Shevareva (1970) and Atkinson-Willes (1976) divided the Western Palearctic A. penelope into three different sub-populations: a small sub-population breeding in Iceland which winters mainly in Scotland and Ireland; a second subpopulation breeding in Scandinavia and Russia between 30 and 70E, which winters in northwest Europe; and a third sub-population breeding further east, between 60 and 105E, which winters in the Black Sea-Mediterranean region. The wintering ranges of the two main sub-populations are almost completely separate, with few exchanges occurring between them except in southern Spain where A. penelope from both origins may mix, especially during hard winters. Monval & Pirot (1989) followed this division into two main wintering groups (incorporating the Icelandic birds within the northwest European group), but split the Black Sea/Mediterranean region into two sub-regions, the west Mediterranean and the east Mediterranean, for the purposes of trend analyses. Perennou et al. (1994) recognized a third large wintering group in Southwest Asia concentrated mainly in the south Caspian region, Iran and Iraq. To these should be added the relatively small number of birds wintering in northeast Africa south to Kenya. These three main wintering groups (northwest Europe, Black Sea/Mediterranean and Southwest Asia/northeast Africa) are retained here, although it is clear that there is a considerable amount of overlap between all three both on the breeding grounds in western and central Siberia and at the major moulting area in the Volga Delta.
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Population size: Northwest Europe: 1,250,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 12,500.
Black Sea/Mediterranean: 560,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 5,600. A few hundred birds, presumably from this population, occasionally extend into West Africa, e.g. 300 at Lake Chad in 196970. Southwest Asia/northeast Africa: 250,000. 1% level 2,500. Perennou et al. (1994) estimated the Southwest Asian wintering population at about 250,000 birds, but this estimate relied heavily on 1970s data, and there has apparently been some decline in numbers since then. The highest count during the International Waterfowl Census in recent years has been 100,000 in 1991 (when over 60,000 were reported at Kizil Agach in Azerbaijan), while in 1993 and 1994, the total counts were only 53,000 and 25,000 respectively, despite good coverage. It would seem unlikely, therefore, that the number of birds wintering in Southwest Asia exceeds 200,000. Urban (1993) estimated the total population wintering in northeast Africa (excluding Egypt) to be in the range 15,00060,000, with most birds in Sudan (5,00020,000) and Ethiopia (10,00040,000), and probably less than 1,000 in the rest of eastern Africa. Adding these birds to an estimated 200,000 birds in Southwest Asia suggests a total Southwest Asian/northeast African wintering population of about 250,000.
Habitat/ecology: Anas penelope breeds in shallow, freshwater marshes, lakes and lagoons surrounded by scattered trees or open forest; it winters in coastal marshes, freshwater and brackish lagoons, estuaries, bays and other sheltered marine habitats. The males moult their flight feathers between late May and July, females between late June and early September. Important moult gatherings have been recorded at many localities in Russia (e.g. Volga Delta, lakes in the Urals and upper Pechora), and in Estonia, southern Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. The main departure from the breeding grounds takes place in September, and the main arrival on the wintering grounds in October and November. Birds leave their winter quarters in northwest Europe and the Black Sea region in the second half of March and early April, but do not arrive on their breeding grounds in northern Russia before the second half of May. Conservation status: The population wintering in northwest Europe has shown a significant increase over the last 20 years, with an apparent rate of increase of 7.48% per annum (Rose, 1995). In contrast, the Black Sea/ Mediterranean population appears to be decreasing rapidly. The number of birds wintering in the west Mediterranean has probably decreased by 45% in the last 20 years, while the number wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean may now be less than half the number in 1982 (Rose, 1995). The population wintering in Southwest Asia is also decreasing. Krivenko (1993) reported a slight decline in numbers in the middle regions of the former USSR between 1972 and 1989, and the numbers wintering in Iran apparently decreased by 62% over almost the same period (Perennou et al., 1994). Network of key sites: The autumn and spring passage sites in the Baltic, Belarus and Russia, suggest that many more important passage sites must exist in other areas. The Mouth of the Ob in the north and the Wadden Sea in the south are important terminal departure and arrival sites but there must be others for remaining populations and many more key passage sites must be used right across Europe en route between breeding and wintering sites. It is unlikely that such a dispersed and widespread breeding species will ever be appropriate for the development of a key breeding sites network and it is not known if key moulting or non-breeding concentrations exist in the north of the range. In contrast, Annex 2 lists over 40 key wintering sites for the northwest European wintering population, 52 for the Mediterranean wintering population and 40 for the Caspian/eastern Africa wintering population. All of these key wintering site networks are very extensive. Protection status of key sites: Most of the key passage sites known for A. penelope are protected and most of the key wintering sites in the Mediterranean region are protected, the Menderes Delta (Turkey) and Lac Fetzara (Algeria) being notable exceptions. The key wintering sites in northwest Europe are also mostly protected. In sharp contrast, the two most important wintering sites in the Caspian basin are protected (Bakhtegan and Tashk, Miankaleh and Gorgan Bay) but very few of the remaining 38 are fully protected.
118
GADWALL Anas strepera

Subspecies: Monotypic. A distinctive form, A. s. couesi, described from Teraina (Washington) Island in the Republic of Kiribati (Central Pacific) has not been seen since its discovery in 1874 and is presumed to be extinct. Distribution: Holarctic, with a wide breeding distribution at temperate latitudes across North America and Eurasia. Western Eurasian populations winter south to North Africa and the Gulf, with only small numbers continuing on south into sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. A. strepera is an occasional breeding bird in North Africa (Morocco and Algeria). In eastern Africa, it winters in small numbers in the Nile Valley south to Sudan (10100), and sporadically in the Ethiopian highlands (100200); also rarely in Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania (Urban, 1993). In West Africa, it is an occasional winter visitor to the Senegal Delta, Mali (maximum 120), Nigeria and Chad, and a vagrant to Niger and Cameroon. Movements: Partially migratory; northern breeding birds descend to lower latitudes in winter, but breeding birds in more temperate regions tend to be rather sedentary. Most of the breeding birds from Scandinavia, the Baltic States and European Russia winter in western Europe, where they mix with the rather sedentary local breeding populations (especially in the Netherlands, France, Britain and Ireland). Of eight birds ringed in Russia and recovered wintering in Iran, seven had been ringed in the Volga Delta and the other in the southern Urals (62E). Population limits: Monval & Pirot (1989) found it difficult to define precise biogeographical populations, and followed the traditional regional division between northwest Europe and the Black Sea/Mediterranean for convenience. For the purposes of trend analyses, these authors split the Black Sea/Mediterranean region into two sub-regions, the west Mediterranean and the east Mediterranean, but stressed that there was no evidence that different populations were involved. Perennou et al. (1994) defined a third wintering group in Southwest Asia. These three main wintering groups are adopted here, viz. northwest Europe, central Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. The very small Icelandic breeding population, estimated at 200300 pairs (Koskimies, 1993), winters mainly in Britain and Ireland, and is included within the northwest European population. Population size: Northwest Europe: 30,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 300.
Central Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean: 75,000150,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 1,000. Southwest Asia/northeast Africa: 130,000 (Perennou et al., 1994). 1% level 1,300. Perennou et al. (1994) estimated the wintering population in Southwest Asia at 130,000, based on counts of up to 50,000 in the period 198791, and counts of over 90,000 in the 1970s. There is no evidence to suggest any recent change in numbers and, as very few birds reach northeast Africa, the estimate of 130,000 is retained for the entire Southwest Asian/northeast African population.
Habitat/ecology: Anas strepera breeds on various types of freshwater or brackish wetlands, particularly shallow lakes with abundant emergent vegetation, mainly in open lowland terrain. In winter, it also occasionally occurs in estuaries and along sheltered coasts. A. strepera frequently occurs in close association with the coot Fulica atra, and has been recorded stealing food from coots which have brought macrophytes up to the surface from deep water (Tucker & Heath, 1994). The moult migration of the males occurs in early June; moulting concentrations have been recorded in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Bodensee and the Volga Delta. Peak numbers of moulting birds are found in early July. During the wing moult, birds are flightless for about four weeks. Females and young birds leave the breeding areas from early
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August. The main autumn migration in western Europe takes place in October and November, and most birds are on their winter quarters by mid-December. The spring migration takes place in March and April.
Conservation status: The number of A. strepera wintering in northwest Europe has been increasing at a rate of between 8% and 10% per annum since counts began in 1967, and this increase is continuing (Ruger et al., 1986; Rose, 1995). At the same time, breeding populations have increased in most countries throughout much of northern, western and central Europe. This has been attributed primarily to an increase in suitable lowland eutrophic waters, such as reservoirs and flooded gravel pits (Tucker & Heath, 1994). The relatively small number of birds wintering in central Europe (currently 3,0005,000) has increased significantly since the late 1960s, and there has also been an increase in the number wintering in the west Mediterranean, although here the trend is not statistically significant (Rose, 1995). However, the limited data available for the Black Sea/east Mediterranean suggest that the number of birds wintering in this area has been decreasing by at least 1.9% per annum since counts began in the late 1960s (Rose, 1995). A decrease has also been reported in the breeding population in European Russia, due largely to wetland loss and human disturbance, and numbers have also fallen in Ukraine, Moldova and probably Romania (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Trends in the population wintering in Southwest Asia are unknown. However, Krivenko (1993) records a slight decline in numbers of A. strepera at the end of the breeding season in west and central Siberia between 1972 and 1989. Network of key sites: The Caspian wintering population of A. strepera is highly aggregated in winter when 47 key sites can be identified, 11 of which have been known to hold over 10% of the population. The remaining two populations are more widely dispersed in winter and although 28 and 32 key wintering sites are listed for the northwestern European and Mediterranean wintering populations respectively, these do not support the majority of the population which winters in small flocks. None of the key wintering sites outside of the Caspian Basin have ever supported over 10% of the population, with the exception of Putzarer See in Germany which has a maximum count of 2,000 individuals and perhaps some moulting sites in the Netherlands and Belgium. Very little is known about passage sites, moulting sites and breeding areas for any population. The Mediterranean population breeds in large numbers on the Trebon fishponds (Czech Republic) suggesting other fishpond complexes might be important for breeding A. strepera at more southerly latitudes. A nearby fishpond complex in Germany (Ismaninger Speichersee mit Fischteichen) is not important for breeding birds but is occupied by non-breeding birds from spring to autumn. Only 3 key spring and 4 key autumn passage sites are known for the Mediterranean wintering population. The Danube Delta is a major spring staging site and the Bodensee is very important in autumn, but more need to be identified. Obviously, many more key passage sites need to be discovered for all populations. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important sites in central Europe and the west Mediterranean are protected, although some important moulting areas in the Netherlands are unprotected. Further east, most important sites are unprotected and only 9 out of 47 key wintering sites in the Caspian region are fully protected.
121
COMMON TEAL Anas crecca

Subspecies: Polytypic. Three subspecies have been described: the nominate form in northern Eurasia; A. c. carolinensis in North America; and A. c. nimia in the Aleutian Islands. The latter is of somewhat questionable validity, the birds resembling the nominate form closely. Distribution: Holarctic, with a wide breeding distribution across North America and northern Eurasia. Western Eurasian populations winter south to North Africa and the Gulf, with only small numbers continuing on south into West and East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The North American subspecies carolinensis has occurred in Europe as a vagrant. Movements: Mainly migratory, moving to temperate and subtropical latitudes to winter, although southern breeding birds are sedentary or dispersive. Extensive ringing has shown that most A. crecca wintering in northwest Europe originate from Fennoscandia, the Baltic States, northwest Russia, northern Poland, Germany and Denmark. Icelandic breeding birds winter mostly in Britain and Ireland, although some also reach Denmark, the Netherlands and France (Gardarsson, 1991a). The breeding populations in Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands and France are largely resident in mild winters. Cold weather movements are clearly evident in northwest Europe, with movements of A. crecca to the Atlantic coast of France and the Iberian peninsula occurring during severe winters (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). A. crecca wintering in the west Mediterranean include birds breeding in western Siberia, west-central Russia and central Europe, while those wintering in the east Mediterranean originate mainly from central Russia and Ukraine east to the Volga-Kama river basins and the Trans-Ural region (Shevareva, 1970). Eight birds ringed in Egypt have been recovered in the Caucasus and east of the Urals, with five of these from the basins of the Ob and Irtysh rivers (to 80E) (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). Most birds wintering in Southwest Asia are believed to originate from western Siberia, e.g. 20 A. crecca ringed in Iran in the 1960s and 1970s were recovered east of the Urals, mainly in the west Siberian plain. Population limits: No discrete populations are identifiable in Western Eurasia, and it is doubtful if any such populations exist. Earlier authors have recognized three populations based on the main wintering areas (northwest Europe, Black Sea/Mediterranean and Southwest Asia), and these are retained here. The relatively small number of birds wintering in central Europe (about 25,000) are probably best included with the Black Sea/Mediterranean wintering group, as are the small numbers of birds wintering in West Africa. Birds wintering in northeastern Africa are included within the Southwest Asian population. There is probably a considerable amount of mixing between the birds wintering in northwest Europe and those wintering in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region, with birds from both groups converging in southern Iberia, especially during cold winters. Although Monval & Pirot (1989) split the Black Sea/Mediterranean region into two sub-regions, the west Mediterranean and the east Mediterranean, for the purposes of trend analyses, they stressed that there was no evidence that different populations were involved. There is clearly considerable overlap between the Black Sea/Mediterranean and Southwest Asian wintering groups on the breeding grounds, with many birds in the east Mediterranean originating from the same breeding areas in western Siberia as those wintering in the south Caspian. There also appears to be some overlap between the Southwest Asian and south Asian wintering groups, as four A. crecca ringed in winter in Rajasthan, India, were recovered in subsequent winters in Iran (two in the Seistan Basin and two in the south Caspian lowlands). Population size: Northwest Europe: 400,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 4,000. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the northwest European wintering population at 400,000 birds. Recent counts suggest that this figure remains valid (see Annex 1).
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Black Sea/Mediterranean: 750,0001,375,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 10,500. A few thousand birds, presumably from this population, extend into West Africa, e.g. up to 3,000 in Senegal, 1,600 in Chad and 500 in Nigeria. Southwest Asia/northeast Africa: 1,500,000. 1% level 15,000. Perennou et al. (1994) estimated the Southwest Asian population at about 1,500,000 birds. Urban (1993) estimated the total population wintering in northeast Africa (excluding Egypt) to be 21,000 55,000 birds, mainly in Sudan (20,00050,000) and Ethiopia (1,0005,000), with less than 100 reaching East Africa. The estimate of Perennou et al. (1994) did not take into account the birds wintering in Africa, but as the number of these is relatively small and as the Southwest Asian wintering population appears to be declining, the estimate of 1,500,000 has been retained for the entire Southwest Asian/ northeast African population.
Habitat/ecology: Anas crecca breeds around small, freshwater lakes with abundant fringing vegetation and in shallow marshes; in winter, it also occurs on large shallow lakes, in brackish wetlands and along coasts. Males leave the breeding areas at the start of incubation. In many areas, males gather in small numbers to moult, but some large moulting concentrations occur in Russia, notably in the Volga Delta. The wing moult takes place between early June and late July, when birds are flightless for about four weeks. In northwest Europe, the autumn migration reaches a peak in October and November. The return migration begins in late February and peaks in March and April. Birds do not reach their breeding grounds in northern Russia until late May. Conservation status: In northwest Europe, the wintering population of A. crecca appears to be undergoing a slow long-term increase, with numbers increasing at a rate of 2.54% per annum over the period 19671993 (Rose, 1995). The data available for the Black Sea/Mediterranean region do not show any significant trend, although there is some indication of an increase in numbers wintering in the west Mediterranean (Rose, 1995). The population wintering in Southwest Asia, however, seems to be decreasing. Krivenko (1993) reported a noticeable decline in numbers in the middle regions of the former USSR between 1972 and 1989, and the numbers wintering in Iran apparently decreased by 78% over almost the same period (Perennouet al., 1994). Network of key sites: A. crecca is a numerous and widespread species with no clear population boundaries, a great deal of overlap in populations, and a fairly dispersed distribution in all seasons. For these reasons the key sites network will never be as effective as for some other Anatidae. More information from spring and autumn could usefully lead to the listing of more passage, staging and moulting sites, especially for the Caspian wintering population. Key wintering site networks are all probably quite complete. If maximum counts at key wintering sites are summed the maximum proportion of the population potentially able to winter on these wetlands can be estimated, but if averages at key sites are taken a more realistic estimation of the possible protection from the key sites network can be obtained. Nearly 40 key sites in northwest Europe usually support about 20% of the population at any one time. The 36 key Mediterranean wintering sites average 30% of the winter population and a quarter of these (7.5%) are usually at the Marismas del Guadalquivir in Spain. Similarly the 43 key Caspian wintering sites support about 25% of the population. Very large autumn gathering locations exist at the Mouth of the Ob River and on the Kanin Peninsula. Birds must use numerous important localities, of which few are known, on their way to enormous autumn gathering points near the wintering grounds, such as the Wadden Sea and Sultansazligi (Turkey). The Volga Delta is the only key moulting site listed and very few spring passage sites can be identified. Kursiu Lagoon and the Nemunas Delta in Lithuania is the largest spring staging site with a maximum count of 10,300 individuals. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important wintering areas in northwest Europe and the west Mediterranean are protected, and about half of the important areas in the east Mediterranean, Black Sea and Caspian regions are protected. Little information is available on staging areas further to the north and east, but most of these are likely to be unprotected.
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CAPE TEAL Anas capensis

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region. The species is patchily distributed in eastern and southern Africa from Sudan and Ethiopia south to Namibia and South Africa, and although it is locally common to abundant, it is scarce over much of its range. There are few records west of 5E, except in the Chad Basin in Nigeria, where the species occurs regularly in flocks of up to 50. Small flocks have been recorded as far north as Ounianga Kebir in Chad (200 km from Libyan border), and the species has been recorded as a vagrant in southern Libya and in Ghana, where there are records of singles in December 1975 and March 1976 (Grimes, 1987). There is no proof of nesting west of Darfur in western Sudan, and all occurrences in West Africa may relate to seasonal movements in response to arid conditions. Movements: The species is known to undertake considerable movements, presumably in response to changing water levels as many of its favoured sites are ephemeral, but no regular migratory pattern is apparent over most of its range. The populations in eastern Africa are to some extent migratory, undertaking lengthy dry season movements north and northwest as far as Sudan, Chad and Nigeria. The bird is apparently a scarce migrant breeding bird to western Sudan. It has been recorded irregularly in DecemberApril in northeastern Nigeria, southeastern Niger and Chad, perhaps as a non-breeding visitor, although there may be a small resident population in this area (Elgood et al., 1994; Cramp & Simmons, 1977). Population limits: Although widely distributed in southern Africa north to Angola and Zimbabwe, the species is very patchily distributed further north, occurring mainly on the Rift Valley soda lakes of East Africa and on the Rift Valley lakes in Ethiopia. There appears to be a wide gap between the birds in southern Africa and those in eastern Africa. There are no records from Uganda (Britton, 1980) or Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977), and few records from Zaire, southern Tanzania and Mozambique. The species is scarce in Zambia, occurring irregularly in small numbers, although it has bred (Benson et al., 1971). It was recorded in only one of six counts undertaken in Zambia as part of the African Waterfowl Census between January 1991 and January 1994 (i.e. 84 in January 1993). It is also scarce in northern Botswana (Newman, 1989). This suggests that there is little if any mixing between birds in southern Africa and birds in eastern Africa. Two populations are therefore recognized: one in eastern Africa, extending west (perhaps mainly as a migrant) to Nigeria; and one in southern Africa. Population size: Eastern and north-central Africa: 100,000250,000. Provisional numerical criterion 1,750. Locally common to abundant throughout its range; described as common to abundant in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), common on alkaline lakes in Kenya (Britton, 1980), and common in northern Tanzania, especially at Lake Rukwa (Britton, 1980). It was the commonest duck in Kenya in January 1993. A total of 1,165 was recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in eastern Africa was 2,184 in 1993. In West Africa, there has been one count of 300 at Lake Chad, but otherwise no records of over 80 birds. Between 50 and 60 were present at Ounianga Kebir, Chad, in December 1963.
Southern Africa (to Angola and Zambia): 100,000250,000. Provisional numerical criterion 1,750. Fairly common to very common almost throughout southern Africa except Botswana, and most common in the west (Sinclair et al., 1993). In Botswana, a fairly common resident in the southeast, but much less common in the north (Newman, 1989). The population in Zimbabwe, confined largely to brackish pans in arid western Matebeleland, is estimated to number in the hundreds of birds (Ewbank,
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1993). The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in southern Africa was 2,213 in 1992.
Habitat/ecology: Anas capensis shows a preference for shallow, brackish to saline waters, especially those with muddy shores, including vleis, lagoons, salt lakes, salt pans and sewage settlement ponds, and also occurs on tidal mudflats. It occurs from the lowlands up to 1,700 m in the East African Rift Valley. It is normally seen in pairs or small groups, but flocks of several hundreds occur when moulting. During the postnuptial moult, when the birds are flightless, they usually retire to deep waters and sometimes Typha beds. Conservation status: The species has been increasing in parts of southern Africa in recent years, and apparently benefits from the proliferation of artificial water bodies (del Hoyo et al., 1992), but no increase has been apparent in Zimbabwe (D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). Network of key sites: No sites have ever been known to contain more than 1% of either population.
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MADAGASCAR TEAL Anas bernieri

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Endemic to Madagascar, and known with certainty only from localities close to the west coast, from the far north as far south as Lake Ihotry. There are records from Montagne dAmbre in the far north (in 1934), Ambilobe in the northwest (in 1969), Lake Kinkony (1983), the western savannas near Maintirano (1930), Bekopaka (about 1930) and possibly also at Ankavandra (1929). The Antsalova region (especially Lake Bemamba) was shown to be the major area for the species in the 1970s. It has also been recorded in the last century from around Morondava, and in 1957 from Lake Ihotry (southeast of Morombe). Sub-fossil evidence indicates that the species had a much wider distribution in Madagascar before the arrival of humans two thousand years ago (O. Langrand, in litt.). Movements: Mainly sedentary, probably undertaking regular annual movements from breeding areas in forest to coastal lakes estuaries and mangroves (H.G. Young, in litt.). Lake Bemamba (a major dry season locality for the species) dries out in September and October, and the teal are then thought to disperse to the coast. Population limits: Only one population is recognized, viz. the entire population of the species. Population size: Entire population: 5001,000. 1% level 8. Although not considered rare on the west coast in the last century, it was described as very rare and localized by around 1930. Langrand (1990) gives the main range as being the sector of the west coast containing Bemamba Lake and the mouth of the Tsiribihina River. The Lake Bemamba region was discovered to be an important area for the species in the 1970s. At Lake Bemamba itself, 81 birds were seen (10 pairs on the eastern shore, 61 individuals on the western shore) in August 1973, and no more than 120 estimated for the whole lake (Scott & Lubbock, 1974). Some 60 birds (of which 13 were shot by hunters) were recorded at nearby Lake Masama in 1970, but none was present at this lake in 1973. In JulyAugust 1992, there were at least eight pairs of A. bernieri at Lake Bemamba, but none were at Lake Masama or the Soahina Estuary (Young et al., 1993a). In JulyAugust 1993, 7595 birds were seen and 100500 were estimated to be present in the area between Antsalova and Morondava; the birds seen included a minimum of 35 at Lake Bemamba, 35 (2947) at Lake Antsamaka, a pair in the Tsiribihina Delta, and nine at Beroboka (Young et al., 1993b). A previously known site (Lake Kinkony) held no birds in JulyAugust 1993, but a flock of 11 was seen on mudflats in the Betsiboka Estuary in October 1993 (in Safford 1993) and 81 here in July 1995 (R. Rabarisoa, in litt.). A total of 50 was recorded during the African Waterfowl Census in Madagascar in July 1993. Very small numbers of birds have been reported in recent years at Lac Amboromalandy (a reservoir) near Mahajanga in the northwest (Young, 1995). A. Green ( in litt.) has given the population as 100 1,000, but 5001,000 would seem more appropriate. Habitat/ecology: A species of shallow, open waters (fresh or saline, perhaps most often brackish) in the lowlands, occurring in marshes, around shallow alluvium-rich lakes, on exposed sand-bars in large rivers, at river mouths and in mangroves. Rather gregarious, occurring in groups of up to 40, but during July and August, found only in pairs (Green et al., 1994). No information is available on nesting, although this is believed to begin during the west coast wet season in November to February (Young, 1995). Local people report breeding at Lake Bemamba in November and April (Collar & Stuart, 1985). The species usually feeds by sifting mud in a shelduck-like way (Green et al., 1994; Young, 1995), and open, nutrient-rich mud with shallow water appears to be a requirement for foraging (Green et al., 1994; Young et al., 1993b).
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Conservation status: A declining and threatened species, listed as endangered by Collar et al. (1994) and Green (1996). Transformation of wetlands into rice-fields has become a very serious threat within the last two decades. Rice-growing was already affecting Lake Bemamba in the early 1980s, and by July 1992, all suitable habitat at Lake Masama had been converted to rice-fields (Young et al., 1993a; Young, 1995). Network of key sites: As for all globally threatened species, all sites regularly used by an appreciable number of individuals are of international importance. Lake Bemamba may actually only be of importance during the dry season until it dries out completely. Lake Antsamaka might be equally important (A.J. Green, in litt.). Protection status of key sites: Only one of the two known sites (Analabe) is protected, but this is a private reserve and is thought to contain little suitable habitat (Collar et al., 1994). Hunting is officially banned at Lake Bemamba and Lake Masama in the Antsalova regions, and also on parts of Lake Kinkony and Lake Ihotry (Collar & Stuart, 1985) but there is no infrastructure available to enforce this ban or even to inform inhabitants of its existence (Young, in litt.).
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MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos

Subspecies: Polytypic. As many as eight subspecies are recognized by some authors, but up to six of these (wyvilliana, laysanensis, fulvigula, maculosa, diazi and oustaleti) are sometimes considered as separate species. Four subspecies are listed by Rose & Scott (1994): the widespread nominate form, A. p. conboschas from Greenland, A. p. oustaleti from the Mariana Islands, and A. p. diazi from Mexico. (A. p. oustaleti may be an unstable hybrid between platyrhynchos and A. superciliosa). Distribution: Holarctic, with a wide breeding distribution across North America and northern Eurasia. A. p. conboschas is confined to Greenland. A. platyrhynchos is the most abundant and widespread of all Anatidae species in Western Eurasia, breeding from the Arctic at 70N to 35N in North Africa and 20N in the Middle East, and wintering in all habitats except offshore from 20N to 60N. Small numbers breed in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), but the species occurs in tropical East and West Africa only as a vagrant (Senegal, Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia). Small feral populations have been established in Witwatersrand and southwestern Cape Province, South Africa. Movements: Partially migratory; northern breeding birds are generally migratory, wintering much further south, while birds breeding in temperate regions are sedentary or dispersive (e.g. in most of western Europe). A. p. conboschas is said to be resident in coastal Greenland. The Icelandic breeding population, estimated at 10,00015,000 pairs (Koskimies, 1993) winters mainly in Iceland, with the remainder wintering mainly in Britain and Ireland. Most of the birds breeding in northwest Russia, Finland, Sweden and the Baltic countries winter from Denmark to northern France and Britain, although up to 250,000 birds may remain in the west Baltic except in years with extreme ice-cover (Durinck et al., 1994). Some 30,00040,000 have over-wintered in Lithuania in recent mild winters (S. Svazas et al., 1995). Birds breeding further southwest in Europe are mainly sedentary. Thus, A. platyrhynchos wintering around the North Sea coasts comprise a mixture of local breeding birds and immigrants from Scandinavia, the Baltic and northwest Russia. Some of the birds breeding in central Europe remain throughout the winter wherever suitable conditions prevail, but the majority are migratory, wintering mainly along the northern Mediterranean coast. Some A. platyrhynchos from central Europe may also perform a southeastwards migration along the Danube, and may therefore intermix in the Black Sea with breeding birds from further east (Monval & Pirot, 1989). Shevareva (1970) has summarized the migrations of A. platyrhynchos breeding in the former USSR. Birds breeding in the Oka Basin and upper reaches of the Don winter mainly around the Black Sea and east Mediterranean, while birds breeding in northeast European Russia winter mainly between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, with some continuing on to Turkey and the east Mediterranean. Birds breeding in western Siberia between the Urals and the Ob River winter over a wide area from the Balkans and Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, with some reaching the Nile Delta. Birds breeding further east, in the basins of the Ob and Irtysh, winter mainly in the Caspian region and central Asian republics, although some of these birds also reach Turkey in the west, Pakistan in the east and UAE/Saudi Arabia in the south. In northwest Europe, A. platyrhynchos is not a species highly disposed to move long distances during cold weather, although some local movements may be made in very severe winters (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). However, massive hard weather movements have been recorded in the Caspian region, with large influxes occurring in Iran during periods of severe weather further north (Perennou et al., 1994). Population limits: Five populations are recognized in Western Eurasia, the discrete population of A. p. conboschas in Greenland and four populations of the nominate form based on the main wintering regions: (1) a northwest European group; (2) a west Mediterranean group; a (3) Black Sea/east Mediterranean group; and (4) a Southwest Asian group. Monval & Pirot (1989) concluded that while the existence of a discrete northwest European population of A. platyrhynchos seemed plausible, it was difficult to assess
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the extent of isolation between all migratory and resident populations or groups, especially in central and eastern Europe. These authors therefore followed the traditional split into northwest European and Black Sea-Mediterranean populations purely for convenience, and not because they felt that such a split was justified on biological grounds. Both Ruger et al. (1986) and Monval & Pirot (1989) recognized only a single wintering group in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region. However, because of discrepancies in the quality of the data, Monval & Pirot (1989) split the Black Sea/ Mediterranean region into two sub-regions, the west Mediterranean and the east Mediterranean, for the purposes of trend analyses. As the nominate populations of A. platyrhynchos are not discrete, but defined on the basis of their main wintering regions, the significantly declining trend for birds wintering in east-central Europe and the Black Sea/east Mediterranean as opposed to the non-significantly increasing trend for the wintering population in west-central Europe and the west Mediterranean, are thought to contrast highly enough to warrant treatment as two populations. In accordance with this hypothesis, the single largest winter concentration of the species in the Western Palearctic can be found in the Danube Delta and eastern Danube catchments. Although distribution is continuous, there is certainly a decrease in the density of wintering birds caused by the unsuitable terrain of the Alps, Italy and most of the Balkans before densities rise again in the Rhine Valley on the French/German border and in the Mediterranean region of France and Spain. This can be seen from the distribution of key sites on the accompanying map. Monval & Pirot (1989) also suggested a movement of A. platyrhynchos along the Danube corridor from east-central Europe southeast into the Black Sea region, while the birds from further west in central Europe appeared to move southwest into the west Mediterranean. Perennou et al. (1994) recognized a Southwest Asian wintering group of A. platyrhynchos extending east from the Caspian region, Iran and Iraq to Afghanistan and the central Asian republics. Ringing recoveries have shown that birds wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region and birds wintering in Southwest Asia overlap extensively on their breeding grounds in western Siberia and also at important moulting areas in the Volga Delta (Shevareva, 1970). Similarly, there is considerable overlap in the breeding areas of birds wintering in Southwest Asia and those wintering further east in central Asia and Pakistan. Thus, there is little biological justification for the existence of any separate populations of A. platyrhynchos, and they are therefore retained here purely for practical reasons.
Population size: Greenland (conboschas): 15,00030,000. Provisional numerical criterion 225. The breeding population has been estimated at 5,00010,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994), suggesting a total population of about 15,00030,000 individuals.
Northwest Europe: 5,000,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 20,000. The estimate of Monval & Pirot (1989), repeated by Rose & Scott (1994), is retained, although it has been suggested that because the species is generally very widely dispersed, the actual population may be as much as double this (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). Northern Europe/west Mediterranean: 1,000,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 10,000. Northeast and central Europe/Black Sea/east Mediterranean: 2,250,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 20,000. Western Siberia/Southwest Asia: 800,000 (Perennou et al., 1994). 1% level 8,000.
Habitat/ecology: A. platyrhynchos occurs on almost every type of wetland within its range, including fresh, brackish or saline waters, as long as they are relatively shallow and provide some cover; however, it generally avoids fast-flowing and oligotrophic waters. It is very tolerant of human presence, often frequenting ornamental waters, irrigation networks, reservoirs, etc. Outside the breeding season, it commonly occurs in estuaries and along sheltered coasts. Moult migrations occur from mid-May. During the wing moult, birds are flightless for about four weeks. Small gatherings of moulting birds are common, and large concentrations occur in some areas (e.g. Matsalu Bay, at sites in the Netherlands, at the Bodensee and in the Volga Delta). Females and juveniles leave the breeding grounds in September. The autumn
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migration of northern and eastern populations reaches a peak in October and November; the return passage begins as early as February.
Conservation status: The sedentary breeding population of conboschas in Greenland is thought to be relatively stable (European Bird Database, 1994). The northwest European population has shown great stability over the past 20 years (Rose, 1995). In the west Mediterranean, there has been a significant increase in the numbers counted during the International Waterfowl Census, suggesting that the wintering population has doubled in size over the last 20 years (Rose, 1995). However, in eastern central Europe, the Black Sea and east Mediterranean, there has been a significant decline in numbers over the last 20 years, with numbers in east-central Europe falling by 60% since the mid-1970s, and numbers in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean falling by 75% since 1986 (Rose, 1995). Trends in the population wintering in Southwest Asia are unknown. Network of key sites: Although at times highly gregarious, A. platyrhynchos seldom occurs in concentrations which exceed the high 1% thresholds for this abundant species. Thus few key sites are identified for the large populations of this species. The much more extensive network of 51 key sites for the smaller Caspian wintering population shows that a more effective network could probably be obtained through lowering the selection threshold. In the Caspian over 50% of the population winters on key sites which is more than for A. crecca in the same region. It follows that for all four migratory populations of A. platyrhynchos there is a negative correlation between the size of the population and the proportion supported by the key wintering sites network. The least effective network is consequently in northwest Europe where approximately 5% of the population winters on about 16 key sites of which only three have maximum counts exceeding 1% (50,000). No key sites have been identified for A. p. conboschas. Only 8 key sites have been identified during seasons other than winter, and some of these sites (Kanin Peninsula, Pskovsko-Chudskoye lakes, Danube Delta, Manych-Godilo Lakes and the Volga Delta) can be extremely important. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important sites are protected.
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YELLOW-BILLED DUCK Anas undulata

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: A. u. undulata from Angola and central Uganda south to South Africa, and A. u. rueppelli in Ethiopia, Sudan, northern Uganda and northern Kenya. Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region. A. u. undulata occurs from Angola, southern Uganda and Kenya south to South Africa; A. u. rueppelli occurs in the Upper Blue Nile region of Sudan, in Ethiopia and in northern Uganda and northern Kenya. There is a single old specimen record of a bird from Cameroon (Louette, 1981), and the species has also occurred as a vagrant on the Mambilla Plateau in Nigeria (Elgood et al., 1994) and in Eritrea (Smith, 1957). A. undulata is the most abundant duck in many parts of its range, especially in temperate regions. Movements: A. u. rueppelli appears to be mainly sedentary. Thus, while it is common to abundant in Ethiopia, there is only one old record of a bird from neighbouring Somalia (Ash & Miskell, 1983). In eastern Africa, the nominate race seems to be subject to only limited local movements, and is generally described as resident. However, birds in southern Africa are more migratory, undertaking considerable local movements to alternative waters within the same region during rains. Large numbers of birds congregate towards the middle and end of the dry season, and then disperse to breed at the onset of the first major rains. Most of these movements appear to be random and to about 50 km or less, but movements over much greater distances have been recorded from Barberspan, western Transvaal, with birds travelling up to 1,100 km. Population limits: Three populations are recognized: the population of rueppelli in northeastern Africa (Sudan, Ethiopia, northern Uganda and northern Kenya); the mainly sedentary population of undulata in eastern and south-central Africa (south to the Zambezi); and a partially migratory population in southern Africa (south of the Zambezi). It is not known to what extent, if any, migratory birds from the southern African population extend north of the Zambezi River outside the breeding season, and then come into contact with the mainly sedentary population further to the north. Population size: Ethiopia, Sudan, northern Uganda and northern Kenya (rueppelli): 20,00050,000. Provisional numerical criterion 350. Described as common to abundant in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971); over 300 birds were present at Lake Bilate in November 1994, and over 380 were counted in the Akaki area in January 1995 (P.O. Syvertsen, in litt.). Ellis-Joseph et al. (1992) give the total population of rueppelli as over 20,000.
Eastern Africa (undulata): 50,000100,000. Provisional numerical criterion 750. Widespread and common in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Britton, 1980), and the commonest duck west of the Rift Valley in Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977). Locally numerous in northern and western Zambia, but probably absent from Luangwa and the Middle Zambezi (Benson et al., 1971); fairly common and widespread in Bangweulu Swamps and seasonally common at Kafue Flats (e.g. 2,710 in January 1994). A total of 380 was recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in eastern Africa was 3,724 in 1994. Southern Africa (undulata): 60,000 (Rose & Scott, 1994). 1% level 600. A common resident throughout much of Botswana (including the Okavango Delta), Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, but confined to the extreme southeast of Namibia, very scarce in Zimbabwe, where there are only a few pairs in Matabeleland and the eastern highlands, with several vagrants reported recently (1996) from Mana Pools National Park, Zambezi River (D.V. Rockingham-Gill,
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in litt.). A. undulata is apparently absent from Mozambique (Newman, 1989; Sinclair et al., 1993; Penry, 1994; D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). The population in southern Africa has been estimated at 52,000 65,000 birds (Brown et al, 1982). The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in southern Africa has been 6,486 in 1993.
Habitat/ecology: Anas undulata frequents open waters of estuaries, slow-running rivers with pools, lakes, flooded lands, coastal lagoons, artificial reservoirs and dams, pans and sewage disposal impoundments. It occurs from the lowlands to high in the mountains (up to 3,890 m in Ethiopia). In East Africa, it is typically a bird of the highlands above 1,600 m, but it also occurs commonly in the marshes around the edge of Lake Victoria. Flock sizes are highly variable, from a few birds to many hundreds. In South Africa, the peak of the post-nuptial wing moult occurs in NovemberFebruary (southwest Cape Province) or AprilJuly (Transvaal), about three or four months after the peak of breeding. Conservation status: According to Ewbank (1993), this is the only species of Anatidae whose numbers have declined in Zimbabwe in recent years. Network of key sites: Very few key sites have been identified for any Anatidae populations in southern and eastern Africa so eight sites for A. undulata is a relatively good basis for a key sites network. All eight key sites were selected from DecemberFebruary census data. Protection status of key sites: The two most important sites in Zambia are protected but the protected status of other key sites was not supplied.
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MELLERS DUCK Anas melleri

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Endemic to Madagascar, occurring mainly in the east and on the central high plateau, but also at some of the major western lakes (Kinkony and Bemamba). The species also occurs on Mauritius where it was introduced in the mid-19th century (Diamond, 1987). It never spread widely, and appears to have always been confined to the remoter parts of the central plateau. Movements: Apparently sedentary. There have been some records on the west coast of Madagascar where the species does not normally occur, but it is not known to wander naturally outside the country. Population limits: Only one population is recognized, viz. the entire population of the species. Population size: Entire population: 2,0005,000. Provisional numerical criterion 35. Described as uncommon in the east and on the high plateau (Andasibe, Ranomafana, Alaotra Lake, Andringitra, Antananarivo); also recorded at Port Berge, Lake Bemamba and Lake Kinkony in the west (Langrand, 1990). 1,480 were seen at Lake Alaotra in 1989, including flocks of 260 and 160 (Young & Smith 1989). The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census in Madagascar in recent years was only 83 birds in July 1993. The species is very rare on Mauritius; the population was thought to be only about 20 pairs in the late 1970s, and has recently been estimated at no more than 30 pairs (Safford, 1995), possibly maintained by captive releases. Habitat/ecology: Anas melleri frequents a variety of wetland habitats, including freshwater lakes, rivers (slow- and fastflowing), streams and woodland ponds, especially in humid forested areas, from sea level to 2,000 m. It also often occurs in rice fields. It is usually found in pairs or small parties (412 birds), although much larger gatherings have been observed at Lake Alaotra. Nesting has been observed between July and April. The species might also breed in rivers and is highly territorial. Conservation status: A declining and threatened species, listed as vulnerable by Green (1996), and as near-threatened by Collar et al. (1994). Recent information suggests that there has been a considerable decline in numbers over the past twenty years, with the species disappearing from a number of sites (Langrand, 1990 and in litt.). Young (1991) states that the species has declined throughout its range in eastern Madagascar, and notes that it is not found in any protected areas. The decline has been attributed to the transformation of natural habitat and heavy hunting pressure (traditional hunting, trapping and sport hunting). At Lake Alaotra, a stronghold of the species, it is heavily hunted throughout the year. Degradation of water quality in rivers and streams as a result of deforestation and soil erosion has probably also contributed to the decline (O. Langrand, in litt.). A decline in the population on Mauritius has been attributed to hunting and introduced rats and mongooses (Ellis-Joseph et al., 1992). The introduction of A. platyrhynchos to Mauritius in 1980 is also a problem. Network of key sites: Many more key sites than Lac Alaotra must exist in Madagascar. Protection status of key sites: A. melleri is not known to occur in any protected areas (del Hoyo et al., 1992).
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AFRICAN BLACK DUCK Anas sparsa

Subspecies: Polytypic. Three subspecies have been described: the nominate form in southern Africa; A. s. leucostigma in eastern Africa and Cameroon; and A. s. maclatchyi in west equatorial Africa (Gabon). The validity of maclatchyi has been questioned, and this form is not now generally recognized. Birds of the isolated population in the Cameroon highlands appear identical to those of Sudan and Ethiopia (to judge from the few specimens available) and are therefore placed in leucostigma (Snow, 1978). The subspecific status of the recently discovered population in southeastern Guinea is unknown. The geographical isolation of nominate sparsa and leucostigma is unsure, and there is probably a zone of intergradation where their ranges meet (Callaghan & Green, 1993). Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region. The nominate form is widespread in southern Africa from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique south to Cape Province, South Africa. A. s. leucostigma occurs from Sudan and Ethiopia south to Angola, Zaire and Tanzania, and also in Cameroon (Cameroon Highlands and Adamawa Plateau) and Nigeria (Mambilla Plateau). There is also a very isolated population of A. sparsa in a mountainous region of southeastern Guinea around 840'N, 815'W (Walsh, 1985). A. s. maclatchyi is confined to the lowland forests of Gabon. Movements: Sedentary and territorial with a permanent home range; only very local movements have been recorded. Population limits: The nominate form in southern Africa and the poorly known population of maclatchyi in the lowland forests of Gabon should clearly be treated as discrete populations, as also should the two very isolated populations of A. sparsa in the highlands of Cameroon and Nigeria (leucostigma) and southeastern Guinea (subspecies unknown). The form leucostigma has a wide distribution in eastern Africa from Ethiopia south to Zimbabwe, but is confined to highland areas and is almost entirely sedentary. The population of the Ethiopian highlands is likely to be isolated from leucostigma further south by the broad belt of relatively low-lying land extending from southern Sudan through northern Kenya to the Indian Ocean. However, there are no other obvious gaps in the distribution of leucostigma from Kenya to Zimbabwe. Thus six populations are recognized: the population of the nominate form in southern Africa; the population of maclatchyi in Gabon; a population in Guinea; a population of leucostigma in Cameroon and Nigeria; a population of leucostigma in Ethiopia; and the main population of leucostigma in eastern and south-central Africa. Population size: Southern Africa (sparsa): 20,00050,000. Provisional numerical criterion 350. The nominate form is thought to be commoner than leucostigma, and is still widespread and relatively plentiful in southern Africa. In the 1970s, the population of sparsa on artificial impoundments in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, was estimated to be in the thousands, but the total population in Zimbabwe, including those on rivers, was not thought to exceed 10,000 (Ewbank, 1993). In Botswana, it is an uncommon localized resident in the east (Newman, 1989), although locally common on stretches of the Limpopo (Penry, 1994). The total population in Lesotho has been estimated at 1,00010,000 individuals, while that in Swaziland has been estimated at 500 breeding adults (Callaghan & Green, 1993). The bird is said to be scarce in Angola and Namibia. The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in southern Africa has been only 104 birds in 1993, but the habitat of this species is very poorly covered by the Census. Callaghan and Green (1993) state that the total population in southern Africa seems certain to exceed 20,000.
Eastern Africa (leucostigma): 10,00025,000. Provisional numerical criterion 175. Widespread but nowhere numerous. Reported to be a fairly common breeding resident in Sudan in 1987 (del Hoyo et al., 1992). Thinly and locally distributed in sedentary pairs in the highlands
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of Kenya and Tanzania, and in southwestern Uganda (Britton, 1980). Only one was recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995, and none was recorded during the annual waterfowl censuses in eastern Africa between 1991 and 1994. However, it has been suggested that the population in Tanzania alone is in the range 5,00010,000 (N. Baker, in litt.). A. sparsa is regular in small numbers along rivers and streams above 600 m in Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977). It is very localized and nowhere numerous in Zambia, but absent only in the west (Benson et al., 1971). Ethiopia (leucostigma): 2,00010,000. Provisional numerical criterion 60. The species is said to be frequent to common on highland streams above 1,000 m (Urban & Brown, 1971). Although none has been recorded during recent mid-winter waterfowl counts more extensive surveys could easily reveal the species to be more common. Cameroon highlands/eastern Nigeria (leucostigma ): 1,0005,000. Provisional numerical criterion 30. Louette (1981) describes it as a rare resident in the Cameroon Highlands and on the Adamawa Plateau (Lake Bini). A. sparsa was first recorded on the Mambilla Plateau in Nigeria in 1974 (Elgood, 1982), and since then has been recorded several times along the Kam, Gashaka and Yim Rivers and elsewhere on the plateau (Elgood et al., 1994). Guinea: Probably less than 100 (J.F. Walsh, in litt.). Provisional numerical criterion 1. A tiny population of A. sparsa was discovered along the Djilemba and Gabe Rivers draining the Massif de Soseri in southeastern Guinea in October/November 1984 (Walsh, 1985). No birds were located in this area during a brief survey in 1985, and the area does not appear to have been surveyed since then. Gabon (maclatchyi): 1,0005,000. Provisional numerical criterion 30. Ellis-Joseph et al. (1992) give the population as over 1,000, and this figure is followed by Rose & Scott (1994). Louette (1981) described the bird as a rare resident in lowland Gabon, e.g. at Mount Tandu, Mouila.
Habitat/ecology: Anas sparsa is a species of rivers, streams and mountain bogs. It lives in pairs or small parties mostly along streams and rivers with stony bottoms in well-wooded valleys, but also on exposed streams and bogs on mountain plateaux up to about 4,250 m, and, to a lesser extent, on sandy-bottomed estuaries, dams and shallow pools in open country. Breeding commonly occurs on small islands in rivers and streams. Territorial pairs forage only in their territory, which is usually less than one hectare in extent (Brown et al., 1982). In South Africa, and presumably elsewhere, some birds move from rivers to large open waters, especially dams, to roost, returning to rivers in the early morning. In Zimbabwe, birds move on to dams during the cold dry and hot dry periods when natural streams dry up. The birds have limited flight capability during the post-nuptial moult. Conservation status: Both the nominate form and leucostigma are listed as vulnerable by Ellis-Joseph et al. (1992), but these authors acknowledge that the status of the populations is unclear. They suggested that the principal threats to both subspecies were hunting and habitat loss. The species is considered likely to be decreasing in East Africa, given the extent to which its habitat has been destroyed in recent years (L. Bennun, in litt.). Deforestation is known to be a major threat to the species in Kenya, and this may be the case in some other countries in the region (Callaghan & Green, 1993). In southern Africa, numbers are more likely to be stable. The frequent records from artificial impoundments, particularly ponds constructed for fly-fishing, suggest that the species can adapt to these new habitats, and, as a result, may be increasing locally. Numbers in Zimbabwe are thought to be stable (Ewbank, 1993). No information is available on trends in the isolated populations in the Cameroon highlands, Ethiopia and Guinea. Very little is known about the status of A. s. maclatchyi, but threats are thought to include hunting and habitat loss. Network of key sites: No key sites can be identified for any of the 6 populations of this riverine woodland species, despite comparatively low site selection criteria.
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NORTHERN PINTAIL Anas acuta

Subspecies: Monotypic.A. eatoni of Kerguelen and Crozet Islands is sometimes considered to be a subspecies ofA. acuta. Distribution: Holarctic, with a wide breeding distribution across North America and northern Eurasia. In Western Eurasia, the species breeds mainly in the northern tundra, forest-tundra and forest-steppe zones between 60 and 70N, although in the east it also extends south into the semi-desertic region around the Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea. The winter distribution of A. acuta originating from Western Eurasia is centred mainly on the Sahel region of West Africa, although significant numbers also winter in northwest Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, eastern Africa and Southwest Asia south to the Gulf. Very few individuals remain throughout the winter in central Europe and on the northern Black Sea coasts. In Africa, the species occurs commonly south to Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan and Kenya, with smaller numbers reaching Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda and Tanzania; stragglers have reached Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Transvaal. Movements: Highly migratory, wintering in temperate regions south to the tropics; regularly recorded south of the Equator in East Africa. Moult migrations are frequent. The main breeding areas of A. acuta wintering in both Western Eurasia and Africa are situated in Russia, principally in the tundra, forest-tundra and forest-steppe of western and central Siberia. However, most of the birds in the relatively small population wintering in northwest Europe originate from the Baltic States, Scandinavia and Iceland, as well as from local, restricted breeding populations in countries further south in the region. Cold weather movements have been recorded in northwest Europe, with some movement of birds out of Dutch, German and Danish coasts during cold spells, and corresponding increases in northern France. Substantial numbers of birds may move as far as Iberia during prolonged periods of cold weather (Ridgill & Fox, 1990), but it seems that birds from this population rarely cross the Sahara to the West African wintering grounds. The distribution and numbers of A. acuta wintering in the Mediterranean basin and the Sahel zone are variable and may fluctuate as a consequence of rainfall and river flows. Wide fluctuations in numbers in the Mediterranean and the three main basins in the Sahel zone (Senegal, Niger and Chad) suggest that there are substantial interchanges between these four basins, and perhaps also between these and the wetlands in Sudan and Ethiopia (Monval & Pirot, 1989). Ringing recoveries have shown that birds wintering in the Senegal Delta originate from breeding grounds in Russia on both sides of the Urals east to the Ob basin (Roux, 1981). The recoveries of birds ringed in Senegal show little difference in distribution from those ringed in Mali, with recoveries stretching as far east as 7090E. Large numbers of A. acuta are recorded in Egypt in autumn and spring, and this is probably one of the main migration routes of the species from western Siberia to the Sahel zone. Out of a total of 48 recoveries involving birds ringed or recovered in Egypt, 13 came from moulting areas in the Volga Delta and 30 from other areas east of the Urals and Caucasus, including 15 from the basins of the Ob and Irtysh rivers (6088E). Single birds were recovered in Turkey and Iraq, and only three came from Europe (singles in Albania, Finland and the Netherlands) (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). Ringing recoveries of A. acuta in Iran suggest that most of the birds passing through the south Caspian region originate from the basins of the Ob and Irtysh (east to 86E) and moult in the north Caspian region; five birds had been ringed on breeding grounds between 75E and 86E, and seven had been ringed at the moulting areas in the Volga Delta. Birds ringed on autumn passage in the Volga Delta have been recovered from Senegal to Iran. Population limits: There is clearly a considerable amount of overlap on the breeding grounds between all wintering groups of A. acuta in Western Eurasia and Africa, and perhaps also within the course of a single winter, as birds move in response to hard weather in northwest Europe or severe drought in the Sahel. Thus no discrete populations are identifiable, and indeed it seems likely that none exist. However, for practical reasons
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the Western Eurasian populations of A. acuta are divided into three main groups: a northwest European wintering group, a Black Sea/Mediterranean/West African wintering group, and a Southwest Asian/ eastern African wintering group. These groups follow the traditional split of Anatidae populations according to the main wintering regions, except that the birds wintering in the Mediterranean Basin are lumped with those wintering in West Africa in a single, large population. A. acuta wintering in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region are thought to originate from breeding grounds in European Russia, Finland and western Siberia east to 90E degrees (Cramp & Simmons, 1977; Monval & Pirot 1989), i.e. in the same areas as those wintering in West Africa. This total overlap in breeding grounds and the large year to year fluctuations in the numbers of A. acuta wintering in the Mediterranean region and in West Africa strongly suggest that only a single West African/Mediterranean wintering population is involved.
Population size: Northwest Europe: 60,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 600.
Northeast Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean/West Africa (east to Chad): 1,200,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 12,000. Major concentrations in West Africa have included up to 247,000 in the Senegal Delta, 495,000 in the Central Niger Delta and 526,000 at Lake Chad. The highest mid-winter count in West Africa was 838,000 in 1987. Western Siberia/Southwest Asia/northeast and eastern Africa: 700,000. 1% level 7,000. The wintering population in Southwest Asia has been estimated at 650,000 (Perennou et al., 1994). Monval & Pirot (1989) suggested a figure of 200,000300,000 for the wintering population in eastern Africa. More recently, Urban (1993) has estimated the total population wintering in eastern Africa (excluding Egypt) to be 31,000108,000, but notes that the number may be as high as 200,000300,000 in some years. Anas acuta is very abundant in southern Sudan where it winters in substantial numbers (Nikolaus, 1987); it is common to abundant on Ethiopian plateau lakes, and is generally scarce but occasionally abundant in Somalia. Some thousands of birds winter on the major lakes in Kenya, and a few hundred to about 1,000 birds winter in Tanzania and Uganda. Only 347 were recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. The highest mid-winter count in eastern Africa was 14,745 in 1983. The present estimate of 700,000 for the entire flyway is based on the figure of 650,000 for Southwest Asia, with an additional 50,000 in northeast and eastern Africa.
Habitat/ecology: Anas acuta is a bird of shallow freshwater marshes, small lakes and rivers, preferably with dense vegetation cover in open country. In winter, it forms large flocks on brackish coastal lagoons, in estuaries and deltas, and on large inland lakes. In northwest Europe, A. acuta is amongst the most concentrated of waterfowl in winter, with half the population confined to just thirteen sites (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). Males leave the breeding areas in late May and early June, at the start of incubation, and may undertake extensive moult migrations. Large concentrations of moulting males occur in the Netherlands, the lower Ob valley, the Yamal Peninsula and the Volga Delta, but small gatherings of moulting birds are also frequent. The wing moult takes place between early June and late August, during which the birds are flightless for about four weeks. Dispersal from the moulting areas and breeding grounds takes place from mid-August to early September. In Europe, the main autumn passage occurs from mid-September to November, with birds reaching the wintering areas in October and November. The return migration in spring begins in February in West Africa and in late February and March in western Europe. Birds arrive back on the breeding grounds in Russia in April and May. Conservation status: The population wintering in northwest Europe has shown a pattern of slow decline over the past twenty years (Rose, 1995). Numbers wintering in the west Mediterranean showed a clear increase from 1969 to 1973 followed by a steady decline until 1982, since when numbers have fluctuated widely (Monval & Pirot, 1989). Numbers wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean have shown a significant decline since counts began in 1967, with numbers falling at an average rate of 6.37% per annum (Rose, 1995). Breeding numbers also appear to have decreased in many European countries, most importantly in southern and central Russia and Finland (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Trends in the population wintering
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in Southwest Asia and northeast Africa are unknown. However, Krivenko (1993) reports a slight decrease in the numbers at the end of the breeding season in western and central Siberia between 1972 and 1989. Recent declines in the European population have been attributed primarily to wetland loss and degradation both on the breeding grounds and in the wintering areas. Decreases in the Mediterranean have been attributed to the recent large-scale loss and degradation of wetlands in this region, while major river diversion and irrigation schemes in Niger and Nigeria pose a threat to some of the major wintering areas for the species in Africa (Tucker & Heath, 1994).
Network of key sites: When not breeding, A. acuta is almost always found in large flocks so it is very suitable for the establishment of a key sites network. There are even some very major breeding concentrations such as Western Chertovo lakes in Western Siberia where 172,500 A. acuta are estimated to breed. The major gaps in the current key site networks relate to passage sites, which must be crucial to such long distance trans-Saharan migrants. It is essential that more knowledge of the movements between breeding and wintering grounds is obtained so that the 2025 currently identified staging sites can be increased. The Wadden Sea is extremely important for A. acuta arriving to winter in northwest Europe and the Volga Delta is equally important for the Caspian/East Africa wintering population during both passage and moult. Very large concentrations also occur midway along the northwest European migratory route at the German Baltic Coast, Lubana Lowlands in Latvia, and at Pskovsko Chudskoye Lakes in Russia near the Latvia border. Important sites like these must exist in other flyways. By far the largest concentration recorded at any time appears to be in autumn at the mouth of the River Ob where up to 800,000 A. acuta are thought to gather. In northwest Europe over 60 key sites provide over 65% of the wintering grounds for the population in most winters, but for the Mediterranean/West Africa wintering population the effectiveness of the key sites network is more difficult to assess because of the year to year variation in the use of West African wintering areas. Nevertheless, 22 key wintering sites in the West African Sahel plus 12 in the Mediterranean must constitute quite a valuable network and harbour more than 50,000 of the estimated 1,200,000 individuals in most winters. In the Caspian and East Africa 31 key wintering sites provide wintering grounds for at least 140,000 of the estimated 700,000 individuals and probably more in most winters. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important wintering sites for which protected status information was supplied are protected to some degree, and virtually all important passage sites listed are protected.
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EATONS PINTAIL Anas eatoni

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form of Kerguelen Island and A. e. drygalskii of the Crozet Islands. Both forms are considered by some authors to be subspecies of the widespread Anas acuta (e.g. Cramp & Simmons, 1977, Johnsgard, 1978, Madge & Burn, 1988), while other authors treat them as two separate species: Kerguelen Pintail A. eatoni and Crozet Pintail A. drygalskii. Distribution: Confined to Kerguelen and Crozet Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. A. e. eatoni is confined to Kerguelen Island and its outlying islands. At least 34 birds were introduced from Kerguelen to Amsterdam Island, but although breeding occurred, the population soon died out, probably because of predation by feral cats and rats (Green, 1992). A. e. drygalskii is confined to the Crozet Islands, occurring on all five of the vegetated islands: Ile de la Possession (Possession Island), Ile de lEst (East Island), Ile aux Cochons (Pig Island), Ile des Pingouins (Penguin Island) and Iles des Apotres (Apostle Islands). Movements: Mainly sedentary, although there is some local movement of birds to the coast in winter. There is some evidence of movement between the main islands within the Crozet group, and it is believed that the small and declining population on Pig Island is now being maintained by immigration from the Apostles. Population limits: Only two populations are recognized, corresponding to the populations of the two subspecies. Rose & Scott (1994) recognized four populations of drygalskii in the Crozet Islands (Pig/Apostles, Penguin, Possession and East), but as some inter-island movements are known to occur and as the greatest distance between neighbouring islands is less than 100 km, there seems little justification for this treatment. Population size: Kerguelen (eatoni): 10,00040,000. Provisional numerical criterion 250. Rose & Scott (1994) give a population estimate of 50,00060,000 individuals based on an estimate of 15,00020,000 pairs given by Thibault & Guyot (1988) for 198285. Stahl et al. (1984) estimated the population at 40,000 individuals, on the basis of an extrapolation of densities of A. e. drygalskii in the Crozet Islands. However, J.F. Voisin (in litt. in Green, 1992) considers 10,000 to be a more likely figure. In view of the obvious uncertainty in numbers, and as there are reports of a decline in population in recent years, the lower estimate of 10,00040,000 is preferred to that given by Rose & Scott (1994).
Crozet Islands (drygalskii): 1,400 (Green, 1992). 1% level 14. In 1966, the total population was estimated at 1,0002,000 birds, with 400 on Possession Island, 3050 on Pig Island and at least 400 on East Island (J.F. Voisin, in litt.; P. Jouventin, in litt., in Green, 1992). Stahl et al. (1984) estimated the population at 1,350, with 800 on East Island, 200 on Possession Island, 200 on Penguin Island and 150 on Pig Island and the Apostles. These figures, quoted in Green (1992), were followed by Rose & Scott (1994). Thibault & Guyot (1988) give the population in 198082 as 600700 pairs, with 400 pairs on East Island, 100 pairs on Possession Island, and only about 50 individuals on Pig Island. The estimate of 1,400 is adopted here as the most recent figure available.
Habitat/ecology: Anas eatoni occurs in peat bogs, on freshwater lakes in the interior (Kerguelen), on coastal lagoons and along the sea shore, especially in sheltered bays. The birds spend more time on the ground than A. acuta, walking and running with ease and perching on rocks and boulders, although they fly well (Marchant & Higgins, 1991). They are generally shy and wary, avoiding areas of human habitation. The species is fairly sociable outside the breeding season, usually occurring in small parties and occasionally in concentrations of up to 200 on Kerguelen. The breeding season is from November to the end of January or February.
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Conservation status: Anas eatoni eatoni is listed as vulnerable by Green (1992) and Green (1996). The population on Kerguelen was thought to be stable in the early 1980s, but vulnerable to predation from introduced cats and rats. The species was formerly much hunted by sealers and scientific expeditions, and since the establishment of a base in 1950, some 200 to 300 birds have been hunted each year (Green, 1992). This hunting, which takes place between May and October, has not been considered to pose a serious threat to the population (Thibault & Guyot, 1988). J.F. Voisin (in litt.) and P. Jouventin (in litt.) suggest that the population may now be declining, and give the primary threats as hunting and predation by feral cats and rats. Cats were introduced on the main island in 1956 to control the population of rats and mice, and are now spreading throughout the island, despite several eradication campaigns (Jouventin & Micol, 1995). Anas eatoni drygalskii is listed as endangered by Green (1992) and Green (1996). Thibault & Guyot (1988) considered the numbers to be stable, although they noted that the birds were especially vulnerable to predation from introduced cats and rats, with only the populations on islands free of cats and rats (the Apostles, Penguin Island and East Island) thriving. The population on Possession Island, which has introduced cats and rats, was reported to be declining by Stahl et al. (1984), while the population on Pig Island, which has feral cats, has been reduced to only 15 breeding pairs (Green, 1992). The continued survival of the population on Pig Island is now thought to depend on regular immigration of birds from the Apostle Islands (Thibault & Guyot, 1988; J.F. Voisin, in litt. 1991). Network of key sites: No information is available on key sites for A. e. eatoni in Kerguelen. East Island in the Crozet group is free of introduced predators, and supports about 60% of the total population of A. e. drygalskii. Protection status of key sites: The main island of Kerguelen (Grande Terre), where the majority of the population of A. a. eatoni reside, is unprotected. Some of the small offshore islands (Ile de Croy, Ile du Roland and Iles Leygues) are included within in a Parc National Antarctique Francais and a Specially Protected Area, while some of the islands in the Golfe du Morbihan have been classified as a Specially Protected Area. In the Crozet Islands, Ile de lEst (East Island), Ile aux Cochons (Pig Island), Ile des Pingouins (Penguin Island) and Iles des Apotres (Apostle Islands) are part of the Parc National Antarctique Francais and a Specially Protected Area (Jouventin & Micol, 1995).
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RED-BILLED DUCK Anas erythrorhyncha

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region. The species occurs widely in eastern and southern Africa from southern Sudan and Ethiopia to East Africa and southern Zaire and southwards to South Africa; it also occurs in Madagascar. Movements: The species is partly sedentary and partly nomadic throughout its range, but also undertakes lengthy movements during the dry season. Birds ringed at Barberspan, western Transvaal, have been recovered as far south as Cape Town (1,126 km) and as far north as Kafue Flats in Zambia (1,100 km) and Lubango (Sa da Bandeira) in Angola (1,800 km). Birds ringed in Zambia have been recovered in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. In Kenya, numbers peak during the northern winter, with birds arriving from unknown sources to supplement the large resident population; these birds are thought to come from the north or northeast (Brown et al., 1982). There is also some evidence of regular movements between the African mainland and Madagascar; the species is common in Madagascar, but there are very few breeding records, and Langrand (1990) implied that it was primarily a non-breeding visitor from Africa. Population limits: The species has a wide range in eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape, with no major gaps in its distribution. However, there is probably little mixing between the eastern and southern African populations. The species is most abundant in semi-arid areas, and there is little suitable habitat for it in northern Zambia, northern Malawi, northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania. The large number of ringing recoveries from southern Africa show no evidence of movement between eastern and southern Africa, and possible movement is not supported by regional count data (R.J. Douthwaite, in litt.). Furthermore, the two groups of birds breed at different times of the year, with those in southern Africa (from Zambia southwards) breeding during the rains (DecemberMarch) and those in eastern Africa breeding in June (D.R. Aspinwall, in litt.). There seems a good case, therefore, for treating the southern and eastern African populations separately. The birds occurring in Madagascar are treated as a separate population, although it is possible that there is some movements of birds between Madagascar and the African mainland. Despite the fact that A. erythrorhyncha is one of the two commonest ducks in Madagascar, there appear to be only two reported instances of nesting, in 1987 and 1988 (Langrand, 1990). Thus many of the birds in Madagascar may be migrants from Africa, although there are as yet no ringing recoveries to support this. Three populations are therefore recognized: a population in southern Africa north to southern Zambia, southern Malawi and southern Mozambique; a population in eastern Africa; and a population in Madagascar. Population size: Southern Africa: 500,0001,000,000. Provisional numerical criterion 7,500. The most abundant duck in southern Africa. Widespread and common to very common in southern Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977), southern Zambia (Benson et al., 1971) and northern and eastern Botswana (Newman, 1989; Penry, 1994), and a very common resident throughout southern Africa (Sinclair et al., 1993). High counts have included: up to 29,000 at Kafue Flats, Zambia (August 1971); 1,200 at Witwatersrand, southern Transvaal; 4,712 at Barberspan, western Transvaal; and 500,000 at Lake Ngami, Botswana. The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in southern Africa was 18,733 in July 1993.
Eastern Africa: 100,000300,000. Provisional numerical criterion 2,000. Common to abundant in suitable habitat. Described as frequent to locally common in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), fairly common in southern Somalia (Ash & Miskell, 1983), and common in much of
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Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Britton, 1980). A total of 976 was recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in eastern Africa was 3,423 in January 1994. Madagascar: 15,00025,000. Provisional numerical criterion 200. One of the two commonest ducks in Madagascar, although there are apparently only two definite breeding records (Langrand, 1990). The species occurs throughout the island, but is much commoner in the west and south and on the High Plateau than in the east, where it is uncommon. Concentrations of up to several hundreds birds have been recorded, e.g. 600 were present at Lake Bemamba in JulyAugust 1992 (Young et al., 1993a), and 481 at Lake Amboromalandy in October 1993 (F. Hawkins, in litt.). A total of 1,562 was recorded during the African Waterfowl Census in Madagascar in July 1993.
Habitat/ecology: A. erythrorhyncha is an unspecialized surface-feeding duck, frequenting fairly shallow fresh waters, including lakes, dams, rivers and flooded areas. It favours open, shallow, fresh waters containing large amounts of submerged, floating and peripheral vegetation, but also occurs on large dams and other similar impoundments, and often feeds at night in rice-fields. During the dry season, the species regularly occurs, often in very small numbers, at small scattered pans in semi-arid regions (T. Dodman, in litt.). In general, however, it is highly social, flock sizes ranging from a few hundred birds to many thousands. Throughout its range, peak gatherings occur towards the end of the dry season or at the start of the rains. In southern Africa, breeding takes place between December and April. Conservation status: An increase has been reported in Zimbabwe, especially in the north (D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). However, the species is probably now decreasing in Madagascar as a result of habitat alteration (O. Langrand, in litt.). Network of key sites: Four key sites on Madagascar support over 10% of this population and provide the basis for a key sites network. Only one key site in each of the southern and eastern Africa populations can be identified at present. Protection status of key sites: None of the key sites are adequately protected on Madagascar. Kafue Flats in Zambia is protected but the Ethiopian wetlands are not protected.
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HOTTENTOT TEAL Anas hottentota

Subspecies: Monotypic. The Madagascar population has been separated as delacouri, but this form is no longer recognized. Distribution: Confined to the Afrotropical Region. The species occurs widely in eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia and southern Somalia to South Africa, and also in West Africa (northern Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad) and Madagascar. In Nigeria, it occurs from Sokoto to Lake Chad and south to Zaria and the Borgu Game Reserve (Elgood, 1982); in Cameroon it is confined to the region of Lake Chad (Louette, 1981). Movements: The West African and Madagascar populations appear to be sedentary. Elsewhere, the species is partly sedentary and partly migratory, undertaking regular short-distance migrations in southern and eastern Africa in response to changing water levels. In Kenya, an annual influx is thought to originate from the north and northeast; a bird ringed at Lake Nakuru was recovered 490 km south-southeast in Tanzania, and a bird ringed at Lake Naivasha was recovered at Mwea, 105 km to the east. Six birds ringed at Kafue Flats, Zambia, were recovered within 260 km; two others were recovered in northern Botswana, 500 km and 700 km to the southwest. Population limits: The population in West Africa (northern Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad) appears to be very isolated from other populations, although there is an old record from the Bahr Salamat in eastern Chad (there are no records from Sudan). The Madagascar population is sufficiently distinct to have been considered for subspecific status. Although there are no major gaps in the species range in eastern and southern Africa, there is probably little mixing between the eastern and southern African populations. Like A. erythrorhyncha, A. hottentota is most abundant in semi-arid areas, and there is little suitable habitat for it in northern Zambia, northern Malawi, northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania. Recoveries of birds ringed in southern Africa show no evidence of movement between eastern and southern Africa, and possible movement is not supported by regional count data (R.J. Douthwaite, in litt.). There seems a good case, therefore, for treating the southern and eastern African populations separately. Four populations are therefore recognized: a small, isolated population in northern Nigeria and Chad; a population in eastern Africa; a population in southern Africa (north to central Zambia, southern Malawi and southern Mozambique); and a population in Madagascar. Population size: West Africa (northern Nigeria and Chad): 5,00010,000. Provisional numerical criterion 75. An uncommon resident in Nigeria, although there is one record of about 100 on oases near the Niger border (Elgood et al., 1994). The highest count during mid-winter waterfowl censuses in West Africa has been 300 in 1972.
Eastern Africa: 100,000300,000. Provisional numerical criterion 2,000. Abundant in parts of eastern Africa; described as common in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), and widespread in small numbers in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Britton, 1980). Very abundant in Kenya during the northern winter and especially during local dry years; concentrations of thousands have been recorded in Kenya and Tanzania, e.g. at Lake Kitangiri, Tanzania, in June and AugustOctober 1955 (Brown et al., 1982). A total of 1,920 was recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. Common in the Ruzizi Marshes on the border between Zaire and Burundi in May and OctoberFebruary (Brown et al., 1982). The highest count in eastern Africa during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) was 1,414 in January in 1994.
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Southern Africa: 100,000200,000. Provisional numerical criterion 1,500. Locally common throughout much of southern Africa, although absent from arid areas in the southwest (Sinclair et al., 1993). Fairly common in northern and eastern Botswana, especially the Okavango Delta (Penry, 1994), and widespread in Zimbabwe, where commonest in the west (D.V. RockinghamGill, in litt.). Widespread in southern Malawi, occurring in hundreds, with especially large numbers at Lake Nderendere (Benson & Benson, 1977), and fairly common in southern and southwestern Zambia (Benson et al., 1971). Some 2,833 were recorded at Kafue Flats in Zambia in January 1994. The highest count in southern Africa during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) was 3,630 in January 1994. Madagascar: 5,00010,000. Provisional numerical criterion 75. Common in the west; uncommon in the east and north; rather rare in the south and on the High Plateau (Langrand, 1990). Few large gatherings have been reported, although 1,878 were present at Lake Amboromalandy in October 1993 (F. Hawkins, in litt.), and 880 at Lake Alaotra in November 1983 (Pidgeon 1996). Only 371 were recorded during the waterfowl census in January 1994.
Habitat/ecology: A. hottentota frequents fresh waters in open country, favouring shallow freshwater marshes and ponds fringed with reeds or papyrus and with floating plants. It also occurs on sewage lagoons, and occasionally on large open waters devoid of emergent vegetation. During the dry season, A. hottentota regularly occurs in small numbers at small scattered pans in semi-arid regions (T. Dodman, in litt.). Wing moult has been recorded in AugustSeptember in Zambia. Conservation status: In the 1970s, it was probably increasing and becoming more widespread in Nigeria (Elgood, 1982), but numbers were decreasing in Kano State by 1987 (Elgood et al., 1994), and the West African population as a whole may now be in decline (del Hoyo et al., 1992). In Madagascar, numbers are now probably decreasing as a result of habitat alteration (O. Langrand, in litt.). Network of key sites: Although two key sites are listed for the West Africa population this is on the basis of old data. Recent counts of A. hottentota in West Africa are extremely few and certainly not high enough for any key sites to be identified. No key sites can be identified for the eastern Africa population, one for the southern Africa population and three for the Madagascar population. In October up to 25% of the Madagascar population of A. hottentota have been counted at Amboromalandy Lake. Protection status of key sites: Only Kafue Flats in Zambia is adequately protected out of all six key sites.
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GARGANEY Anas querquedula

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, breeding widely at temperate latitudes across Europe and Asia, mostly between 42N and 65N. Birds breeding in Western Eurasia winter almost exclusively in Africa south of the Sahara, mainly in West Africa from southern Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia to Chad, but also extending south in substantial numbers as far as Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Small numbers reach Malawi and Zambia, and the species has occurred as a vagrant in Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa (Transvaal). Movements: Highly migratory, wintering almost entirely within the northern tropics, although regularly extending south of the Equator in eastern Africa. The species breeds widely across Western Eurasia, birds from breeding areas west of the Urals wintering almost exclusively in Africa south of the Sahara. Many birds from the forest and forest-steppe zones of western Siberia (as far as 7090E) migrate southwest through the eastern Mediterranean and Southwest Asia to winter in West and East Africa, while some birds from the same breeding area migrate southeast through eastern Iran to winter in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. West African populations originating from breeding areas in Europe reach their wintering areas via Spain and Italy, and apparently do not linger in North Africa. There is also no evidence that the North African wetlands are a major staging area for birds in spring. Breeding season recoveries of birds ringed in the Senegal Delta are spread over a wide area from western Europe (France) through European Russia and western Siberia (Tobol and Irtysh) to the Yenisey River at 92E (Roux, 1981). The ringing recoveries from birds ringed in Mali show little difference from those ringed in Senegal, with recoveries stretching as far east as 7090E. Birds recovered in Nigeria had been ringed in Greece, Latvia, Russia and India. There is a massive autumn passage of A. querquedula westward along the north coast of Sinai at Zaranikh (Egypt); 203,000 were recorded during the period 15 August to 5 October 1978 and 221,600 during the period 16 August to 24 September 1981. No comparable numbers are recorded elsewhere in Egypt in autumn, and it seems likely that the majority of birds cross Egypt on a broad front, not stopping until they reach tropical Africa (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). Some 100,000200,000 birds pass through Israel in autumn, and are presumably part of this same movement. Further east, the species has also been seen moving south-southwest across the Red Sea and off the tip of Sinai, while a regular autumn passage has been recorded in Eritrea (Smith, 1957) and Ethiopia (Brown et al., 1982). As the wintering population in eastern Africa (from Sudan southwards) is thought to number only some 95,000 181,000 birds (Urban, 1993), it seems likely that the bulk of the birds passing westwards along the north Sinai coast are bound for West Africa, while most of the birds wintering in eastern Africa enter the continent on a broad front across the Red Sea. Population limits: Monval & Pirot (1989) were unable to define any precise biogeographical populations in Western Eurasia, and considered the population wintering in Africa as a discrete population for practical reasons. Perennou et al. (1994), however, treated the birds passing through Southwest Asia and presumably wintering mainly in eastern Africa as a separate group, and this treatment is adopted here. Thus two main passage and wintering populations are recognized: one passing through Europe and the eastern Mediterranean and wintering mainly in West Africa east to Chad, and one passing through Southwest Asia and wintering mainly in eastern Africa. The small number of birds recorded in winter in Southwest Asia represent only the extreme northern edge of the large wintering population in eastern Africa. Population size: Europe/West Africa: 2,000,000 (Perennou, 1991a). 1% level 20,000. Major concentrations in West Africa have included up to 900,000 in the Central Niger Delta, 535,000 at Lake Chad and 246,000 in the Senegal Delta. The highest mid-winter count during
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the 1980s was 1,537,000 in 1987, but since then the total count has not exceeded 450,000. The European breeding population has recently been estimated at 642,0001,063,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994), a figure which agrees reasonably well with an estimated wintering population of 2,000,000. Southwest Asia/eastern Africa: 100,000200,000. Provisional numerical criterion 1,500. Monval & Pirot (1989) suggested that the average number of A. querquedula wintering in the Nile Basin in eastern Africa is probably close to 500,000. More recently, Urban (1993) has estimated the total wintering population in eastern Africa at 95,000181,000, although he noted that the number may be as high as 500,000 in some years. However, the highest mid-winter count in eastern Africa during the 1980s and 1990s was only 33,260 (in 1983). The most important wetlands forA. querquedula in eastern Africa are situated in the Sudd region on the middle reaches of the Nile in Sudan. These wetlands have never been surveyed specifically for ducks, although Nikolaus (1987) indicated that large numbers of A. querquedula winter in the Sudd south of 12N. Kingdon (1984) noted that A. querquedula winter in substantial numbers in the Sudd, and estimated from aerial surveys carried out in February 1980 and 1981 that tens of thousands of A. querquedula were likely to be present near Nyany in the north of Bor. Urban (1993) concluded that the wintering population in Sudan was in the range 70,000120,000 birds. The total wintering population in Kenya has been estimated at 20,000 (Brown et al., 1982), while thousands are said to winter in southwestern Uganda. However, only 421 were recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. Clearly, no reliable estimation of the size of the eastern African wintering population will be possible until adequate censuses have been undertaken in the Sudd region of Sudan. However, as it seems likely that the population is in the range 100,000200,000, a provisional numerical criterion of 1,500 is proposed for the identification of key sites.
Habitat/ecology: Anas querquedula breeds mostly inland, on swampy meadows, flooded fields and shallow freshwater marshes, pools and small lakes with abundant emergent vegetation; it winters mainly in floodplains, rice-fields, coastal lagoons and shallow freshwater marshes. A. querquedula is highly gregarious outside the breeding season, and often occurs in huge concentrations on its winter quarters. Moult gatherings of males are formed from late May. During the wing moult, birds are flightless for three to four weeks. The Volga Delta, in particular, is a major moulting area for this species. The autumn migration begins in late July and reaches a peak in Europe and Egypt in August and early September. Birds begin to arrive on their winter quarters in West and East Africa in early September, with the main immigration occurring in October. The spring migration begins in February, and birds start to arrive on their breeding grounds in western Europe as early as mid-March. Further north and east, birds may not arrive on their breeding grounds until mid-May. Conservation status: Overall trends in both populations are unknown, but numbers appear to be decreasing in many parts of Europe, and there are reports of a sharp decline in numbers in the middle region of the former USSR between 1972 and 1989 (Krivenko, 1993). In western Europe, the number of breeding pairs appears to have fallen from about 12,00022,500 in 1970 to less than 8,000 in recent years (Tucker & Heath, 1994). The decrease has been attributed to widespread deterioration of breeding habitat, especially in central Europe, where increasing aridity in the climate and subsequent lowering of the water-table, drainage of wetlands and transformation of wetlands to dammed reservoirs have resulted in the loss and degradation of much former breeding habitat (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Loss of habitat may also now be a problem in West Africa, where large-scale river diversion and irrigation schemes pose a major threat to several of the most important wintering areas. Network of key sites: Despite being a dispersed broad front migrant, there must be important staging areas for A. querquedula in North Africa, northern Europe or Kazakhstan for example. At present, the only key passage sites known are the autumn gathering point at the mouth of the River Ob, the moulting and passage site at the Volga Delta/Western Ilmen and the smaller passage sites in the Sea of Azov, Middle Ob and Iran (12 key passage sites in total). The West African wintering population is usually highly concentrated and opportunistic in its exploitation of the variable water regime within the West African Sahel. However, most of the population is usually supported by a combination of the 23 key wintering sites listed in Annex 2. Fifteen key
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wintering sites are listed for the Caspian/East African wintering population but little is known about the relative winter distribution of this population between the southern Caspian (3 key wintering sites) and East Africa. This population must be poorly represented by the current key sites network at all times of year.
Protection status of key sites: The few known key passage and moulting sites are mostly protected. The 3 key wintering sites in the Caspian basin are protected but protected status information was provided for very few of the African sites.
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CAPE SHOVELER Anas smithii

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Afrotropical, occurring in southern Africa from Cape Province, South Africa, north to Namibia and Botswana (rarely to Natal, Zimbabwe, Angola and Zambia). Movements: Largely sedentary, but somewhat nomadic and dispersive within its range, the movements seemingly being associated with local wetland conditions but poorly understood. There may also be some true north-south migration through central parts of South Africa. The species is most numerous in southwest Cape Province (a region of austral winter rainfall) in MaySeptember, while the reverse applies in Orange Free State and Transvaal (regions with austral summer rainfall). Birds ringed in South Africa have been recovered in Namibia, up to 1,680 km away (Brown et al., 1982). Population limits: Only one population is recognized, viz. the entire population of the species. Population size: Entire population: 20,00050,000. Provisional numerical criterion 350. Locally common over its rather limited range. In South Africa, it is most abundant in southwest Cape Province, Orange Free State and Transvaal, and is uncommon in east Cape, Natal and the arid northwest (Brown et al., 1982). It is described as a fairly common resident in southeastern Botswana, and sparse and uncommon on the Magadigadi Pan system in the north (Newman, 1989; Penry, 1994). The total population in Zimbabwe is estimated to number in the hundreds of birds (Ewbank, 1993), mostly in Matabeleland. It is uncommon in Namibia, rare in Angola, and only a vagrant to Zambia, Zaire and Tanzania. The highest count obtained during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) in southern Africa was 3,656 in 1994. Habitat/ecology: A. smithii is essentially a bird of fresh water, but tolerates tidal estuaries, saline lagoons and pans. It prefers temporary sheets of open, shallow water and marsh remaining after flooding, but also commonly occurs on highly alkaline waters and sewage disposal ponds where the water fertility is high. It is gregarious, usually occurring in small groups when not breeding. During the post-nuptial moult, birds retire to large, open waters. The moult (when birds are flightless) occurs in southwest Cape Province in July December and in west Transvaal mainly in OctoberDecember and AprJuly. Conservation status: The species appears to be maintaining quite stable numbers, although it is said to have increased greatly in southwestern Cape Province in recent years (del Hoyo et al., 1992), and is also reported to be increasing in Zimbabwe, on large dams in Mashonaland (D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). Network of key sites: Five key sites in the vicinity of Cape Town support important numbers of A. smithii in July. It is not known if other key sites exist at this time or at any other time. Protection status of key sites: Protected status information was not supplied for any of the five key sites listed in Annex 2.
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CAPE SHOVELER Anas smithii
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NORTHERN SHOVELER Anas clypeata

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Holarctic, with a wide breeding distribution across North America and northern Eurasia. Western Eurasian populations winter south to West Africa, East Africa (commonly to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) and the Arabian Peninsula. Small numbers reach Gambia, Ghana and Guinea-Bissau, and stragglers extend south to Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa (Transvaal). The species has bred in Iceland since 1931. Movements: Anas clypeata breeds and winters further south than most Palearctic ducks, with the majority of birds occurring in winter in the Mediterranean Basin, Southwest Asia and Africa. Northern populations are highly migratory, wintering in temperate and subtropical latitudes south, in eastern Africa, to the Equator, while some southern breeding birds (e.g. in western Europe) are sedentary or dispersive. Birds wintering in northwest Europe are thought to originate mainly from Fennoscandia and Russia east to about 60E. However, large numbers of birds passing through northwest Europe on migration continue on to winter in the Mediterranean Basin, where they mix with birds of a more eastern origin. The tiny Icelandic breeding population, estimated at only 1030 pairs (Koskimies, 1993) apparently winters in northern Britain and Ireland. Cold weather movements have been recorded in northwest Europe. Birds tend to move out of the Wadden Sea coasts to western France, Britain and Ireland during cold spells in many winters. During more severe weather, these birds may move to Spain and Portugal, although the Iberian peninsula may be the ultimate destination of many birds even in less severe winters (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). Birds breeding in central and southeast Europe winter in the Mediterranean Basin where they mix with birds from further east. Ringing recoveries indicate that the birds wintering in northwest and West Africa originate mainly from Europe (Brown et al., 1982). Birds wintering in Southwest Asia and northeast and eastern Africa presumably originate mainly in western Siberia, but there are few ringing recoveries to support this. In a total of 14 ringing recoveries involving birds ringed or recovered in Egypt, 10 came from moulting areas in the north Caspian (Astrakhan) and the other five came from the basins of the Ob and Irtysh rivers (6080E) (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). Of five Russian-ringed birds recovered in Iran, two came from the Volga Delta and three from the west Siberian plain between 78 and 82E. However, three birds ringed at Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, were recovered in subsequent winters in Iran (Argyle, 1975 & 1976), suggesting that there is considerable mixing between the Southwest Asian and south Asian wintering populations of this species. Population limits: Ruger et al. (1986) concluded that it was impractical to define discrete wintering populations in Europe because of the complex autumn and spring movements of birds through northwest Europe and the extensive mixing of birds of western and eastern origin in the Mediterranean Basin. These authors therefore made no attempt to split the Western Palearctic wintering populations of A. clypeata into distinct wintering groups, but made divisions for convenience, based on the quality of data available. Monval & Pirot (1989) reached the same conclusions, and rather than attempt to define precise biogeographical populations for A. clypeata, followed the traditional breakdown into flyways based on wintering regions. These authors recognized three populations in the Western Palearctic: northwest Europe, Black Sea-Mediterranean and West Africa. For the purposes of trend analyses, Monval & Pirot (1989) split the Black Sea/Mediterranean region into two sub-regions, the west Mediterranean and the east Mediterranean, because of the paucity of data from the east Mediterranean, but stressed that there was no evidence that different populations were involved. There is no evidence to suggest that the birds wintering in West Africa differ in any way in origin from birds wintering in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, the very wide fluctuations in numbers of A. clypeata wintering in West Africa, especially in Senegal, seem more likely to be a result of overspill
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from a much larger population to the north, than genuine fluctuations in numbers in a relatively discrete population. It would therefore seem more appropriate to treat the relatively small number of birds wintering in West Africa as part of the much larger Black Sea/Mediterranean population. This was the approach adopted by Rose & Scott (1994), although these authors recognized separate west Mediterranean and Black Sea/east Mediterranean populations, and included the West African birds (20,000) with the latter. Perennou et al. (1994) recognized a large Southwest Asian wintering population of A. clypeata, and linked this with the substantial numbers of birds wintering in northeast and eastern Africa. The abundance of this species on passage and in winter in the Arabian Peninsula (where it is one of the commonest ducks) suggests a broad-front migration of A. clypeata over Arabia into northeast Africa. Large numbers of A. clypeata formerly wintered in Iraq, and it is possible that the high counts in eastern Africa in recent years could involve birds displaced from Iraq following the recent large-scale drainage of wetlands in Mesopotamia. Only three populations of A. clypeata are therefore recognized in the present report: a relatively small population wintering in northwest Europe; a large population wintering in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Basin and West Africa; and a large population wintering in Southwest Asia and northeast and eastern Africa.
Population size: Northwest Europe: 40,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 400. Recent census data (19891993) are very similar to those from the period 198286, and suggest that the estimate of Monval & Pirot (1989) remains valid.
Black Sea/Mediterranean/West Africa: 450,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 4,500. Southwest Asia/northeast and eastern Africa: 400,000. 1% level 4,000. Perennou et al. (1994) estimated the wintering population in Southwest Asia and eastern Africa at 300,000 birds, but a reappraisal of the Southwest Asian data and recent high counts in eastern Africa suggest that a figure of 400,000 is more appropriate. Counts in Southwest Asia exceeded 100,000 in the 1970s and have amounted to 50,000 in recent years, despite the lack of coverage in Iraq, a key wintering area for this species. It seems likely, therefore, that at least 150,000 and probably nearer 250,000 A. clypeata winter in Southwest Asia. Urban (1993) estimated the total population wintering in eastern Africa (excluding Egypt) to be 100,000240,000 birds; high counts in recent years have included over 25,000 in Ethiopia (in 1994), a dry season minimum of 22,000 in Kenya, mainly at Lake Naivasha, and over 15,000 in Tanzania (in 1995). Combining the Southwest Asian and African figures suggests a total population of about 400,000 (from a range of 250,000500,000).
Habitat/ecology: Anas clypeata occurs in a wide variety of shallow, freshwater wetlands, preferably well vegetated lakes and marshes with muddy shores in open country. In winter, it also occurs on brackish lagoons and tidal mudflats. Males may stay with the females during the moult, or may undertake moult migrations to favoured moulting areas, e.g. the Volga Delta. Males moult from early May to early June, and females one month later. During the wing moult, the birds are flightless for three to four weeks. In western Europe, the main autumn migration occurs in September and October, with birds arriving in wintering areas in October. The spring migration begins in February, and the main migration through Europe occurs from mid-March to mid-April. Almost all birds are back on their breeding grounds by early May. Conservation status: The wintering population in northwest Europe appears to have been relatively stable over the past 20 years, although many birds disappear from the region in harsh winters, and this tends to complicate the pattern (Rose, 1995). The major concentrations of A. clypeata in the east Mediterranean are inadequately covered by the International Waterfowl Census, and no determination of trends is possible. There has been a significant increase in the number of birds wintering in the west Mediterranean, although the rate of increase has decreased in recent years, while there appears to have been a slight decline in the small number of birds wintering in central Europe (Rose, 1995). Trends in the numbers wintering in Southwest Asia and northeast Africa are unknown. However, Krivenko (1993) has reported a sharp decline in the numbers of birds in western and central Siberia between 1972 and 1989. This population
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(estimated at over 530,000 birds at the end of the breeding season) could account for most if not all of the Southwest Asian/northeast African wintering population.
Network of key sites: The three key wintering site networks are quite complete. Over 60 key sites in northwest Europe provide winter habitat for at least 14,500 A. clypeata (3040% of the population). Count coverage of the key site networks for the other two populations is too irregular to estimate their exact value to the populations but they are extensive (43 key wintering sites in the Mediterranean/West Africa and 42 in the Caspian/ East Africa). Only seven key passage sites are known for the Mediterranean/West African and Caspian/East African wintering populations but Manych-Godilo lakes in the Caucasus is recorded as being used simultaneously by 555,000 A. clypeata in spring. If this is true, most of the individuals from the two combined wintering populations are present at this site. It follows that the majority of A. clypeata in northwest Europe in spring must be from northwest European wintering grounds which is why key staging sites in northwest Europe have been selected on this basis. Around 30 key autumn passage sites and over 5 key spring passage sites in northwest Europe (mainly in Germany and the Netherlands and to a lesser extent Denmark) are listed in Annex 2. Despite the enormous number of A. clypeata at Manych-Godilo Lakes in the Caucasus, ringing recoveries show that some birds staging in northwest Europe are certainly from, or destined for Mediterranean wintering grounds, so the migratory strategy of the three populations needs to be better understood before the true value of any key passage sites network can be assessed for A. clypeata. Protection status of key sites: Most of the major key sites for which protected status information was provided are protected. The most notable unprotected key sites are in the Mediterranean (particularly in the east) and two very important sites in Iran (Seyed Mohali Zarinkola and Larim Sara plus Kaftar Lake).
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MARBLED TEAL Marmaronetta angustirostris

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, with a fragmented distribution from Spain and North Africa east through the Mediterranean Region and Middle East to Pakistan, the central Asian republics and extreme western China. Some birds reach sub-Saharan Africa in winter; it is regular in very small numbers in Senegal, and has also been recorded in Nigeria (two records, in 1977 and 1988), Mali (maximum 61), Chad (maximum 50) and Cameroon (one record of a flock in 1976). There has also been a recent breeding record from Senegal (one pair). Movements: Dispersive, partially migratory and nomadic; in many parts of its range, M. angustirostris is largely nomadic, making unpredictable, non-cyclical and opportunistic movements in relation to rainfall and flooding patterns that themselves are highly unpredictable. There is a general migration southwards in winter, but the timing and extent of these winter movements vary considerably between years (Green, 1995). In eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran and the central Asian republics, the species appears to be mainly if not entirely migratory. It is a summer visitor to the Amu-Darya Basin in southwest Uzbekistan, arriving in April and leaving by mid-October (Mukhina, 1995). It is also a summer visitor to the breeding areas in Azerbaijan (Patrikeev, in prep.) and the Uromiyeh Basin in northwestern Iran (D.A. Scott, pers. obs.). A. Green (in litt.) suggests that birds breeding in Uzbekistan probably winter in Pakistan, while birds from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkmenistan probably winter in Iran, although he admits that there is no real evidence for this. In the 1970s, there was some evidence of a small spring and autumn passage of M. angustirostris through the southeast Caspian region of Iran, presumably of birds moving between breeding grounds in Transcaspia and the main wintering areas in southwestern Iran (D.A. Scott, pers. obs.). The few birds breeding in the Lake Van region of eastern Turkey and Uromiyeh basin of adjacent northwestern Iran probably migrate southeast to winter in southwestern Iran, but again there is no real evidence to support this. M. angustirostris wintering in the east Mediterranean are most likely to come from the small resident and partially migratory populations in the countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean. The few birds occurring on spring passage (March to May) in Cyprus, where the species formerly bred, are presumably Turkish breeding birds, perhaps on their return migration from Egypt. M. angustirostris breeding in Spain probably join the birds breeding and wintering in Morocco, and some of these in turn disperse southward across the Sahara to the major West African wetland basins in Senegal, Mali and Chad. Birds ringed in Coto Donana, Spain, have been recovered in northwest Morocco and northwest Algeria. Population limits: Monval & Pirot (1989) recognized two small and apparently discrete populations in the Mediterranean, one in the west and one in the east, and considered the main population in Southwest Asia to belong to a third population. These three populations are retained in the present report: a small population centred on the west Mediterranean, some of which winter (and may breed) in sub-Saharan West Africa; a small population in Turkey and the Levant, wintering south to Egypt; and a large population which breeds from eastern Turkey, Iraq, northwestern Iran and the Caspian region east to Kazakhstan, and winters mainly in southwestern Iran. The bulk of this population breeds in Iran and Iraq and winters in Shadegan Marshes in Iran. A fourth population winters in Pakistan and northwest India, and presumably originates from breeding areas in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and central Asia east to western China. This population, estimated at about 5,000 birds (Perennou et al., 1994) is outside the area covered by the present report. Population size: West Mediterranean/West Africa: 3,000 (Green, 1993). 1% level 30. Some 2,410 were counted in Morocco alone in 1993 (A. Green, in litt.). The breeding population in Spain was listed as 50230 pairs (Tucker & Heath, 1994), but has only ranged from 30 to 100 pairs between 1993 and 1996 (A.J. Green, in litt.).
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Key Sites Population Boundaries Sites that regularly support internationally important numbers Well justified Uncertain Breeding areas 50N Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population Data deficient sites or sites that have occasionally supported internationally important numbers Has supported < 1% of flyway population Has supported 1%2% of flyway population Has supported 2%10% of flyway population Has supported >10% of flyway population
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East Mediterranean (Turkey/Levant): 1,000 (Rose & Scott, 1994). 1% level 10. This population is estimated at about 1,000 birds. Green (1993) gives a figure of 600 birds, based on breeding season estimates of 200 pairs in Turkey and Israel. However, Tucker and Heath (1994) give the breeding population in Turkey alone as 150250 pairs, suggesting a somewhat higher total population size. M. angustirostris formerly bred in Egypt, but there have been only a few records since 1980, involving tiny numbers of wintering birds. Southwest Asia: 5,00015,000 (A.J. Green, in litt.). 1% level 100. Green (1993) estimated the population in southwest and southern Asia at about 30,000, based on a mid-winter count of 26,275 in Iran and Pakistan in 1992. This estimate included about 5,000 in southern Asia (mainly Pakistan), giving a Southwest Asian population of about 25,000 (Perennou et al., 1994; Rose & Scott, 1994). Mid-winter counts at the main wintering area in southwestern Iran have fluctuated widely from a few hundreds to 20,000 (Scott, 1995), but this is almost certainly because of variations in coverage and the lack of aerial surveys in recent years. The breeding population in Russia has been estimated at 400 pairs (Vinogradov in Ellis-Joseph et al., 1992), and that in Iran in the 1970s at 1,000 2,000 pairs (1995). Scott and Evans (1993) estimated the breeding population in Iraq, prior to the recent large-scale destruction of the Mesopotamian Marshes, at about 4,0006,000 pairs. It seems likely that a major decline in numbers has occurred in this population during the last few years, following the drainage of a large proportion of the Mesopotamian Marshes in Iraq. A. Green (in litt.) has suggested that the Southwest Asian population may now have fallen to as few as 5,00015,000 individuals. Most birds breeding in Iraq were thought to winter in Iran, and the extremely low mid-winter counts from Iran in 1993 (5,021) and 1994 (1,919) seem to provide evidence for such a population crash (Green, 1995). In light of the almost certain decline, an estimate of 5,00015,000 is preferred.
Habitat/ecology: M. angustirostris breeds on shallow, eutrophic wetlands, typically with dense emergent and submerged vegetation. Fresh to saline wetlands are used, but there is some evidence of a preference for slightly brackish wetlands. In winter, M. angustirostris seems to prefer recently flooded seasonal wetlands, and temporary wetlands that flood only in years of high rainfall seem to be highly attractive to the species. This is particularly true in North Africa, where some of the most important breeding sites are dry in most years. Pairing occurs in early spring, and egg-laying from late April to the first half of July. Brood amalgamation has often been observed, with up to 32 ducklings recorded with one female (Green, 1993). The species undergoes a full, flightless moult in late summer, probably followed by a partial moult into breeding plumage in late autumn/early winter. Moulting flocks have been reported in Tunisia in the first half of July, and moulting birds have been observed in Uzbekistan in June (Green, 1995). In Azerbaijan, birds leave the breeding grounds in August and early September, and return in the second half of March and April (Patrikeev, in prep.). Conservation status: A declining and threatened species, listed as vulnerable by Collar et al. (1994) and Green (1996). The status and conservation of M. angustirostris have been described in some detail by Green (1993). The situation in Europe has been summarized by Green (in Tucker & Heath, 1994) and van Vessem (1994), and an Action Plan for M. angustirostris in Europe has been compiled by Green (1995). There has been extreme fragmentation of the range and massive decline in numbers of M. angustirostris in Europe and west-central Asia this century. The world population has declined by at least 50% this century, with larger declines indicated where quantitative historical data are available. Breeding populations in Spain and the former USSR have declined by over 90% since 1900, while the Turkish population appears to have declined by over 60% since 1970 (Callaghan & Green, 1993). The Spanish population is thought to have exceeded 1,000 birds in autumn in the late 1980s, but since 1990 there has been a marked decline to as few as 100200 in 1994/1995 inclusive (A.J. Green, in litt.). In the 1950s and 1960s, there were thought to be between 300 and 500 pairs breeding in the Marismas del Guadalquivir alone, but by the late 1980s, there were only 1525 pairs on the eastern side of the Guadalquivir and only a few more on the western side (Hidalgo, 1991). M. angustirostris was a common breeding bird in Azerbaijan in the 19th century, but numbers have dwindled during the 20th century, and by the late 1980s and early 1990s, the total population probably did not exceed 100 pairs (Patrikeev, in prep.). In Turkmenistan, it was formerly a common breeding bird and passage migrant, also wintering on the southeast coast of the Caspian Sea (e.g. 17,000 in 1932). However, it is now on the verge of extinction in Turkmenistan, having disappeared from much of its former range and currently breeding
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only in small numbers in the Middle Amu Darya Valley (Poslavski, 1992). In Uzbekistan, it now occurs only in the Amu Darya Delta near the Turkmenistan border, and is rare there (Poslavski, 1992). The status of the species in its main breeding areas in Iran and Iraq is less clear, as reliable historical information is lacking. The population wintering in Iran (comprising over 70% of the world population) is thought to have remained relatively stable throughout the 1970s and 1980s (Perennou et al, 1994), but must now be declining rapidly with the loss of important breeding habitat in Iraq (Scott & Evans, 1993). The dramatic decline in numbers of M. angustirostris in Europe and west-central Asia has been attributed to hunting, pollution and above all drainage and degradation of wetlands, especially in the breeding areas. In Turkmenistan, the main cause of the decline has been a catastrophic reduction in breeding habitat, with many wetlands being replaced by cotton fields (Poslavski, 1992). Green (1993) thought that the world population of M. angustirostris at the beginning of the 1990s was most likely to lie in the range 34,00040,000, with a total breeding population of 8,00013,000 pairs. However, these figures may now already be out of date because of the massive destruction of breeding habitat that has occurred in the Iraqi marshes since 1991.
Network of key sites: As for all globally threatened species, all sites regularly used by an appreciable number of individuals are of international importance. Green (1993) and Green (1995) list all sites known to be of importance for the species. All sites known to have supported Marmaronetta angustirostris are also listed in Annex 2 and if taken with the sites listed in Green (1993) and Green (1995), are probably an extremely complete and valuable key sites network. Iran holds by far the largest concentrations of M. angustirostris in the world, with one site, Shadegan Marshes in Khuzestan Province, regularly supporting between 10,000 and 20,000 birds (40%80%) in mid-winter during the 1970s (Scott, 1995). Twenty-one other sites in Iran are wintering sites for M. angustirostris and this population is rarely recorded from other countries in winter. In addition, 17 breeding areas are known, 4 spring staging sites and 1 autumn staging site. The 5 sites listed from the far east of Iran and Afghanistan are more likely to represent the western edge of the population centred around Pakistan and hence fall outside the scope of this publication. For the east Mediterranean population 9 breeding sites, 4 passage sites and 16 wintering sites are listed but some of these are selected on the basis of outdated census data. It is particularly ironic that the largest single concentration of individuals in this population (1,200) was recorded at Aynas Swamp in Turkey in 1968 just before the site was totally drained. The largest recent counts of wintering flocks in this population have been from the Hula Valley (138) in Israel. The west Mediterranean/West Africa population is well represented by 64 sites some of which contain very large numbers. The single most important breeding site by a wide margin is the Marismas del Guadalquivir, but numbers here are declining rapidly. The most important gaps that need filling in these key sites networks concern breeding areas (especially around the Caspian), Iraq, the status and origin of individuals in West Africa and more information on spring and autumn gatherings. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important sites in northwest Africa are unprotected. The breeding areas in the Marismas del Guadalquivir in southern Spain are only partially protected, but other Spanish breeding sites are mostly protected. Many of the sites in the east Mediterranean are unprotected. Most of the important sites in Iran are protected to some degree but even Shadegan Marshes, the single most important wintering site for the species, is only partly protected. Many other important sites in Southwest Asia are unprotected. Compared to most key sites networks in this report the protected status seems to be quite unfavourable for M. angustirostris.
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RED-CRESTED POCHARD Netta rufina

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, with a very patchy breeding distribution from Iberia across southern and central Europe to west and central Asia. The main breeding range extends in the steppe and desert zones from the northern Black Sea to approximately 90E in south-central Russia and northwestern China. West of the Black Sea, the species breeds mainly in southeast Spain and in small isolated groups scattered over central and parts of northwest Europe. The small population in northwest Europe is thought to be mainly, if not entirely, derived from feral birds. Western populations (from breeding areas east to the Aral Sea) winter south to the Mediterranean basin and south Caspian. In Africa, N. rufina is primarily a scarce winter visitor from Morocco to Egypt (south on the Nile to 25N), although small numbers occasionally breed in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. Movements: Western and central European breeding populations are partially migratory, with some birds being sedentary and others undertaking only short-distance migrations within the Mediterranean Basin. Most east European and central Asian breeding birds are migratory, moving southwest from their breeding grounds to the Caspian and Black Sea regions. Birds wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region are thought to originate from breeding areas in southeast Europe, Turkey and European Russia east to the Volga Delta in the north Caspian. Birds wintering in Southwest Asia (mainly on the east side of the Caspian Sea) presumably originate from important breeding areas in Transcaspia and central Asia. N. rufina is subject to hard-weather movements in Southwest Asia, with large numbers of birds moving into the south Caspian region during severe winters, presumably from their main wintering areas in Krasnovodsk-north Cheleken Bays and Lake Sarakamysh. An estimated 15,00020,000 birds appeared in northern Iran during the particularly severe winter of 1972, as compared with only 5004,500 birds in the milder winters of 1973, 1974 and 1975 (Scott, 1976). Moult migrations take place in summer; birds breeding in the Camargue in southern France have been found moulting at the Bodensee. Population limits: Monval & Pirot (1989) recognized two wintering groups in the Western Palearctic: a central European/ west Mediterranean population centred on Spain and the Camargue in southern France, and a Black Sea/east Mediterranean population centred on the Danube Delta. Perennou et al. (1994) recognized a third, much larger population in central and Southwest Asia, with its wintering distribution centred on the east Caspian, especially Turkmenistan. These three wintering groups are recognized here. The western group appears to be almost entirely discrete, although there may now be some mixing in the north with the mainly feral northwest European population. There is no clear separation on the breeding grounds between the east Mediterranean/Black Sea and Southwest Asian wintering groups, and indeed considerable overlap in the north Caspian region seems likely, but as the principal wintering areas of these two groups are widely separated, treatment as separate populations seems amply justified. The small northwest European population of about 350 birds is not considered here because of its likely feral origin (see Annex 1). Population size: Central Europe/west Mediterranean: 25,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 250.
Black Sea/east Mediterranean: 50,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 500. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the Black Sea/east Mediterranean population at approximately 50,000 birds. The data remain very incomplete, and no better estimate of population size is as yet available (see Annex 1).
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West-central Asia/Southwest Asia: 200,000 (Perennou et al., 1994). 1% level 2,000. The estimate of Perennou et al. (1994) remains the best estimate available. High mid-winter counts in recent years have included 13,000 in Kazakhstan and 140,700 in Turkmenistan in 1991, and total counts of 145,651 in 1993 and 146,756 in 1994. Krivenko (1993) estimated that there were about 180,000 birds in south-central Russia and the central Asian republics in autumn. Isakov (1970b) estimated over twice this number in western parts of the former USSR, a figure which is consistent with the expected autumn numbers for wintering populations of 50,000 and 200,000 in the Black Sea and Southwest Asia respectively.
Habitat/ecology: During the breeding season, Netta rufina favours rather deep, large lakes and lagoons of fresh or brackish water with abundant fringing vegetation, mainly inland in open country; in winter it also occurs in estuaries and other sheltered marine habitats. The moult migration of the adult males and immatures starts in early June, and flocks of several hundred moulting birds gather in some areas in late summer. Males moult their flight feathers between June and August, females one month later. During the wing moult, the birds are flightless for four weeks. The main autumn migration occurs in late October and early November, most birds reaching their winter quarters by December. The return movement occurs in February and March, and most breeding areas are re-occupied by April or early May. Conservation status: The total number of birds wintering in central Europe and the west Mediterranean has remained relatively stable over the past twenty years. However, there appears to have been a marked shift of birds within the region, with numbers increasing in central Europe and decreasing in the west Mediterranean (Rose, 1995). The reasons for this apparent shift in population are not understood. The wintering population in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region appears to be decreasing, but the data are inadequate to confirm this (Monval & Pirot, 1989; Rose, 1995). However, the breeding populations in southeast Europe are known to have declined between 1970 and 1990, especially in the strongholds in Russia and Romania. A major decline has been reported at the important breeding grounds in the Volga Delta and Kuban River Valley (Sea of Azov) in Russia in recent years. These sites held a maximum of 9,000 pairs in 1973, 6,000 pairs in 1979 and only 4,000 pairs in the early 1990s (Tucker & Heath, 1994). This decline has been attributed to the recent sharp rise in level of the Caspian Sea and consequent reduction in the extent of reed-beds suitable as nesting habitat. There has not, however, been any evidence of a decline in the large breeding population in west-central Asia. According to Krivenko (1993), the postbreeding population in Kazakhstan and the Caspian region remained relatively stable between 1972 and 1989. There is no known reason for the decline in Romania. Network of key sites: The large annual fluctuations in the number of N. rufina counted, its irregular appearance at many key sites, and its shifting winter distribution all contribute to make it difficult to quantify the value of a key sites network for this species. All three populations occasionally appear in enormous concentrations, the largest substantially exceeding the size of the population estimates as do the highest annual totals for each population (see Annex 1 for discussion). The largest counts are of 220,000 at Sarysu Lake in Azerbaijan in January 1993, 285,000 at Manych-Godilo Lakes in the Caucasus region, staging counts of approximately 50% of the population at Sultansazligi in Turkey and the Danube Delta in Romania, and 35,680 at Gallocanta in Spain in January 1979. In other winters the population is highly dispersed. Although only a few (11) key staging/passage/moulting sites are known, they are so major that it is conceivable that they harbour the majority of all three populations. This statement of course requires to be verified. The 103 key wintering sites listed (49 in central Europe/west Mediterranean, 23 in the east Mediterranean and 31 in the Caspian Basin) are probably quite complete and, in some years, they will provide wintering grounds for a very large proportion of each population. Protection status of key sites: Most of the very important staging sites are protected but many of the major wintering areas, particularly in Spain, and the east Mediterranean are unprotected. Many of the key wintering sites in Southwest Asia are also unprotected.
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SOUTHERN POCHARD Netta erythrophthalma

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form in South America and N. e. brunnea in Africa. Distribution: The nominate form has a very patchy distribution in northern and central South America. N. e. brunnea occurs widely in southern and eastern Africa from South Africa to Eritrea. It is not known to breed north of central Kenya and western Uganda, though it occurs commonly as a migrant in Ethiopia and Eritrea (Britton, 1980) and as an occasional straggler to Somalia (Ash & Miskell, 1983). Movements: Populations in southern Africa are known to undertake local and long-distance migrations. In South Africa, numbers are lowest from March to August (dry season) and at a peak in October and November (early wet season), suggesting the existence of two populations, one of which is migratory (Brown et al., 1982). Ringing recoveries suggest dry season movement northwards from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, southern Mozambique and Kenya (Lake Naivasha). Most records in Botswana are between March and October, with peak numbers in March suggesting passage of birds through the country (D.R. Bishop, in litt.). In Zambia, there is an annual influx at Kafue Flats in mid-May; numbers build up at Lake Bangweulu after September, reaching a peak of many thousands in December. In Kenya, the largest numbers occur during the northern winter, with a large influx occurring in most years in October, and many birds departing in February (Brown et al., 1982). These records suggest that birds may congregate in the central parts of their range (Zambia, Tanzania) in the middle of the year to breed. Population limits: The species has a wide range in eastern and southern Africa from Eritrea to the Cape, with no major gaps in its distribution. Some elements of the population undertake lengthy movements, virtually spanning the range of the species in Africa, and there would therefore seem to be no justification for separating the African population into smaller units. Only one population is therefore recognized, viz. the entire population of N. e. brunnea. Population size: Entire population of brunnea: 30,00070,000. Provisional numerical criterion 500. Common to abundant in much of its range; described as a regular visitor in small numbers to flooded cultivation in Eritrea (Smith, 1957), common to abundant in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown, 1971), widespread and common in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Britton, 1980), common below 4,000 feet in Malawi (Benson & Benson, 1977), frequent in Zimbabwe, but not in the lowland (D.V. RockinghamGill, in litt.) and numerous at times in Zambia, especially at the Luapula River, Bangweulu Swamps and Lake Lusiwashi (Benson et al., 1971). It is the commonest diving duck on many lakes in East Africa, especially south of the equator, often occurring in hundreds or thousands (Britton, 1980). It is a fairly common resident in Botswana (Newman, 1989), and a common resident elsewhere in southern Africa (Sinclair et al., 1993). High counts have included: up to 2,300 at Lake Nakuru and 1,300 at Lake Naivasha in Kenya; flocks of 8005,000 in western Cape Province, South Africa; 3,664 at Lake Chivero, Zimbabwe, and 7,500 at Kafue Flats in Zambia. The highest count during the African Waterfowl Census (199194) was 5,035 in 1993. A total of 926 was recorded in Tanzania during very extensive waterfowl counts in January 1995. Callaghan and Green (1993) suggest that the total population is under 100,000. Habitat/ecology: Netta erythrophthalma occurs mainly on deep, clear, permanent, fresh waters with or without emergent vegetation, and rarely on temporary waters or shallow ponds. In parts of southern Africa, it commonly
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occurs on man-made waters. It occurs at altitudes up to 2,400 m in the highlands of East Africa. In southwest Cape Province, South Africa, wing moult occurs after an influx of birds from the north in August and September.
Conservation status: Numbers have increased in Zambia during the present century, probably because of the proliferation of man-made waters (Aspinwall, 1984), and an increase has also been reported in Zimbabwe (D.V. Rockingham-Gill, in litt.). However, according to del Hoyo et al. (1992), populations in other parts of Africa are prejudiced by transformation of their habitat to agricultural land. Network of key sites: Only three key sites could be identified on the basis of both January and July concentrations. Lake Chivero in Zimbabwe is recorded to have supported the largest concentration. Protection status of key sites: All three key sites are protected.
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COMMON POCHARD Aythya ferina

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, with a wide breeding distribution at temperate latitudes across Eurasia to southeastern Russia and northeastern China. A. ferina is essentially a bird of the steppes, but has expanded its range westwards in recent years to colonize western Europe. Western Eurasian populations winter south to North Africa and the Gulf, with only small numbers continuing on south into West Africa, northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The species formerly bred in North Africa, and is only an irregular breeding bird in Iceland (up to five pairs). It occurs only as a vagrant in East Africa. Movements: Partially migratory; the species is present throughout the year on breeding grounds in temperate regions of western and southern Europe, but northern populations are highly migratory, wintering south to West Africa and occasionally the Equator in East Africa. A. ferina wintering in Western Eurasia originate from as far east as 120E, where they breed in the forest-steppe zone of central Asia. Birds wintering in Britain and the Netherlands originate from Scandinavia, northern Germany, Poland, the Baltic states and Russia east to 70E, between latitudes 45 and 70N. Birds wintering in the Black Sea/ Mediterranean region come from southern and central Europe, southern Russia, southern regions of western and central Siberia, Kazakhstan and other central Asian republics (Cramp & Simmons, 1977; Monval & Pirot, 1989), while birds wintering in Southwest Asia probably originate mainly from the central Asian republics and western and central Siberia. Aythya ferina shows a dramatic movement out of the Baltic and Wadden Sea coasts during hard weather, moving south and west of the regular wintering areas. East European birds move down into unfrozen, large, high altitude lakes of Switzerland during harsh conditions, but movements within inland continental Europe remain unclear (Ridgill & Fox, 1990). Interestingly, the harsh weather troughs in the trends for the northwest European wintering population correspond exactly in timing and magnitude with the peaks in the trends for the central European wintering population (Rose, 1995). Population limits: No discrete populations are identifiable, and it is very doubtful if any such populations exist. Monval & Pirot (1989) concluded that too few ringing recoveries were available to substantiate the hypothesis that the A. ferina occurring in Europe should be divided into two discrete populations, and thought it likely that important numbers ofA. ferina wintering in the Mediterranean had the same origin as those wintering in northwest Europe. Similarly, there appears to be considerable overlap in the breeding areas of birds wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region and those wintering in Southwest Asia, with many birds from both wintering groups breeding in southern Siberia and the central Asian republics. Further east, there is also some overlap between the birds wintering in Southwest Asia and those wintering in the Indian subcontinent. Two birds ringed in Rajasthan, India, have been recovered in Iran, one only 12 days after ringing, and the other in a subsequent winter (Argyle, 1975). Earlier authors have recognized three sub-populations on the basis of the main wintering areas,viz. northwest Europe, Black Sea/Mediterranean and Southwest Asia (e.g. Monval & Pirot, 1989; Perennou et al., 1994; Rose & Scott, 1994), and these are retained here. It is not obvious to which sub-population the birds wintering in central Europe are best assigned. There is clearly some exchange of birds with northwest Europe in harsh winters, but long-term trends in the central European birds differ markedly from those in both the northwest European and west Mediterranean birds. Monval & Pirot (1989) included the central European birds with the Black Sea/ Mediterranean population. In the absence of good information and for the sake of consistency, this treatment is adopted here. Population size: Northwest Europe: 350,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 3,500. Recent counts suggest that the estimate of Monval & Pirot (1989) remains valid (see Annex 1).
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Central Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean: 1,000,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 10,000. A few thousand birds from this population cross the Sahara into West Africa, e.g. up to 1,500 in Senegal, 505 in Mali, 350 in Nigeria and 615 in Chad. Southwest Asia: 350,000 (Perennou et al., 1994). 1% level 3,500. Perennou et al. (1994) estimated the Southwest Asian wintering population at 350,000, based on counts of up to 260,000 in the 1970s and counts of up to 191,000 in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Urban (1993) estimated the total number wintering in northeast Africa (excluding Egypt) to be between 1,000 and 3,000, with the great majority in Sudan (5002,000) and Ethiopia (200300). Recent counts in Southwest Asia support the 350,000 of Perennou et al. (1994), and as the number of A. ferina wintering in northeast Africa is relatively insignificant, this figure is retained for the entire flyway. However, a recent count of 550,000 at Sarysu Lake in Azerbaijan (in 1993) suggests that this figure may be much too low.
Habitat/ecology: Aythya ferina generally favours nutrient-rich waters less than six metres deep, including well-vegetated swamps, marshes, lakes and slow-flowing rivers with areas of open water. In winter, it often occurs on larger lakes, reservoirs, brackish coastal lagoons, tidal estuaries and inshore coastal waters. The species is highly gregarious, often wintering in flocks of many thousands of birds. In Russia, many birds moult in small groups on the breeding grounds. Larger gatherings of moulting birds, mostly males, are found in parts of western Europe between early June and late August or September, with peak numbers occurring in midJuly. The birds are flightless for three to four weeks during the wing moult. In eastern and southern Europe, the autumn migration reaches a peak in late September and October; in the maritime countries of western Europe, the peak is in October and November. There is some segregation of the sexes in winter, with males generally staying further north than females. In mild winters, the spring migration may begin as early as February, but the main migration occurs in March and early April. The breeding grounds are re-occupied from early March (in the south) to early May (in Siberia). Conservation status: Both the northwest European and Black Sea/Mediterranean wintering populations have been decreasing for the last two decades (Monval & Pirot, 1989; Rose, 1995). In northwest Europe, the rate of decline implies a 30% reduction in numbers over this period, but there are early signs that the trend might be stabilising at levels close to those in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In the Black Sea/Mediterranean region, the decline has been most marked in the west Mediterranean, where the rate of decline implies a 70% reduction in numbers over the 20 year period. There has also been a marked decline in the numbers of A. ferina reaching West Africa in recent decades (Brown et al., 1982). Trends in the Southwest Asian population are unknown, although some decline seems likely. Krivenko (1993) reports a slight decline in post-breeding numbers in the middle region of the former USSR between 1972 and 1989, and the numbers wintering in Iran apparently decreased by 2030% between the early 1970s and 1991 (Perennou et al., 1994). Network of key sites: The three networks of key wintering sites for A. ferina, containing around 150 wetlands between them, are probably very complete. The largest problems arise in deciding to which population the central European wintering birds belong and of course the real answer is probably that the region contains a mixture of birds from both populations. For the purpose of selecting key sites a decision had to be taken and the higher selection criteria used for the Mediterranean region was applied (see discussion in preceding text and Annex 1). Some of the wintering sites for A. ferina are very important; for example, Sarysu Lake in Azerbaijan usually has over 400,000 winteringA. ferina, up to 120,000 winter at Lac Ichkeul in Tunisia and well over 10% of the northwest European wintering birds can be present at the IJsselmeer in the Netherlands and at Loughs Neagh/Beg in Ireland. In contrast only 24 key passage and moulting sites are identified and most of these are autumn gathering sites near to final wintering grounds. Many more key passage sites must exist and based on the extremely large concentrations in Kursiu Lagoon and the Nemunas Delta (41,000) in Lithuania in autumn, the Danube Delta in Romania (369,150) in spring and the Volga Delta during moult some of these could be very important for A. ferina. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important sites for A. ferina are protected, although there are some important unprotected sites for example Skadarsko Jezero on the Albania/Macedonia (former Yugoslav Republic of)/Montenegro border, Burgas Lake in Bulgaria and Hamoun-I Puzak in Afghanistan.
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FERRUGINOUS DUCK Aythya nyroca

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, with a fragmented breeding distribution at temperate latitudes (north to about 54N) in the steppe, desert and southern forest zones from western Europe (where now rare) and northwest Africa across central Asia to western China (Sinkiang and northern Szechuan) and western Mongolia. In Western Eurasia, the main breeding range is located in eastern Europe (Romania, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Turkey) and the southwestern republics of the CIS, but small numbers breed in isolated pockets throughout west and central Europe. The main wintering areas are in the Black Sea and Caspian regions, the coastal Mediterranean and West Africa, with relatively small numbers of birds reaching the Arabian Peninsula and eastern Africa (south to Kenya and rarely western Uganda). In West Africa, the main wintering areas are in Mali and Nigeria, but small numbers reach Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone, and stragglers have been recorded in Gambia and Ghana. Movements: Chiefly migratory, although some southern breeding birds remain in their breeding areas year-round. Almost nothing is known about the migration routes of this species. It is known to be a summer visitor to the breeding areas in North Africa, and it is suspected that these breeding birds (and presumably also Iberian birds) winter in West Africa. A movement of birds from North Africa on a broad front across the Sahara seems likely. Birds wintering in Egypt (up to 7,500) probably originate from southeast Europe and Turkey. Small numbers of birds occur on passage in Cyprus (J. Gordon, in litt.), and these are likely to be birds moving between Turkey and Egypt. Some of the birds wintering in Southwest Asia breed locally (e.g. 150300 pairs in Iran), but the majority probably breed mainly in areas to the east of the Caspian Sea east as far as the Aral Sea. The origin of the small number of birds wintering in northeast Africa (Sudan to Kenya) is unknown, but is likely to be in western Asia, in view of the relative frequency with which this species is recorded on passage in the Arabian Peninsula. Population limits: Three populations are recognized: a population breeding in the west Mediterranean and North Africa and wintering mainly in West Africa; a population breeding in eastern Europe and wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region south to Egypt; and a Southwest Asian population wintering through the Arabian Peninsula to northeastern Africa. (A fourth group winters in southern and eastern Asia). A. Green (in litt.) suggests that the birds breeding in western Europe and North Africa are now isolated from birds breeding further east, and probably therefore constitute a discrete population. However, it is unlikely that there is any clear division between the Black Sea/Mediterranean and Southwest Asian wintering groups, and these two populations are retained primarily for practical reasons. Population size: West Mediterranean/West Africa: 10,000. 1% level 100. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the population wintering in West Africa to be 10,000, about half of which were in Mali. Perennou (1991b) suggested that a decline in numbers had occurred, and revised the population estimate to 7,00010,000. The highest mid-winter count in the 1980s was 6,450 (in 1985); numbers in the Niger Basin were consistently high, with a mean of over 4,500 during the period 198487, while counts in the Chad Basin varied widely from nil to 2,200, with a recent peak of 1,606 in 1988. Elgood (1982) reported flocks of up to 1,000 between Sokoto and Lake Chad in Nigeria, while Louette (1981) observed several hundred at Waza, Cameroon, in January 1981. Up to 230 were recorded in the Senegal Delta in the 1970s, but the highest count during the period 199095 was only 30 (P. Ysou, in litt.). Only low numbers have been recorded in West Africa since the late 1980s, with the maximum in the 1990s being only 128 in 1994, but this may be largely due to reduced coverage of some of the key wintering areas.
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The numbers of A. nyroca breeding in North Africa seem to have been grossly under-estimated in the past; Boumezbeur (1992) counted 1,360 birds in El Kala National Park in Algeria in April 1992, and estimated that there were over 600 breeding pairs in the park, mainly at Lac Tonga. The species has also recently been found breeding in the lower Loukos in Morocco. Eastern Europe/Black Sea/east Mediterranean: 10,00050,000 (Callaghan, in press). 1% level 300. The European breeding population has recently been estimated at between 11,000 and 25,000 pairs, with about 6,00015,000 of these in Romania (European Birds Database, 1994). This suggests a total population of 33,00075,000 birds, most of which presumably winter in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the Black Sea-Mediterranean wintering population at 50,000, but noted that this figure had not been confirmed by mid-winter counts, and considered that it might be an over-estimate. Certainly very few are counted during the International Waterfowl Census; total counts between 1982 and 1986 averaged only 700, while typical counts in recent years have included 832 in 1992 and 762 in 1994. (An exceptionally high count of over 3,000 in 1993 included a large number of birds in Algeria). There have been recent reports of increased use of new canals and reservoirs by this species, and this would offer some explanation for the low counts, as such sites are not currently well covered by the International Waterfowl Census. Poor coverage of Egyptian wetlands may also be a factor in the low counts of recent years, as these appear to be especially important for this population e.g. 6,580 were recorded at Lake Burullus, Egypt, in February 1979 (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). N. Hecker (in van Vessem, 1994) concluded that in the absence of any comprehensive surveys, it was not possible to produce a more realistic estimate for this population than that given by Monval & Pirot (1989). However, a recent workshop to review the status of the species concluded that in the absence of any recent high counts and very little data an estimate of 10,00050,000 was more appropriate (Callaghan, in press). Southwest Asia/northeast Africa: 5,000 (Perennou et al., 1994). 1% level 50. The Southwest Asian/northeast African population has been roughly estimated at about 5,000 birds (Perennou et al., 1994), but the numbers are poorly known. Mid-winter counts in the 1970s approached 6,000 (with as many as 5,000 at the Kelifskiye Lakes in Turkmenistan in 1974), but the highest count is recent years has been only 2,407 in 1994. Patrikeev (in prep.) states that the wintering population in Azerbaijan is unlikely to exceed 3,0005,000 birds, but this estimate appears to have been based on counts made in the 1960s, and there are no recent counts of more than a few tens of birds. It is possible that many birds in this population winter well to the east of the Caspian Sea and are never counted by the International Waterfowl Census. Urban (1993) has recently estimated the total population wintering in eastern Africa (excluding Egypt) to be no more than about 500 birds; Perennou (1992) gives 100600. The highest mid-winter count in this region in recent years has been 110 in 1983. Urban (1993) estimated the wintering population in Sudan at 10500 birds, and there has been a count of 105 in the White Nile Bird Sanctuary (in 1983), but Nikolaus (1987) listed the species as a rare migrant in this country. Small numbers winter regularly in Eritrea and Ethiopia (less than 100) and Kenya (less than 50), but there are no records from Tanzania or further south in Africa. Green (1992) suggests that the world population may now be as low as 49,000 birds. The central Asian population (which winters in southern and eastern Asia) has been estimated at about 10,000 birds (Perennou et al., 1994). With the present estimates of 10,000 in the west Mediterranean/West Africa, 10,00050,000 in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean, and 5,000 in Southwest Asia, this suggests a world population of possibly under 50,000 birds.
Habitat/ecology: A. nyroca breeds in shallow pools and marshes with abundant vegetation of all types, especially in large river deltas; it winters on larger lakes and lagoons, usually with reed-beds, and also in coastal marshes. Open water is rarely used by the species in any season. No moult migrations have been reported, birds undertaking the wing moult on the breeding grounds in July and August. Birds begin to leave northern breeding grounds in early September. Along the north coast of the Black Sea, the main migration occurs between early September and mid-October. The first birds arrive in wintering areas south of the Sahara in late October. Southern breeding areas are not deserted until the onset of cold weather. Spring migration begins in early March, and birds arrive back on their breeding grounds from mid-March to early April (in central Europe) and from mid-April to early May (in Russia).
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Conservation status: A declining and globally threatened species, listed as vulnerable by Collar et al. (1994) and Green (1996). A. nyroca has declined markedly throughout much of its main breeding range in eastern Europe and western Asia in recent decades, and in several parts of its range has become extremely local. Isakov (1970a) estimated the breeding population in the former USSR at 140,000 pairs in the 1960s. By the early 1980s, the population in the European part of the former USSR had fallen to just 12,00014,000 pairs, and by the early 1990s, as few as 6,000 pairs (Tucker & Heath, 1994). The decline in numbers and contraction in range have been especially pronounced in western Europe, where the small breeding populations in Spain and France have decreased to the verge of extinction. The Spanish breeding population has decreased from about 500 pairs earlier this century to only 15 pairs in recent years, while the French population may now be extinct (15 pairs in the 1970s, none in recent years). Krivenko (1993) reports only a slight decline in post-breeding numbers in Kazakhstan and the Caspian region between 1972 and 1989. However, there has been a marked decline in the numbers wintering in Turkmenistan, especially at the Kelifskiye lakes which held 5,000 A. nyroca in 1974, 1,300 in 1976 and 180 in 1978, but have held only occasional birds since then. The wintering population in northeast Africa has also declined markedly in recent decades (Brown et al., 1982). The massive declines in numbers of A. nyroca have been widely attributed to wetland drainage compounded by high hunting pressure. Increased aridity in the climate of central Europe may also have caused widespread loss and deterioration of wetlands (Tucker & Heath, 1994). An action plan for the conservation of A. nyroca in Europe has recently been compiled by N. Hecker (in van Vessem, 1994). Network of key sites: As for all globally threatened species, all sites regularly used by an appreciable number of individuals are of international importance. The list of sites at which Aythya nyroca occurs in eastern Europe/Black Sea/east Mediterranean is very extensive and extremely useful as a conservation tool, but it still only includes a rather small proportion of the entire population because of the widely dispersed distribution of this species in most seasons. Nevertheless, Annex 2 lists 55 breeding localities 18 passage sites and 119 wintering areas which is an extremely good basis for establishing a protected areas network for this globally threatened species. For the other two populations very few breeding areas are listed especially for the west Mediterranean/ West Africa population (1 only) and even fewer passage/moulting sites (4 in total). The single breeding locality for the west Mediterranean/West Africa population is however of 1800 individuals at Lac Tonga in Algeria which is a very significant number. It is extremely important to find out more about breeding areas east of the Caspian which is a gap in the key sites network at present. Seventy wintering sites are listed for the Southwest Asia/northeast Africa population of which 42 have held over 50 individuals. In 1981 25,000 A. nyroca were recorded from Bakhtegan and Tashk Lakes in Iran which regularly held high numbers however numbers of this magnitude would be very unlikely now. Forty-five wintering sites are listed for the Mediterranean/West Africa population but this list is of minimal value until it can be properly determined where the West African wintering birds breed and until the erratic appearance of A. nyroca in North Africa can be explained. Protection status of key sites: About half of the main breeding areas in Europe are unprotected, and most of the important wintering areas in Africa are unprotected. Some of the most important sites around the Black Sea and Caspian Sea are protected, but most are unprotected.
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MADAGASCAR POCHARD Aythya innotata

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Endemic to Madagascar. Apparently confined to lakes and pools (most importantly Lake Alaotra) in the northern central plateau of Madagascar. Possibly now extinct. Movements: Presumably sedentary within its very restricted range, as there are no records from other areas. Population limits: Only one population is recognized, viz. the entire population of the species. Population size: Entire population: 010. 1% level 1 (but possibly extinct). Most recent records come from the Lake Alaotra region, although there have been a few isolated records outside this region, particularly at Ambohibao and Itasy lakes near Antananarivo. Collar and Stuart (1985) have summarized the known records of the species. There have been few records of the bird from anywhere within its known range since the 1930s. Two flocks (of five and three birds) were seen in the southeast part of Lake Alaotra in May 1960, a flock of 20 was seen in this area in June 1960, and a flock of five was seen on the northeast side of the lake in July 1960 (Collar & Stuart, 1985). In the 1930s, Lake Itasy was identified as another locality for the species, but there are no subsequent records from this lake. A pair was recorded on Lake Ambohibao near Antananarivo in March 1970. Around 1930, the species was seen on a small pond near Antsirabe, and three were collected in 1915 at Ambatomainty, near Maevatanana. Two were seen at a barrage near Ambadivato, in the Andilamena region 70 km north of Lake Alaotra, in June 1960. The type specimen is from Betsileo country, i.e. the southernmost named area for the species. Three surveys in the 1980s, along with interviews with local villagers, failed to find evidence of the bird (Wilm, 1994). However, a single male was captured alive in fishing gear at Lake Alaotra in August 1991 (Wilm, 1993). This bird died in captivity in January 1993. Habitat/ecology: A. innotata is very poorly known. It is a diving duck of shallow freshwater lakes, pools and swamps with areas of open water and many islets of vegetation; all observations have been at elevations of 7501,500 m. The pochard was usually found alone or in pairs, and was always very secretive. It apparently flew little, and habitually stayed near islets of vegetation, seldom venturing into open water (Langrand, 1990). Nesting has been observed in March and April. Conservation status: A declining and globally threatened species, listed as critically endangered by Collar et al. (1994) and Green (1996), and possibly already extinct. There has been a progressive decline in numbers at Lake Alaotra since 1930s, when the species is said to have been common (Langrand, 1990). The lack of records in the 1970s and 1980s, despite a number of surveys, suggested that the bird was on the brink of extinction. Since one reported sighting near Antananarivo in 1970, the only record of the species has been of a male caught at Lake Alaotra in 1991. Intensive searches at Lake Alaotra in 198990 and 1993 failed to discover more birds, and the species may now be extinct. The decline in numbers has been attributed to trapping and hunting, introduction of exotic fish species ( Tilapia spp., Ophiocephalus sp., Cyprinus sp., Micropterus salmoides etc.), introduction of exotic plants (Eichhornia crassipes and Salvinia sp.) and steady transformation of the Alaotra Lake area into ricefields (Langrand, 1990; Wilm, 1993 & 1994). Exotic fish compete for food and have eliminated beds of water lilies Nymphus spp. which may have been essential for the bird (Collar & Stuart, 1985; Young & Smith, 1989). Gill-net fishing of exotic fish may also have taken a heavy toll of
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adult birds (Collar & Stuart, 1985). Erosion in the catchment area, caused by slash-and-burn cultivation, has given rise to an extreme problem of siltation. These silt deposits have killed off much of the benthic fauna, particularly bivalves which are likely to have been an important source of food for A. innotata (O. Langrand, in litt. ). Pidgeon (1996) reviews the degradation of Lake Alaotra and the probable extinction of A. innotata.
Network of key sites: Lac Alaotra is the only known regular haunt of the species, and the only site at which it has been recorded since 1970. The recent appearance of a single adult at this site was however far enough temporally removed from the previous sighting to confirm that the individual must have originated from another site. It is thought to be certain that all individuals disappeared from Lac Alaotra between the last two sightings (Young, in litt.). Protection status of key sites: Lac Alaotra is unprotected.
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TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, with a wide breeding distribution across northern Eurasia from Iceland to the Bering Sea, generally between 45 and 70N. Western Eurasian populations commonly winter south to North Africa and the Gulf, and in much smaller numbers to West and East Africa. Movements: Partially migratory; present throughout the year on breeding grounds in temperate regions of western Europe, but northern populations are highly migratory. Birds breeding in Iceland, Fennoscandia, the Baltic region and Russia east to 65E join resident breeding birds to winter in the Baltic and around North Sea and Atlantic coasts. In mild winters, over 40% of the northwest European population winter in the Baltic, the most important areas being in the shallow bays and lagoons along the northeast coast of Germany and in western Poland. The shallow waters of southeastern Denmark and the archipelagos of eastern Sweden are also very important for this species (Durinck et al. , 1994; Pihl et al., 1995). Birds wintering in central Europe include local breeding birds and birds breeding to the northeast in European Russia. Birds wintering in the Black Sea area and east Mediterranean are thought to originate from northeast European Russia and northwestern Siberia (Cramp & Simmons, 1977; Monval & Pirot, 1989), while birds wintering in the Caspian region probably originate from western Siberia and central Asia. A bird ringed in western Siberia (Lake Mukhartukha) has been recovered in Egypt (Goodman & Meininger, 1989). In hard winters, many ducks leave the Baltic, some moving to the Netherlands, Britain and Ireland, but the movements are poorly understood (Durinck et al., 1994). The wetlands of lower Iraq may constitute a hard-weather refuge for birds which normally winter in the Caspian region: over 40,000 were recorded in Iraq in January 1979 (Scott & Carp, 1982), as compared with only a few tens or hundreds in normal years. Population limits: No discrete populations are identifiable. There seem to be no precise boundaries between the various breeding populations, but the wintering areas show more separation, with major concentrations of birds in northwest Europe (centred on the Baltic), the central European lakes, the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Caspian Sea. Monval & Pirot (1989) considered that there was good separation between the birds wintering in northwest Europe and those wintering in central Europe, and included the central European birds with the Black Sea/Mediterranean population. Recent mid-winter counts show a continuous distribution of A. fuligula from central Europe through the Danube in Hungary to the Black Sea region, and support this treatment, which is adopted here. Thus, three populations are recognized, based on the major wintering areas: northwest Europe, central Europe/Black Sea/ Mediterranean, and Southwest Asia. It is apparent, however, that there is extensive overlap between these three groups on their breeding grounds. Population size: Northwest Europe: 1,000,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 10,000.
Central Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean: 600,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 6,000. There has been no evidence of any significant change in this population in recent years, and the estimate of Monval & Pirot (1989) is therefore retained (see Annex 1). Small numbers of birds, presumably from this population, reach West Africa, e.g. up to 50 in Senegal, 150 in Nigeria and 26 in Chad. Southwest Asia/northeast Africa: 200,000. 1% level 2,000. Perennou et al. (1994) estimated the Southwest Asian wintering population at 200,000, based on counts of up to 170,000 in the 1970s and counts of up to 113,000 in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Urban (1993)
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estimated the total number wintering in northeast Africa (excluding Egypt) to be between 1,500 and 6,000, with the great majority in Sudan (5002,000) and Ethiopia (5003,000), and probably less than 100 in East Africa. As these numbers are insignificant in relation to the numbers wintering in Southwest Asia, the estimate of 200,000 given by Perennou et al. (1994) is retained for the entire flyway.
Habitat/ecology: Aythya fuligula prefers large, deep, freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs with open water and islands for breeding. Although primarily a freshwater species, substantial numbers of A. fuligula winter in estuaries, along sheltered sea coasts and on brackish inland seas (e.g. Caspian Sea). The species is highly gregarious in winter, with flocks often comprising thousands of birds. Moult migrations occur in some areas, reaching a peak in late July. Large gatherings of males are found in parts of Matsalu Bay (Estonia), in northeast Germany, and at the IJsselmeer in the Netherlands. Males moult their flight feathers between late June and early September, and are flightless for three to four weeks. Females moult their flight feathers one or two months later. The autumn migration begins in September, and northern breeding areas are deserted by late October or early November. Birds begin to arrive on their winter quarters from early October, and reach peak numbers in January and February. There is some segregation of the sexes in autumn and winter, probably caused by the differences in the timing of the moult. In mild winters, the spring migration begins in late February, and in western and central Europe most birds are on their breeding grounds by mid-April. Some birds reach Fennoscandia by late March, but the northernmost breeding birds do not reach their breeding areas until mid-May. Conservation status: The numbers of A. fuligula wintering in northwest Europe and central Europe have shown a significant increase over the past twenty years, while the numbers wintering in the west Mediterranean have been increasing since 1983 (Monval & Pirot, 1989; Rose, 1995). In northwest Europe, the increase has been faster in recent years, while in central Europe there is evidence of a slight decline within the last few years. It has been suggested that an exchange of wintering birds between northwest Europe, central Europe and the west Mediterranean is at least partially responsible for the population trends exhibited in these regions (Rose, 1995). A. fuligula is one of the few Aythya species in Western Eurasia with large populations that have been stable or increasing in recent decades. The recent increase in numbers in parts of northwest Europe has been attributed to the birds adaptability to take over new habitats artificially created by man, such as park lakes and reservoirs, and colonization of northwest Europe by exotic molluscs (especially the mussel Dreissena polymorpha) on which the bird may rely almost entirely for food at certain times of the year (del Hoyo et al., 1992). Data from the Black Sea/east Mediterranean and Southwest Asia are inadequate to determine populations trends. Network of key sites: It is possible that the entire Caspian wintering population autumn stages in the Volga Delta and very large passage concentrations for the Central Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean wintering population can be found in the Danube Delta in Romania and at the mouth of the Ob river in Russia. Further west the known key passage sites tend to be smaller in Central Europe and the southern Baltic. Many more key staging sites might remain to be identified at the latitude of the northern Baltic. One site, Pskovsko Chudskoye Lakes in Russia near the Latvian border is known to harbour large numbers of A. fuligula on passage. In northwestern Europe, A. fuligula is relatively widely dispersed in winter but 5060 key sites are still listed in Annex 2 for having supported between 1% and 10% of the population. These probably provide wintering habitat for the majority of the population in most winters. The Central Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean and Caspian wintering populations are sometimes found in enormous concentrations under certain winter conditions but usually they are more dispersed. The 85 key wintering sites listed for these two populations form a very good basis for a key sites network but the very large counts present from some sites in Iraq on the few occasions they were visited maybe indicative of larger numbers if Iraq were to be properly surveyed. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important sites are protected, especially the passage sites, but some of the very important sites are not protected. These include the IJsselmeer in the Netherlands, Szecin Lagoon in Poland and Skadarsko Jezero on the Albania/Macedonia (former Yugoslav Republic of)/Montenegro border.
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GREATER SCAUP Aythya marila

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies are generally recognized: the nominate form of northern Europe and northwest Asia, and mariloides of northeast Asia and North America. Some authors recognize a third form, nearctica, for North American birds. Distribution: Holarctic; the most northerly of the Aythya species in summer and winter, breeding at high latitudes across northern Eurasia and North America and wintering south to the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas, China, Japan and the southern USA. Only the nominate subspecies occurs in Western Eurasia. This breeds in Iceland, Scandinavia and northern Russia east to about the Lena River, and also along the Baltic Sea coast in Sweden, Finland and Estonia; it winters in the western Baltic, along the coasts of the Netherlands, Denmark, France and the United Kingdom, around the Black Sea and in the north Caspian. Small numbers also occur on large lakes in central Europe and in the Adriatic, and a few birds occasionally reach the coast of North Africa. Movements: Strongly migratory, wintering south along coasts and on inland seas at temperate latitudes. The Icelandic breeding population, estimated at 3,0005,000 pairs (Koskimies, 1993) winters mainly in Ireland and Scotland, although there have been many recoveries in other parts of Britain and the Netherlands, and some recoveries from the southwest Baltic (Germany) and northwest France (Gardarsson, 1991a). Birds breeding in Fennoscandia and northern Russia east at least to Tyumen winter mainly in the Baltic Sea and along the Atlantic coast south to France. The Baltic holds an average of 50% of the northwest European population in winter, the main areas being the shallow lagoons and bays along the German and Polish coasts from Wismar Bay to Szecin Lagoon (Durinck et al., 1994; Pihl et al., 1995). However, the IJsselmeer in the Netherlands is the single most important wintering site for the species in northwest Europe, regularly holding over 100,000 birds. The population wintering in Britain and Ireland, recently estimated at about 14,000 birds (Kirby et al., 1993), is composed mainly of Icelandic birds, but also contains some birds of continental origin. Kirby et al. (1993) suggest that Britain and Ireland may be important for continental birds displaced by cold weather. In eastern Europe and western Asia, the principal wintering areas are in the Sea of Azov and northern Caspian Sea. The origins of these birds are unknown, but it is assumed that they lie towards the east end of the breeding range of A. marila in northern Siberia. Population limits: Two populations can be recognized in Western Eurasia on the basis of the main wintering areas: a population wintering in northwest Europe and a population wintering in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. The extent to which these populations overlap on the breeding grounds is unknown. Birds ringed in the North Sea have been recovered as far east as 73E in Tyumen (Cramp & Simmons, 1977), and estimates of the breeding population in Europe suggest that as many as 2550% of the birds wintering in Europe come from western Siberia, east of the Urals. Any migratory divide between these birds and the birds wintering in the Black and Caspian Seas is likely to be in the region of western Taymyr. The birds breeding in Iceland and wintering mainly in Ireland and Scotland have traditionally been included within the northwest European wintering population (Scott, 1980; Pirot et al., 1989; Rose & Scott, 1994), and this treatment is retained here because of the considerable amount of overlap between these birds and birds of continental origin in the southern North Sea. Population size: Northwest Europe: 310,000 (Laursen et al., 1992). 1% level 3,100.
Western Siberia/Black Sea/Caspian: 100,000200,000. Provisional numerical criterion 1,500. The size of the Black Sea/Caspian Sea population is very poorly known. Szijj (1972) estimated the Black Sea/Mediterranean population of Aythya marila at 50,000 birds, and this figure has been repeated
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by many authors since then (e.g. Scott, 1980; Pirot et al., 1989; Laursen et al., 1992: Rose & Scott, 1994), even though the birds wintering in the Caspian Sea have been included in this population by the most recent authors. Isakov (1970b) estimated the wintering population in the western USSR at 93,200 birds, mainly in the Black Sea with some in the Caspian. This higher estimate is more consistent with recent counts in the region. Mid-winter counts in the Black Sea have located only about 8,000 10,000 birds in recent years, although there were 10,000 in Ukraine alone in 1989. However, there has recently been a report of up to 150,000 in the lagoons of the Sea of Azov in autumn (A. Koshelev, pers. comm. to Wetlands International Seaduck Specialist Group). The winter quarters of these birds are unknown, but are likely to be somewhere in the Black Sea region. The wintering population in the Caspian Sea has recently been estimated at 35,000, largely on the basis of a count of 31,200 in 1991 (Perennou et al., 1994). Some 30,000 of these birds were counted at just two sites in Kazakhstan, and thus the estimate of 35,000 for the entire Caspian region seems very low. Only small numbers (less than 100) reach the south Caspian region in Iran (Scott, 1976), but 5,0007,000 are said to winter on the southwest coast of the Caspian in Azerbaijan (Patrikeev, in prep.), and there have been several high counts in Turkmenistan (e.g. 12,550 at Lake Sarakamysh in 1993, 9,000 at the Kelifskiye Lakes in 1974, and 4,950 at Lake Dengizkul in 1993). It is suggested that the total population of Aythya marila wintering in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea is likely to be at least 100,000, and may be as high as 200,000. These figures are much more consistent with estimates of the breeding population in northern Siberia. Krivenko (1993) gives an estimate of 312,000 for the postbreeding population of A. marila in the tundra zone from the Yamal Peninsula to Taymyr, while Rogacheva (1992) gives an estimate of 530,000 for the autumn population in central Siberia alone. Although many of these birds may migrate west to winter in northwest Europe, the majority must winter somewhere between the Black Sea and the central Asian republics, as only very small numbers of A. marila of the nominate form occur further east in Asia.
Habitat/ecology: Aythya marila breeds on shallow lakes and pools in the tundra and wooded tundra zones at high latitudes, in upland areas in Scandinavia, and along the Baltic coast; it winters mainly along the coast, on brackish lagoons, in estuaries, and in sheltered bays and shallow marine waters, and also on inland seas and, less commonly, large lakes. A. marila generally winters in shallow waters, less than 10 m deep, and in the Baltic, may feed mainly at night (Durinck et al., 1994). In winter, the birds feed principally on molluscs, chiefly Mytilus edulis and Macoma baltica (Atkinson-Willes, 1976). In cold winters, some A. marila probably leave the Baltic Sea for the Netherlands and France, while others concentrate on small icefree waters (Durinck et al., 1994). The species is highly gregarious in winter, forming dense flocks of several thousand birds. Large flocks of moulting males occur in some areas in northern Russia, notably in the Pechora Delta, and small flocks of moulting males can be present on the IJsselmeer in the Netherlands in late July. Up to 4,000 males moult at Lake Myvatn in Iceland (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). Many females moult on the breeding grounds, but concentrations of 5001,000 moulting adult females have been reported in Denmark during the second half of September and first half of October (Joensen, 1973). The birds are flightless for three to four weeks during the wing moult. The autumn migration begins in mid-August, and reaches a peak in September in the Arctic, in October in the southern Baltic and in November or December in Denmark. The spring migration begins in late February, and reaches a peak in western Europe in mid-March. Most birds leave Danish waters in April, although a few flocks remain until the middle of May. The main passage through the Baltic occurs in April, with birds reaching the lower Pechora during the second half of May and the Yamal Peninsula in early June. Conservation status: Overall trends are unknown in both populations because of the poor coverage of the counts until at least the late 1980s. Important breeding populations are fluctuating in Russia and Iceland, while numbers are decreasing in Estonia and Finland and stable in Sweden (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Increases in numbers of wintering birds have been noted in the Netherlands, along the German Baltic coast and along the Polish coast, while decreases have been reported in Britain, Ireland and Denmark (Kirby et al., 1993; Tucker & Heath, 1994). According to Krivenko (1993), post-breeding numbers in the tundra zones of western and central Siberia remained relatively stable between 1972 and 1989. Network of key sites: In severe winters, it is estimated that over 90% of the European population is concentrated at fewer than ten sites (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Together, these sites regularly hold over 50% of the Icelandic
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breeding population in winter. Although poorly known it is likely that the Black Sea wintering birds are also very highly concentrated, in the Sea of Azov and the Sivash (80,000 in the East Sivash in 1991) but the Caspian wintering birds appear to be more dispersed in winter. The apparent dispersed distribution of the Caspian wintering population might however be more indicative of a lack of knowledge rather than a real phenomenon (25,000 on Kazakhstan Caspian Coast in 1991). In total 17 key wintering sites in the Black Sea and Caspian Basin are known but very few staging and moulting sites can be identified outside of the Baltic. In the Baltic over 20 key passage and moulting sites are known and four sites in Estonia are estimated to provide spring staging grounds for over 50% of the population. Some large concentrations are also identified in the Russian breeding grounds but more must exist and it is not known if those identified are for non-breeding, staging or moulting birds. The 30+ key wintering sites identified for the northwest European wintering population probably provide wintering areas for over 90% of the population in most winters.
Protection status of key sites: Important breeding and moulting areas in Russia are mostly unprotected. Many of the important wintering areas in the Netherlands and most of those in Denmark and Germany are unprotected because of the enormous difficulty faced when trying to protect offshore marine areas. The three most important wintering sites for Icelandic birds (the Solway Firth, Loughs Neagh and Beg, and Wexford Harbour) are all Ramsar Sites, and one of these, the Solway Firth, is also a Special Protection Area. Important sites in the Black Sea and Caspian regions are poorly known, but most are likely to be unprotected.
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COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima

Subspecies: Polytypic. Six subspecies have been described: the nominate form from northwest Europe east to Novaya Zemlaya; S. m. faroeensis from the Faroe Islands; S. m. borealis from northeastern Canada through Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard to Franz Josef Land; S. m. v-nigra in northeast Asia and northwest North America; S. m. dresseri on the Atlantic coast of North America from Maine to Labrador; and S. m. sedentaria in the Hudson Bay area, Canada. Birds from Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard and north Norway are sometimes separated as a distinct form islandica. Birds breeding in the Shetland Islands and Orkney Islands (Scotland) are somewhat intermediate between faroeensis and mollissima, but are perhaps best included in faroeensis (Cramp & Simmons, 1977). Distribution: Holarctic, breeding at high latitudes across northern Eurasia and North America and wintering mainly within the breeding range. Three subspecies occur in Western Eurasia. The nominate subspecies breeds in northern Britain (except Orkney and Shetland) and Northern Ireland and on the coasts of northern Europe, including the Baltic Sea, east to Novaya Zemlaya, and winters mainly in the southern Baltic and North Sea area, with small numbers of birds reaching the Bay of Biscay, central Europe and the west Mediterranean (France and Italy). In recent years, a small non-migratory population of S. m. mollissima has become established in the northern Black Sea in Ukraine (Flint et al., 1984). This population is presumably the origin of the birds which occasionally occur in winter on the Black Sea coast of Romania. S. m. faroeensis breeds in the Faroe, Shetland and Orkney Islands. S. m. borealis breeds from Baffin Island east through the Arctic islands of northeast Canada to Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard and Franz Josef Land. Movements: Partially migratory, wintering at sea in north and northwest Europe, Iceland and west Greenland. Many populations are mainly sedentary, but large numbers of birds from Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway are migratory, wintering mostly on the Murman coast, along the north and west coasts of Norway, in the Baltic Sea and in the Wadden Sea. A few birds winter inland in central Europe and in the west Mediterranean. Males tend to remain further north than females and immatures. Birds breeding in Novaya Zemlaya, Vaigach Island and islands in the Yugorsky Shar Strait (nominate mollissima) winter on the Murman coast, in northern Norway and irregularly along the southeast coast of the Kola Peninsula in the White Sea, where they mix with local breeding birds. Birds breeding in the White Sea (Onega Bay, Kandalaksha Bay and Solovetsky Islands) winter predominantly in Onega Bay (Bianki et al., 1994; A.S. Koryakin & T.D. Paneva, in litt.). Birds ringed in western Norway have been recovered in Scotland and the Netherlands. Birds breeding in Finland and Sweden winter mainly in the southern part of Danish waters and on the north coast of Germany. Birds breeding on the west coast of Sweden and the southeast coast of Norway winter in the northern parts of the Kattegat, and presumably account for 200,000300,000 of the 300,000400,000 individuals counted here in mid-winter, the remainder being of Baltic origin. Birds breeding in the Baltic undergo extensive moult migrations in late summer. Large moulting flocks assemble off southwest Jutland, in the German Wadden Sea and on the Danish side of the Kattegat. After moulting, some disperse southwards to winter in the Wadden Sea, mixing with Dutch birds. Other Baltic breeding birds moult off Gotland (Sweden), Estonia and Latvia, and tend to winter among the Danish islands and (in small numbers) off north Germany. The majority of eiders from Danish breeding colonies (80,000 individuals in autumn) show only restricted movements, and only two colonies are totally migratory (Noer, 1993). Most Danish birds winter in the southern parts of the Kattegat, the Storebaelt and the archipelago south of Fyn. Birds breeding in the Netherlands are partially migratory, reaching the south and east coasts of Britain, Normandy in small numbers, and infrequently the Bay of Biscay. The populations breeding in Britain and Ireland are mainly sedentary or dispersive, although they show some small movement, rarely over 200 km. A few birds ringed in Scotland have been recovered in Scandinavia, but there is no regular emigration by any British or Irish birds. The relatively small number of birds occurring in winter on the south and east coasts of England are believed to come from the Netherlands (Dutch birds have been recovered north to Fife in southern Scotland).
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S. m. faroeensis in the Faroe Islands is mainly, if not wholly, resident. Birds resembling faroeensis in the Shetlands and Orkneys are also presumably sedentary. S. m. borealis breeding in northeast Canada (from Somerset and Ellesmere islands south to Southampton Island, Hudson Strait and northern Labrador) winters from Labrador south to Nova Scotia and rarely New England. The population of S. m. borealis breeding in west Greenland presumably winter mainly in southwest Greenland. Of 515 recoveries of breeding birds and chicks ringed in west Greenland, none has been found outside Greenland (S. Pihl, in litt.). Some birds from east Greenland probably winter in Iceland, where there has been one recovery of a ringed bird. Birds breeding in Iceland (200,000300,000 pairs; Koskimies, 1993) are resident within Iceland, and there is no indication of any movement of Icelandic birds to Britain. Movements of the birds breeding in Svalbard are poorly understood. Birds ringed in Svalbard have been recovered in Iceland, and also at Tromso in Norway, but it seems that very few borealis reach northern Norway (S. Pihl, in litt.), and it may be that this population is only partly migratory. The birds breeding in Franz Josef Land are migratory, disappearing from the islands in September and returning again in late May or early June (Dementev & Gladkov, 1952), but their winter quarters are unknown.
Population limits: Three main populations are recognized for the purposes of this Atlas, corresponding to the subspecies occurring in Western Eurasia. However, each of these three populations consists of two or more relatively, if not entirely, discrete sub-populations which should, perhaps, be treated as separate units. 1. Populations of borealis (islandica) 1.1 Greenland: The population is currently assigned to borealis, but is sufficiently distinct from northeast Canadian birds to have been considered as belonging to a separate form islandica. The movements of Greenland birds do not appear to be known, but it seems likely that most, if not all, are resident within Greenland, wintering mainly along the southwest coast. 1.2 Iceland: Apparently a discrete, sedentary population. 1.3 Svalbard and Franz Joseph Land: Two migratory groups probably best lumped as a single population, although the winter quarters of both groups are unknown. 2. Populations of faroeensis 2.1 Faroe Islands: A discrete sedentary population. 2.2 Shetland and Orkney Islands: The birds in the Shetland and Orkney Islands are sufficiently distinct from nominate mollissima of mainland Scotland to merit treatment as a separate population. They also differ slightly from Faroes birds, and as there is no evidence of mixing between these populations, the Faroes and Shetland/Orkney birds cannot easily be lumped. 3. Populations of nominate mollissima 3.1 Britain (except Shetland and Orkney) and Ireland: Probably best treated as a single population. There is doubtless considerable mixing between the large British and much smaller Irish populations, but apparently little mixing with continental birds. 3.2 Baltic, Denmark and Netherlands: There would appear to be little mixing between birds of the Atlantic coast of northern Europe (from west Norway north and east to Novaya Zemlaya) and birds breeding around the Baltic, and in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. However, within the latter area there is considerable mixing of birds, with migratory and sedentary elements overlapping in the main moulting and wintering areas. 3.3 Norway and Russia (Kola Peninsula to Novaya Zemlaya): Birds from Novaya Zemlaya winter on the Murman coast, where they mix with local breeding birds. Some of the latter move to the Norwegian coast, where they mix with north Norwegian breeding birds which appear to be mainly sedentary. Birds in this group differ morphologically from those in the Baltic (A.S. Koryakin & T.D. Paneva, in litt.), suggesting that little if any mixing occurs. 3.4 White Sea: A relatively isolated population in the western part of the White Sea, breeding in Onega Bay, in Kandalaksha Bay and on the Solovetsky Islands, and wintering predominantly in Onega Bay. About 50% of this population breed in Kandalaksha State Nature Reserves. The White Sea birds differ morphologically from those in the Barents Sea and from those in the Baltic (A.S. Koryakin & T.D. Paneva, in litt.). Recoveries from over 20,000 S. mollissima ringed in the White Sea and Barents Sea show no evidence of any movement between these two areas, but there have been a few recoveries of birds from the White Sea in the Baltic (A.S. Koryakin & T.D. Paneva, in litt.).
Little information is available on the small population of S. mollissima (10118 pairs; European Bird Database, 1994) breeding on the Black Sea coast of Ukraine.
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Population size: borealis: 700,0001,300,000. 1% level 10,000. Greenland: 30,000300,000 Iceland: 600,000900,000 Svalbard and Franz Joseph: 40,00080,000 The breeding population in Greenland is said to be in the range 10,000100,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994). The breeding population in Iceland has been estimated at 200,000300,000 pairs (Koskimies, 1993), and that in Svalbard at 10,00020,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994). The breeding population in Franz Joseph Land is unknown, but is likely to be small; breeding is confined to the southern islands where the species is said to be common but not abundant (Dementev & Gladkov, 1952). These estimates of breeding populations suggest a total population of borealis in the region of 700,0001,300,000 individuals.
faroeensis: 18,00026,000. 1% level 220. Faroe Islands: 6,00012,000 Shetland and Orkney: 12,00013,500 The breeding population in the Faroes has been estimated at 2,0004,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994). The total population of eiders in Shetland and Orkney has recently been estimated at 12,00013,500 birds of which 7,0007,500 are in the Shetland Islands and 5,0006,000 in the Orkney Islands (Kirby et al., 1993). mollissima: 1,735,0002,355,000. 1% level 20,000. Britain and Ireland: 65,00075,000 Baltic, Denmark and the Netherlands: 1,350,0001,700,000 Norway and Russia: 300,000550,000 White Sea: 20,00030,000 In the mid-1980s, the total population of S. mollissima wintering in Britain and Ireland (excluding Shetland and Orkney) was estimated at 58,600 birds, with only about 2,200 of these wintering in Ireland (Lack, 1986). More recently, Carter (1995) has given the breeding population in Britain (including Shetland and Orkney) as 31,00032,000 breeding females, and that in Ireland as 6001,000 breeding females (198891), implying a total population of over 90,000 birds. However, Kirby et al. (1993) have recently estimated the total British wintering population at only 77,500 birds, to which can be added another 2,000 birds in Ireland. After an allowance is made for the 12,00013,500 birds in Shetland and Orkney, these figures suggest that the population of nominate mollissima in Britain and Ireland is in the region of 65,00075,000 birds. The population of mollissima wintering in the Baltic has recently been estimated at 1,000,0001,300,000 birds (Pihl et al., 1995) and that in the Wadden Sea at 350,000400,000 (Wetlands International Seaduck Specialist Group, in litt.), giving a total wintering population of 1,350,0001,700,000. Estimates of breeding populations agree reasonably well with these figures. The population of mollissima breeding in the Baltic, Denmark and the Netherlands is estimated at about 365,000510,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994), or about 1,100,0001,500,000 birds. Perhaps as many as 100,000 birds breeding in southwestern Norway apparently also belong to this population, suggesting a total population of about 1,200,0001,600,000 birds. Estimates of breeding populations suggest that the total population of the Norwegian/Russian group is likely to be in the region of 300,000450,000 birds, i.e. most of the Norwegian population of 100,000 150,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994), and as many as half of the European Russian population of 20,00030,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994). Counts of wintering birds suggest a somewhat higher figure. Nygrd et al. (1988) estimated the wintering population in Norway at 400,000500,000 birds, while Laursen (1989) gives an estimate of 50,000100,000 for the number wintering in northwest Russia. Even allowing for the 20,00030,000 birds in the White Sea (see below) and some immigrant borealis from the north, these estimates suggest a total population of 400,000550,000. The White Sea population has recently been estimated at 20,00030,000 birds (A.S. Koryakin & T.D. Paneva, in litt.). Taken together, these figures suggest a total population of nominate mollissima of between 1,700,000 and 2,300,000 birds. Most earlier authors have recognized only a single population of Somateria mollissima in Western Eurasia, recently estimated at about 3,000,000 birds (Pirot et al., 1989; Rose & Scott, 1994). This estimate does not include the birds breeding in Greenland. The present figures agree reasonably well with the earlier estimate, suggesting a total population of between 2,400,000 and 3,400,000 birds in Western Eurasia (i.e. excluding the Greenland birds).
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Habitat/ecology: Marine, breeding on islands along low-lying rocky coasts and estuaries; also inland on tundra pools or rivers. Disperses along shallow sea shores in winter, commonly in bays and at river mouths. Generally feeds in shallow waters less than 20 m deep. Highly gregarious, sometimes forming flocks of 50,000 individuals or more in winter and spring (Durinck et al., 1994). In the Kattegat and Kiel Bay, regularly recorded in large flocks up to 40 km offshore (Durinck et al., 1994). Most adult males leave the breeding grounds in May and June to form flocks with non-breeding and immature birds. In August, the males become flightless for some weeks when they moult their flight feathers. The birds breeding in Svalbard and northern Russia moult near their breeding grounds, although there are important moulting areas in the White Sea, used at least by breeding birds of Kandalaksha Gulf. Large concentrations of moulting S. mollissima occur in Iceland, especially along the west coast, where tens of thousands have been recorded at several localities and up to 100,000 have been observed in Borgarfjordur on Faxa Bay (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). Large numbers of birds, including some adult males, moult in the Swedish and Finnish archipelagos, although many males and immatures of the Baltic population undertake a moult migration in late June and July through the western Baltic to the Danish and German Wadden Sea and, to a lesser extent, also the Dutch Wadden Sea. In Denmark, the main autumn migration occurs in October and November, although some adult females and juveniles arrive in the Wadden Sea as early as September. The return passage begins in late February and reaches a peak in Estonia in March. Birds arrive on their breeding grounds in Finland in the second half of April. Conservation status: Overall trends in borealis are unknown. Numbers are reported to be decreasing in Greenland, increasing in Iceland and stable in Svalbard (European Bird Database, 1994). The population of faroeensis in the Faroe Islands is said to be stable (European Bird Database, 1994). A marked decline occurred in the Shetland population of faroeensis during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but numbers have increased since then to former levels (Kirby et al., 1993). The numbers of nominate mollissima in Russia are said to be stable (Flint & Krivenko, 1990). Elsewhere in northwest Europe, numbers of mollissima have increased considerably in recent decades, with increases reported in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Britain and Ireland (European Bird Database, 1994). There has been a marked expansion in the breeding range and increase in numbers in Britain since the 19th century and in Ireland since initial colonization in 1912 (Kirby et al., 1993). During the period 196872 to 198891, the British and Irish breeding population (very largely nominate mollissima) increased from an estimated 20,000 pairs to about 32,000 pairs (S.R. Baillie in Gibbons et al., 1993). However, there are indications that over much of northwest Europe the numbers of mollissima may now have stabilized (Wetlands International Seaduck Specialist Group, in litt.); there have been no reports of increases within the last few years, and a decrease has been reported in the Netherlands (European Bird Database, 1994). Network of key sites: The Danish inshores, German Baltic coast and the Wadden Sea provide important habitat for S. mollissima throughout the year but especially in winter when over 30 key sites are identified. Kiel Bucht in Germany and Laeso South in Denmark harbour the largest flocks. The 16 key autumn staging and 19 key spring staging sites are all in Germany and Denmark and tend to be relatively small but two of the five moulting sites identified (Foglo-Dragsfjard in Finland and the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea) each support up to 7.5% of all moulting individuals in the population. Although S. mollissima tends to breed, moult and stage in tight groups, very rarely if at all do these groups exceed the threshold values necessary for areas to qualify as key sites for the dispersive rather than migratory sub-populations. This is why only three relatively minor key sites and four major key sites are listed outside of the range of the Baltic/Denmark/Netherlands sub-population. The other exception is the Icelandic population of S. m. borealis which has four major key sites on Iceland where it breeds and moults in enormous concentrations. On Iceland, the eider down is commercially farmed at these key sites. To some extent this population is also very concentrated in winter. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important sites in Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Svalbard and Russia are protected, as are some of those in Norway and Greenland. In Iceland, S. mollissima enjoys special protection, and this extends to practically all breeding colonies. Some of the more important moulting and wintering sites are protected, including the entire coastline of Breidafjordur (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). However, some of the most important sites are unprotected. The problem of protecting marine areas is common to all seaduck species.
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KING EIDER Somateria spectabilis

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Holarctic, breeding at high latitudes across northern Eurasia and North America and wintering south to Iceland (where very scarce), Norway, Kamchatka, the Aleutian Islands and Newfoundland. In Western Eurasia, S. spectabilis breeds only in Svalbard and Arctic Russia, west sporadically to Kandalaksha Bay in the White Sea and the east Murman coast (Bianki et al., 1994); it winters south to central Norway. Movements: Migratory, wintering at sea quite far north in northern Europe and west Greenland. Stragglers sometimes occur well south of the normal winter range. Birds breeding in Svalbard and Arctic Russia east to west Taymyr winter from the White Sea south to central Norway. The small number of birds reaching Iceland are thought to originate from Canada, Greenland and Svalbard. The wintering areas of birds breeding in northeast Greenland are unknown, although it has been suggested that these birds winter in polynias in the sea ice between east Greenland and western Iceland (S. Pihl, in litt.). Birds wintering in west Greenland are believed to be of Canadian origin, and there is no evidence that birds from east Greenland move to west Greenland. Population limits: Somateria spectabilis occurring in the North Atlantic are perhaps best treated as a single population, extending from east Greenland to northeast Europe and western Siberia. Population size: East Greenland/western Siberia/northeast Europe: 300,000 (Wetlands International Seaduck Specialist Group, in litt.). 1% level 3,000. The breeding population in Svalbard has been estimated at 2,5005,000 pairs, and the population in European Russia at 100,000150,000 individuals or 40,00060,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994; A. S. Koryakin and T.D. Paneva, in litt.). Krivenko (1993) estimated the autumn population in western and central Siberia (from the Yamal Peninsula to Taymyr) at about 220,000 birds, while Rogacheva (1992) estimated that about 100,000 birds migrated west from the Taymyr region to winter in the North Atlantic. The breeding population in east Greenland is unknown, but the total breeding population in Greenland is thought not to exceed 30,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994). These figures suggest a total North Atlantic population of at least 300,000 birds, and possibly as many as 400,000. About 45,000 birds are thought to winter along the Norwegian coast. Habitat/ecology: Somateria spectabilis generally breeds on freshwater lakes, pools, bogs and small rivers in the Arctic tundra, and spends the rest of the year at sea, often in deep waters away from land. Birds are present along the Murman and Norwegian coasts mainly from October to mid-April. Conservation status: Overall trends are unknown. The breeding populations in European Russia and Svalbard are said to be stable (European Bird Database 1994). Network of key sites: Only two key sites are listed and the most important (30,000 moulting birds in west Greenland) is judged to be part of the west Greenland/Canada breeding population that is beyond the scope of this work. The lack of sites is partly because the species is truly quite well dispersed at most times of year but perhaps mainly due to an extreme lack of information.
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STELLERS EIDER Polysticta stelleri

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Holarctic, breeding on Arctic coasts from the Yamal Peninsula east to northern Alaska. Birds breeding in northern Siberia east of the Khatanga Gulf (100E) winter in the southern Bering Sea, while birds breeding west of the Khatanga Gulf on the tundras of Taymyr, Yamal and Gydan peninsulas migrate west to winter in Norwegian and Russian waters and the Baltic. The species bred sporadically in Varangerfjord, Norway, at the beginning of the present century, and has bred for the last few years on the east Murman coast and in Kandalaksha Bay in the White Sea (Bianki et al., 1994). Movements: Migratory; birds breeding west of the Khatanga Gulf are believed to migrate west to winter on the coasts of Murman and Finnmark and in the northeastern and eastern Baltic, while birds breeding east of the Khatanga Gulf migrate east to winter in the southern Bering Sea. A bird ringed on the wintering grounds in Alaska was recovered near Khatanga. Substantial numbers of non-breeding birds summer in western Novaya Zemlaya and in northern Norway and adjacent Russian waters (Murman coast to the White Sea). The most important wintering area in northern Europe extends from Varangerfjord in northeast Norway along the Murman and Kola coasts in northwest Russia to the edge of the ice and beyond in polynias. Other important wintering areas have recently been found in the eastern Baltic on the Lithuanian coast and around Saaremaa Island in Estonia. Much smaller numbers of birds occur in winter in Sweden (5300), Finland (100300), Latvia (110), Poland (170), Germany (010) and Denmark (515) (Nygrd et al., 1995). The numbers, distribution and migration routes of Polysticta stelleri in Europe have recently been described in some detail by Nygrd et al. (1995). The breeding grounds east to the Taymyr Peninsula have been described by Ysou and Lappo (1992). Population limits: Recent work in northern Russia has confirmed the existence of a discrete population that breeds to the west of the Khatanga Gulf and migrates west to winter in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea (Nygrd et al., 1995). Population size: Western Siberia/northeast Europe: 30,000. 1% level 300. A.S. Koryakin and T.D. Paneva (in litt.) have estimated the western breeding population at 10,000 pairs or about 25,000 individuals, while Nygrd et al. (1995) have estimated the wintering population in Europe at between 30,000 and 45,000 birds. C. Mitchell (in litt.) has estimated the population at 25,00040,000, with 15,00020,000 in Russia and 10,00020,000 in Norway and the Baltic. Recent counts in winter have revealed that up to 12,500 birds may be present in Varangerfjord in eastern Finnmark. In northern Russia, a comprehensive count of the Kola coast west of Gremikha Bay to Rybachi Peninsula located over 15,000 P. stelleri, more or less evenly distributed along the coast. Allowing for areas not covered by this survey, it was estimated that the total wintering population in northern Russia was about 20,000 (Nygrd et al., in press). Also within the last few years, mid-winter counts have located 3,5006,500 birds wintering in the Baltic, with up to 5,760 P. stelleri in Estonian waters (almost all on the west side of Saaremaa Island) and up to 1,500 in Lithuanian waters (mainly at Palanga, just north of Klaipeda) (Pihl et al., 1995; Nygrd et al., 1995). As there is a possibility of some duplication in these counts, a conservative estimate of 30,000 is preferred, although it is likely that the population is considerably higher than this. Habitat/ecology: Polysticta stelleri breeds on pools, lakes, rivers and tundra bogs along the Arctic coast, and winters along rocky coasts, in bays and in estuaries. The extent of the sea-ice in winter seems to govern the winter
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distribution of the eiders. Wintering birds often form dense flocks of several hundred individuals; they usually stay close to the coast in areas of shallow water less than five metres deep (Durinck et al., 1994). Large flocks of P. stelleri, believed to be mainly sub-adults, spend the summer and presumably moult in Varangerfjord (up to 2,000) and Onega Bay in the White Sea (up to 1,000) (Nygrd et al., 1995). It is not known where the adults in the western population moult. Birds leave the breeding grounds between mid-July and mid-October, and arrive in the Baltic in October and November; most are thought to leave the Baltic in early or mid-April, and arrive back on the breeding grounds in late May or early June. Adults are said to leave Varangerfjord in late May.
Conservation status: There has been no evident trend in the numbers wintering in Norway since at least 1981, and trends in the large numbers wintering off the Kola coast are unknown. In the Baltic, however, numbers have increased markedly during the last two decades. The species was first recorded in Estonia in the mid1970s and in Lithuania in 1969. Since then, numbers have risen rapidly and are probably still increasing. This recent increase in numbers wintering in the Baltic has been attributed to a change in the migration pattern of birds breeding in the Taymyr Peninsula, with birds which formerly migrated east to winter in the Pacific now migrating west (A.S. Koryakin and T.D. Paneva, in litt.). Polysticta stelleri has been identified as a threatened species on the basis of the new IUCN criteria for globally threatened status, and is listed as vulnerable by Collar et al. (1994) and Green (1996). The world population was estimated at about 500,000 in the early 1970s, but has recently been estimated at only 150,000200,000 (C. Mitchell, in litt.). According to Nygrd et al. (1995), the breeding population in eastern Siberia has declined from as estimated 500,000 birds in the early 1970s to between 30,000 and 100,000 in recent years, while 138,000 have recently been counted in wintering areas in Alaska. Excessive hunting has been suggested as the primary cause for this decline. However, drowning in fishing nets may also cause significant mortality in this species, especially nets set for lumpsucker Cyclopterus lumpus in spring (Nygrd et al., 1995). Two oil spills in recent years have highlighted the vulnerability of this very gregarious species to oil pollution. A small oil spill in Vados harbour in January 1993 killed many P. stelleri, while a spill in Varangerfjord in March 1979 is known to have killed some birds. The proposed oil terminal near Palanga in Lithuania is thus a serious potential threat (Nygrd et al., 1995). Network of key sites: As for all globally threatened species, all sites regularly used by an appreciable number of individuals are of international importance. The recent rapid increase in the number of individuals wintering in the Baltic is well documented and there are probably very few localities, that regularly support the species, missing from the list of key Baltic wintering sites. This cannot be said for the breeding, wintering and staging areas in Siberia and east European Russia which appear to be poorly known. Recent surveys of the Kola Peninsula north coast did however identify 6 spring staging areas that sheltered the entire population between them. The presence of these staging areas was expected but very surprisingly some additional breeding areas in the Ainovy Islands and Gavrilovsky Archipelago were found (1,640 individuals) Protection status of key sites: Very few of the important sites are protected.
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HARLEQUIN DUCK Histrionicus histrionicus

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form centred on the North Atlantic, and H. h. pacificus centred on the North Pacific. The validity of pacificus has been questioned, e.g. by Madge and Burn (1988) Distribution: Holarctic, breeding in two widely separated areas: around the North Atlantic in northeast Canada, Greenland and Iceland, and in eastern Asia and northwestern North America from Lake Baikal eastwards to the Aleutian Islands and Alaska, and south to Colorado, USA. The species winters mainly along sea coasts adjacent to its breeding range. In Iceland, H. histrionicus is widely distributed, breeding wherever there are suitable rivers and streams. Movements: Not truly migratory; in winter, leaves rivers and moves to rocky sea coasts. The populations in Greenland and Iceland are resident within these islands, although there is movement of birds to the coast in winter. In Iceland, there have been recoveries of ringed birds at well over 200 km from their place of ringing (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). There is no evidence that Icelandic birds move to Greenland, or that west Greenland birds mix with Canadian Birds (S. Pihl, in litt.), but very few birds have been ringed. Population limits: Two discrete populations are recognized, viz. the population breeding in Greenland and the population breeding Iceland. Population size: Greenland: 1,0002,000 (Rose & Scott, 1994). 1% level 15. The breeding population is currently estimated at 200500 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994).
Iceland: 6,0009,000 (Rose & Scott, 1994). 1% level 75. The breeding population is currently estimated at 2,0003,000 pairs (Koskimies, 1993).
Habitat/ecology: Histrionicus histrionicus is a river specialist, breeding on swift torrents and rapid streams of rugged uplands; the highest densities occur at lake outlets (Tucker & Heath, 1994). In winter, the species occurs in small flocks along exposed rocky coastlines. Males and immatures move away from inland breeding areas to the coast to moult in the first half of July. Breeding females and young leave the breeding areas in September and October. Gatherings are formed near estuaries in April, and the birds then move up the rivers to their breeding areas between April and June. Conservation status: The population in Greenland is believed to be stable, although it is very poorly known (Tucker & Heath, 1994). In Iceland, numbers have increased along the River Laxa due to improved feeding conditions locally, but population trends elsewhere in the country are unknown (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). The Icelandic population is vulnerable to habitat loss through the manipulation of rivers for hydro-electric schemes, food competition through the release of salmonid fish into rivers, and possibly predation by mink Mustela vison (Tucker & Heath, 1994). The Myvatn/Laxa system was designated as a Ramsar site in 1977, but it is now listed in the Montreux Record due to the numerous potential threats to the system. Diatomite dredging started in 1967 and now effects 67% of the lakes bed. There have also been plans to build dams on the River Laxa and to change fish distribution within the river system. All of these proposals would throw the blackfly (Chironomid) ecology into imbalance which would in turn effect H. histrionicus which relies on blackfly larvae for food.
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Network of key sites: Defining key sites in winter is difficult because the birds are widely distributed along rocky coastlines. Four key wintering sites do however exist and 5 % of the population breed at MyvatnLaxa. Protection status of key sites: The Myvatn-Laxa system is protected by law and has been designated as a Ramsar Site, but few of the wintering areas are protected.
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LONG-TAILED DUCK Clangula hyemalis

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Holarctic, with an extensive breeding range at high latitudes across northern Eurasia and North America. The wintering range extends south to Britain, South Carolina and Washington in the USA, Korea and Japan. In Western Eurasia, the species breeds south to Iceland, northern Finland and the mountainous regions of Norway and Sweden, and winters south to the southern North Sea. Small numbers (probably only stragglers) extend south to central Europe, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Movements: Migratory, wintering at sea in northern regions; occurs irregularly further south, often as a result of adverse weather conditions. The movements of C. hyemalis are poorly understood. This is a circumpolar species which moves about a great deal. The majority of birds breeding in Fennoscandia, north European Russia and western Siberia winter in the Baltic Sea. The main wintering areas in the Baltic Sea are the Gulf of Riga and adjacent Irbe Strait, the Hoburgs Bank to the south of Gotland, and Pomeranian Bay. In cold winters, when the Gulf of Riga and parts of Pomeranian Bay freeze over, large numbers of C. hyemalis move westwards to the southern part of Danish waters in the southwest Baltic (Durinck et al., 1994). Other important wintering areas include the seas off Iceland, Britain and Norway. The precise origins of the 20,00024,000 birds wintering in British and Irish waters are unknown, but birds ringed in Fennoscandia and Russia have been recorded in Britain (Kirby et al., 1993). Large numbers of C. hyemalis concentrate in the northern part of the Gulf of Riga in early May, prior to passing overland to the White Sea via Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. The large breeding population in Iceland is partly resident and partly migratory, some birds moving southwest to winter in Greenland, and others moving southeast to winter in Scotland. There have been about ten recoveries of Icelandic birds in southwest Greenland and several recoveries in Scotland. The species is a common migrant and winter visitor in the Faroe Islands, with peak numbers occurring in October, and it seems likely that many of these are Icelandic birds moving to Britain and Ireland. Birds from east Greenland winter locally, but probably also in Iceland and possibly also in southwest Greenland. Two birds ringed in the same region on the middle of the west coast of Greenland were recovered on opposite sides of the globe: one in Denmark and the other near the mouth of the Mackenzie River in Canada (S. Pihl, in litt.). Population limits: Two populations are recognized for practical purposes: a population breeding in Greenland and Iceland, and a population breeding in northeast Europe and western Siberia. However, it is clear that there is considerable overlap between these two populations in their winter quarters, and there would be some justification for lumping these two populations in a single, large North Atlantic population. The Southwest Asian (Caspian Sea) population listed by Perennou et al. (1994) and Rose & Scott (1994) probably represents nothing more than stragglers from the main northwest European population. There is only one recent record of the species in Iran (a single bird in January 1971), and only about 30 were recorded in the Caspian region during the Asian Waterfowl Census 198791, all in Turkmenistan. Population size: Iceland and Greenland: 150,000 (Pihl & Laursen, in press). 1% level 1,500. Laursen (1989) estimated the Iceland/Greenland population at about 450,000 birds based on a rough estimate of 200,000 pairs for the breeding population, and this estimate was followed by Rose & Scott (1994). However, the breeding population in Iceland has recently been estimated at
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only 2,0005,000 pairs (Koskimies, 1993), while that in Greenland has been given as only 10,000 30,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994). Pihl & Laursen (in press) suggest that the population is in the region of 150,000 birds, and this figure is adopted here, although it is somewhat higher than the breeding estimates suggest. Western Siberia/northwest Europe: 4,600,000. 1% level 20,000. Rose & Scott (1994), following Pirot et al. (1989), gave a figure of 2,000,000 for the population of C. hyemalis wintering in northwest Europe. Extensive surveys in the Baltic Sea in recent years have revealed that the population is considerably larger than this. Pihl et al. (1995) estimated that there were 4,250,000 C. hyemalis in the Baltic in January 1993, while Durinck et al. (1994) gave an average figure of 4,272,400. These figures should be taken as minima, as the censuses did not include important areas in northern Estonia and central Riga Bay. Elsewhere in northwest Europe, there are thought to be about 50,000 C. hyemalis wintering in northwest Russia, 95,000 in Norway, 25,000 in Britain, Ireland and the Faroes, and 5,000 in the area off the Wadden Sea (Wetlands International Seaduck Specialist Group, in litt.). Allowing for about 200,000 missed birds in the Baltic, these figures suggest a total northwest European population (excluding Iceland and Greenland) of about 4,600,000. Comparable estimates have been obtained from the breeding grounds. Uspensky (1970) estimated that there were about 5,000,000 adult C. hyemalis breeding in the western territories of the former USSR. More recently, the breeding population in European Russia and Fennoscandia has been estimated at 354,000515,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994), while Krivenko (1993) has given an estimate of 2,780,000 for the post-breeding population on the tundras of western and central Siberia, from the Yamal Peninsula to Taymyr. These recent figures suggest a total population in northern Europe and Siberia east to the Taymyr of about 3,800,000 to 4,300,000. Pihl & Laursen (in press) suggest that the total population of C. hyemalis in the Western Palearctic, including Iceland and Greenland) is about 5,000,000 birds.
Habitat/ecology: Clangula hyemalis breeds on small tundra lakes, pools, bogs, rivers and coastal sites in the high Arctic; it winters mostly at sea, generally far offshore, but also locally inland on large, deep, freshwater lakes and inland seas. In the Baltic Sea, C. hyemalis is the only species of Anatidae that occurs in large numbers in water deeper than 20 m. Outside the breeding season, it usually occurs in small flocks, which may occur at high density in favoured feeding areas, especially in the Baltic where concentrations numbering several hundreds of thousands of birds have been recorded (Durinck et al., 1994). The majority of birds winter offshore in waters 1035 m deep. Males moult their flight feathers between late June and early September, females between early August and early October. Many males moult on the coast or on lakes close to the breeding areas, singly or in small flocks, although there has been a recent report of an important moulting site in the White Sea (S. Svazas, pers. comm. in Durinck et al., 1994). There is some movement of birds away from the breeding areas in late June and early July, and large flocks build up during August and September. The overland passage from the White Sea to the Gulf of Finland occurs in the second half of October, with the main influx in the west Baltic in November and December. Departure from the breeding areas in Greenland and Iceland is with the first frosts in September or October. In the west Baltic, the return movement begins in mid-March. Peak passage to the White Sea occurs in May. Birds arrive on the breeding grounds in Iceland and west Greenland between late April and early June, and in east Greenland, Svalbard and northern Russia between mid-May and mid-June. Conservation status: The numbers breeding in Greenland are said to be stable (European Bird Database, 1994), and the Icelandic breeding population is apparently now stable after a marked decline earlier this century (Cramp & Simmons, 1977; Koskimies, 1993). Trends in the population wintering in northwest Europe are unknown. However, post-breeding numbers on the tundras of western and central Siberia were stable between 1972 and 1989 (Krivenko, 1993), and the breeding populations in Svalbard, European Russia, Norway and Sweden are thought to be stable (European Bird Database, 1994). Network of key sites: Outside of the breeding season, most important sites are offshore marine areas with a depth greater than six metres, and thus fall outside the scope of the Ramsar Convention. These sites are also very difficult to locate and are certainly not in the same place each year. Being a very numerous species,
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the key site selection threshold is also very high. In conclusion, C. hyemalis is probably one of the least appropriate Anatidae species for the development of a key wintering sites network. The 19 wintering sites identified are almost impossible to protect at present and certainly do not support important numbers in every year. It is possible that C. hyemalis could benefit from a key sites network of passage and moulting sites but unfortunately these are mostly not known at present (six listed in Annex 2). One spring passage site in the Gulf of Finland is however very important (up to 100,000 individuals).
Protection status of key sites: Some breeding areas in Sweden and east Greenland are protected, but otherwise most of the important sites are unprotected. Perhaps even more than other seaduck species C. hyemalis relies on offshore areas, often in international waters, that at present are not possible to protect.
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COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form in Western Eurasia and M. n. americana in North America and eastern Asia. These are sometimes treated as separate species. Distribution: Holarctic, breeding at high latitudes across northern Eurasia and in northeastern and northwestern North America. The wintering range extends south to northwest Africa, China, Japan and the southern USA. Only the nominate subspecies occurs in Western Eurasia, breeding in Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, northern Scandinavia and northern Russia east to the Lena (125E), and wintering from the Baltic Sea and southern North Sea, south along the Atlantic seaboard to Morocco and occasionally Mauritania (e.g. 40 at Banc dArguin in 1979) and the Adriatic (152 in Italy during 1995). Small numbers of birds winter along the northeast and southeast coasts of Iceland. Stragglers occur on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa east to Algeria, and the species has occurred as a vagrant in the Caspian basin. Movements: Migratory, wintering at sea off the Atlantic coast south to northwest Africa. Most birds breeding in Fennoscandia and Russia east to the River Lena, winter in the western part of the Baltic and off the coast of the Wadden Sea, with only a relatively small number of birds moving further south and west (up to 45,000 in France and 26,000 in Portugal). Birds breeding in Iceland have been recovered south to Spain, Portugal and even the Azores (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). Population limits: Only one population is recognized. The small Icelandic breeding population, estimated at 400600 pairs (Koskimies, 1993), apparently winters from western Britain and Ireland south to Portugal, and is included within the northwest European population, as are the tiny British and Irish breeding populations, recently estimated at 89 pairs and 100 pairs, respectively (Underhill et al., in prep.). Population size: Western Siberia/western Europe/northwest Africa: 1,600,000 (Pihl & Laursen, in press). 1% level 16,000. The former estimate of 800,000 wintering in northwest Europe (Pirot et al., 1989) has recently been revised upwards with the discovery of far larger numbers in the Baltic than had previously been supposed. About 950,000 birds were located in Danish waters alone in January 1992, and an estimated 1,200,000 were present in the Baltic in January 1993 (Pihl et al. , 1995). Pihl & Laursen (in press) have recently estimated the northwest European population at 1,600,000, with about three-quarters of these in the Baltic. Habitat/ecology: Melanitta nigra breeds on freshwater pools, small lakes or streams in tundra or boggy country, sometimes with scattered trees. It winters mostly at sea, preferably in shallow waters, 515 m deep, along low-lying coasts, although the largest flocks usually occur far out to sea (Durinck et al., 1994). M. nigra is highly gregarious outside the breeding season, occasionally forming very large flocks of over 100,000 birds in winter. A large migration of males and immatures takes place from the Baltic to German and Danish waters from late June to August. Males become flightless for some weeks in early August and September, when they moult their flight feathers. After the moult, the males and immatures disperse west and southwest, mainly in September. Females and juveniles arrive in the Baltic in September and October. Icelandic birds leave their breeding grounds between early September and early October. The main autumn migration occurs in the Baltic in early November, and in the North Sea in November and early December. Return movements occur from late February to April in the Atlantic and North Sea, and in April and May in the Baltic. Large numbers of birds congregate in the
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Gulf of Riga in early May, before flying overland to breeding grounds in Russia, where they arrive from mid-May to early June.
Conservation status: The population appears to be relatively stable. Flint and Krivenko (1990) thought that numbers in the former USSR were stable, while Krivenko (1993) reports stability in post-breeding numbers in western and central Siberia between 1972 and 1989. The large breeding populations in European Russia, Norway and Sweden are also thought to be stable (European Bird Database, 1994), as is the small population in Iceland (Koskimies, 1993). There has been some contraction in range and reduction in numbers at the southern edge of the breeding range in recent years, especially in Britain, Ireland and Finland, but these local decreases have affected only a tiny proportion of the population. Network of key sites: Outside of the breeding season, most important sites are offshore marine areas with a depth greater than six metres, and thus fall outside the scope of the Ramsar Convention. M. nigra is another of the very numerous seaduck species that winters in all of the most suitable offshore areas along the sheltered coasts form Mauritania to Poland. Nineteen areas of marine water have been recorded as having supported over 20,000 individuals, but they are so large and so irregularly used that they do not really fit the usual description of a key site. More effort could usefully be applied to identifying more important breeding, moulting and staging sites which can then be used to help conserve the species. If these staging sites are as large as Matsalu Bay in Estonia (up to 1,000,000 M. nigra on passage) it is very important that they are found. At present only three key sites are known outside of the Baltic and away from wintering grounds further south. Protection status of key sites: A few breeding sites in Sweden, Ireland, and the UK, and a few wintering sites in Britain, Denmark and Estonia are protected, but otherwise most important sites for M. nigra are unprotected. The main difficulty lies in protecting large offshore marine areas.
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VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca

Subspecies: Polytypic. Three subspecies are generally recognized: the nominate form in Western Eurasia, M. f. stejnegeri in eastern Asia; and M. f. deglandi in North America. Some authors give full specific status to stejnegeri and deglandi under the name deglandi. Distribution: Holarctic, breeding across northern Eurasia and North America, with an isolated population in Southwest Asia. The wintering range extends south to western Europe, China, Japan and the southern USA. Only the nominate subspecies occurs in Western Eurasia, breeding from northern Scandinavia east to the Yenisey River (85E), where there is some overlap with deglandi, and in the Caucasus and eastern Turkey. Small breeding populations are also found along the coast of the Baltic Sea in Sweden, Finland, Russia and Estonia. Northern birds winter mainly in the Baltic Sea, with much smaller numbers in the North Sea and along the Atlantic coast south to France and Spain. A few hundred birds winter on lakes in central Europe (mainly Switzerland) and a few birds reach the northwest Mediterranean and Adriatic (133 in Italy in 1995). The tiny isolated population in Southwest Asia appears to be mainly sedentary. The species has occurred as a rare winter straggler to the coast of Morocco and Algeria. Movements: Mainly migratory; birds breeding from Scandinavia east to the Taymyr Peninsula and Yenisey River winter mainly in the Baltic Sea, with much smaller numbers continuing further west to the west coast of Norway, the Netherlands, Britain and France. In hard winters, when most of the Gulf of Riga freezes over, large numbers of birds from this area are believed to concentrate in the Irbe Strait south to Lithuania. Following cold weather in northern Europe in November 1985, a major influx occurred in central Europe, with about 1,000 birds appearing on waters north of the Alps in southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland. An even larger influx occurred in the winter of 1988/89, when 677 birds were present in the Lake Geneva and Lake Constance area alone (Aubrecht et al., 1990). The small population breeding in eastern Turkey, Georgia and Armenia, appears to winter mainly along nearby Black Sea coasts, from where there are a number of records. However, two records in Egypt since 1950 (two birds in November 1952 and a single bird in March 1982) suggest that a few birds from this population may reach the east Mediterranean. Small numbers of M. fusca, possibly from this population, regularly wintered on the southwest coast of the Caspian Sea earlier this century, but there have been very few records from Azerbaijan in recent years (Patrikeev, in prep.) and no confirmed records in Iran since a single bird in the 1960s. The small number of birds which regularly winter in Krasnovodsk Bay on the east coast of the Caspian are likely to originate from one of the southernmost central Asian populations, as are the birds wintering on the Syr Darya, southeast of the Aral Sea (Dementev & Gladkov, 1952). Population limits: Two populations are recognized: a single large population in northwest Europe, and a tiny, isolated population in the Caucasus and Turkey. Population size: Western Siberia/northwest Europe: 1,000,000 (Pihl & Laursen, in press). 1% level 10,000. The former estimate of 250,000 wintering in northwest Europe (Pirot et al., 1989) has recently been revised upwards to 1,000,000 with the discovery of important wintering areas in the Baltic Sea (Pihl & Laursen, in press). Pihl et al. (1995) estimated that there were about 950,000 M. fusca in the Baltic Sea in January 1993. Most of these birds were concentrated in three well-defined areas: Irbe Strait/Riga Bay, Pomeranian Bay and the Kattegat. Elsewhere, there are an estimated 30,000 birds wintering off the west coast of Norway (Nygrd et al., 1988), 2,5005,000 around Britain (Kirby et al., 1993), and about 4,0007,000 along the Atlantic coast from the Wadden Sea to Spain (Wetlands International Seaduck Specialist Group).
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Black Sea/Caspian (Caucasus/Turkey): 1,500. Provisional numerical criterion 15. The size of the breeding population in eastern Turkey and the Caucasus is very poorly known. The only confirmed breeding in Turkey in recent years would appear to be a record of six pairs at Nemrut Dag crater lake in 1975 (Beaman, 1978). The species is described as a rather local winter visitor in moderate numbers along the Black Sea coast and occasionally in the Sea of Marmara (Beaman, 1978). Some birds were recorded between Ordu and Samsun in February 1974 (Beaman, 1978). There has been a recent report of a flock of 750 moulting birds on the Black Sea in eastern Turkey, near the Georgian border (G. Magnin, in litt.). These birds are likely to have been males, as female M. fusca usually moult on the breeding grounds. Assuming that this flock represents the bulk of the male population, and allowing for the very uneven sex ratio in the species (about 2:1 in favour of males), it seems likely that the total population is in the region of 1,500 birds (S. Pihl, in litt.).
Habitat/ecology: Over most of its range, M. fusca breeds around small freshwater bodies in the boreal forests and Arctic tundra, sometimes well inland, although in Scandinavia it also breeds in alpine areas and coastal zones, on wooded islands and on skerries. It winters mostly at sea in shallow waters of the littoral zone. It is gregarious outside the breeding season, usually moulting and wintering in large flocks, sometimes of several thousand birds and often in company with M. nigra. In the Baltic, most M. fusca winter offshore in areas where the water depth is between 10 and 30 metres. In June, most males leave the breeding grounds to moult in large gatherings, mainly along the north coast of Russia. Small numbers of birds, mostly males, arrive in Danish waters in late June to moult there. Birds are flightless for three to four weeks during the wing moult. Adult females begin to arrive in Danish waters in August and September, but the main autumn migration in the Baltic takes place in October and November and the majority arrive in Danish waters during November and December. Peak numbers occur on the wintering grounds in January. The return migration starts late, with large numbers of birds remaining in Danish waters until April. Huge numbers concentrate in the Gulf of Riga in early May, before moving overland to breeding areas in northern Russia, where they arrive in late May or the first half of June. Conservation status: The west Siberian and northwest European population appears to be relatively stable. Flint and Krivenko (1990) thought that numbers in the former USSR were stable, while Krivenko (1993) reports stability in post-breeding numbers in western and central Siberia between 1972 and 1989. The breeding populations in European Russia, Norway and Sweden are also thought to be stable, and decreases have only been reported in the relatively small Finnish and tiny Estonian breeding populations (European Bird Database, 1994). Overall trends in the population in the Caucasus and Turkey are unknown, although the tiny breeding population in Turkey is thought to be stable (European Bird Database, 1994). Network of key sites: More than some other seaduck species that winter predominantly in the Baltic, M. fusca does tend to use some offshore areas very regularly in quite enormous numbers. Kursiu Spit in Lithuania (up to 700,000), the Pomeranian Bay (up to 372,000), the Gulf of Riga in Latvia (up to 200,000) and Irbe Strait in Estonia (up to 191,000) being notable examples. Only three passage/ moulting sites are known north of the Baltic and more could usefully be identified. The Black Sea wintering population is currently assumed to consist entirely of the small Caucasus breeding population but it is likely that thorough investigation of suitable habitat in winter could identify currently unknown key sites and substantiate the area as a wintering ground for Siberian breeding birds as well. At present only three key sites are listed. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important wintering areas in the west Baltic are protected, but other important wintering areas and the main breeding areas in northern Russia are unprotected. None of the known sites for the small population in Turkey and the Caucasus are protected.
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COMMON GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form from Eurasia and B. c. americana from North America, although the differences are slight and the validity of americana has been questioned. Distribution: Holarctic, with a wide breeding range across northern Eurasia and North America. The wintering range extends south to the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas, China, Japan and the southern USA. Only the nominate subspecies occurs in Western Eurasia, breeding commonly in the coniferous forest zone from western Norway eastwards (north to 55N), and wintering in northwest, central and southeast Europe and Southwest Asia. Scattered breeding populations are also found in the Baltic States, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Britain (Scotland), and the species has recently colonized Denmark. Small numbers of birds (totalling about 100) winter on waters in southern Iceland (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). The species occurs as a rare winter visitor to North Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Libya) during severe winters. The few birds recorded in the Indian subcontinent probably originate from the Southwest Asian wintering population. Movements: Highly migratory, wintering mainly at sea in the northern parts of its winter range but also on large rivers, lakes, reservoirs and coastal lagoons further south, and often far inland (e.g. in central Europe). Birds breeding in northern Europe winter mainly in the Baltic Sea, Denmark, the Netherlands, Britain and Ireland. During the mild winters of 1992 and 1993, over 50% (154,400 birds) of the northwest European population were concentrated in the Baltic Sea (Pihl et al., 1995). In hard winters, some of the B. clangula in the Baltic move further offshore, where they concentrate in small areas of ice-free water, while others move to western and central Europe. Birds wintering in the Caspian region probably originate from western Siberia. Population limits: No discrete populations are identifiable. Previous authors have assumed that the birds wintering in northwest Europe, central Europe and the Adriatic belong to a single population, and counts from these three regions have always been combined (Monval & Pirot, 1989). The very small numbers of B. clangula wintering in the west Mediterranean (19891993 average only 12 birds) have been included in this population (Monval & Pirot, 1989). Monval & Pirot (1989), following earlier authors, also recognized an east Mediterranean/Black Sea wintering group of about 20,000 birds, concentrated in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. Recent census data indicate that far more B. clangula winter in the Middle Danube and Adriatic than was formerly supposed, and as it is known that B. clangula move along rivers from Austria into Hungary and from Hungary into Yugoslavia and the Adriatic, there would seem to be good justification for treating the birds of the Danube catchment and Adriatic as a separate wintering group. B. clangula wintering in Switzerland and southern Germany are, however, retained as part of the northwest and central European population. Some mixing between these two groups seems likely, as does mixing between the east Mediterranean/Black Sea birds and the Adriatic birds, especially during hard winters. Perennou et al. (1994) recognized a Southwest Asian wintering group of up to 25,000 birds concentrated in the central Asian republics and Iran. These birds appear to be well separated from the east Mediterranean/Black Sea birds, at least on their wintering grounds. Four wintering groups are therefore recognized: a northwest and central European group, a Middle Danube and Adriatic group, an east Mediterranean/Black Sea group, and a Southwest Asian (Caspian) group. Population size: Northwest and central Europe wintering: 300,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 3,000. Recent censuses suggest that the estimate of Monval & Pirot (1989) remains valid (Pihl et al., 1995).
Middle Danube/Adriatic wintering: 75,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 750.
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Black Sea wintering: 20,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 200. Caspian region wintering: 25,000. Provisional numerical criterion 250. The size of this population is unknown, but it is thought not to exceed 25,000 individuals (Perennou et al., 1994; Rose & Scott, 1994).
Habitat/ecology: Bucephala clangula breeds on freshwater lakes, pools and rivers surrounded by coniferous forest; in winter, it also occurs on coastal lagoons, estuaries, inshore marine waters and inland seas. It is usually restricted to areas with a water depth of less than 10 m, close to the shore, and rarely occurs in large flocks, usually occurring scattered along coasts in small groups. The species is very sensitive to habitat alterations on the breeding grounds, as its presence or absence in apparently suitable habitat mostly depends on tree holes being available for it to nest in; thus significant expansions in range and increases in numbers can be attained through programmes of nest-box erection (del Hoyo et al., 1992). Moult gatherings are common, e.g. in the White Sea, Matsalu Bay, southern Sweden, Finland and Latvia. Males arrive at these gatherings from early June, and reach peak numbers in late August, when many adult females arrive. The birds are flightless for three to four weeks during the wing moult. The autumn migration begins in late August, and reaches a peak in the Baltic and North Sea region in November. Most birds are on their winter quarters by early December. On average, females migrate further than males, and juveniles further than adults. The return passage begins early, in mid-February in the southern Baltic, and by the end of March most birds have left their wintering areas. The main arrival on the breeding grounds in Fennoscandia and western Siberia occurs in late April and the first half of May. Conservation status: The number of B. clangula wintering in northwest Europe has increased significantly over the past ten years; the rate of increase seems to be rising steadily, and the population is likely to have increased by 50% over the last ten years (Rose, 1995). However, the number of birds wintering in central Europe has remained more or less stable for the last 20 years (Rose, 1995). Recent increases in breeding populations have been reported in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Poland and Britain, while decreases have been reported only in the small populations in Lithuania and the Czech Republic (European Bird Database, 1994). Trends in the populations wintering in southeast Europe/Adriatic, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea are unknown. However, Krivenko (1993) reports a slight decline in post-breeding numbers in the middle region of the former USSR between 1972 and 1989, and Patrikeev (in prep.) reports a major decline in numbers wintering in Azerbaijan between the 1940s and the early 1960s. Network of key sites: The Caspian and Black Sea wintering populations are extremely poorly known with only nine and 10 key sites identified respectively. In January 1994, 8,612 at Lake Sarakamysh in Turkmenistan is noteworthy. More counts are necessary before the true importance of this site can be determined. The Adriatic/middle Danube wintering population is justified on the basis of improved winter census coverage of this region, so it follows that the key wintering sites network is very good. Further improvements in the monitoring of this region will however be necessary before the real status of this population and its network of 27 key sites can be assessed. In northwest Europe B. clangula is a difficult species to monitor. Its winter distribution is widely dispersed along sheltered coasts and rivers, the relative extent to which these two habitats are used varying annually according to winter conditions. Consequently, the 4050 key northwest European wintering sites form a useful key sites network but probably do not support a very large proportion of the population at any one time. The 18 passage and moulting sites listed is very incomplete despite the great importance of the Pskovsko-Chudskoye Lakes to moulting birds and the Kanin Peninsula to passage birds. Protection status of key sites: Several of the breeding areas in Britain and Sweden are protected, but most of the important breeding areas further east are unprotected. About half of the important sites in the Baltic are protected, but some very important sites are unprotected. The IJsselmeer in the Netherlands is also not protected. Important wintering areas in central Europe are protected. Most of the important wintering areas in the Adriatic, Black Sea and Caspian regions are unprotected.
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BARROWS GOLDENEYE Bucephala islandica

Subspecies: Monotypic. Females in western North America have yellow bills, and this has prompted suggestions of racial separation (Madge & Burn, 1988). Distribution: Primarily Nearctic, with a highly fragmented distribution, occurring in northwestern North America from southern Alaska to northern California and Wyoming, in northeastern North America from Labrador to Maine, in Greenland and in Iceland. In Iceland, the breeding range is centred on Lake Myvatn and the upper Laxa River which together account for at least 95% of the population (Gardarsson, 1978). The status of B. islandica in northeastern North America and Greenland is uncertain. Most authors state that the species breeds in Labrador and southwestern Greenland, and assume that the birds wintering in northeastern North America (from the upper St Lawrence drainage, Gulf of St Lawrence and Nova Scotia south to New York) originate from these breeding areas. Movements: Partially migratory, with some populations being mostly sedentary. Populations in northwestern North America are partly migratory, with birds from inland breeding areas moving to the Pacific coast for the winter. Most of the Icelandic breeding birds are sedentary. However, in some years, counts in midwinter are lower than counts in the following spring. This is particularly the case with first-year birds, and it has been suggested that some emigration takes place, possibly to Greenland or even Labrador (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). Recent evidence confirms that there is a breeding population of B. islandica in Canada on the north bank of the St Lawrence seaway about 300 km east of Quebec. The number of breeding pairs is also thought to be large enough to account for the 2,0003,000 wintering birds in the northwestern Atlantic (M. Guillemette, in litt.). This gives support to the traditional theory that there are two sedentary populations of B. islandica in the North Atlantic. The small number of birds in southwestern Greenland could be vagrants from either population. In light of the proof of breeding in Canada it seems most likely that the Icelandic population is sedentary and rarely if ever do individulas from Iceland reach the coast of Canada. Population limits: Only one population is recognized: the Icelandic breeding population. This population may account for most if not all of the birds occurring in southwestern Greenland, and possibly also some of the birds which moult in Labrador and winter along the Atlantic seaboard of northeastern North America. Population size: Iceland: 2,000 (A. Einarsson in Tucker & Heath, 1994; A. Gardarsson, in litt.). 1% level 20. Detailed censuses during the period 197578 suggested a total spring population of 1,8002,100 birds (Gardarsson, 1978). Annual counts in the Myvatn-upper Laxa system since 1975 have indicated a rather stable population of about 2,000 full-grown birds in spring (including 500900 adult males and 300600 adult females), 200400 territorial (presumably breeding) pairs and 7001,400 moulting males in summer, and 200900 fledged young in autumn (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). (The estimate of 6001,200 individuals given by Rose & Scott, 1994, is based on a breeding population of 200400 pairs, and does not adequately take into account the large number of non-breeding birds in the population). Habitat/ecology: Bucephala islandica is a hole-nesting, highly territorial duck, breeding around freshwater lakes, pools and rivers in open or wooded country, and wintering on larger, unfrozen lakes, on brackish coastal lagoons and along sea coasts. In Iceland, B. islandica winters mainly on spring-fed fresh waters (lakes and rivers), mostly in the Myvatn-Laxa system, but also in a few other localities in the volcanic zone (A. Gardarsson, in litt.). In North America, the species also winters in estuaries,
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including the St Lawrence River, and in fiords in British Columbia. The species is mainly gregarious outside the breeding season. Those birds that leave the Myvatn-Laxa system do so mainly in late October and November; the return movement occurs in late March and throughout April (Gardarsson, 1978). Concentrations of moulting birds have been observed on the Labrador coast, but these are mostly from the St Lawrence breeding colony.
Conservation status: Numbers in Iceland are relatively stable, although a crash occurred in 1989, temporarily reducing the adult population to about 1,000 birds following a marked reduction in food supply (Tucker & Heath, 1994; A. Gardarsson, in litt.). The birds are dependent for food on aquatic insects, and are consequently threatened by planned introductions of Atlantic salmon into the River Laxa and by sediment dredging which is now in progress at Lake Myvatn (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Hydro-electric schemes also pose a potential threat. Network of key sites: This population is virtually endemic to the Myvatn-Laxa lake complex on Iceland so this site plus the four other minor wintering sites listed must be one of the most complete key sites networks for any European Anatidae population. Protection status of key sites: The Myvatn-Laxa system is protected by law, and was designated as a Ramsar Site in 1977. This is the main breeding and wintering area for the species in Iceland, supporting 65%75% of the population.
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SMEW Mergellus albellus

Subspecies: Monotypic. Distribution: Palearctic, with a wide breeding distribution across northern Eurasia from Norway to Kamchatka. The breeding range in Western Eurasia extends eastwards from Norway and northern Sweden through the taiga and forest-tundra zones between 55N and the Arctic Circle. The wintering range normally extends south to the North Sea, the Black and Caspian Seas, central China and Japan, although in hard winters, large numbers of birds may extend much further south, e.g. to North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt) and central Iraq. In Western Eurasia, the main wintering areas are in the southern Baltic Sea and the Netherlands, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, although a small number of birds reach eastern Britain and the lakes and rivers of central Europe. Movements: Highly migratory, moving south to temperate latitudes for the winter; occasionally further south, especially during severe winters. Very few M. albellus have been ringed, and little is known about the origins of the main wintering groups or their degree of isolation. However, Svazas et al. (1994) suggest that most M. albellus wintering in northwest Europe are from breeding areas in northern Russia east to the Pechora, with birds breeding further east wintering in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea. In hard winters, many of the birds which normally winter in the southern Baltic move to the western Baltic, especially Danish waters (Durinck et al., 1994). M. albellus is also subject to hard weather movements in the Caspian region, with large numbers of birds reaching the south Caspian in Iran during particularly severe winters (Perennou et al., 1994). Population limits: No discrete populations are identifiable. Three main wintering groups are recognized: a group wintering in northwest and central Europe, concentrated in the southern Baltic and the Netherlands, a group wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region, concentrated in the Sea of Azov, and a group wintering in Southwest Asia, concentrated in the north Caspian and Uzbekistan (Atkinson-Willes, 1976; Monval & Pirot, 1989; Perennou et al., 1994). The relatively small number of birds wintering in Hungary and the middle Danube are included in the northwest and central European group. Population size: Northwest and central Europe: 25,00030,000 (see Annex 1 and Pihl & Laursen, in press). 1% level 250. The former estimate of 15,000 for the northwest European population is clearly too low; 23,900 were counted in northwest and central Europe in January 1987 and 24,962 in January 1992. Pihl et al. (1995) estimated that there were 20,000 in the Baltic area alone in January 1993. Durinck et al. (1994) suggested that the population estimate be raised to 25,000, while Svazas et al. (1994) reported a huge flock of about 30,000 M. albellus at Szecin Lagoon in Poland in December 1991, and suggested that the northwest European population was likely to be in the range 35,00040,000.
Black Sea/east Mediterranean: 65,000 (Atkinson-Willes, 1976). 1% level 650. Isakov (1970b) reported up to 57,000 birds wintering in the Black Sea, while Atkinson-Willes (1976) gave an estimate of 65,000 for the whole Black Sea-Mediterranean region. This estimate was followed by Monval & Pirot (1989) and Rose & Scott (1994), and in the absence of any better information is retained here. Southwest Asia: 30,000 (Perennou et al., 1994). 1% level 300. Krivonosov (1970) estimated that 6,00020,000 wintered in the north Caspian, while 26,300 were counted in Uzbekistan alone in 1986. Krivenko (1993) estimates the post-breeding population in western
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and central Siberia at 72,500 birds, which could account for most if not all of the birds wintering in Southwest Asia and a large proportion of those wintering in the Black Sea region.
Habitat/ecology: Mergellus albellus breeds around freshwater lakes, pools, rivers and muskegs in the taiga zone, and winters mainly on larger lakes, ice-free rivers, coastal brackish lagoons and estuaries. In the Baltic Sea, M. albellus usually occurs in shallow waters close to the coast. The species is highly gregarious in winter, sometimes forming flocks of over 10,000 birds. Groups of moulting males are known from Siberia, but have not been reported in Europe. The birds begin to leave their breeding grounds in early September, and these areas are deserted in October. M. albellus begin to arrive in the Baltic Sea in mid-October, but the main arrival in the Baltic and North Sea is usually not until December or even January, when cold weather further east forces birds to move west. Spring migration begins in March, with birds arriving on the breeding grounds between early May and early June. Conservation status: The reliance of Mergellus albellus on a few very important wintering sites and the frequent movement of birds between these sites make the calculation of trends very difficult. Thus, no conclusions can be drawn concerning the trends in the population of this species on the basis of winter counts (Rose, 1995). A marked fall in breeding numbers undoubtedly occurred in Europe during the second half of the 19th century and first two-thirds of the 20th century, and this has been attributed to habitat loss or degradation, notably deforestation of river valleys through logging, conversion to agriculture and destruction due to river canalization (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Range contractions are believed to have continued in southern European Russia, but local increases have been reported in Finland and Belarus (Tucker & Heath, 1994). Further east, Krivenko (1993) has reported a slight decline in post-breeding numbers in western and central Siberia between 1972 and 1989, and Patrikeev (in prep.) has reported a marked decline in the numbers wintering in Azerbaijan during the 20th century. Network of key sites: Key sites in the Baltic are described by Svazas et al. (1994) and 35 are listed in Annex 2. It seems likely that additional important sites are present in the Gulf of Finland and in Russia, perhaps in the White Sea, and also between the breeding grounds in northern Russia and the wintering areas in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. M. albellus is very concentrated on a few sites in winter so when a new wintering locality is identified, such as Szecin Lagoon in Poland, this has significant implications to the status of the population. Only three sites in Southwest Asia have held over 300 M. albellus in recent years: Tyuyamuyun Reservoir (average 400) and Lake Sarakamysh (average 380) in Turkmenistan, and Lake Dengizkul (average 320) in Uzbekistan. The latter held a concentration of 26,000 M. albellus in January 1986, many times higher than the total counted in the region in any other year (Perennou et al., 1994). Haur Abu Dibis (Lake Razazah) in Iraq held 1,000 males in January 1979. Only six relatively minor key sites can be identified for the Black Sea wintering population. For all four populations only two key sites are selected on the basis of non-winter concentrations of M. albellus, and these are both relatively minor and not well substantiated. Protection status of key sites: Some of the breeding areas in Sweden and Finland are protected, but the main breeding areas further to the east are largely unprotected. Several of the most important staging and wintering areas in the Baltic are protected including Matsalu Bay (a Ramsar Site) in Estonia, the northern part of Kursiu Lagoon in Lithuania and the southern part of Vistula Lagoon (Elblag Bay) in Poland. Szecin Lagoon, on the Polish/German border, has been proposed as a transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Svazas et al., 1994). Very few of the wintering areas in the Black Sea and Caspian regions are protected.
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RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator

Subspecies: Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form is circumpolar except for west Greenland, where the form M. s. schioleri occurs (the validity of this form has been questioned). Birds breeding in east Greenland closely resemble the nominate form. Distribution: Holarctic, with a wide breeding range across northern Eurasia and North America. The wintering range extends south to the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas, China, Japan and Mexico. Both subspecies occur in Western Eurasia. The nominate form breeds in east Greenland, Iceland, the Faroes, Britain and Ireland, and from Denmark and northern Germany eastwards, mainly in the forested tundra zone, but in the southern parts of it range in western Europe, also in the temperate forest zone. It winters south to Portugal, North Africa (mainly Algeria and Tunisia, rarely to Egypt), the south Caspian and occasionally the Gulf. The breeding range seems to be expanding slowly in western Europe. M. s. schioleri breeds on the west coast of Greenland, and apparently winters mainly along the southwest coast. Movements: Migratory and partially migratory, northern populations migrating south to winter at temperate latitudes, but present year-round on or near the breeding areas over much of northwest Europe, with many birds undertaking only short-distance movements to nearby coasts. Birds breeding in Finland and northwest Russia are highly migratory, wintering mainly in northwest Europe, especially the Baltic Sea, but also in small numbers along the north coast of the Mediterranean (Monval & Pirot, 1989). In mild winters, about 44% of the northwest European population winters in the western part of the Baltic Sea (Pihl et al., 1995). Other birds leave the Baltic in autumn to winter along the Atlantic coast from the Netherlands to Portugal. Lack (1986) has suggested that most of the birds wintering on the east and south coasts of England, from the Wash southwards, are of continental origin, as are those occurring inland in Britain during severe winters. Laursen et al. (in prep.) have suggested that many of the birds staging in southeast Denmark in autumn winter in the Netherlands, while birds staging at Limfjorden in northwest Denmark cross the North Sea to winter in Britain. British and Irish breeding birds are apparently dispersive within Britain and Ireland. The breeding population in Iceland is partially migratory; some birds are resident, while others migrate to Britain (mainly Scotland) and Ireland, although there are also single recoveries from the Netherlands and east Greenland (Cramp & Simmons, 1977). Greenland breeding birds are partially migratory within Greenland, with western breeding birds (schioleri) wintering along the southwest coast. Birds from east Greenland probably winter mainly in Iceland (where there has been one recovery), but may also reach Britain and Ireland. Birds wintering in the Black Sea region south to Romania, Greece and Turkey may originate from northeast European Russia and western Siberia, although there are no ringing recoveries to confirm this (Monval & Pirot, 1989). Birds wintering in the Caspian region south to the Gulf are presumably from breeding areas further east in western and central Siberia. Population limits: Four main groups are recognized: a discrete population of the subspecies schioleri in west Greenland, and three main wintering groups of the nominate form in Western Eurasia, a group in northwest and central Europe (including east Greenland and Icelandic birds), a group in the Black Sea/ Mediterranean region, and a group in the Caspian region. The relatively small Icelandic breeding population, estimated at 2,0004,000 pairs (Koskimies, 1993) winters mainly in Britain and Ireland, along with the birds breeding in Britain and Ireland (2,850 pairs; S. Carter in Gibbons et al., 1993). These birds (and the birds from east Greenland) have traditionally been included within the northwest European population, and this treatment is retained here. However, there would appear to be some justification, at least on conservation grounds, for considering the birds breeding in east Greenland, Iceland, Ireland and Britain as a separate population.
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Population size: West Greenland (schioleri): Unknown. No information is available on population size. The total breeding population of M. serrator in Greenland (including nominate serrator in east Greenland) has been given as 1,00050,000 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994). It is recommended that a provisional numerical criterion of 100 be used in the identification of key sites.
Northwest and central Europe: 125,000 (Pihl & Laursen, in press). 1% level 1,250. East Greenland/Iceland/Britain and Ireland: 15,00025,000. 1% level 200. Rose & Scott (1994), following Monval & Pirot (1989), gave a figure of 100,000 for the northwest European wintering population, but this included only an estimated 20,00030,000 birds in the Baltic. Recent surveys have indicated that at least 50,000 and possibly as many as 90,000 birds winter in the Baltic (Pihl et al., 1995). Pihl & Laursen (in press) have therefore recommended that the total population estimate be raised to 125,000, and this figure is adopted here. The total wintering population in Britain and Ireland was estimated at 11,000 birds in the early 1980s (Lack, 1986), and 12,00013,000 in recent years (Kirby et al., 1993). Northeast Europe/Black Sea/Mediterranean: 50,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 500. Western Siberia/Southwest Asia: probably under 10,000. Provisional numerical criterion 100. Poorly known; Perennou et al. (1994) thought that the total population of M. serrator wintering in the central Asian republics and Caspian region did not exceed 10,000 individuals.
Habitat/ecology: Over much of its range, Mergus serrator breeds on rather deep lakes and small rivers, often, but not necessarily, in wooded country, although in some areas, especially the Baltic, it breeds mainly along the coast and on small offshore islands. It winters almost exclusively in brackish or saline waters, preferring shallow, protected coasts, estuaries, bays and brackish lagoons, but also occurring offshore in shallow waters. The species is gregarious outside the breeding season, wintering in small flocks of up to a few hundred birds. Males leave the breeding grounds in June, and moult with immatures in small groups along the coast. The largest known moulting area in Europe is in Denmark, where peak numbers of moulting birds occur in mid-July. The autumn migration begins in September, and most birds have left their breeding areas by mid- or late October. In the Baltic, the peak of the autumn migration occurs in November. Females and juveniles migrate further south than males. The spring migration starts in late February. Birds arrive on their breeding grounds in the Baltic in April, and somewhat later on breeding grounds further north and east. Conservation status: Trends in the population of schioleri in west Greenland are unknown. The population wintering in northwest Europe is believed to be relatively stable. The large breeding populations in Norway, Sweden and Finland are thought to be stable, and an increase has been reported in the breeding population in Denmark, while decreases have been reported only in some of the smaller marginal breeding populations (European Bird Database, 1994). The Icelandic breeding population is thought to be stable (Koskimies, 1993). There was a marked increase in the British breeding population until about 1980, associated with an expansion in the breeding range, but there appears to have been little change since then (Kirby et al., 1993). No information is available on trends in the populations wintering in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. However, a slight decline was reported in post-breeding numbers in western and central Siberia between 1972 and 1989 (Krivenko, 1993). These birds, estimated to number 57,500 (Krivenko, 1993), could account for most if not all of the Caspian birds and a large proportion of those wintering in the Black Sea and east Mediterranean. Network of key sites: M. serrator is widely dispersed in small flocks during most seasons, perhaps with the exception of moult and passage. It also occurs in deep (>6 m) offshore waters throughout northern Europe and winters right up to the edge of the Arctic ice, and in ice free polynias, even in areas of permanent winter night. Obviously key wintering sites are very difficult to find and most birds will always be wintering away
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from the 23 relatively minor key sites listed in Annex 2. Many more than the 12 key moulting and passage sites listed must exist although there is no evidence to suggest that there will be any enormous concentrations at these times. The Black Sea and Caspian wintering populations of M. serrator must be amongst the least known Anatidae populations in Europe so it is not surprising that only three and five key sites respectively are listed in Annex 2.
Protection status of key sites: Most of the important breeding areas are unprotected. Most of the main wintering areas in the west Baltic are protected, but further southwest, most sites are unprotected, including the very important sites in the Netherlands. Most important sites in the Black Sea and Caspian regions are unprotected.
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GOOSANDER Mergus merganser

Subspecies: Polytypic. Three subspecies are recognized: the nominate form in northern Eurasia east to Kamchatka; M. m. orientalis in central Asia from northeast Afghanistan through Tibet and the Himalayas to western China; and M. m. americanus in North America. The form comatus, listed by some authors for central Asia, is now considered to be synonymous with orientalis. Distribution: Holarctic, with a wide breeding range across Eurasia and North America in forested tundra between 50N and the Arctic Circle. The wintering range extends south to southern Europe, the Middle East, northern India, China, Japan and the southern USA. Only the nominate form occurs in Western Eurasia, breeding in Iceland and from Britain, Norway, Denmark and central Europe eastwards, and wintering south to western France, the Adriatic, Turkey and the south Caspian region. There is a small, isolated breeding population in the southern Balkans (Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece). The species has occurred as a rare winter visitor to North Africa (Morocco to Egypt). Movements: Migratory and partially migratory; the northernmost breeding birds migrate south to winter at temperate latitudes, but southern breeding birds are mainly sedentary, moving only short distances to suitable wintering habitat, usually at lower elevations. The small breeding population of about 300 pairs in Iceland is resident within Iceland, wintering mainly near the coast. British breeding birds are also almost entirely resident but males do move to Norway to moult before returning to the UK (Little & Furness, 1985). Otherwise British birds move only short distances (usually less than 150 km) from breeding waters to lakes and sheltered estuaries. Birds breeding in Scandinavia and northwest Russia east to the Pechora Delta winter mainly in the Baltic Sea and countries bordering the North Sea, but also in smaller numbers on rivers and lakes in central Europe and rarely in the west Mediterranean. There is also some evidence to suggest that males from these breeding areas fly to northern river mouths in Russia and Norway to moult. Ringing recoveries suggest that many of the birds wintering in southern England are from the continent, with recoveries from Sweden, Finland, northwest Russia, the Netherlands and Germany (Lack, 1986). In mild winters, about 59% of the northwest European population winter in the Baltic Sea, with Szecin Bay being much the most important site (peak of 30,750 in January 1993). In hard winters, birds in the Baltic move southwest, and numbers in Danish waters increase (Durinck et al., 1994). Little is known about the much smaller populations wintering in the northern Black Sea and Caspian Sea, but it is assumed that these breed further to the east in Russia (Monval & Pirot, 1989). Population limits: Previous authors have recognized two main wintering groups in Europe: a large west European group including the resident Icelandic population, the rather sedentary British population and central European breeding birds, as well as the very small number of birds reaching the west Mediterranean; and a much smaller Black Sea/east Mediterranean group including the isolated breeding population in the Balkans (Atkinson-Willes, 1976; Ruger et al., 1986; Monval & Pirot, 1989). Perennou et al. (1994) recognized a third wintering group in Southwest Asia, concentrated in the north Caspian and central Asian republics. There is no evidence of movement between the resident Icelandic population and other European breeding birds, and this population should obviously be given separate treatment. Similarly, the tiny breeding population in the southern Balkans now appears to be completely isolated from other populations and also merits separate treatment. There is some justification for treating the British breeding population (5,0008,000 birds) and central European breeding population (about 3,000 birds) as separate populations. However, as some birds from northern Europe are known to reach Britain and central Europe during severe winters, some mixing of birds is likely to occur, and for the time being at least, the British and central European breeding birds are retained within the main northwest European population. Thus five populations are recognized: two small resident populations, in Iceland and in the Balkans, and three main wintering groups, in northwest and central Europe, in the Black Sea region and in Southwest
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Asia. The extent to which these three wintering groups are separated on their breeding grounds is, however, unknown, although it seems likely from breeding estimates that most if not all of the birds wintering in northwest and central Europe originate from breeding grounds in Europe, while most of the birds wintering in the Black and Caspian Seas probably originate from breeding areas in western Siberia.
Population size: Iceland: 900. 1% level 9. The breeding population in Iceland has been estimated at 300 pairs (Koskimies, 1993), or 100300 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994).
Northwest and central Europe: 200,000 (see Annex 1). 1% level 2,000. UK (breeding): 5,0008,000. Central Europe (breeding): 3,000. The total wintering population in Britain in the early 1980s was estimated at between 5,000 and 8,000 birds (Lack, 1986); more recently the British population has been estimated at 2,700 pairs (Carter, 1995) which might be expected to give a winter population of about 8,100 birds. The central European breeding population has been estimated at about 8401,180 pairs or 3,000 birds (640780 pairs in Austria, Switzerland and France, and an estimated 200400 pairs in Germany). Black Sea: 10,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). 1% level 100. The size of the Black Sea wintering population is very poorly known. Scott (1980) suggested a figure of 10,000, and this was retained by Monval & Pirot (1989). Up to 19,000 Mergus spp. were recorded in the Soviet Black Sea in the 1980s (Monval & Pirot, 1989), and an average of 3,500 M. merganser were reported during the autumn migration in the Sea of Azov between 1971 and 1975 (Krivenko, 1981). However, in recent years, the maximum count has been only 1,000 (1992). Balkans: 50100. 1% level 1. The breeding population in the Balkans is thought to number only 1132 pairs (European Bird Database, 1994). Southwest Asia: 20,000. 1% level 200. Perennou et al. (1994) thought that this population numbered less than 10,000 birds, but counts of 15,000 and 13,700 were obtained in the north Caspian in 1967 and 1968, respectively (Isakov, 1970b), and according to Krivonosov (1970), the Volga Delta alone holds between 5,000 and 15,000 birds in winter. An average of 20,000 was reported during the autumn migration in the north Caspian between 1971 and 1975 (Krivenko, 1981). As there has been no evidence of any major decline in this population, a figure of 20,000 would seem to be more appropriate. Krivenko (1993) gives an estimate of 36,000 for the post-breeding population of M. merganser in western and central Siberia, which could account for most if not all of the birds wintering in the Caspian and Black Sea regions.
Habitat/ecology: Mergus merganser breeds on freshwater lakes, pools and the upper reaches of rivers, generally in the vicinity of trees; it winters on large unfrozen lakes and brackish lagoons, less commonly on estuaries and rarely along sea coasts. In hard winters, many birds move to estuaries, coastal lagoons and sheltered sea coasts in areas with a water depth of less than 10 m (Durinck et al., 1994). The species usually occurs in relatively small flocks, although it occasionally forms flocks of several thousand birds in winter. Large numbers of birds moult at the mouths of major rivers in northern Norway (Tana) and northern Russia (Frantzen, in litt.). Mass departure from northern breeding areas does not occur until the first frosts. Major movements occur in Russia and the Baltic in October and early November. Birds begin to arrive in countries bordering the North Sea in late October and early November, and reach a peak in December. In the Black Sea region, numbers increase from mid-October to mid-December. The return migration in spring begins very early; except in hard winters, many M. merganser leave Danish waters in late January, while in other parts of the Baltic, most movements take place in March (Durinck et al., 1994). Most wintering areas are deserted by mid-April. Birds breeding in Britain and Switzerland return to their breeding areas in March; those breeding in northern Fennoscandia and Russia return in late April or May.
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Conservation status: The isolated Icelandic breeding population has been reported as probably decreasing (Koskimies, 1993) or stable (European Bird Database, 1994). The northwest European population is apparently stable or increasing slightly. There have been some recent increases in the numbers of birds wintering in Sweden, Lithuania, Poland and Germany, but the numbers wintering in the Netherlands have shown a marked decline in recent years (Svazas et al., 1994). A recent trend analysis based on mid-winter counts suggests long-term stability in northwest Europe, but this analysis excludes a large number of birds wintering in the Baltic (Rose, 1995). Breeding populations in Norway and Sweden are thought to be stable, while the large breeding population in Finland is thought to be increasing (European Bird Database, 1994). In Britain, there has been a major southward expansion in breeding range in recent decades, with the population increasing from 1,0002,000 pairs in 196872 to 2,700 pairs in 198891 (S. Carter in Gibbons et al., 1993). However, decreases have been reported in the relatively small breeding populations in Germany and the Baltic States (European Bird Database, 1994). An analysis of mid-winter counts in central Europe shows no significant trends over the last 20 years (Rose, 1995). However, the breeding population appears to be increasing, with increases reported in Switzerland, Austria and France (European Bird Database, 1994). Overall trends in the small Balkans population are unknown, although the population of 510 pairs is said to be stable (European Bird Database, 1994). Trends in the populations wintering in the Black Sea region and Southwest Asia are also unknown. However, Krivenko (1993) reports a sharp decline in numbers in western and central Siberia between 1972 and 1989. Network of key sites: Only seven key sites can be identified in Southwest Asia and even fewer are known in the Black Sea (5). Major wintering concentrations have been recorded along the edge of the ice in the north Caspian, but these are poorly documented. In northwest Europe key sites for M. merganser are only well known in winter when the majority of the population is usually congregated on a few coastal lagoonal sites (Szecin lagoon in Poland up to 33,000 and Kursiu Lagoon in Lithuania 25,000 in 1994) which together with 28 smaller sites make a fairly complete key wintering sites network. Only 5 key sites are known for other times of year but some sites in Sweden and the Kanin peninsula seem to be important to M. merganser on passage. With the lack of information to the contrary, it is assumed that the Balkan population of approximately 30 pairs is dispersive and that it is not joined in winter by migratory birds from further north. If this is true the cluster of 10 key sites in this region must be a very complete key sites network. Up to 94 M. merganser, thought to be the entire population, has been counted at Kastoria in Greece. The resident Icelandic population is known to occur in internationally important concentrations at eight sites of which the Myvatn Laxa complex and the Sog River are very important at most times of year. Protection status of key sites: Most of the important wintering sites in Denmark, the northern part of Kursiu Lagoon in Lithuania and several important sites in Poland, including part of the Gulf of Gdansk (Puck Bay), are protected, but most of the other main wintering areas in northwest Europe are unprotected. Szecin Lagoon, on the Polish/German border, has been proposed as a transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Svazas et al., 1994). Most of the important sites in the Black Sea and Caspian regions are likely to be unprotected, but the situation is poorly known.
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6. References
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Annex I Revised population estimates for some Anatidae in Western Eurasia

Monval & Pirot (1989) worked with three populations of Cygnus olor in the Western Palearctic but divided the west and Central European population into sub-populations for the purpose of midwinter count data analysis. This approach is continued and extended to the selection of key sites, but the Central Europe, North Sea and Baltic Sea subpopulations are combined as one population of 210,000 individuals for the purpose of key site selection. WESTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN POPULATION New Population Estimate = 240,000 Using January count data from the winters of 1966/67 1985/86 Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated that 180,000 C. olor , divided into five sub-populations, winter in western and Central Europe. The sub-populations were (i) Baltic/Scandinavia with 127,000 individuals, (ii) North Sea areas of Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France with 14,500 individuals, (iii) Central Europe with 13,500 individuals, (iv) Great Britain with 18,000 and (v) Ireland with 7,000 individuals. Rose (1995) calculated annual indices for C. olor which show that the western subpopulations have been increasing at 4.81% per annum, and the Central sub-population at 2.47% per annum, since the last estimate was made in 1986. The total western and Central European population is now estimated to number 240,000 individuals divided between sub-populations as follows. Baltic/Scandinavian sub-population New Sub-population Estimate = 170,000 In 1993, the most complete January count of the Baltic region was undertaken. This count lead to an estimate of 160,000 C. olor wintering in the Baltic in this year (Pihl 1994). In addition there are a further 8,000 more inland in Poland (Wieloch 1991) and up to 1,000 in Norway resulting in a new increased estimate of 170,000 for this subpopulation. Due to the recent succession of mild winters in the Baltic the number of C. olor is probably at a maximum and might be expected to fall dramatically in the next harsh winter. Great Britain sub-population New Sub-population Estimate = 25,000 There was a full survey of the Great Britain population in 1990 (Delany et al., 1992) which gave an increased estimate of 25,748 birds, here rounded to 25,000 for the purpose of international population estimates. North Sea Germany/Netherlands/Belgium/France subpopulation New Sub-population Estimate = 20,000 In the absence of a dramatic increase in completeness of counts for this region a new population estimate of 20,000 individuals is suggested on the basis of the 4.81% per annum increase in the population since 1986. This is not contradicted by the recent maximum simultaneous count of 17,350 individuals. Central European sub-population New Sub-population Estimate = 16,000 As for the North Sea sub-population a new estimate of 16,000 is suggested through the application of the 2.47% per annum increase to the 1986 estimate of 14,500. The recent maximum simultaneous count was of 14,000 and the estimation of missing counts for the purpose of trend analysis lead to a prediction of 17,000 for the total population in this year. These are both in accordance with the preferred new estimate of 16,000. Irish sub-population New Sub-population Estimate = 10,000 Shepherd (1993) gives full justification for this new sub-population estimate, which agrees quite closely with the 9,000 that results from applying the predicted increase of 2.47% per annum since 1986 (Rose 1995) to the 1986 sub-population estimate of 7,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989). BLACK SEA/EAST MEDITERRANEAN New Population Estimate = 45,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated an increasing population of approximately 20,000 individuals but had very little census data on which to base their estimate. They noted the exceptionally high counts of unidentified swans in the Sea of Azov (30,000 and 48,000) and predicted that these were probably C. olor. The increased numbers now known to be in the northern Black Sea amount to between 10,000 and 15,000 birds. The increase can also now be measured at 3.79% per annum.
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Annex I: Revised population estimates for some Anatidae in Western Eurasia
The 3.79 % per annum increase since the Monval & Pirot (1989) estimate of 20,000 would give an extrapolated population size of 26,000 in 1993, the final year of the recent population trend analysis (Rose, 1995). Adding the 10,00015,000 resulting from better coverage of the Ukrainian Black Sea gives an estimate of 35,00040,000, which is only marginally lower than the 45,000 estimated from the maximum count in 1994. Korzyukov et al. (1991) estimated the Azov-Black Sea population at over 50,000 birds. It is concluded that the total of 45,000 arising from the most comprehensive survey in 1994 seems to be the best estimate. CASPIAN New Population Estimate = 250,000 A census of C. olor throughout the former USSR in spring 1987 revealed that there had been a massive increase in the numbers of swans in the Caspian region since the previous census in the 1970s, and suggested that the total population was about 250,000 birds (Krivonosov, 1991a). This total included 13,370 pairs and 215,900 non-breeding birds in the north Caspian (mainly the Volga Delta), 4,000 pairs and 11,000 nonbreeding birds in Kazakhstan, 100 pairs in Uzbekistan and 50 pairs in Turkmenistan. It now seems likely that substantial numbers of birds from the Caspian population move to the Black Sea region during severe winters. This may, to some extent, account for the recent very high counts (40,000+) in the Black Sea (in recent harsh winters).
BLACK SEA/EAST MEDITERRANEAN Population Estimate = 17,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the population at 17,000 birds, but very few of these were ever counted. The rate of decrease since the Monval & Pirot (1989) estimate has not been significant and it is still very difficult to know how C. cygnus are divided between the Black Sea and the Caspian. The importance of the Sea of Azov and the Aral Sea region for wintering birds is also unknown. It is concluded that the existing estimate of 17,000 cannot yet be improved upon even though it is not supported by good data. CASPIAN New Population Estimate = 20,000 (10,00025,000) Rusanov (1987) gives an average count of 13,900 in the north Caspian from 19701980 and an average of 85,000 swans of mixed species from 19801984. The 1993 and 1994 counts from the southern Caspian and wetlands between the Caspian and Aral Seas give a maximum of 5,880 birds in January 1994. The existing estimate of under 25,000 (Rose and Scott 1994) is consequently still valid, but the range 10,00025,000 would seem to be more realistic with 20,000 as the best guess of the real population size. Krivenko (1989) estimated the west Siberian population in late summer from 197186 at an average of 52,000 birds. Ravkin (1991) estimated the breeding population on the west Siberian plain at 316,000 birds, on the basis of extrapolation of counts from aerial transects. This estimate has not been taken into account as it is generally considered to be an over-estimate.

ICELAND, UK & IRELAND New Population Estimate = 16,000 Cranswick et al. (in press) give full justification for this estimate. Trends calculated for this population (Monval & Pirot, 1989; Rose, 1995) are misleading due to a change in distribution of the population between wintering sites. The population is probably currently in slight decline (Cranswick et al., in press). NORTHWEST CONTINENTAL EUROPE New Population Estimate = 40,000 Ruger et al. (1986) give the northwest Continental European population as 25,000 individuals. The results of a special mid-winter yellow-billed swan survey during January 1995 yielded totals of 27,500 in Denmark and Sweden alone. The final results of this survey are not yet known (Beekman, in press) so a minimum estimate of 40,000 is taken based on the results from Denmark and Sweden.

NORTHWEST EUROPE New Population Estimate = 300,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the population size at 250,000 birds, of which 66% were counted annually. A rate of increase of between 1.95% per annum and 3.51% per annum since 1986 (Rose 1995) would give an extrapolated population size of between 290,000 and 320,000 in 1993. Meltofte (1994) uses the maximum Wadden Sea estimate of 254,000 birds from November 1980 to which he adds the numbers estimated for the UK, France and the Dutch Delta to give a minimum estimate of 320,000 birds in 1980. Removing estimation and taking the November 1980 counts alone gives 285,000 birds but this total is made at a time when many birds are moving from the Wadden Sea to the other wintering areas and consequently could be subject to double counting. Although not disagreeing with the 1980 estimate of
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320,000 T. tadorna as a possibility, the precautionary approach has been preferred throughout this report. If the 1980 estimate were however to be adopted, current increases in the population (Rose, 1995) would predict that the population was now over 400,000 individuals. It may of course be that the trend analysis is at fault and the increase has been much smaller. Missing counts and gaps in geographical coverage are accounted for by Rose (1995), but improvements in counting technique are not. Ignoring population trends, the 1980 estimate of 320,000 is very similar to the the maximum mid-winter count of 286,690 counted in 1994 and the extrapolated estimate of 290,000320,000 from mid-winter count data. Breeding data can be found in the European Bird Census Council database, and gives a maximum of only 125,000 birds, suggesting that breeding numbers are substantially underestimated, or that over 50% of the population is comprised of non-breeding birds. In conclusion, an estimate of 300,000 arising from the most complete full survey of 286,690 in January 1994 and predicted by applying trend analysis results to the Monval & Pirot estimate of 250,000 in 1986 is preferred. BLACK SEA/MEDITERRANEAN New Population Estimate = 75,000 This population is very difficult to monitor. Harsh weather redistribution is very large and frequent, nothing is known about some very important areas, counting is inconsistent in many others, and the movements of the birds are very poorly understood. Monval & Pirot (1989) did not split the east and west Mediterranean, but gave a combined estimate of 75,000. In the west 15,00020,000 were estimated based on Walmsley (1987) plus around 60,000 in the east. The recent data indicate much larger numbers in North Africa than anticipated, and far fewer birds in those parts of the northern Black Sea that have recently been surveyed. The new minimum estimates of 35,000 for the west Mediterranean and 25,00035,000 for the east Mediterranean are however rather similar in total to the 75,000 that has existed since the 1970s, so no change is recommended. In the west Mediterranean the new estimate is based on the maximum count of 35,000 in 1993, when over 20,000 T. tadorna were counted in Algeria. A great deal of variability in the counts is caused by the difficulty in obtaining comparable coverage between years in North Africa. T. tadorna are opportunistic in their ability to adapt to varying water levels, and can exploit the ephemeral wetlands of North Africa to their fullest, making census very difficult. Trend analysis is virtually impossible and probably unadvisable under these conditions, but the increasing counts at most key sites since 1986 suggest a real increase. If more complete and consistent monitoring of T. tadorna in the west Mediterranean could be achieved there are signs that a
population of over 50,000 individuals could probably be confirmed. In the east, there are still problems in achieving full and regular coverage in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, but there are no significant gaps for T. tadorna other than the Sea of Azov and Egypt. The only possibility for estimating population size in these regions is to guess 5,000 wintering in the Sea of Azov based on the density of wintering birds in the Ukrainian Black Sea and use 1,000 6,000 in Egypt (Urban, 1993). For other east Mediterranean countries, the highest simultaneous count was of 18,795 birds in 1993 when excellent geographical coverage was achieved. In 1993, only 10,098 birds were counted in regularly counted countries which held over 15,000 birds between them in 1989. In conclusion, the regularly counted countries of the east Mediterranean and southern Black Sea support at least 10,00015,000 wintering birds to which a further 10,000 can be added from occasionally counted countries to give a minimum estimate of 20,00025,000 based on IWC counts alone. This gives a total of 25,00035,000 when the estimates for the Sea of Azov and Egypt are added. Much of the discrepancy with the 60,000 estimated by Monval & Pirot (1989) is probably due to an earlier over-estimation of the numbers of birds in Ukraine and Russia in winter.

NORTHWEST EUROPE New Population Estimate = 1,250,000. In 1994, over 1,150,000 A. penelope were counted simultaneously. When the total 1994 count from the Netherlands is available, the real figure will be higher. A rate of increase of 7.48% per annum since the Monval & Pirot (1989) estimate of 750,000 would give an extrapolated population size of 1,350,000 in 1994 which is very similar to the actual count of 1,150,000 and the proposed estimate of 1,250,000. Between 250,000 and 350,000 pairs breed in Europe (European Bird Census Council data), accounting for some 750,0001,000,000 individuals in mid-winter. It seems likely that all of the birds breeding in northern Europe winter in northwest Europe along with many birds breeding further east in northwestern Siberia. BLACK SEA/MEDITERRANEAN New Population Estimate = 560,000 A. penelope wintering in this region are thought to originate from breeding grounds in western and Central Siberia (Cramp et al., 1977; Monval & Pirot, 1989). The mid-winter waterfowl census data indicate that by midJanuary, very few individuals are left in Central Europe and on the northern Black Sea coasts. At this time, the
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main concentrations of A. penelope are on the Mediterranean coasts and in Egypt. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated that 600,000 A. penelope winter in the Mediterranean, with approximately 220,000 in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean sub-region and 380,000 in the west Mediterranean sub-region. In the west Mediterranean counts are now about 20,000 individuals less than they were when Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated 380,000, hence the new estimate of 360,000. The adjustment of 100,000 to account for birds at sites never counted (Monval & Pirot, 1989) has been continued for consistency but seems rather high and is not consistent with the approach taken for most other species. This is consequently one of the only sub-regional population estimates that could conceivably be too high. An absolute minimum estimate from IWC data alone would be 260,000 based on the 1994 maximum count and the recent average adjusted for inconsistent coverage (missing counts). In the east, Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated a population of approximately 220,000 wintering A. penelope. This included 128,280 from counts plus an estimation of uncounted countries. The current average (19891993), including a correction for irregular coverage (imputed values) is virtually identical at 130,000 and new statistical techniques support the earlier calculations of Monval & Pirot (1989). There remains the question of estimating the number of A. penelope wintering in the uncounted or irregularly counted countries of the east Mediterranean. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated 90,000 to give the estimate of 220,000. New data allow the number of A. penelope wintering in relatively unknown areas to be assessed rather more accurately, as follows: i. In the northern Black Sea, an aerial survey of the Ukrainian coasts in 1994 revealed 1,250 A. penelope which is consistent with the densities encountered in Bulgaria and Romania. It is also reasonable to assume that the same sort of number might be found around the Russian Black Sea/Sea of Azov coasts. This would suggest a population of perhaps 5,00010,000 birds for the northern Black Sea and Sea of Azov in mid-winter, of which only 1,250 are counted. ii. On the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, up to 1,000 A. penelope winter in Israel, and probably the same sort of number in Syria (450 counted in 1993) and Jordan (100 counted in 1992). This suggests that approximately 3,000 A. penelope winter on the far eastern shores of the Mediterranean. iii. A full survey of Albanian coastal wetlands was conducted for the first time in February 1993, and revealed a total of 7,000 A. penelope. From this figure a wintering population of approximately 10,000 can be estimated. This figure urgently needs verification, as February 1993 was exceptionally cold with almost unprecedented harsh weather movements recorded in many species of waterfowl. The number of A. penelope
wintering in Albania during an average winter is therefore unknown. iv. For Egypt, Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated a wintering population of 31,000 based on historic data. Since then, an aerial survey has been undertaken during the winter of 1989/1990 revealing 33,800A. penelope (Meininger and Atta, 1991). Based on these figures, an estimated 40,00070,000 A. penelope are thought to winter in Egypt (Urban, 1993). In conclusion, it can be estimated that irregularly counted countries account for 60,00090,000 wintering A. penelope that are excluded from most years of IWC data. This leads to the new population estimate of 200,000 for the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region. Count coverage in the Mediterranean still needs to be improved before population estimates and trends for A. penelope can be substantiated. It seems probable that the number of birds wintering in the east Mediterranean is declining but a similar decline in numbers is not apparent in the west Mediterranean. The current estimate of 560,000 is very consistent with the estimate of 600,000 by Monval & Pirot (1989). The difference is due mainly to a more cautious estimation of population size, and does not indicate a real decline in numbers. A change is proposed because we should be giving a minimum estimate of population size and we are already adding a guess of 150,000200,000 birds from uncounted or irregularly counted areas. This is a similar number to that added by Monval & Pirot despite major increases in coverage. To be consistent with other species, we should give a minimum estimate based on maximum counts in the absence of any better data by which to estimate population size. This would reduce the estimate to 460,000 which is not thought to be realistic at present.

European breeding birds probably account for virtually all of the birds wintering in northwest Europe and most if not all of those wintering in the Black Sea/Mediterranean region. Counts of wintering birds would suggest that there are approximately 100,000200,000 birds breeding in Europe. In fact considerably more are estimated from European atlas studies (225,000350,000) so there could be some considerable under-estimates on the wintering grounds. As over 90,000 birds are actually counted in these regions with many major coverage gaps in the east, a total population of 225,000350,000 in northwest Europe and the Black Sea/Mediterranean region could be possible. NORTHWEST EUROPE New Population Estimate = 30,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) give an estimate of 12,000 of which 50% were counted annually. The peak count at
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that time was of 8,910 in January 1983. Since 1986, there is thought to have been a doubling of the population through an increasing trend of 9.97% per annum (Rose, 1995) and a maximum count of 26,363 in 1993 which excluded some data from countries that only counted a reduced site list. A population estimate of 30,000 is proposed based on the maximum count. This assumes that Monval & Pirot (1989) underestimated a little in 1986 by 1,0002,000 birds which is inevitable when mean counts are used to estimate the size of a rapidly increasing population and stresses the need for regular calibration of estimates against counts when significant increases or decreases are taking place. Estimates of breeding populations in northwest Europe suggest that there might be as many as 40,00050,000 birds in the population. Birds breeding in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, France and Belgium are probably resident (10,00013,000). These are joined in winter by birds breeding in Iceland and the Baltic (Poland, Germany, Sweden), which amount to 30,000 35,000 individuals. Some birds may also reach western Europe from west-central Russia (Cramp et al., 1977). BLACK SEA and MEDITERRANEAN New Population Estimate = 75,000150,000 (100,000) Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated that 75,000 A. strepera winter in the Mediterranean/Black Sea region, but only 35% were counted and most of these were in the west Mediterranean. With a little more information it is now possible to raise the estimate with approximately 25,000 100,000 in the east and 60,000 in the west. For the purpose of population estimation this is rounded to a range of 75,000 150,000 individuals. No increase is inferred, only an increase in knowledge hence the continuity of the lower limit with the estimate of Monval & Pirot (1989). For the purpose of selecting key sites a population estimate of 100,000 is preferred. In 1986, counts from the east amounted to only 720 birds annually yet between 8,000 and 30,000 birds were estimated to winter (Monval & Pirot, 1989), indicating the importance of major gaps in coverage for the northern Black Sea and Romania. Counts are still quite low, but in 1971 and 1988 aerial surveys in the Danube Delta give higher totals. This indicates that without full coverage of this site, no reliable estimate of the numbers of A. strepera in the east Mediterranean/Black Sea region is possible. In 1971 and 1988, the total counts were 26,000 and 12,500 respectively, from which 36,000 and 14,000 birds were estimated after accounting for gaps in coverage. Neither of the aerial surveys was complete, and much of the difference between the two counts is probably due to differences in coverage. It is believed that the actual number of A. strepera in the Danube Delta was probably considerably higher in both years. On the basis of these two mid-winter counts alone, it is now estimated that there are between 25,000 and 100,000 birds wintering in the Black Sea/east
Mediterranean for which the population trend is unknown. The total count in the west Mediterranean and Central Europe in 1994 was 59,768 birds with 53,963 of these in the west Mediterranean. In Central Europe, maximum estimated numbers have been up to 15,000. These figures are higher than those available to Monval & Pirot (1989) mainly because of large numbers of A. strepera found wintering in Algeria. Allowing for gaps in coverage, it is now estimated that the wintering population in the west Mediterranean and Central Europe is a minimum of 60,000 birds. Cramp et al. (1977) suggest that Russian breeding birds (165,000255,000) winter in the east Mediterranean and Black Sea along with some 20,00050,000 resident breeding birds, but this completely neglects the 60,000 birds wintering in the west Mediterranean where only about 3,0005,000 breed. West Mediterranean wintering birds must therefore originate from east European breeding stocks. The recently emerging importance of Algeria (30,000 in harsh weather) suggests movement through the Balkans from the east, and links the west Mediterranean with more easterly breeding populations which obviously mix with the western population in harsh weather. It is concluded that the IWC misses a large number of birds wintering in the northern half of the Black Sea. This is supported by the infrequent aerial surveys in the Danube Delta and the very substantial numbers appearing in Algeria during harsh weather. It is therefore possible that the majority of the Russian breeding birds are here and in the Sea of Azov.

NORTHWEST EUROPE New Population Estimate = 400,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated 400,000 wintering birds from a sum of five year means equal to 250,000 and a 1983 maximum count of 208,000. Despite a more strategic approach to monitoring, recent counts have only been marginally higher. From the reduced site list, an estimated 250,000 birds is obtained allowing for gaps in coverage. The actual counts from this sample are usually only about 75% of the complete coverage counts, so 350,000 can be safely assumed as a minimum population size and the maximum likely to be counted by the current IWC network. The original estimate of 400,000 is consequently still very appropriate allowing for 50,000 birds in uncounted areas which for a species as widely dispersed as the A. crecca is minimal. The actual size of the population is likely to be considerably higher as indicated by breeding season data. Breeding estimates are not very useful because of their variability. European Bird Census Council data give a massive 775,0001,170,000 breeding pairs in European
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Russia based on data from Krivenko, and yet Krivenko published 370,000 pairs for the same area in 1984. The new breeding estimate would lead to 2,500,0003,500,000 A. crecca breeding in European Russia as opposed to just over 1,000,000 estimated in 1984. There are, however, 600,000750,000 A. crecca breeding in Finland and a further 100,000150,000 pairs further west. These western breeding birds give rise to at least 300,000450,000 wintering birds in northwest Europe, and presumably some birds from Finland and Russia can be added to these. BLACK SEA/MEDITERRANEAN New Population Estimate = 750,0001,350,000 (1,050,000) Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated that 1,000,000 A. crecca winter in the Mediterranean and Black Sea divided between the west Mediterranean and Central Europe (250,000) and the east Mediterranean/Black Sea (750,000). Over half of these birds (500,000600,000) were guessed to winter in unsurveyed areas of the northern Black Sea which remain relatively unknown and could potentially be unimportant as a wintering ground. Improvements in the quality of the data and a slight nonsignificant increase now lead to an estimate of 350,000 wintering A. crecca in the west Mediterranean and Central Europe. The uncertainty over the northern Black Sea, in addition to recently shown declines in the wintering numbers in Turkey cast doubt on the Black Sea/east Mediterranean population estimate and lower it from 750,000 to 375,0001,000,000 The new estimate for the whole region is consequently 750,0001,350,000. Between 1989 and 1993, an average, after correcting for missing counts, of 308,000 A. crecca wintered in the west Mediterranean and 20,000 wintered in Central Europe to give a combined total of 328,000. The maximum count was 280,000 birds in 1989 from which a potentially exaggerated 440,000 can be estimated when uncounted wetlands are accounted for. It is concluded that the 19891993 average of 328,000 for the west Mediterranean/ Central Europe is an absolute minimum. From this an estimate of 350,000 seems appropriate for the whole west Mediterranean/Central Europe to allow a little for birds on never surveyed wetlands. This is higher than the 220,000 minimum available to Monval & Pirot (1989) due to improved analytical technique, coverage improvements and possibly a slight non-significant population increase. Data are now available from Ukraine where a complete aerial survey of the coast yielded only 130 A. crecca. However, these aerial surveys are conducted from helicopter which will cause A. crecca to take flight at a very great distance. Under these circumstances, it might be safer to assume that the numbers of A. crecca are still unknown in this region, and that the Monval & Pirot estimate of 500,000600,000 remains valid. Other gaps in coverage are on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. About 10,00015,000 A. crecca are
known to winter in Israel, and Albania has recently been shown to support up to 8,000 birds. The wintering population in Egypt has been estimated at 5,00015,000 birds (Urban, 1993). It is concluded that the irregularly counted countries in the east Mediterranean account for 25,00040,000 A. crecca. To these can be added the further 500,000600,000 guessed for the northern Black Sea and Sea of Azov coasts but not found in recent aerial surveys. Countries for which data are available were also difficult for Monval & Pirot (1989) to assess because of the lack of recent data from Turkey. This meant that the average total count available to them for this region was of only 57,200 wintering A. crecca. Extensive counts were made in Turkey in the period 19671972, but were then discontinued until the 1980s. During the early period, over 300,000 and up to 350,000 A. crecca were counted in the regularly covered countries of the east Mediterranean. Allowing for irregularities in coverage, this gives estimates of up to 900,000 and an average of 500,000. In the late 1980s and 1990s counts resumed in Turkey but the maximum counts had dropped to around 150,000 and the coverage adjusted estimate was only 300,000 birds. Allowing for missed birds at very small wetlands a current total of 350,000 is preferred for the regularly counted countries of the east Mediterranean. This is considerably less than the numbers in the late 1960s and early 1970s The total estimate for the Black Sea and east Mediterranean is therefore 350,000 in regularly counted countries, plus 25,00040,000 in occasionally counted countries and between nil and 600,000 in the northern Black Sea, giving 375,0001,000,000 as opposed to 550,0001,500,000 in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As there are only about 15,000 pairs of A. crecca breeding in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region, it can be assumed that the majority of wintering birds come from Finland and Russia.

New Population Estimates 5,000,000 1,000,000 2,250,000 NW Europe (wintering) W Mediterranean (wintering) Black Sea/E Mediterranean (wintering)
As total midwinter counts for any species as widely dispersed as A. platyrhynchos are never likely to be very useful in estimating population size, more emphasis must be placed on population trends. As recent trends in northwest Europe have been relatively stable and a justification for the existing estimate of 5,000,000 has recently been produced (Pihl, 1995), no change is recommended. Similarly there is no evidence to suggest a change in numbers in the Mediterranean and Central Europe but for the purposes of conservation, two populations are
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suggested on the basis of population trends (Rose, 1995). There is a particularly apparent decline in wintering numbers present in the east of Central Europe that is visible throughout the east Mediterranean. This contrasts with the situation in the west Mediterranean where the population appears stable. To create new population estimates, the IWC data from 19671986 was used to calculate the relative abundance of A. platyrhynchos in the east and west Mediterranean after adjusting for inconsistencies in coverage. The ratio of abundance was then applied to the Monval & Pirot (1989) estimate of 4,000,000 for the whole region to give new estimates of 1,000,000 for the west Mediterranean and 3,000,000 in the east Mediterranean. Population trends since 1986 can then be used to create new 1993 estimates of 1,000,000 for the west Mediterranean and 2,250,000 for the east Mediterranean.
19671993 indicate that the wintering population of A. acuta in the Black Sea/ Mediterranean region is probably lower than estimated by Monval & Pirot, due to an erroneous 50,000 to 75,000 assumed to be in the northern Black Sea plus an ongoing decline. New data would suggest that 225,000 to 260,000 would have been a better estimate for the 19821986 period, and there are now 190,000230,000 giving rise to an estimate of 200,000. A peak count of 180,000 in 1991 seems to support the estimate of 200,000 Black Sea/east Mediterranean New Sub-population Estimate = 125,000 (110,000 150,000) Many countries in this region have never submitted representative waterfowl count data as part of the IWC scheme, but only Libya is within the major wintering range of A. acuta. In Libya, there seem to be suitable coastal lagoons which, based on counts from similar habitat in southern Tunisia, might be expected to support up to 10,000 wintering A. acuta. Alternatively, no more than half the numbers in Egypt would be expected, based on available habitat comparisons, and in Egypt there are only an estimated 1,0005,000 birds (Urban, 1993). In conclusion, Libya probably supports from 010,000 A. acuta in mid-winter and most likely around 1,000 3,000 birds. Other countries have provided data to the IWC but not regularly. In the northern Black Sea, aerial survey of the Ukrainian coasts in 1994 revealed 565 A. acuta, which is consistent with the densities encountered in Bulgaria and Romania. It is also reasonable to assume that the same sort of number might be found around the Russian Black Sea/Sea of Azov coasts. This would suggest a population of perhaps 1,0001,500 birds for the northern Black Sea and Sea of Azov in mid-winter. If the delta regions of Azov are equal in importance to the Danube, up to 4,000 more might winter, giving an overall estimate of only 1,0005,000. On the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, up to 351 A. acuta have wintered in Israel in recent years (351 in 1992, 200 in 1993) compared to a mean of 670 in earlier years (Monval & Pirot, 1989). Probably the same sort of number winter in Syria (800 during the IWC in 1993) and Lebanon (190 from five sites in 1975). This suggests that there are approximately 2,000 A. acuta wintering on the far eastern shores of the Mediterranean. Much larger numbers (over 15,000) occur in Iraq, but these are most likely to be a part of the Southwest Asian population, in view of the low numbers of A. acuta in the far eastern Mediterranean. A full survey of Albanian coastal wetlands was conducted for the first time in February 1993, revealing a total of 747 A. acuta. From this figure, a wintering population of approximately 1,000 can be estimated. This figure urgently needs verification, as February 1993 was exceptionally cold with almost unprecedented harsh

NORTHWEST EUROPE New Population Estimate = 60,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated 70,000 individuals based on a mean of 63,035 between 1983 and 1986. Recent analyses, using only a selected sample of wetlands, support this calculation. A maximum count of 61,000 in 1983 has been recorded from the reduced site list and from this maximum count, 70,377 was estimated to account for gaps in coverage. The reduced site list supported an average of 46,844 birds from 19831986 adjusted to 54,254 to account for missing counts. Trends have been non-significant for this population but a combination of slow declines, smaller counts and a 19891993 estimate of only 45,000 birds wintering on all reduced sites contribute to a lower estimate of 60,000 rather than 70,000. This is indication of a true decline, but it is probably well within the limits of natural fluctuation. This opportunity is taken to adjust the estimate slightly, as under current proposed schedules of update this will not be possible for another nine years unless rapid changes take place outside of the level of natural fluctuation. It is suggested that future revisions are not made unless the population moves outside of the 50,00075,000 range. BLACK SEA/MEDITERRANEAN/WEST AFRICA New Population Estimate = 1,200,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated that 300,000 A. acuta winter in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, but gave no indication of how A. acuta were divided between the Black Sea/east Mediterranean and west Mediterranean/Central European sub-regions. They also separated West African wintering birds which they estimated to number approximately 1,000,000. Analyses of IWC data from
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weather movements being recorded in many species of waterfowl. The number of A. acuta wintering in Albania during an average winter is therefore unknown. For Egypt, Monval & Pirot (1989) made no estimate, but suggested that Egypt was primarily a staging area for A. acuta on migration to and from the Sahel. Urban (1993) estimates a wintering population of 1,0005,000 A. acuta based on historic counts. In conclusion 5,00023,000 A. acuta are probably accounted for by unknown or sporadically counted countries. The 50,00075,000 suggested for the northern Black Sea by Monval & Pirot (1989) almost certainly refers to late autumn concentrations which leave the area by midJanuary. The sum of five year means, including imputed values, for the 19821986 period is equal to 78,615. If the estimated 5,00023,000 in relatively unknown areas is added, an estimate of approximately 85,000100,000 is obtained for the 19821986 period. Monval & Pirot (1989) added 60,00080,000 A. acuta to the whole Mediterranean to account for missed birds. This decision is followed for consistency, assuming 20,000 in the west and 40,00060,000 in the east to reflect the difference in coverage of the two regions. The final Black Sea/east Mediterranean estimate for 19821986 is therefore 125,000160,000. Applying the same process to the 19891993 period gives the sum of five year means as 64,494 and an overall estimate of 110,000150,000. This result reflects the slow population decline in the area. West Mediterranean New Sub-population Estimate = 80,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) gave a sum of five year means for A. acuta in this region as 47,690, from which they gave no sub-regional population estimate. The sum of five year means including imputed values for the same period is equal to 77,820 for the west Mediterranean plus approximately 5001,000 for Central Europe giving a total of circa 80,000 A. acuta and an estimate of 100,000 to account for missed birds. Applying the same process used to compare the recent analysis of 19821986 data to the Monval & Pirot (1989) analysis, the 19891993 period gives the sum of five year means as 58,759 for the west Mediterranean and Central Europe, and an estimate of circa 80,000 to account for missed birds. This result indicates the possibility of recent decline in the area. West Africa New Sub-population Estimate = 1,000,000 No extensive surveys have been carried out since the 1980s, from which a tentative estimate of 1,000,000 was made. This could now be much lower if declines seen in the Mediterranean sub-region are apparent throughout the
flyway. Another survey is urgently required to substantiate population size and identify population trends. SOUTHWEST ASIA/EAST AFRICA New Population Estimate = 700,000 Nothing has changed since the five year analysis of Asian Data so the estimate is still valid. This becomes 700,000 with those wintering in East Africa.

The distinction of populations in this species is difficult. There is an almost continuous wintering range at Mediterranean latitudes from the Atlantic coasts to east Asia with divergences into northwest Europe and Sahelian Africa. The breeding range is equally uniform across the whole of Eurasia. The European population breeding north of 55 degrees is thought to winter in northwest Europe, while birds south of this line winter throughout the Mediterranean. The east Mediterranean also harbours birds from Western Siberia that winter in the Black Sea, east Mediterranean and Caspian. This population is also probably contributing birds to the Egyptian and African populations (Cramp et al., 1977). NORTHWEST EUROPE Population Estimate = 40,000 Up to 20,000 birds have been counted from a reduced sample of sites in 1983 and from this 33,000 were estimated to account for gaps in coverage. Between 1982 and 1986 the sum of five year means was 26,520 from which a population size of 40,000 was estimated (Monval & Pirot, 1989). The reduced site list supported an average of 15,165 birds during this period adjusted to 22,652 to account for missing counts. There is nothing to cast doubt on the 40,000 estimate of Monval & Pirot (1989). Trends have been non-significant for this population, and data from 19891993 are very comparable with those from 19821986. No adjustment to the estimate is therefore necessary. The birds wintering in northwest Europe are thought to originate from Iceland, Scandinavia and northern European Russia east to 60E. European Bird Census Council data indicate a total of 40,00050,000 birds breeding in northwest Europe which agrees quite closely with wintering estimates. BLACK SEA/MEDITERRANEAN/ WEST AFRICA New Population Estimate = 450,000 (400,000 470,000) In the east Mediterranean, regularity of midwinter counting has been difficult to achieve and very rarely has
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complete geographical coverage been accomplished. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated that 200,000 A. clypeata winter in the east Mediterranean/Black Sea and 175,000 in the west Mediterranean, with a further 15,000 in sub-Saharan West Africa. Monval & Pirot (1989) gave independent estimates for the east and west Mediterranean but in summary defined one population of 375,000 individuals and separated the 15,000 in West Africa. Rose & Scott (1994) split the Mediterranean into two regions to conform to Monval & Pirot (1989) and added the West African wintering birds to the east Mediterranean population to give 220,000. On the basis of recent analyses, the original decision of Monval & Pirot (1989) to recognize only one population in the Mediterranean (of about 375,000 birds) is supported, but the West African birds should probably be added. Very few A. clypeata are counted in the east Mediterranean/Black Sea and the estimation of numbers in irregularly counted or unknown areas accounts for 83% of the total. Despite these difficulties, there is now a lot more information than there was at the time of the last estimate of 200,000 and 150,000 is suggested now from a range of 100,000170,000. There may have been a slight decline, but the estimate is adjusted through a more exact knowledge of the relatively unknown wintering areas. The west Mediterranean estimate of 175,000 is increased to 280,000 based on a real increase and more exact data for North Africa. There have been no new data for West Africa, but the 15,000 estimated by Monval & Pirot (1989) was updated to 20,000 following a more thorough investigation of the data by Perennou (1991). Those birds breeding in most of European Russia and Central and southeast Europe winter in the Mediterranean Basin south to North Africa and in West Africa. Their number is estimated at 200,000300,000 from breeding bird censuses. This is quite consistent with the new winter estimate as some western Siberian breeding birds must surely also winter in the Mediterranean. Black Sea/east Mediterranean New Sub-population Estimate = 150,000 (100,000 170,000) Monval & Pirot (1989) = 200,000 Many countries in this region have never submitted representative waterfowl count data as part of the IWC scheme, but only Libya is within the major wintering range of A. clypeata . In Libya, there seems to be suitable coastal lagoons which from similar habitat in Tunisia might be expected to support up to 8,000 birds. Alternatively, we would expect approximately half the numbers in Egypt based on available habitat comparisons and this figure would be much higher. In conclusion, Libya probably supports around 8,000 A. clypeata. There
are no mid-winter waterfowl counts from Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia or Moldova, but these countries are unlikely to support more than a few A. clypeata because of the severity of the winters. Other countries have provided data to the IWC but not regularly. In the northern Black Sea, aerial survey of the Ukrainian coasts in 1994 revealed only 50 A. clypeata fewer than might be supposed from the densities encountered in Bulgaria and Romania but consistent with the dwindling of numbers northwards in the Black Sea. It is reasonable to assume that the same sort of low numbers exist around the Russian Black Sea/Sea of Azov coasts. This would suggest a negligible population for the Sea of Azov in mid-winter. If the delta regions of the Sea of Azov are comparable to the Danube Delta, up to 5,000 might winter in exceptional years, but fewer than 1,000 are more likely. On the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, up to 22,000 A. clypeata have wintered in Israel in recent years, with a 19891993 five-year mean of 18,345 compared to a mean of 17,500 in earlier years (Monval & Pirot, 1989). Overall, 20,000 seems a reasonable total. Fewer seem to winter in Syria (500 IWC 1993) and Lebanon (251 from five sites in 1975). This suggests that approximately 20,00025,000 A. clypeata winter on the far eastern shores of the Mediterranean. A full survey of Albanian coastal wetlands was conducted for the first time in February 1993, and revealed a total of 2,893 A. clypeata . From this figure a wintering population of approximately 3,0005,000 can be estimated. This figure urgently needs verification, as February 1993 was exceptionally cold with almost unprecedented harsh weather movements recorded in many species of waterfowl. The number of A. clypeata wintering in Albania during an average winter is therefore unknown. For Egypt, Monval & Pirot (1989) only had data from 1979 and 1980, but now there are also counts from 1990. The counts from 1979 and 1980 are 64,761 and 75,532 respectively, while in 1990, 40,964 were counted. Urban (1993) estimates a wintering population of 50,000100,000 A. clypeata based on historic counts, but there may have been a decline in numbers during the 1980s. This seems to be the most reasonable estimate. The average counts for the entire Black Sea/east Mediterranean region over the 19821986 period are 16,693 from which a total of 34,226 is calculated allowing for gaps in coverage. This is identical to the 34,000 fiveyear mean given by Monval & Pirot (1989). If the 80,000 145,000 in relatively unknown areas is added, an estimate of 115,000180,000 is obtained for the 19821986 period. Consequently 150,000 may have been a more appropriate estimate than 200,000. The differences in population estimation are solely attributable to the estimation of unknown areas which account for up to 83% of the total. Clearly the quantity of data must be increased for this species as a matter of urgency.
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Applying the same process to the 19891993 period gives the sum of five year means as 25,539 and an estimate of 100,000170,000 adding the proportion from unknown areas. West Mediterranean New Sub-population Estimate = 280,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) = 175,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) gave a sum of five-year mean for A. clypeata in this region as 143,140 with a peak count of 147,180 in 1985, from which they estimated 175,000 individuals. The average adjusted for gaps in coverage for the same period is equal to 212,515 for the west Mediterranean plus approximately 1,500 for Central Europe giving a total of about 215,000 and an estimate of about 250,000 to account for missed birds. Applying the same process to the 198993 data gives a coverage adjusted count of 255,000 and an estimate of 280,000 to account for missed birds. This result indicates the effect of the recent significant increase of 2.48% per annum and an addition of 75,000 birds as a result of increased knowledge of North African wetlands. West Africa New Sub-population Estimate = 20,000 No extensive surveys have been carried out since the 1980s from which a tentative estimate of 15,000 was made (Monval & Pirot, 1989) and updated to 20,000 by more extensive analysis of the same data (Perennou, 1991). High counts have included 34,250 in the Senegal Delta, 6,000 in the Central Niger Delta and 12,500 at Lake Chad. Counts are highly variable and peak at 40,000 in 1987. The variability is probably due to exchange of birds with the Mediterranean, so estimates are based on mean rather than peak values. SOUTHWEST ASIA/EAST AFRICA New Population Estimate = 400,000 (250,000 500,000) The previous estimate of 300,000 from the five year analysis of Asian waterfowl census data (Perennou et al., 1994) is clearly too low. Counts in Southwest Asia have amounted to 50,000 in recent years and 100,000 in the 1970s with no coverage in Iraq which is a key wintering area for this species. At least 150,000 and probably nearer 250,000 A. clypeata can be assumed to winter in Southwest Asia. Urban (1993) estimated the total population wintering in eastern Africa (excluding Egypt) to be 100,000240,000 birds; high counts in recent years have included over 25,000 in Ethiopia (in 1994), a dry season minimum of 22,000 in Kenya, mainly at Lake Naivasha, and over 15,000 in Tanzania (in 1995). Combining the Southwest Asian and African figures suggests a total population of about 400,000 from a range of 250,000500,000.

The northwest European wintering population was not considered by Monval & Pirot (1989) because of its small size and disputed feral origin. The population remains small; the birds are resident and quite discrete from those in Central Europe. The total breeding population is estimated at 100125 pairs, with 1025 pairs in the Netherlands, 3040 pairs in Poland, 50 pairs in the UK and a few pairs in France and Germany. This suggests a total population of 300375 individuals. This northwest European group is still not considered because of its disputed feral origins. CENTRAL EUROPE/WEST MEDITERRANEAN New Population Estimate = 25,000 (24,00050,000) On average, about 4,000 birds have been counted in Central Europe in recent years, rising to a peak of 9,500 in 1994. Adding this rapidly increasing population to the slowly declining population of the west Mediterranean gives a minimum estimate of 25,000. This is not indicative of an increase but rather a redistribution of birds and better data. The total number is thought to have remained relatively constant. This is a minimum estimate. If the large fluctuations in the west Mediterranean can be understood, the estimate could rise to about 35,000 based on average counts, or 50,000 if maximum counts are representative of the real population size. Because of the very rapid increase in the Central European population, the apparent ongoing redistribution and the huge, poorly understood fluctuations in the size of the Spanish population, it is recommended that this population is monitored very closely, and that estimates of population size are adjusted every three years until confident estimates are produced and the population has stabilised. Central Europe New Sub-population Estimate = 4,000 (1994 peak of 9,500) When Monval & Pirot (1989) discussed the status of Western Palearctic wintering populations of N. rufina, there was a small wintering population in Central Europe similar in size to the resident population in northwest Europe. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated this Central European population at 200 birds. The northwest European population is still not of sufficient size to influence whole population trends, but the Central European population has undergone an exponential and statistically significant increase since 1986. The rate of increase from 19841993 has been 57.23% per annum. This rate predicts that this small population is nearly 100 times the size it was in 1984. The mean count for the five-year period 198993 was only 2,500. However, 9,500
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birds were counted in January 1994. This very high total brings the mean count for the five-year period 199094 to 3,654. For other populations, mean counts have been used to create population estimates, but in this exceptional circumstance, this approach would clearly give a very low estimate. Because key sites are selected through mean counts, to avoid overshoot of the real population size and to remain consistent with other population estimates for the region, an estimate of 4,000 is recommended based on the mean count from 19901994. Obviously, with such a high rate of increase in the population, this estimate is almost immediately out of date. It is therefore recommended that the estimate be amended every three years until the rate of increase slows down, i.e. the population increases by less than 20% over the three year period since the last estimate. Only 320595 pairs or 1,0002,000 individuals are thought to breed in Central Europe. This would be consistent with the wintering population in 1990 or thereabouts, and might be low because it is already out of date with such a rapidly increasing population. West Mediterranean New Sub-population Estimate = 21,000 (20,000 75,000) Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the west Mediterranean population at 20,000 birds, but acknowledged that the average counts from Spain alone exceeded this figure (23,670). Despite the fact that the N. rufina is extremely concentrated in winter, the counts of this species are extremely variable, and the effects of the peaks and troughs are visible for a number of years. There is no instant recovery. Some of the troughs can be associated with the drying out of key wetlands such as Gallocanta in Spain, and may therefore represent real declines and peaks. The fluctuations in numbers are still no better understood than in 1989 when Monval & Pirot decided that caution was prudent and endorsed the earlier estimate of 20,000. This estimate is based on the counts made during the lowest points of the cycles. The combined west Mediterranean and Central European count of approximately 18,500, made during the last low point of the cycle in 1992, is consistent with this estimate. Until the reasons for the fluctuations are understood, it is recommended that this cautious approach to the estimation of population size be retained. The last four troughs occurred in 1982, 1983, 1988 and 1992 when estimates, adjusted for coverage, were all in the region of 21,000 individuals. Adopting the minimum estimate principle of Monval & Pirot (1989) in the absence of better data leads to a new estimate of 21,000 for the west Mediterranean. The highest count was in 1979 when nearly 50,000 were counted. Estimates around this year ranged from 70,00075,000 when gaps in coverage were taken into account. Counts from 1982 to 1986 averaged 21,000, and gave an
estimated average total of about 35,000, while counts during the period 19891993 averaged 16,000, and gave an estimated total of about 30,000. In conclusion, our understanding of the trends in the population and our ability to assess the completeness of counts have both improved but lead to only a very small adjustment of the 1989 estimate from 20,000 to 21,000 as these are based on minimum estimates which have remained very constant. There has been a reduction in average counts of approximately 5,000 since the last estimate. Recent breeding estimates suggest that there are 5,7008,990 pairs breeding in the region or 17,000 27,000 wintering individuals, which agrees well with the minimum estimate of 21,000. BLACK SEA/EAST MEDITERRANEAN New Population Estimate = 50,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated the east Mediterranean/Black Sea population at 50,000 birds. Breeding data for the eastern European region suggest 7,64217,240 pairs or 23,00052,000 wintering individuals. The middle of this range is consistent with the recent dramatic decline in the total counts in midwinter. The population in the east Mediterranean and Black Sea has been fairly consistently counted since 1987, but more years are needed before the suspected declining trend can be substantiated. The very low numbers counted in the Danube Delta since 1986 and the lower numbers counted in Turkey concur with Monval & Pirot (1989), who concluded that this population might have undergone a decline. More precise monitoring is needed in the eastern Black Sea, particularly the Danube Delta and eastern Sea of Azov, before any further conclusions can be drawn. With so much uncertainty until more data can be collected a population of 50,000 is retained with the proviso that it could be as low as 23,000 if based on minimum breeding estimates and that it is very unlikely to be higher than 50,000. Monval & Pirot (1989) thought that the northern Black Sea area supported about 5,000 birds; this is probably a maximum if recent counts are indicative of true numbers. The Danube Delta is crucial for this species with up to 75% of the population estimated to winter at this single site. The equally large delta regions in the southeast Sea of Azov are completely unknown in mid-winter, but are reported to be important for N. rufina and could conceivably support very large wintering concentrations. As no aerial surveys of the Danube delta have been carried out since 1988 and the Sea of Azov is still unknown, there is no possibility for updating the rather unsubstantiated estimate of 50,000. This could be rather high as the 1988 Danube survey revealed only 7,900 birds as opposed to 31,800 in 1970. Recent maximum counts have also been low, i.e. 5,422 in 1992, 4,356 in 1993 and 3,000 1994.
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NORTHWEST EUROPE New Population Estimate = 350,000 Trend analysis shows that there has been virtually no change in this population since the analysis of Monval & Pirot (1989). There were higher numbers in the late 1970s, with perhaps up to 450,000 birds. The sum of the five year mean from 19821986 was 243,000. The average total count from 19821986 when Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated 350,000 was approximately 175,000. Total counts have been higher recently 174,677 in 1992, 242,354 in 1993 and 221,928 in 1994 but this is thought to be due to better count coverage and hence the stable trend. Breeding estimates indicate that there are 89,420 128,455 pairs or approximately 250,000400,000 individuals in northwest Europe. The A. ferina wintering in northwest Europe presumably originate from the breeding grounds in northern Europe, but some of the A. ferina from these areas also winter in Central Europe and the west Mediterranean. About 90,000100,000 pairs or 250,000300,000 individuals are believed to breed in European Russia. If it is assumed that one third of these birds winter in northwest Europe (100,000) a further 250,000 birds must breed in northwest Europe leaving 0150,000 for the west Mediterranean plus the remaining 200,000 from European Russia and the majority from further south and east. The estimate of 350,000 might be a little high, but 250,000 have been counted, so 300,000 must be the absolute minimum. Changes are recommended in the future if the number is suspected to have fallen under 250,000 or risen over 400,000. This is based on a 20% change in either direction from a current slightly high estimate, and corresponds to the extreme limits of current population size. CENTRAL EUROPE/BLACK SEA/ MEDITERRANEAN New Population estimate = 1,000,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated that 1,250,000 A. ferina winter in the Central Europe/Mediterranean/ Black Sea region, with most in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean sub-region for which no five-year mean could be given and for which most birds were thought to winter in poorly surveyed regions. An assessment of population trends was felt to be inappropriate in 1986 for the Black Sea/east Mediterranean, but was conducted for Central Europe and the west Mediterranean, where a steady increase from 1967 to the late 1970s was followed by a sharp and continuing decline. There is no evidence of any significant change in numbers since Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated
1,250,000 as most of the decline had already taken place. There has been the development of new statistical techniques and improvements in census coverage that account for the new lower estimate of 1,000,000. There has also been some further minimal decline in numbers, mainly in the east. Black Sea/east Mediterranean New Sub-population Estimate = 600,000 Moldova, Georgia and the Sea of Azov could be significant gaps in the census coverage of wintering A. ferina. Moldova borders the Romanian Danube Delta, and contains a small proportion of the northern edge of this vast wetland complex. As the Romanian Danube Delta has been known to support over 50% (up to 369,000 in 1971) of the A. ferina thought to be wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean, it is not unreasonable to expect that large numbers might winter in Moldova. Similarly, the most suitable wetlands in Georgia and Sea of Azov are situated on the opposite shores of the Black Sea at approximately the same latitude as the Danube Delta, so might also provide ideal wintering grounds for A. ferina. Because of the presence of completely unknown and potentially very important wintering areas for A. ferina in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, the best that can be achieved is to provide a minimum estimate for this subpopulation. The coverage of the region was most complete in January 1993 when weather conditions were also extremely harsh pushing many waterbirds south and towards the coast from traditional wintering grounds. As the IWC has better coverage in the south of the region and on the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts, it is likely that the total number of A. ferina counted in January 1993 might be close to the best minimum estimate for the region. This total came to 277,187, with the only major gap being the Russian Black Sea and Sea of Azov. There were, however, indications from the first counts received from Albania and Syria that some areas of the former Yugoslavia and the far eastern Mediterranean shores could support substantial numbers. If the Russian Black Sea and Sea of Azov support an equal number of birds to the Ukrainian shores, then a further 65,000 can be added. In addition, there are an estimated 10,00020,000 A. ferina wintering in Egypt (Urban, 1993), giving a total of 350,000. To this could be added a guess for birds in completely unknown areas to give a total of perhaps 400,000, and a further 150,000 found in the Danube Delta during the 1988 aerial survey, give a total of 550,000. The coverage adjusted average for this region from 19891993 amounts to approximately 300,000 birds. Because of the large fluctuations and irregular counts, this figure is a best estimate but rather dangerous as it could conceivably be an over-estimate. To this figure should be added the 300,000 estimated to winter in
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areas counted only occasionally, areas not counted at all and the Danube Delta, to give 600,000. This is rather similar to the minimum estimate of 550,000, and probably quite appropriate. In conclusion the Black Sea/east Mediterranean wintering population of A. ferina is now estimated at 600,000 for the 19891993 period. Trends are unknown, and no comparison can be made with Monval & Pirot (1989). Recent total counts have been 222,534 in 1992, 256,187 in 1993, 265,459 in 1994. To reflect the uncertainty in this estimate, changes are proposed only if the population falls to below 350,000 (the minimum size at present) or rises to above 700,000. West Mediterranean New Sub-population Estimate = 250,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) gave a sum of five-year mean for A. ferina in this region and Central Europe as 314,000, with an average total count of 236,000, but gave no subregional population estimate. The coverage adjusted average count for the same period is equal to 324,077, with 139,276 in Central Europe and 184,801 in the west Mediterranean. This suggests close agreement with the earlier analyses. Applying the same process used to compare the recent analysis of 19821986 data to the Monval & Pirot (1989) analysis, the 19891993 period gives an average coverage adjusted count of 309,832 for the west Mediterranean and Central Europe, indicating a slow decline since the 19821986 analyses as expected from a recent analysis of population trends. The decline is not significant and not sufficient to warrant a change in population estimates. In the west Mediterranean, a peak count of 225,000 was made in 1978, and a coverage adjusted estimate of 400,000 individuals existed for a number of years. Total counts of 54,364 (without Spain) in 1992, 74,554 (without Spain) in 1993, and 98,146 (with 5,385 in the Guadelquivir) in 1994 have been much lower, mainly due to the absence of Spanish data, so cannot be used to estimate population size. The coverage adjusted counts give a minimum estimate of 175,000 from average counts of just 95,000. The reduced list estimates have been about 116,000 individuals. Applying the same sort of adjustments as made in northwest Europe for missed birds yields estimates of approximately 250,000 individuals. Central Europe New Sub-population Estimate = 150,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) gave a sum of five-year mean for A. ferina in this region and the west Mediterranean as 314,000, but gave no sub-regional population estimate. The coverage adjusted average count for the same period is equal to 324,077 with 139,276 in Central Europe and 184,801 in the west Mediterranean. This suggests close agreement with the earlier
analyses. The good coverage of Central European wetlands for A. ferina suggests 150,000 is probably a good sub-regional population estimate. Recent total counts have been 77,273 in 1992, 78,840 in 1993, 111,386 in 1994. Applying the same adjustments for missed birds as in northwest Europe gives estimates of 130,000 from a reduced site list estimate of 67,000, and 160,000 from recent maximum counts. These are very consistent with the total count coverage adjusted estimate of 150,000. BREEDING NUMBERS If two-thirds of the birds breeding in European Russia, plus up to 150,000 from northwest Europe, all winter in Central Europe and the west Mediterranean, this accounts for 200,000350,000 wintering birds. In addition, 43,904 68,608 pairs or 150,000200,000 birds breed within the region, giving a combined total of 350,000550,000 wintering birds. This is marginally higher than the estimate from winter counts, but considering that the proportional split between the Mediterranean and northwest Europe is a total guess, the combined estimate is very close. If the estimate of 350,000 wintering birds in northwest Europe is correct, a further 450,000750,000 European breeding birds remain. These almost certainly winter in the Mediterranean Basin or Black Sea region. Therefore a recruitment of 200,000500,000 from breeding grounds in Asia is necessary to equal the new wintering estimates for the region. Only 30,000 A. ferina are thought to breed in Central Siberia, but western Siberia might be expected to support 500,000800,000 breeding birds if breeding densities are comparable to those in Europe. This would give a total of 550,000850,000 wintering birds. Subtracting the 200,000500,000 moving into the Mediterranean and Black Sea leaves up to 650,000 for Southwest Asia and South Asia in winter. Perennou et al. (1994) estimate that there are at least 700,000 A. ferina wintering in these two regions, an estimate which agrees well with the predicted number.

NORTHWEST EUROPE New Population Estimate = 1,000,000 347,746 Aythya fuligula were counted from the reduced site list in 1993, giving an estimate of 562,695 after adjusting for coverage gaps. In 1994, a maximum 525,293 was counted from the reduced site list, but no coverage adjusted estimate is available yet. The maximum total count was of 743,000 in 1993. This was mainly due to the extensive efforts in the Baltic where 600,000 (550,000650,000) are estimated to winter (Pihl, 1994). In 1993, a further 385,000 were counted outside the Baltic to give an estimate of 985,000 excluding any additional
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birds that were uncounted in non-Baltic regions. The overall estimate should therefore be 1,000,000 Central Europe is an area of comparable or better coverage and similar dispersion and here 60% of the total estimate is represented by the reduced site list. If this proportional representation of the reduced list is assumed to be the same in northwest Europe, a total population of about 850,000 is estimated before any addition of birds from completely uncounted areas. Monval & Pirot estimated 750,000 from a five-year mean of 650,000, adding 100,000 birds from uncounted areas. Adding this 100,000 to the coverage adjusted estimate of 850,000 gives 950,000 individuals in total. An increasing trend of 3.33% per annum (Rose, 1995) since Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated 750,000 also leads to a 1993 population estimate of 950,000. In conclusion, an estimate of 1,000,000 based on the results of the best coverage of this species in 1993 is the most appropriate estimate and is supported by very comparable estimates of 950,000 from trend analysis extrapolation and also from a calculated adjustment to the reduced site list estimate to allow for uncounted birds. CENTRAL EUROPE/BLACK SEA/ MEDITERRANEAN New Population Estimate = 600,000 (600,000 850,000) A. fuligula wintering in this region are thought to breed in Central Europe, Central European Russia and northwestern Siberia (Cramp et al., 1977; Monval & Pirot, 1989). This breeding range overlaps extensively with the area from which birds wintering in the adjacent flyways of northwest Europe and Southwest Asia/northeast Africa are thought to originate. Monval & Pirot (1989) estimated that 600,000 A. fuligula winter in the Mediterranean with approximately 200,000 in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean sub-region and 400,000 in the Central Europe/west Mediterranean sub-region. This assumed that approximately 70% of the population was counted annually in Central Europe/west Mediterranean, and that the sum of the five year means for each site in this subregion represented approximately 95% of the estimated total number of birds. This makes the estimate rather more conservative than for other species. An assessment of population trends was felt to be inappropriate in 1986 for the Black Sea/east Mediterranean but was conducted for Central Europe and the west Mediterranean, where a steady increase followed by what appeared to be the start of stabilisation in 1983 was apparent (Monval & Pirot, 1989). There is no evidence of any significant change in numbers since Monval & Pirot estimated 600,000 as most of the increase had already taken place. There has been a continuing increase in the west Mediterranean sub-region
but the number of birds involved is not enough to influence the whole population. Central Europe New Sub-population Estimate = 330,000 Monval & Pirot (1989) gave a sum of five-year means for A. fuligula in the west Mediterranean and Central Europe as 375,750, from which they estimated a population of approximately 400,000. Coverage adjusted estimates from recent analyses give an average estimate of 285,791 for 1986 and 286,199 for 19891993, indicating the stability of this major portion of the Central Europe/west Mediterranean population. This makes the combined west Mediterranean/Central European coverage adjusted 1986 estimate of 324,251 unexpectedly lower than the 375,750 sum of five-year means given by Monval & Pirot (1989). The combined estimate for 19891993 is 338,434, indicating overall stability. The differences are not large enough to suggest changes from the 400,000 estimated by Monval & Pirot, and are consistent with the maximum annual coverage adjusted totals of 330,000 in Central Europe and 70,000 in the west Mediterranean. Black Sea/east Mediterranean New Sub-population Estimate = 200,000450,000 Moldova borders the Romanian Danube Delta and contains a small proportion of the northern edge of this vast wetland complex. As the Romanian Danube Delta has been known to support up to 90% of the A. fuligula thought to be wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean, it is not unreasonable to expect that large numbers might winter in Moldova. Similarly wetlands in Georgia are situated on the opposite shores of the Black Sea at the same latitude as the Danube Delta so might also provide ideal wintering grounds, as might the offshore areas of the Ukrainian Black Sea and all of the Sea of Azov. These areas are relatively or completely unknown. It is therefore not safe to even guess the number of A. fuligula wintering in completely unknown areas of this region. The best that can be achieved is to provide a minimum estimate for this sub-population. Other countries have provided data to the IWC, but not to the extent necessary for trend analysis. Most countries harbouring large numbers of wintering A. fuligula are included in this category. The only exception is Romania and perhaps Turkey as well, which have been reasonably consistently counted. However, the Danube Delta in Romania is the single most important wintering site, and its vast size and inaccessibility have inevitably resulted in inconsistent coverage. The coverage of the region was most complete in January 1993 when weather conditions were also extremely harsh, pushing many waterbirds south and towards the coast from traditional wintering grounds. As the IWC has better coverage in the south of the region and on the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts, it is likely that the
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total of A. fuligula counted in January 1993 might be close to the best minimum estimate for the region. This total came to 184,731, and the only major gaps were the Russian Black Sea/Sea of Azov and Egypt. If the Russian Black Sea and Sea of Azov areas supported an equal number of birds to the Ukrainian shores, then a further 15,000 can be added, plus 7,00015,000 in Egypt to give a total of 210,000. This is very similar to the estimate of Monval & Pirot (1989). If statistical techniques are used to impute missing values which are then used to calculate a sum of five year means for each site, the irregularities of counts, high proportion of missing values and wild fluctuations in numbers are all indications that the results given might be misleading and in particular might give rather high population estimates. The sum of all imputed counts in 1993 plus counts from other countries amounts to a maximum of 450,000, which probably represents an absolute upper limit to the population. In conclusion, the Black Sea/east Mediterranean wintering population of A. fuligula is now estimated at 200,000 with an upper limit of 450,000 for the 19891993 period. Trends are unknown, and this figure is an adjustment of the figure given by Monval & Pirot (1989) in the light of new information. West Mediterranean New Sub-population Estimate = 70,000 A maximum count of 30,000 in 1976 yields an estimate of 70,000 when adjustments have been made for gaps in coverage. The average of coverage adjusted estimates for 1982 1986 is equal to 38,460 as opposed to 52,235 for the period 19891993. In conclusion, an estimate of 40,000 seems most appropriate for the 19821986 period which, following an increase, is now 55,000. To remain comparable with Monval & Pirot (1989), the maximum annual estimate of 70,000 is taken. A very similar figure of 67,500 would be obtained by applying the same sort of adjustments as made in northwest Europe for missed birds (adding 20% to the five year average estimate) BREEDING CENSUSES Recent figures from BirdLife International suggest a European breeding population of 620,000840,000 pairs which would be expected to give a wintering population of 1,900,0002,500,000 birds. If western Siberia supports equivalent numbers to Central Siberia as might be expected, a further 500,000 should be added to give 2,400,000 3,000,000 wintering birds concentrated in Western Eurasia. From wintering surveys, Perennou et al. (1994) estimated 200,000 in Southwest Asia; the results presented here suggest that there are 200,000450,000 A. fuligula wintering in the Black Sea/east Mediterranean region and 400,000 in Central Europe and the west Mediterranean. Northwest Europe supports a further 1,000,000 wintering birds to give an overall total of 1,800,0002,100,000, somewhat lower
than the 2,400,0003,000,000 birds expected from breeding censuses.

NORTHWEST EUROPE Population Estimate = 300,000 Recent analyses suggest the following breakdown of the wintering population of B. clangula in this region. 210,000 in the Baltic (Pihl et al., 1995) plus 31,500 in UK and Ireland (Cranswick & Waters, 1995), plus 10,000 in the Netherlands plus 6,000 in Germany plus 3,500 France and Belgium, plus 18,000 Norway (Nygard, 1988) to give 279,000 based on recent IWC data. If we decide to split southern Germany and Switzerland from the Danube catchment we add another 22,000 to give 301,000 which is quite near to the listed 300,000 of Monval & Pirot (1989). CENTRAL EUROPE/ADRIATIC/BALKANS (MIDDLE DANUBE) New Population Estimate = 75,000 New data from the Balkans and Danube catchment indicate that Monval & Pirot (1989) greatly underestimated the number of birds in this region to the extent that an entire new wintering population now needs to be added. It seems sensible to split Switzerland and Southern Germany as part of northwest Europe to leave a Danube catchment and Adriatic wintering population which is probably a mix of birds coming from both east and west. Based on the analysis of IWC data (Rose, 1995) and estimation of missing counts, it would number 73,000 birds here rounded to 75,000. The breakdown of national estimated wintering totals are as follows: Austria 3,000, Czech Republic 2,000, Slovakia 3,000, Hungary 50,000 and the former Yugoslavia and the Adriatic 15,000. Looking at breeding data gives 250,000 pairs in Europe with 150,000 pairs in Finland alone. There are 500,000 birds in Central Siberia going to the Himalayas, so Europe must receive the Western Siberia breeding birds in winter as well. Breeding estimates consequently far exceed wintering numbers. BLACK SEA WINTERING POPULATION Population estimate = 20,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989) The Black Sea wintering population of B. clangula is probably largely outside of the geographical coverage of the IWC which at present does not extend as far as the extreme northeastern limits of the Black Sea. Between 1989 and 1993, expansion of the census in other areas of the Black Sea (particularly Ukraine) has taken place and up to 9,016 birds (1991) have been recorded with an annual average (19891993) of 2,694 B. clangula counted. Trends are still not possible to estimate for this region.
255
CASPIAN WINTERING POPULATION Population Estimate = <25,000

NORTHWEST/CENTRAL EUROPE WINTERING New Population Estimate = 30,000 (Pihl & Laursen, in press) The M. albellus population wintering in northwest Europe is difficult to monitor for many reasons. The two most important are (i) there are significant numbers of individuals in maritime areas best surveyed by aerial survey and (ii) the large maritime and lagoon wintering proportion of the population seems to be very prone to extremely large scale cold weather movements. For these reasons, the three major wintering areas for the species were excluded from trend analysis. These are the coast of Rostock in Germany, the IJsselmeer and Markermeer in the Netherlands and Szczecin Lagoon on the German/Polish border. Only when all these regions are counted thoroughly and simultaneously can an estimate of population size be made. Only in Poland is there information from a more complete count of inland rivers which alone suggests a population of 2,400 wintering M. albellus. This is seven times the number represented by the sites used for trend analysis (320). Although coverage might be better in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France it is still probably reasonable to assume that there are at least double the 3,000 M. albellus accounted for in these countries (6,000 minimum + 2,500 in Poland). This should be added to the 17,500 in the Baltic Sea and the variable number in the IJsselmeer (10,00020,000) to give 35,000 45,000 birds. Until more counts of Szczecin Lagoon are made it is impossible to ascertain the extent to which birds are included twice, at this site and at the IJsselmeer. This information is essential for a more accurate population estimate. In Northwest Europe, Szczecin Lagoon on the Polish/ German border has recently been discovered to support sufficiently large concentrations of wintering M. albellus to account for the fluctuations in annual totals presented by Monval & Pirot (1989). A simultaneous count of 25,000 individuals in January 1992 and a count of 30,000 in the early winter also suggests that the estimate of 15,000 of Monval & Pirot (1989) is much too low. EAST MEDITERRANEAN/BLACK SEA WINTERING Population Estimate = 65,000 (Monval & Pirot, 1989) In the East Mediterranean/Black Sea, the IWC can account for only 5,000 wintering M. albellus. Key areas are the Danube Delta and the Danube catchment in the region of Yugoslavia. Neither of these areas are very well known and there are clearly many potentially important areas of the
Black Sea coast, particularly in the East, that have never been censused. The occasional occurrence of internationally important numbers at very southerly locations in the East of the region (Israel and Iraq) also support the theory that many birds might be wintering further North in the eastern Black Sea.

NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL EUROPE (EXCLUDING ICELAND) WINTERING New Population Estimate = 200,000 The new total estimate for Northwest and Central Europe = 200,000 (170,000 in the Baltic, 15,000 in the Netherlands/Germany/France/Belgium, 5,0008,000 in the United Kingdom, 3,000 in Norway and 10,000 in Central Europe). Monval & Pirot (1989) give the Northwest and Central European wintering population as 150,000. This was considered to be too low by Rose & Scott (1994). From seaduck surveys, Pihl et al. (1995) estimate 170,000 (140,000200,000) wintering individuals in the Baltic. This includes an unexpected 35,00040,000 found wintering on Szczecin Lagoon during recent surveys. The number at this site could easily be added to the total of Monval & Pirot (1989) to give an overall estimate of 190,000 as they had no idea of its existence when making their population estimate. In the Netherlands numbers of M. merganser are very variable (8,000 in good years; 5,248 from reduced site list), non-Baltic Germany has 3,892 from the reduced site list, France has 1,145 from the reduced site list and a maximum count of 1,200 while Belgium has 171 from the reduced site list and 200 maximum count. From this a wintering total of 15,000 is estimated. M. merganser appears to be relatively sedentary in the United Kingdom with a possible influx from the northwest and an exodus of males to moult in Norway (Little & Meek, 1996). In the United Kingdom there is a breeding population of about 2,700 pairs that could be expected to give a wintering population of approximately 8,100 individuals if they were all resident. Extrapolation of winter atlas information for the United Kingdom gives an estimated population of 8,900. The very complete mid-winter census in the United Kingdom only accounts for an estimated wintering population of 3,500 individuals. Obviously if the IWC is missing an equal proportion of the population in northwest Europe, the population estimates should be raised substantially. Central Europe has 9,593 from the total list and 4,322 from reduced site list. In Central Europe, coverage is very good and the reduced site list comprises approximately 50% of the total list which can be assumed to be almost complete. For this region there are 10,000 estimated wintering M. merganser.
256
Annex 2: Key sites for Anatidae in Africa and Western Eurasia
Annex 2 Key sites for Anatidae in Africa and Western Eurasia

Key sites tables are listed for each country in alphabetical order. Note that elsewhere in this publication Chad and Lake Chad are referred to; in the tables that follow these are Tchad and Lac Tchad respectively. Each site is given an importance code indicating the reason it was selected as a key site. The importance codes refer to the following key site selection criteria. Importance Reason for selection code 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Five or more counts available between 1984 and 1993 with an average of the last five counts exceeding 1% of the population size. An average of the last five counts exceeding 1% of the population size but the first of these counts is prior to 1984. Five or more counts available between 1984 and 1993 of which three or more exceed 1% of the population size, but the average count does not. Three of the last five counts exceed 1% of the population size but the average does not and the first of these counts is prior to 1984. Less than five counts are available but three counts have exceeded 1% of the population size since 1984. Less than five counts are available but three counts have exceeded 1% of the population size, the first of these prior to 1984. The site qualifies as a potential harsh weather or drought refuge only. At least one count exceeding 1% of the population size but less than three of the last five counts available between 1984 and 1993 reach this value and the average of the last five counts is less than 1% of the population size. As code 8 except that the last five counts start prior to 1984. Less than five counts available and less than three counts exceeding 1% of the population size but the average of all counts exceeds 1% of the population size. Less than five counts available of which one or two exceed 1% of the population size but the average of all available counts does not. This code is also used for concentrations of globally threatened species thought to be important despite being below 1% of the population size, and for concentrations of very large populations that exceed 20,000 individuals yet still fail to exceed 1% of the population size.
9 10 11
We apologise for the many site names throughout this Annex that lack important accents on some letters. Most of this information was exported from databases going back to 1967 that, at present, do not store this information. We intend to correct this as soon as possible.
257
AFGHANISTAN
Sites in Afghanistan that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Key Site Species for which Important Season Maximum Count Year of Maximum Average Count Importance code
Hamoun-I Puzak COORDINATES : N3130E06142
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
10 3150 11050 12050 27200 21300 15600 10100 63 2500 50000 100 2500
1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1971 1976 1976 1976 1976
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10
ALBANIA
Sites in Albania that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Nartes Lagoon COORDINATES : N4030E01918
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Oxyura leucocephala
Winter
1993
11
ALGERIA
Sites in Algeria that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Barrage de Bougzhoul COORDINATES : N3538E00250 PROTECTED Barrage de la Cheffia COORDINATES : N3634E00802 PROTECTED Chott Sidi Khouiled (Ouargla) COORDINATES : N3158E00520 PROTECTED Chott El Beida COORDINATES : N3555E00550 Garaet Ank Djemel COORDINATES : N3547E00650 Garaet El-Tarf COORDINATES : N3540E00709 Garaet Guellif COORDINATES : N3547E00700 Gde Sebkha DOran COORDINATES : N3531W00050 Lac de Gharabas COORDINATES : N3536W00030
COORDINATES :
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected
Anas penelope Marmaronetta angustirostris Anas penelope Anas crecca Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna tadorna Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anas clypeata Anser anser Anas penelope Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anas penelope Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anas strepera Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris
Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Breeding Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter
6400 95000 11000 28 756 3 24 2750 2000 800 1150 200 1060 150 209 90 5000 7000 12000 22020 7000 7 13 12300 98 317 14000 10000 10000 13 9000 84 2 2500 5900 1800 60 3000 3500 15100 220
1977 1974 1982 1989 1975 1988 1986 1978 1984 1988 1988 1972 1986 1975 1992 1989 1977 1986 1984 1985 1984 1985 1989 1973 1988 1989 1975 1982 1982 1989 1977 1991 1985 1989 1988 1992 1985 1989 1979 1978 1977
1207 27 10 3 1 5 1005 165 309 259 39 2972 3938 1700 780 3 621 20 97 1388 849 2538 3 750 656 1488 755 42 472 -
8 11 8 8 9 8 11 11 8 10 8 8 8 9 9 1 1 8 8 2 8 8 11 11 8 1 9 8 8 8 11 8 10 11 8 8 11 10 11 1 8 8 11 8
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Lac des Oiseaux N3645E00802 Lac Fetzara
COORDINATES :
N3645E00728
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
COORDINATES : COORDINATES :
Lac Melah
N3650E00822 N3645E00822
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected Protected
Lac Oubeira
COORDINATES :
Lac Tonga
N3650E00828
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Les Lacs = Chott de Tinnsilt N3554E00628 Marais de la Macta COORDINATES : N3541W00009

COORDINATES :
Not Protected Not Protected
258
Key Site
Species for which Important
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Marais de Mekhada COORDINATES : N3645E00802 Plaine de Guerbes COORDINATES : N3650E00715 Salines DArzew COORDINATES : N3541W00015 Sebkhet El Hamiett COORDINATES : N3547E00530
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
Anser anser Anas penelope Anser anser Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
8000 27500 324 35 2420 2500 1000 950 1
1978 1978 1988 1987 1988 1986 1985 1987 1979
50 2140 324 7 694 1128 392 466 -
8 8 10 11 8 1 8 8 11
Sebkhet Ez-Zemoul N3554E00633 Sidi-Chami (Disparu) N3543W00030
AUSTRIA
Sites in Austria that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Donau: Wien-Wolfsthal COORDINATES : N4808E01647 Ennsstauseen COORDINATES : N4807E01429 Grundlsee COORDINATES : N4738E01351 Inn: Stau Obernberg COORDINATES : N4819E01319
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS :
Protected Unknown Unknown Protected Protected
Anas platyrhynchos Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Aythya nyroca Bucephala clangula Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anas crecca Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Breeding
11184 922 12 3385 15533 8926 7211 1980 12558 8895 6500 12785 50 15
1972 1977 1992 1975 1989 1989 1988 1989 1994 1989 1987 1995 -
2393 321 3 159 6472 1645 1272 4566 394 1977 3551 -
8 8 10 11 8 8 10 8 10 1 1 10 1 10 8 10 10 11
Neusiedlersee Seewinkel Hansag COORDINATES : N4746E01652 PROTECTED
Salzkammergut COORDINATES : N4752E01348 Waldviertel COORDINATES : N4836E01520
Unknown Unknown
AZERBAIJAN
Sites in Azerbaijan that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Aggel (Ah Gol) Lake COORDINATES : N4005E04740
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Aggel (Ah Gol) Lake +(Uchmangol) COORDINATES : N4005E04740 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected Akh-Chala Plavni Novogolov-Skie Marshes COORDINATES : N3930E04840 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Artem Bay COORDINATES : N4028E05020 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Caspian Sea Coast (Shah Cape-Kira Delta) COORDINATES : N4000E04930 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Divichi Liman COORDINATES : N4115E04905 Glinanyi Island COORDINATES : Kirov Bay and Kizil Agach COORDINATES : N3905E04857
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Tadorna tadorna Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Marmaronetta angustirostris Anser anser Cygnus cygnus Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Cygnus cygnus Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Branta ruficollis
Winter Winter Winter Winter Passage Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Passage Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Passage Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
3100 900 700 1000 7000 12000 10500 2800 4872 500 840 25 9000 660 1800 500 87700 17300 4500 500 500 500 5000 8500 15000 1000 38000 200
1991 1991 1991 1991 1993 1962 1991 1982 -
3100 900 9000 520 8500 6040 -
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11
Partially Protected Unknown Partially Protected
259
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Kirov Bay and Kizil Agach ... continued
Mahmud-Chala COORDINATES : N3930E04840
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Milskaya Steppe COORDINATES : N4000E04800 Novogolovskaya-Chala COORDINATES : Sangachal Bay COORDINATES : N4011E04927 Sarysu Lake COORDINATES : N4002E04807
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Not Protected Unknown Partially Protected
Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Anas penelope Anas strepera Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser erythropus Aythya nyroca Cygnus cygnus Netta rufina Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Aythya nyroca Aythya marila Aythya fuligula
Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Passage Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Breeding Passage Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
61900 3460 115000 36730 9 28000 93300 35000 1000 400 1600 3000 2100 7000 500 500 5000 500 400 5000 250 90000 100000 570 220000 550000 3000 500 2000 10000
1991 1991 1983 1991 1993 1991 1991 1989 1986 1980 1993 1993 1993 1993 1993 1991 1991 -
61900 3460 66200 36730 10000 93300 67500 75000 165000 400000 -
10 10 10 10 11 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 1 10 1 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Southeast Shirvan COORDINATES : N3940E04910 Varvara Reservoir COORDINATES : Yashma Island COORDINATES : N4042E04927 Zorat-Kilazi Spit COORDINATES : N4058E04914
Unknown Not Protected Unknown Unknown
BELARUS
Sites in Belarus that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Prypiat Flooplain COORDINATES : N5205E02700
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anas strepera Anas penelope Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca
Spring Spring Spring Breeding Spring Breeding Breeding
10000 30000 250 1300 20000 24000 360
1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995
10 10 10 10 10 10 11
BELGIUM
Sites in Belgium that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Blankaartgebied/IJzerbroeken COORDINATES : N5059E00251 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Protected
Blokkersdijk + havengebied Antwerpen Linkeroever COORDINATES : N5117E00415 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen Drongen COORDINATES : N5104E00341 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Protected
De Kuifeend + havengebied Antwerpen Rechteroever COORDINATES : N5116E00421 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected
Gentse Kanaalzone COORDINATES : N5109E00343
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Anser albifrons Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Moulting Winter Autumn Winter Spring Winter Autumn Moulting Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter
8810 46430 4870 894 856 1000-2000 1256 2348 983 531 450 1762 1000-2000 1441 1466 590 801 6350 10000
1986 1994 1992 1995 1992 1985 1990 1992 1996 1995 1996 1996 1992 1991 1996 1985 1996
350 24356 2693 397 438 429 540 296 837 444 226 1003 2922
7 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 7 7 7
260
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Havengebied en polders Zeebrugge COORDINATES : N5120E00314 PROTECTED Netevallei Lier-Duffel COORDINATES : N5107E00433
COORDINATES :
STATUS :
Partially Protected
Anas penelope Anas clypeata Mergellus albellus Aythya ferina Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas acuta Aythya ferina
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
20000 450 845 4093 20412 54925 384 5000 18000 4210 705 1660 16372 1040 9870
1996 1995 1985 1996 1984 1986 1995 1886 1996 1990 1992 1996 1996 1995 1996
11065 311 <5 1647 15975 19023 247 252 4886 3190 479 1045 11496 443 3065
8 8 7 7 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 8 8
Partially Protected Protected
Oostkustpolders N5116E00308
Polders en kreken Noord-Oost-Vlaanderen COORDINATES : N5115E00340 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected Schorren Beneden-Zeeschelde + polders COORDINATES : N5121E00415 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected
Vijvergebied Midden-Limburg N5059E00519 PROTECTED Zeeschelde Gent-Nederlandse grens N5108E00415 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Protected Partially Protected
BENIN
Sites in Benin that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Tendi (Ou Dendi) COORDINATES : N1156E00315
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Sarkidiornis melanotos Dendrocygna viduata
Winter Winter
580 2535
1984 1995
580 -
10 8
BODENSEE (AUSTRIA/GERMANY/SWITZERLAND)
Anatidae populations, as defined in this publication, for which the Bodensee has supported more than 1% of individuals. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Bodensee
COORDINATES :
N4731E00943
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially protected
Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Netta rufina Netta rufina Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula
Autumn Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter Spring Winter Spring Winter
2550 324 333 12600 1400 7980 10970 14900 26678 1020 1310 5966 1300 2959 22654 64400 35739 115891 5000 8253
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA
Sites in Bosnia Herzegovina that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Busko Blato COORDINATES : N4336E01702 Hutavo Blato COORDINATES : N4302E01746
Unknown Protected
Mergus merganser Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca
Winter Breeding Winter
12 500
1969
10 11 10
BOTSWANA
Sites in Botswana that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Bokaa Dam COORDINATES : N2427E02600

COORDINATES :
Netta erythrophthalma Oxyura maccoa Netta erythrophthalma
July July January
700 440 605
1994 -
247 -
10 10 10
Phakalane Sewage Ponds N2435E02558
261
BULGARIA
Sites in Bulgaria that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Alepu Marsh COORDINATES : N4222E02743 Arkatino Marsh COORDINATES : N4215E02739 Atanasovo Lake Complex COORDINATES : N4231E02726 Belene Islands COORDINATES : N4341E02726 Burgas Lake Complex COORDINATES : N4227E02725
Protected Unknown Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected
Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Aythya nyroca Anser anser Oxyura leucocephala Anser albifrons Branta ruficollis Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anser albifrons Anser anser Branta ruficollis Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anas platyrhynchos Oxyura leucocephala Anser albifrons Anser anser Branta ruficollis Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser anser Branta ruficollis Aythya nyroca Anser anser Anser albifrons Branta ruficollis Oxyura leucocephala Aythya ferina
Breeding Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
3 10000 3 4141 6014 91 515 38 23931 12 13700 37000 3 15803 26650 3 48 214 86355 890 10630 123000 15 16000 183 440 30370 16720 6 34755 16200 50000 1 177335 382 55845 66515 3 48 45155 500 60 15 250 8500 46 13 10621
1992 1976 1982 1976 1967 1995 1988 1995 1995 1976 1971 1992 1984 1993 1983 1987 0 1995 1976 1992 1993 1993 1995 1993 1995 1989 1989 1982 1995 1987 1993 1978 1996 1992 1993 1989 1993 1995 1995 1978 1993
3 3334 1987 326 515 14 8150 12 3432 6837 6269 6075 10 0 34603 4943 2605 3340 52 111 7378 5418 15701 6205 19870 111194 87 17843 527 9931 100 22 250 8000 46 1 3567
11 11 11 1 8 11 10 11 10 11 8 8 11 1 9 11 11 8 1 10 1 8 8 8 8 8 2 8 11 2 9 9 11 1 8 1 8 11 11 1 8 11 11 10 10 11 11 8
Danube: Mechka Fishponds COORDINATES : N4336E02550 Durankalak Lake Complex COORDINATES : N4336E02832
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Malko Sharkovo Reservoir COORDINATES : N4204E02648 Mandra Lake Complex COORDINATES : N4220E02725
Not Protected Partially Protected
Ovcharitza Reservoir COORDINATES : N4211E02612 Piasachnik Reservoir COORDINATES : N4222E02430 Rosov Kladenetz Reservoir COORDINATES : N4206E02551 Shabla Lake Complex COORDINATES : N4331E02832
Protected Not Protected Protected Protected
Slanchev briag Acheloy coast COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Srebarna Lake Complex COORDINATES : N4402E02704 PROTECTED Sredishte
STATUS : STATUS :
COORDINATES : N4355E02730 Tzerkovski Reservoir COORDINATES : N4231E02648 Varna Lake Complex COORDINATES : N4312E02740
Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected
BURKINA FASO
Sites in Burkina Faso that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Depressions de Beli COORDINATES : N1455W00010 PROTECTED Mares de Dori A Kaya COORDINATES : N1330W00040 PROTECTED Zones Inondables Pres de Dori COORDINATES : N1403W00002 PROTECTED
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Alopochen aegyptiacus Sarkidiornis melanotos Sarkidiornis melanotos Dendrocygna viduata Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
1280 1800 1000 25000 10
1978 1970 1986 1970 1969
540 595 333 8350 4
6 10 11 10 11
CAMEROON
Sites in Cameroon that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Lac de Fianga COORDINATES : N0958E01513
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Dendrocygna viduata Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos
Winter Winter Winter
6400 500 700
1987 1987 1987
3477 183 700
10 11 10
262
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Lac Maga
COORDINATES :
N1048E01459
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Lac Maga Amont (Guerleo) COORDINATES : N1035E01504
PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Partially Protected
Dendrocygna viduata Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Plectropterus gambensis Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas querquedula Pteronetta hartlaubii Dendrocygna viduata Anas hottentota Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Sarkidiornis melanotos
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
56000 22000 3800 16000 3300 4000 1137 600 25000 289 5000 200 900
1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1993 1987 1987 1976 1976 1971 1987
17275 6998 1816 3300 4000 700 600 64 30 900
6 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 11 11 10 10
Plaines du Logone: Maga-Zimado COORDINATES : N1125E01502 PROTECTED
Site Unknown COORDINATES : N0340E01210 Waza NP COORDINATES : N1115E01440 Yagoua Nord COORDINATES : N1026E01511
Unknown Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
COTE DIVOIRE
Sites in Cote dIvoire that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Comoe River COORDINATES : N0815W00400 Protected Staus: Unknown
Pteronetta hartlaubii
69
11
CROATIA
Sites in Croatia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Dunav: Batima COORDINATES : N4550E01853 Jelas Polje COORDINATES : N4508E01744 Koncanica Fishponds COORDINATES : N4540E01705 Kopacki Rit COORDINATES : N4529E01853 Neretve Delta COORDINATES : N4257E01734
Unknown Not Protected Not Protected Reserve Reserve Reserve Unknown
Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca
Winter Breeding Winter Breeding Autumn Winter Breeding Breeding Autumn Breeding Winter Winter Winter
30000 480 122 21 50000 40000 600 5000 240 120 42 18
1990 1988 1983 1992 1987
11120 37 6065 42 9
11 11 11 11 10 8 10 11 10 11 11 11 11
Pokupsko Depression (Crna Mlaka) COORDINATES : N4537E01544 PROTECTED Prelog

COORDINATES :
N4620E01635
PROTECTED STATUS :
Ribnjacarstvo (Slavonski Brod Fishpond) COORDINATES : N4509E01801 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Sava: Klakar COORDINATES : N4559E01805 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown
CYPRUS
Sites in Cyprus that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Akhna Dam COORDINATES : N3502E03348 Akrotiri Salt Lake COORDINATES : N3431E03256 Asprokremnos Dam COORDINATES : N3441E03236 Evretou Dam COORDINATES : N3452E03229 Lanarca Salt Lake COORDINATES : N3447E03336
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected Reserve Partially Protected Partially Protected Reserve
Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna tadorna Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna tadorna Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
18 1 2247 25 12 14 2000 20
1994 1990 1983 1985 1989 1985 1982 1985
15 202 1 5 186 -
11 11 8 11 11 11 8 11
CZECH REPUBLIC
Sites in the Czech Republic that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Ceske Budejovice Fishponds COORDINATES : N4915E01405
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Anser anser
Autumn
3000
10
263
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Labe: Roudnice Litomerice COORDINATES : N5022E01414 Lednicke Rybniky COORDINATES : N4846E01646 Novy Mlyny
Unknown Protected
Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Anas platyrhynchos Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Aythya fuligula
Winter Autumn Breeding Passage Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Breeding Passage Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Passage Breeding Passage Winter Breeding Passage Breeding
21 5000 200 8000 3800 80000 52700 20000 20000 1000 8000 500 25000 12000 5000 2000 1700 270 5000 500 5000 1020 2500 20000 6000
1988 1994 1994 1991 1992 1992 1991 -
4 2892 1368 10540 4660 80 2935 759 270 -
11 10 10 1 1 10 1 1 10 10 10 8 10 8 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10
COORDINATES :
N4852E01637
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
Pohorelicke Rybniky N4855E01632
Not Protected Protected Protected
Rezabinec Nature Reserve COORDINATES : N4915E01406

COORDINATES :
Trebonsko Rybniky N4903E01443
DENMARK
Sites in Denmark that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Aebelo Agero
N5532E01035 N5645E00830 N5700E01025 N5643E01130 N5512E00941 N5558E01205
Protected Protected Protected Protected Unknown Protected
Somateria mollissima Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Cygnus cygnus Mergus merganser Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta b. bernicla Branta b. bernicla Anas crecca Anas crecca Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Anser anser Aythya fuligula Somateria mollissima
Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Winter Spring Winter Moulting Spring Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Moulting Winter Breeding
31116 3600 954 34649 65815 4512 6685 268 2830 15300 1265 2611 18555 9710 1867 4165 12960 2230 6360 47781 2513 11200 10800
1992 1995 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 1991 1987 -1992 1988 1988 1995 1995 1991 1987 1989 1989 1987 1989 1990 1993 1991
23331 471 22881 41053 242 4542 7586 1004 678 8378 1477 719 36509 748 -
10 10 1 1 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 1 10 1 10 8 10 10 5 8 10 1
COORDINATES :
Alborg Bugt Anholt N Arosund Arre So
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES :
Avno Fjord/Dybso Fjord/Knudshoved Odde N5507E01133 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected
COORDINATES :
Ballum Enge
N5507E00843
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
Basnaes/Holsteinborg N5512E01124
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Bogo Inddaemning COORDINATES : N5445E01100 Boto COORDINATES : N5439E01156 Bredgrund COORDINATES : N5450E01000 Bregentved Soer N5518E01200 Christianso COORDINATES : N5522E01510
COORDINATES :
Protected Protected Not Protected Protected Protected
264
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Copenhagen Harbour and Lakes COORDINATES : N5545E01230 PROTECTED Danish Wadden Sea COORDINATES : N5510E00835
STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Droninglund COORDINATES : N5708E01015 Endelave COORDINATES : N5551E01010
Unknown Protected
Fano
COORDINATES :
N5510E00835
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Faxe Bugt
COORDINATES :
N5510E01215
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Femer Baelt COORDINATES : N5440E01100 Filso COORDINATES : N5542E00814
COORDINATES :
Fynske Soer
N5510E01017
PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Protected Not Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected
Gjorslev
N5522E01224 PROTECTED Gronne Revle COORDINATES : N5605E01143 PROTECTED Gunderslevholm: Tysrup-Bavelse COORDINATES : N5522E01133 PROTECTED
COORDINATES :
Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Mergellus albellus Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas clypeata Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Aythya marila Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Branta b. bernicla Branta b. bernicla Branta b. bernicla Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Somateria mollissima Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Somateria mollissima Mergus serrator Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anser anser Aythya fuligula Anser anser Somateria mollissima Melanitta nigra Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Aythya fuligula Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Branta b. hrota Anas acuta Anas acuta Branta b. hrota Aythya marila Aythya marila Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Bucephala clangula Aythya marila Mergus serrator Melanitta Melanitta Melanitta Melanitta Melanitta Melanitta Melanitta nigra nigra nigra nigra nigra fusca fusca
Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Breeding Moulting Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Moulting Spring Summer Winter Passage Passage Winter Autumn Breeding Moulting Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Passage Winter Autumn Spring Moulting Moulting Winter Moulting Winter Spring Spring Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Moulting Spring Summer Winter Autumn Moulting
27000 331 17334 32997 58445 13121 19120 26737 3263 5407 2013 24687 20123 75406 10650 81912 36143 25537 4789 2200 142 3535 1449 5555 3680 10520 10083 2870 39634 1900 2900 4700 540 575 1308 242 6000 25245 21552 3158 4500 3100 829497 -
1987 1987 1976 1969 1969 1989 1992 1992 1991 1989 1992 1992 1990 1991 1989 1995 1995 1991 1991 1992 1992 1991 1988 1991 1991 1992 1988 1992 -
14271 5126 13339 2622 34185 5773 65556 1575 3535 712 5555 1268 3775 1667 20664 957 879 114 193 48 3533 7281 17814 2382 -
10 7 7 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 8 8 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 1 10 10 1 10 11 10 1 10 10 10 1 10 1 10 10 8 7 7 1 1 10 10 1 8 10 10 10 10 8 10 1 8 10 10 5 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10
Hals
COORDINATES : N5708E01025 Harboore Tange COORDINATES : N5639E00811
Harboore Tange (Skibsted Fjord) COORDINATES : N5639E00811 PROTECTED Helnaes Bugt COORDINATES : N5508E01008 PROTECTED Hjelm
COORDINATES :
STATUS : STATUS :
Protected Not Protected Not Protected
N5608E01050
PROTECTED STATUS :
Hjelm and South Djursland COORDINATES : N5608E01040 Horsens Fjord COORDINATES : N5549E01003 Kas Bredning COORDINATES : N5638E00840 Kattegat COORDINATES : N5643E01125
Not Protected Protected Not Protected Protected
265
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Kattegat ... continued Klinte K. Laeso S
N5637E01017 N5712E01112
Unknown Protected
Melanitta fusca Melanitta fusca Melanitta fusca Cygnus cygnus Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Bucephala clangula Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Cygnus olor Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Aythya marila Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Aythya fuligula Somateria mollissima Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Cygnus cygnus Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Aythya marila Aythya marila Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Anser anser Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Branta b. hrota Anas penelope Anas penelope Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Anas acuta Anas acuta Anser f. fabalis Cygnus c. bewickii
Spring Summer Winter Winter Autumn Breeding Moulting Spring Winter Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter Autumn Winter Passage Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Moulting Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Passage Winter Passage Winter Winter Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Passage
101649 341170 6425 31000 50000 3060 10935 5495 59052 5530 4575 4046 15445 527 16880 32253 5009 4113 2410 6889 52600 1037 2325 4200 2828 8670 6150 5850 39280 1200 21600 2895 1070 408 1780 -
1992 1988 1991 1992 1992 1988 1993 1987 1992 1993 1989 1987 1991 1993 1993 1989 1992 1992 1991 1991 1995 1991 1989 1990 1992 1987 -
33981 341170 6425 3060 10935 5495 40949 5530 2871 15445 193 16880 15075 2853 2961 2410 6295 1058 3100 1761 2997 5268 7623 646 1341 181 366 -
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 1 10 10 10 10 10 1 1 10 1 10 10 5 1 10 10 11 10 10 10 1 10 1 1 8 10 10 1 1 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 1 10 10 1 10 10 8 10
COORDINATES :
N5512E01058 Langeland/Aero COORDINATES : N5447E01033

COORDINATES :
Langeland N
Protected Protected Protected
Lille Baelt
N5520E00943
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Logstor Bredning N5653E00906
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
Lolland N
N5455E01130
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
Lovns Bredning N5638E00914
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Lyse/Elefantgr. N5537E01055 Mariager Fjord COORDINATES : N5643E01020

COORDINATES :
COORDINATES :
Maribo Soerne N5445E01133
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
Nakskov Fjord N5448E01100 Nibe/Gjol Bredning N5702E00938
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected Protected
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Nissum Fjord N5625E00809
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
Nordfelt and Borre Smose N5501E01227
Unknown Unknown
Nors So and Vendlet So COORDINATES : N5702E00835
266
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Nykobing F. Reserve COORDINATES : N5449E01152 PROTECTED Odense Fjord COORDINATES : N5528E01031 PROTECTED Offshore Danish Wadden Sea COORDINATES : N5515E00825 PROTECTED
Aythya fuligula Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Aythya fuligula Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Mergus serrator Cygnus cygnus Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Branta b. bernicla Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Mergus merganser Aythya marila Aythya marila Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Cygnus olor Anser anser Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Bucephala clangula Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Melanitta fusca Melanitta fusca Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Branta b. bernicla Somateria mollissima Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Cygnus olor Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Mergus merganser Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus
Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Moulting Spring Summer Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Moulting Winter Spring Winter Spring Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Moulting Moulting Moulting Breeding Autumn Breeding Moulting Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Moulting Spring Winter Autumn Moulting Spring Autumn Spring Winter Passage Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Passage Winter Autumn
11000 10333 41150 37005 120490 10000 12800 47000 521 9300 4540 6570 7155 508 53920 6909 5301 18240 1100 21000 192960 16460 7220 33000 50526 49000 16300 10000 7500 5362 104865 4315 106723 4920 1387 2175 13195 3525 2840 387 5203
1983 1970 1987 1972 1988 1993 1988 1989 1987 1993 1970 1995 1996 1996 1969 1993 1989 1991 1989 1991 1989 1989 1992 1989 1991 1992 1992 1990
5693 3739 23325 7806 4540 39 3268 195 27300 6750 457 192960 16460 7220 46819 16300 1931 48667 4315 72587 4920 1086 2175 13195 2822 2840 188 3369
8 10 2 10 10 10 10 1 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 1 10 8 10 10 2 9 10 10 1 10 10 1 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 1 1 10 10 5 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 5 10 1 10 10 5 1 10 10 11 10 1 1 11 1 10 10 1
Omo Stalgrunde COORDINATES : N5510E01110
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Oveso
COORDINATES :
N5702E00837 Randers Fjord COORDINATES : N5635E01020
Unknown Protected Protected
Rodsand and Sakfjed Inddaemning COORDINATES : N5440E01135 PROTECTED
STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Roskilde Fjord N5540E01205
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Saeby
COORDINATES : N5720E01033 Saltbaekvig COORDINATES : N5542E01113
Saltholm Samso E
COORDINATES :
N5540E01225 N5552E01045
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected Protected
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Sejero Bugt COORDINATES : N5550E01115
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
Sjaellands Rev N5610E01115 N5555E00825 N5515E01100
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Protected Protected Protected
Skjern A Sprogo
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Sydfynske Ohav COORDINATES : N5455E01030
PROTECTED STATUS :
The Sound (Vestamager) COORDINATES : N5535E01232 Tipperne
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
COORDINATES :
N5553E00814
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
267
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Tipperne ... continued
Tisso
COORDINATES : N5533E01115 Tonder Marsk COORDINATES : N5457E00845
Protected Protected
Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas clypeata Anser anser Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Anas crecca Anas crecca Anas crecca Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Branta leucopsis Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas crecca Anas clypeata Bucephala clangula Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas crecca Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Branta b. hrota Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Branta b. hrota
Spring Moulting Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Moulting Passage Winter Passage Winter Autumn Spring Winter Moulting Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Passage Winter Passage Autumn Winter Passage Winter Moulting Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Winter Passage Winter Passage Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Winter Moulting Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Spring Winter Spring Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Passage Autumn Spring Moulting Winter
1374 490 304 2377 6243 10594 10030 4117 625 1396 804 310 9760 2565 8500 92
1991 1984 1981 1992 1991 1993 1992 1990 1995 1980 1992 1988 1993
380 83 6 677 730 10030 2705 459 971 599 155 1542 1232 730 29
10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 8 10 8 10 10 1 10 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 5 10 1 10 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 8 10 3 10 1 10 10 8
Tylstrup
COORDINATES :
N5710E00958
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Protected
COORDINATES :
Ulvshale-Nyord N5505E01215
PROTECTED STATUS :
Vejlerne
COORDINATES :
N5705E00901
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Vejsnaes Flak N5442E01025 Veno Bugt COORDINATES : N5630E00840

COORDINATES :
Vest Stadil Fjord COORDINATES : N5611E00809 Voersa Stensnaes N5713E01032
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
EGYPT
Sites in Egypt that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes ref er to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
N3113E03219 Lake Burullus COORDINATES : N3129E03050 Lake Manzala COORDINATES : N3117E03202 Lake Maryut COORDINATES : N3108E02956
COORDINATES :
El Malaha
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected Not Protected Not Protected
Tadorna tadorna Anas clypeata Anas penelope Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Tadorna tadorna Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Alopochen aegyptiacus Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
2650 8200 35600 63458 6582 13400 1011 12097 1 48 11000 10
1973 1990 1980 1979 1979 1981 1979 1990 1979 1980 1976 1990
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 10 11
Lake Nasser
N2300E03240
268
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Lake Qaran COORDINATES : N2928E03040 Nile: Luxor-Aswan COORDINATES : N2500E03300 Wadi El Natrun COORDINATES : N3027E03030
Partially Protected Partially Protected Not Protected
Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Marmaronetta angustirostris
Winter Winter Winter Breeding
11686 183 5000 2
1980 1983 1986
10 11 10 11
ESTONIA*
Sites in Estonia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
N5914E02616 Abruka Island COORDINATES : N5808E02230 Audru Polder COORDINATES : N5823E02420 Emajoe Suursoo COORDINATES : N5824E02715 Haademeeste COORDINATES : N5804E02429 Haapsalu Bay COORDINATES : N5858E02332
Assamalla
COORDINATES :
Not protected Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Not Protected
Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Bucephala clangula Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anas strepera Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Somateria mollissima Polysticta stelleri Anser anser Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Aythya marila Clangula hyemalis Melanitta fusca Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Polysticta stelleri Cygnus c. bewickii Anas strepera Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Branta leucopsis Anas acuta Anas clypeata
Spring Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Spring Autumn Autumn Spring Moulting Winter Passage Spring Spring Spring Winter Winter Spring Passage Spring Passage Spring Spring Autumn Autumn Winter Passage Autumn Autumn Spring Passage Autumn Passage Passage Passage Autumn Spring Passage Spring
200 2500 4800 600 400 6000 800 400 3000 2300 2000 2000 >500 2400 460 200 23000 2500 4400 600 37000 1250 3900 1750 10000 700 800 2800 230 400 2000 2800 400 500 2000 260 1200 13500 6000 10000 20900 4900 500
1993 1993 1991 1993 1990 1993 1994 1990s 1994 1990s 1995 1996 1994 1991 1993 1995 1993 1994 1993 1993 1986 1993 1993 1995 1994 1995 1994 1994 1993 1992 1993 1991 1993 1995 1996 1993 1994 1994 1991 1991 1993 1990s 1990s
200 1800 2500 500 1000 300 500 940 18000 1600 4000 1620 700000 190000 200 2020 200 3990 300 1118 200 95 250 300 1000 500 8500 4500 6900 8200 -
1 1 8 8 8 1 8 8 10 8 1 1 1 10 8 8 8 8 1 8 8 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 11 1 1 8 8 1 8 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 8 8
Haeska
N5847E02340
Protected Not Protected Not Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Not Protected Protected Not Protected Protected Not Protected Not Protected Protected Not Protected Not Protected Protected Not Protected Protected Not protected Not Protected Protected
N5841E02353 Hari Kurk Strait COORDINATES : N5900E02300 Harilaid at Sea COORDINATES : N5830E02150 Hiiumaa COORDINATES : Ihamaa COORDINATES : N5825E02628 Irbe Strait COORDINATES : N5848E02247 Kaktla (Saaremaa) COORDINATES : N5823E02305 Kalli COORDINATES : N5832E02401 Karala (Saaremaa) COORDINATES : N5815E02154 Kidise COORDINATES : N5829E02357 Kilksama COORDINATES : N5827E02433 Kloostri COORDINATES : N5844E02348 Kodavere COORDINATES : N5841E02710 Kudema Bay COORDINATES : N5831E02215 Kuresoo COORDINATES : N5825E02505 Kuressaare Bay COORDINATES : N5814E02230 Lahepera COORDINATES : N5834E02713 Lao-Liu coast COORDINATES : N5815E02412 Lemmetsa COORDINATES : N5827E02425 Matsalu Bay COORDINATES : N5845E02340 Kaansoo
COORDINATES :
Halvati
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
* Additional key site information omitted from this table can be found on page 336 at the end of Annex 2.
269
Key Site Matsalu Bay ... continued
Season Moulting Spring Spring Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Autumn Autumn Passage Spring Spring Spring Winter Spring Spring Winter
Mustvee
N5851E02958 N5831E02403 N5846E02702
Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Not protected Not Protected
Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Mergellus albellus Bucephala clangula Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Aythya marila Clangula hyemalis Melanitta fusca Melanitta nigra Mergellus albellus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Mergellus albellus Aythya marila Clangula hyemalis Clangula hyemalis Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Melanitta fusca
Maximum Count 9100 12000 500 10000 1000 600 420 700 300 57000 2800000 70000 111000 250 260 2300 210 5100 300 70000 259000 29700 46000 -
Year of Maximum 1990s 1990s 1990s 1990s 1993 1995 1993 1990s 1990s 1993 1993 1993 1993 1990s 1993 1991 1993 1996 1991 1986 1986 1986 1986 -
Average Count 200 200 500 200 1280 150 3400 167000 11250 11300
Importance code 8 8 8 8 1 8 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 1 8 8 8 1 8 1 1
Natsi Bog
Omedu
N5918E02404 Parnu Bay and Kihnu COORDINATES : N5808E02410
Paldiski Bay
Petaaluse
N5840E02343 N5847E02348
Not Protected Protected Not Protected Protected Protected Not Protected
Raana
N5847E02658 Raluste (Saaremaa) COORDINATES : N5805E02208 Rame Bay COORDINATES : N5834E02335 Riga Bay (North) COORDINATES : N5820E02325
Rajakula
ETHIOPIA
Sites in Ethiopia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Akaki Region COORDINATES : N0850E03850 Ashange Lake COORDINATES : N1235E03930
Anas undulata Oxyura maccoa Alopochen aegyptiacus Anas penelope Aythya nyroca Cyanochen cyanopterus Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Cyanochen cyanopterus Anas clypeata Anas penelope Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Anas penelope Anas undulata Anas clypeata Cyanochen cyanopterus Cyanochen Cyanochen Cyanochen Cyanochen cyanopterus cyanopterus cyanopterus cyanopterus
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Breeding Spring Winter August Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Summer Winter -
381 121 4420 3365 30 210 52 190 22260 4000 1500 5000 8000 6000 500 350 240 150 300
1995 1994 1994 1995 1994 1970 1975 1994 1969 1973 1973 1983 1995 1969 1994 1992 1992 1992 1970
121 4420 30 115 154 6949 4000 6000 -
10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 2 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Bale Mountains National Park and L. Deemtu COORDINATES : N0700E03945 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected Gaferssa Reservoir COORDINATES : N0903E03831 Lake Abijatta COORDINATES : N0733E03831 Lake Adele COORDINATES : N0926E04158 Lake Alemaya COORDINATES : N0925E04200 Lake Arakit COORDINATES : N0752E03756 Lake Bilate (Boyo Swamp) COORDINATES : N0730E03803 Lake Langhu COORDINATES : N0922E04149 Reservoir North of Hosaina COORDINATES : N0800E03755 Sululta Plain COORDINATES : N0910E03850 Web Valley Marshes COORDINATES : N0700E03040
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Protected Not Protected Not Protected Unknown Controlled Hunting Area Unknown Not Protected Not Protected Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
ETHIOPIA/KENYA
Sites in Ethiopia/Kenya that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Import ance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Lake Turkana: Omo River Delta COORDINATES : N0430E03600 Protected status: Partially Protected
Anas acuta Anas clypeata
Winter Winter
10000 90000
1982 1982
10 10
270
FINLAND
Sites in Finland that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Aland Islands COORDINATES : N6015E02200 Foglo Dragsfjard COORDINATES : N5945E02200 Gulf of Finland COORDINATES : N6000E02500 Hailuoto
Unknown Protected Partially Protected
Polysticta stelleri Somateria mollissima Polysticta stelleri Somateria mollissima Polysticta stelleri Clangula hyemalis Melanitta nigra Cygnus cygnus Anser f. fabalis Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Anser f. fabalis Anser erythropus Anser erythropus
Winter Moulting Winter Moulting Spring Spring Spring Autumn Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring
320 150000 10 1100 1000000 200000 3000 800 400 200 2000 10000 50 20
1989 1986 --
2 -
10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11
COORDINATES : N6500E02445 Heina-Suvanto-Suvantojarvi COORDINATES : N6308E02610 Kirkon-Vilkkilantura COORDINATES : N6032E02745 Liminka Bay COORDINATES : N6450E02520
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Merikylanlahti COORDINATES : N6449E02442
PROTECTED STATUS :
FRANCE
Sites in France that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Baie de Bourgneuf et Noirmoutier COORDINATES : N4705W00215 PROTECTED Baie de la Somme COORDINATES : N5013E00139 PROTECTED Baie de LAiguillon et Pointe DArcay COORDINATES : N4619W00111 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Partially Protected
STATUS : STATUS :
Partially Protected Partially Protected
Baie de St Brieuc/Yffiniac COORDINATES : N4838W00233 Baie de Vilaine COORDINATES : N4730W00228 Baie des Veys COORDINATES : N4920W00109 Baie du Mont St Michel COORDINATES : N4840W00140 Bassin du Leman COORDINATES : N4631E00634 Bassin dArcachon: Le Teich COORDINATES : N4440W00110 Cote Charentaise COORDINATES : N4553W00122 Cote de La Rochelle COORDINATES : N4609W00107 Cote Ouest du Cotentin COORDINATES : N4856W00255 Cours du Rhin COORDINATES : N4920E00742 Dombes-Vallee de lAin COORDINATES : N4558E00507 Etang de Bagnas COORDINATES : N4315E00332 Etang de Biguglia COORDINATES : N4231E00932 Etang de Hourtin/Carcans COORDINATES : N4508W00110 Etangs de la Brenne COORDINATES : N4641E00113 Etangs de la Sologne COORDINATES : N4729E00151
Partially Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected
Branta b. bernicla Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Tadorna tadorna Anas acuta Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Branta b. bernicla Branta b. bernicla Aythya marila Tadorna tadorna Anas acuta Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas platyrhynchos Aythya fuligula Branta b. bernicla Anas acuta Anas clypeata Melanitta nigra Anas acuta Melanitta nigra Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Anas clypeata Tadorna tadorna Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Anas crecca Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Anas clypeata
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
8000 9250 700 850 10911 2500 4110 9200 21810 29545 27900 12300 8249 4400 3610 5440 3700 1358 4600 4040 25000 20000 19823 38065 3160 1220 16681 1250 18650 4984 64963 27556 37014 1016 1200 13500 9000 4096 330 330 1091 6155 618
1992 1982 1972 1982 1992 1979 1994 1986 1979 1982 1983 1970 1980 1995 1993 1993 1987 1982 1995 1985 1982 1979 1993 1995 1987 1987 1994 1971 1990 1990 1981 1980 1988 1982 1977 1978 1976 1982 1983 1983 1981 1982 1982
6411 903 81 166 8750 292 2035 6682 842 1043 2741 952 318 3000 2584 2034 448 186 3525 2116 292 2341 13620 28598 1742 172 8768 314 8336 3999 34386 5436 24578 182 4 1228 3150 46 176 176 264 1075 28
1 8 8 8 1 8 8 1 8 8 8 1 8 1 8 8 8 8 1 8 8 8 1 1 1 8 8 9 8 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
Partially Protected Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected
Partially Protected Not Supplied Protected Not Supplied Partially Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
271
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Etangs de Lorraine COORDINATES : N4854E00644 Golfe du Morbihan COORDINATES : N4731W00248
Not Supplied Partially Protected
Aythya ferina Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Mergus serrator Tadorna tadorna Branta b. bernicla Aythya ferina Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Anas acuta Anas clypeata Branta b. bernicla Netta rufina Mergus serrator Branta b. bernicla Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Tadorna tadorna Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Netta rufina Anas acuta Melanitta nigra Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Anas clypeata Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Anas acuta
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
5991 9540 3890 35000 7420 4000 950 4700 1730 1502 17805 7000 2781 30080 16111 54790 45000 17175 6 5540 20163 8100 319 1220 31500 274 16750 17000 13180 2500 4500 930 760 19620 375 2150 3890 800 2100 5300 3819 846 720 1150 1700 28800 4264 5620 430 1500 2300 7000 2000
1989 1992 1993 1967 1979 1973 1979 1987 1992 1993 1992 1970 1993 1976 1981 1973 1965 1982 1974 1981 1974 1991 1992 1983 1982 1987 1990 1984 1982 1969 1983 1981 1993 1992 1985 1990 1992 1978 1968 1971 1987 1993 1983 1985 1977 1989 1987 1989 1990 1971 1992 1967 1985
3165 8094 2787 2834 1506 1274 368 1391 1556 1502 12903 224 1543 11169 11494 23039 16056 6999 0 3642 9719 4528 150 5 373 28 16750 674 5778 135 1187 601 455 14581 104 985 2260 354 30 60 1311 264 40 1150 676 10421 4264 3898 243 18 1878 1950 271
8 1 8 8 8 1 8 8 1 10 1 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 8 8 9 8 8 8 10 8 1 8 1 1 1 1 11 8 8 9 9 9 8 8 8 10 1 8 10 1 8 8 1 8 8
Herault Coast N4315E00325 Ile de Re COORDINATES : N4609W00123 Iles St Aubin/Angers COORDINATES : N4729W00033 La Camargue COORDINATES : N4331E00432
COORDINATES :
Partially Protected Partially Protected Not Supplied Partially Protected
La Grande Briere N4709W00217 PROTECTED STATUS : Lac du Der-Chantecoq COORDINATES : N4834E00450 PROTECTED STATUS : Lac DAnnecy COORDINATES : N4550E00613 PROTECTED STATUS : Littoral Oceanique: Loire Gironde COORDINATES : N4600W00200 PROTECTED STATUS : Littoral Sud Vendee COORDINATES : N4631W00028 PROTECTED STATUS : Loire: Estuary et Massereau et Barracons COORDINATES : N4720W00205 PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Not Supplied Protected Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Partially Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected Not Supplied Partially Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected Protected Protected Not Supplied Partially Protected Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Partially Protected Not Supplied
Marais dOlonne et Chanteloup N4631W00146 PROTECTED Moeze-Ile DOleron COORDINATES : N4555W00110 PROTECTED Port du Bouc Fos Sur Mer COORDINATES : N4320E00501 PROTECTED Rade de Brest COORDINATES : N4820W00425 PROTECTED Rade de Lorient COORDINATES : N4742W00320 PROTECTED Rade de Penerf COORDINATES : N4731W00240 PROTECTED
COORDINATES :
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Reserve Naturelle de Moeze/Oleron N4554W00101 PROTECTED Reserve de St-Denis-du Payre COORDINATES : N4620W00107 PROTECTED Rhone: Grand COORDINATES : N4331E00440 PROTECTED Seine: Estuaire COORDINATES : N4931E00018 PROTECTED Seine: Honfleur Cabourg (Baie) COORDINATES : N4915E00134 PROTECTED Seine: Lavacourt Bray Sur Seine COORDINATES : N4830E00230 PROTECTED Seine: Pont de lArches Verdon COORDINATES : N4915E00125 PROTECTED Station Depuration de Rochefort/Mer COORDINATES : N4556W00100 PROTECTED Sud-Loire COORDINATES : N4704W00145 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Yffiniac-Morieux N4831W00240
PROTECTED STATUS :
GAMBIA
Sites in Gambia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
River Gambie Middle Section COORDINATES : N1330W01515 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Unknown
Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos
Winter Winter
500 1250
1970 1970
10 10
272
GERMANY
Sites in Germany that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
N5430E00957 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Ahlhorner Fishteiche COORDINATES : N5256E00808 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Aller: Hademsdorf-Rethem COORDINATES : N5240E00944 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Allwoerdener Aussendeich COORDINATES : N5410E00918 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Alte Elbe Bosevig COORDINATES : N5148E01248 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Ammersee COORDINATES : N4800E01107 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected Beetzsee/Riewendsee COORDINATES : N5228E01240 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Bergwitzsee COORDINATES : N5148E01236 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Binnendeichsflchen Jadebusen COORDINATES : N5436E00811 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Blankensee/Grossinsee COORDINATES : N5215E01308 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Bock and Grosser Werder COORDINATES : N5425E01256 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Borgfelder Wummewiesen Und nasses Dreieck COORDINATES : N5307E00830 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Breitlingsee Wusterwitzer See COORDINATES : N5222E01226 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Brodtener Ufer COORDINATES : N5359E01052 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown
Aassee
COORDINATES :
Anas strepera Anas crecca Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Netta rufina Aythya fuligula Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser brachyrhynchus Anas clypeata Anser albifrons Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Anas strepera Netta rufina Netta rufina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Aythya ferina Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Cygnus cygnus Anas strepera Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Anser f. rossicus Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Mergellus albellus Anser f. rossicus
Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Moulting Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter
490 8114 443 417 2350 3100 310 17138 11000 30000 1295 511 23500 9700 200 3200 4453 20768 3382 17950 6320 400 2000 800 10000 13000 6000 14000 3900 11200 7200 38340 6500 6829 1117 416 221 12920 86000 8000 26678 15332 10551 6750 12258 4383 1595 8000 4300 4100 4000 1200 540 43572 5483 6580 12075 25567 4680 75000 600 480 700 28100
1990 1990 1994 1991 1984 1991 1992 1992 1994 1994 1992 1992 1992 1990 1992 1992 1993 1991 1994 1974 1989 1993 1989 1991 1994
1550 651 5117 3243 3689 166 185 6225 5147 10321 2664 636 28 320 25790 2284 2127 -
10 10 10 10 10 11 10 9 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 8 10 10 5 10 5 10 10 10 10 1 8 1 8 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 1 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10
Caciliengroden-Dangast COORDINATES : Unknown Chiemsee COORDINATES : N4755E01227 Conventer See COORDINATES : N5412E01155
Unknown Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Daenische Wiek Kooser Wiesen COORDINATES : N5405E01330 PROTECTED Darsser Bodden COORDINATES : N5424E01250
STATUS :
Unknown Unknown
PROTECTED STATUS :
Dassower See COORDINATES : N5353E01047 Deichvorland In Oderbruch COORDINATES : Unknown Dobersdorfer See COORDINATES : Unknown Dollart and Rheiderland COORDINATES : N5315E00710 Donau: 2248-2390 COORDINATES : N4850E01251 Dretzee COORDINATES : N5250E01312 Dummer COORDINATES : N5231E00820 Ehrenhain
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
COORDINATES :
N5052E01233
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
273
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Elbaue: Schnackenburg-Lauenburg COORDINATES : N5305E01127 PROTECTED Elbe Burg Schoenhausen COORDINATES : N5230E01200 PROTECTED Elbe Lowland Wittenberge COORDINATES : N5255E01150 PROTECTED Elbe: 371-388 COORDINATES : N5232E01206 PROTECTED Elbe: 414-423 COORDINATES : N5249E01206 PROTECTED Elbe: 436-442 COORDINATES : N5254E01153 PROTECTED Elbe: Aland-Niederung COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Elbe: Barnkrug-Otterndorf COORDINATES : N5347E00907 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Aythya nyroca Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Branta leucopsis Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Anas strepera Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Anser erythropus Anas clypeata Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus Cygnus Cygnus Cygnus cygnus c. bewickii c. bewickii cygnus
Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Autumn Winter Spring Autumn Winter Spring Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter
2550 2400 5800 4875 176 373 46 197 400 200 5000 1600 2280 31600 3370 4350 1300 1550 723 430 2325 348 5 470 10775 17395 13706 516 3030 1131 954 2270 8700 1100 488 350 433 212 180 3489 8830 12000 13000 2000 20000 17507 9000 7500 13000 13 1000 600 800 600 6000 11161 1644 10000 13967 15120 16485 7812 662 5335 12300 393 23660
1994 1992 1992 1978 1989 1990 1989 1989 1989 1989 1993 1992 1994 1991 1991 1992 1990 1990 1990 1996 1994 1991 1992 1990 -
399 2083 9 1284 1 10775 17395 13706 9600 11900 9000 7500 4344 1249 220 13062 5810 231 2401 -
1 10 10 11 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 8 8 10 10 10 1 1 3 1 10 10 10
Elbe: Bishorst-Pinnaukruckau COORDINATES : N5338E00932 PROTECTED Elbe: Glckstadt Hamburg COORDINATES : N5335E00930 PROTECTED Elbe: Haseldorfer Marsch COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Elbe: Hitzacker Alt Garge COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Elbe: Luhesand-Hahnofersand COORDINATES : N5338E00945 PROTECTED Elbe: Otterndorf - Glckstadt COORDINATES : N5348E00855 PROTECTED Elbe: St Margarethen-Stormundung COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Elbe: Steckby COORDINATES : N5155E01202 PROTECTED Elbe: Stormundung-Kruckaumundung COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Elbe: Wedeler Marsch COORDINATES : N5337E00940 PROTECTED
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Emsaltwasser B. Vellage COORDINATES : Unknown Emstal Nordl Aschendorf COORDINATES : N5304E00718 Ems: Bingen-Pogum COORDINATES : N4958E00755 Eschefelder Teiche COORDINATES : N5104E01231 Felchowsee COORDINATES : Unknown Flensburger Aussenforde COORDINATES : N5448E00954 Galenbecker See COORDINATES : N5335E01340
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Somateria mollissima Aythya marila Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Anser f. rossicus Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anas crecca Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Anas strepera Aythya fuligula
N5105E01242 Greifswalder Bodden COORDINATES : N5415E01330
COORDINATES :
Geithain
Unknown Protected
Grober Ploner See COORDINATES : N5407E01024
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
274
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Grosser Binnensee COORDINATES : N5419E01037 Grosser Teich Torgau COORDINATES : N5133E01259 Grubensee Lauchhammer COORDINATES : N5128E01351 Grubenseen Merseburg COORDINATES : N5116E01148 Hauke-Haien-Koog COORDINATES : Unknown Helmestausee Bergakelbra COORDINATES : N5125E01104 Hemmelmarker See COORDINATES : Unknown Hiddensee/Bessin COORDINATES : N5434E01308 Hohwachter Bucht COORDINATES : N5418E01043 Inn: Salzachmundung COORDINATES : N4825E01326
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
Aythya marila Aythya marila Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Anser anser Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Anas strepera Anas crecca Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Anas strepera Netta rufina Anser f. rossicus Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas strepera Netta rufina Netta rufina Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Anser anser Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser anser Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Anas strepera Anas strepera Anser albifrons Somateria mollissima Melanitta nigra Aythya fuligula Somateria mollissima Anas clypeata Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Aythya fuligula Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Anas strepera Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas acuta Aythya marila
Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Moulting Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Summer Autumn Moulting Spring Moulting Moulting Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter
3500 3300 9500 6000 17700 1800 500 750 15000 7500 5000 6590 6000 2000 4000 11542 11295 10484 4000 2151 520 3680 5962 999 7800 3100 3170 281 21000 18200 3500 911 9550 3030 8362 24013 3869 1194 1200 620 9780 303355 62770 23544 36000 800 5827 3781 8518 3000 3950 3000 12000 4030 7000 11000 2000 630 600 220 12000 850 20000
1993 1993 1994 1992 1992 1992 1991 1993 1971 1991 1990 1982 1994 1993 1994 1991 1992 1990 1992 1990 1994 1991 1992 -
2010 2640 1404 169 4177 11 820 5000 9000 2331 1779 4051 3000 1600 7000 1300 6305 -
10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 11 10 10 10 8 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 8 1 1 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10
Inn: Stausee Unterhalb Wasserburg COORDINATES : N4805E01212 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Isle of Poel COORDINATES : N5400E01128 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Ismaninger Speichersee Mit Fischteichen COORDINATES : N4813E01145 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected
Jadebusen: Vareler Hafen-Wapeler Siel COORDINATES : N5436E00811 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Jasmunder Boddenkette COORDINATES : N5424E01335 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected
Kachliner See COORDINATES : Unknown Kasseteiche COORDINATES : Unknown Keezer See COORDINATES : N5344E01143 Kiel Bucht COORDINATES : N5420E01008 Kieler Frde COORDINATES : N5424E01011 Kleiner Binnensee COORDINATES : Unknown Kleines Oderhaff COORDINATES : N5344E01408 Koelpinsee N5330E01236 Kossenblatter Seen COORDINATES : N5208E01406 Krakower Obersee COORDINATES : Unknown Kremmener Luch COORDINATES : N5248E01300 Krummenhagen See COORDINATES : N5414E01301 Kubitzer Bodden COORDINATES : N5404E01302 Kuhlrader Moor COORDINATES : N5344E01058 Kuhrener Teich COORDINATES : N5411E01018 Kummerower See COORDINATES : N5349E01250
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Kuste Der Probstei N5426E01022
PROTECTED STATUS :
275
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Lanker See
COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES :
Unknown
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
Mergus merganser Anas strepera Aythya nyroca Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas strepera Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Anas clypeata Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Mergellus albellus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anas strepera Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Cygnus c. bewickii Somateria mollissima Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Melanitta nigra Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus Anser Anser Anser Anser Anser Anser albifrons f. rossicus f. rossicus albifrons f. rossicus albifrons
Winter Autumn Winter Spring Winter Winter Spring Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Spring Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Summer Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter
3000 1830 10 1077 25000 1400 400 200 45000 33000 5400 1200 6000 3200 4593 3927 4550 3340 25000 3000 8000 2600 4500 2000 4425 9500 29000 10500 2400 450 10300 15400 197 30000 84475 30000 38590 190000 4200 2050 5010 56750 7000 10000 43200 8550 10650 7000 10000 49000 21000 10650 8550 5000 11430 6610 8910
1972 1994 1990 1992 1990 1992 1992 1993 1990 1993 1990 1993 1993 1994 1990 1991 1992 1992 1992 1990 1990 1991 1990 1990 1990 1990 1992 1994 1990 1990 1994 1992 -
2 4133 6000 1850 2106 1293 25000 2331 4652 3500 1475 1727 2810 2330 13340 6000 5346 3503 -
10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 10 11 8 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 5 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 8 8 1 10 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10
Lebrader Teiche Unknown Lech: Stausee Rain N4843E01050 Lewitz-Teiche N5325E01138
COORDINATES :
Lower Havel and Gulper See N5245E01216
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES :
Lowland Sude-Schaale N5322E01054
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
Ls Breitlingsee, Wusterwitzer See N5222E01226 PROTECTED Main: Dettingen-Oberrad Unknown Main: Kitzingen-Hohenfeld N5001E01020 Mechower See Unknown Mickowsee N5342E01144 N5327E01248
Moenchsee
Muhlenberger Loch N5332E00952
COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES :
Mulde Eilenberg N5125E01241 Muldestausee N5138E01218 Neolith-Teich N5149E01159 Neuendorfer See Unknown Neuendorfer Wiek Ruegen N5417E01332 Neustadter Bucht N5405E01050
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Nordervieland Hafen Bremen Unknown PROTECTED Nordsee: Lister Tiefe N5440E00830
STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Ober and Unter Uckersee N5314E01353
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Oberrhein: Feldflur Zw. Grissheim Und Zienken COORDINATES : N4750E00738 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown
COORDINATES :
Oder Bank
N5420E01425
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Oder River Lowland Near Friedrichsthal COORDINATES : N5310E01423 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown
COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES : COORDINATES :
Oder River Lowland Near Neuruednitz N5247E01423 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Oder River Lowland Near Schwedt N5304E01422 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Oder: Friedrichsthal N5310E01423 Oder: Neuruednitz N5247E01423 Oder: Schwedt N5304E01422 Oder: Seelow N5237E01435 Oetteliner See N5352E01201 Opfinger Stausee Unknown
Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Aythya ferina Aythya ferina
276
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Ostbucht Des Fehmarnsundes COORDINATES : N5424E01109 PROTECTED Ostkuste Oldenburgs COORDINATES : N5420E01110
STATUS :
Unknown
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Ostseeboddengewasser Westrugen-Zingst COORDINATES : N5432E01307 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected
COORDINATES :
Ostseekuste
N5426E01106
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Ostsee: Priwall-Ahlbeck COORDINATES : N5359E01103
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown
Ostufer Der Muritz COORDINATES : N5326E01245 PROTECTED STATUS : Ost- Und Sudokuste Fehmarns COORDINATES : N5427E01117 PROTECTED STATUS : Pagensand COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED STATUS : Peenestrom; Usedomer Bodden U Seen COORDINATES : N5355E01347 PROTECTED STATUS :
Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Somateria mollissima Melanitta nigra Cygnus c. bewickii Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Aythya marila Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Anas platyrhynchos Aythya marila Aythya marila Melanitta nigra Mergus serrator Cygnus cygnus Aythya marila Mergus serrator Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Aythya fuligula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Anser f. rossicus Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Mergus serrator Anser f. rossicus Anas strepera Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Branta leucopsis Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Anas strepera Aythya ferina Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata
Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Spring Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn
23520 9500 21000 24500 402 11920 15427 10885 12035 4400 4400 13461 1400 420 5600 1500 5800 1250 400 30000 21609 13065 3400 1000 2500 1750 21590 3200 11000 16780 3275 495 5123 2113 15000 20000 31400 22630 440 482 3055 6969 13607 2216 3605 5500 5000 20000 3000 34720 357210 5315 3000 6000 5132 13600 5600 3438 1549 23100 11200 11500 7930 12000 11500 29714 12673 15313 18249 1088 11250 32020 700
1982 1982 1982 1994 1993 1992 1990 1993 1992 1993 1994 1993 1990 1993 -
338 5800 110 16 96 1207 6782 1553 3747 5142 1001 2271 2830 6627 688 -
9 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 9 10 10 8 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 10 10 10 11 11 8 1 1 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 8 2 10 2 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 2 10
Peetscher See COORDINATES : N5348E01200 Plauer See COORDINATES : Unknown Pomeranian Bay COORDINATES : N5405E01415
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
PROTECTED STATUS :
Pritzerber See COORDINATES : N5230E01228 PROTECTED Putzarer See COORDINATES : N5340E01343 PROTECTED Rambower Moor COORDINATES : N5308E01136 PROTECTED Rangsdorfer See COORDINATES : N5218E01326 PROTECTED Reitzer See COORDINATES : N5222E01239 PROTECTED Rheiderland COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Rhein: Breisach-Nonnenweier COORDINATES : N4802E00736 PROTECTED Rhein: Eltville-Bingen COORDINATES : N5000E00801 PROTECTED Rhein: Meissenheim-Marlen COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Rhein: Murgmundung-Grauelsbaum COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Rhein: Nonnenweier-Meissenheim COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Rhein: Weil-Breisach COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Rieselfelder Munster COORDINATES : N5202E00739 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Protected Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown Protected
277
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Rietzer See
COORDINATES :
Unknown
PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Unknown Protected
Roeggeliner See/Kuhlrader Moor COORDINATES : N5412E01225 PROTECTED Ruehner See and Buetzower Stadtsee COORDINATES : N5350E01158 PROTECTED Rugen: Hagensche Wiek COORDINATES : N5416E01348 Rugen: Libitz/Prieb.w. COORDINATES : N5424E01313 Ruhr: Baldeneysee COORDINATES : N5124E00708 Ruhr: Hengsteysee COORDINATES : N5124E00728 Ruhr: Stausee Geisecke COORDINATES : N5127E00737 Russee
Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Anas clypeata Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Aythya fuligula Mergus merganser Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Aythya fuligula Anas strepera Anas clypeata Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Netta rufina Anser f. rossicus Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Mergus merganser Anser f. rossicus Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Anser f. rossicus Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus Cygnus cygnus Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula
Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
5600 2000 2500 3500 10000 19500 15000 5000 3594 3608 450 5000 2150 14969 2000 7000 31000 9800 18000 800 570 3026 6000 276 12000 510 4457 4287 4000 2800 10000 3310 512 19300 13477 15080 5250 5280 923 2530 6000 10559 5210 8000 6900 6780 4380 17100 3000 4170 3450 3000 8000 3284 1006 5261 22250
1990 1992 1992 1992 1994 1992 1991 1992 1992 1993 1992 1990 1991 1993 1994 1992 1969 1992 1992 1994 1974 1992 1987 1991 1992 1994 1990 1991 1994 1992 1992 1992 1990 -
3300 2333 4333 132 1588 2125 4777 1675 5250 1475 1688 821 85 3737 537 21 3545 2448 3987 3870 2100 4400 1560 156 -
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 8 10 10 10 10 1 1 8 10 8 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 10 10
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
N5418E01005 Unknown N5437E00953
Schaalsee Schlei
Schollener See COORDINATES : N5240E01208 Schoritzer Wiek COORDINATES : N5415E01320 Schweriner See COORDINATES : N5338E01125 Selenter See COORDINATES : Unknown Senftenberger Seen COORDINATES : N5132E01355 Speicherbecken Borna COORDINATES : Unknown Starnberger See COORDINATES : Unknown Stausee Bautzen COORDINATES : N5113E01427 Steinhuder Meer COORDINATES : N5228E00920
Stossdorfer Seen COORDINATES : N5150E01349 Strelasund

COORDINATES :
Unknown Unknown
N5423E01250
Sude-Schaale COORDINATES : N5322E01054
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Sudufer Der Eckernforder Bucht COORDINATES : N5428E01008 PROTECTED Sumpfsee

COORDINATES :
N5345E01211
Tagebau Haselbach COORDINATES : N5105E01224 Tagesbausee Goitsche COORDINATES : N5139E01216 Talsperre Quitzdorf COORDINATES : N5111E01447 Talsperre Schoembach COORDINATES : N5054E01235 Teichgebiet Peitz COORDINATES : N5151E01425 Teterower See COORDINATES : Unknown Thurbr./Kachliner S COORDINATES : N5354E01407 Traveforde
COORDINATES :
N5357E01052
278
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Traveforde ... continued
Udarser Wiek COORDINATES : N5428E01316 Unterer Niederrhein COORDINATES : N5143E00614
Unknown Protected
Unterer Niederrhein, Bislicher-Insel-Komplex COORDINATES : N5139E00630 PROTECTED STATUS : Unterer Niederrhein, Byland-Komplex COORDINATES : N5152E00605 PROTECTED STATUS : Unterer Niederrhein, Grietherbusch-Komplex COORDINATES : N5149E00621 PROTECTED STATUS : Unterer Niederrhein, Hbsch-Komplex COORDINATES : N5142E00627 PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected Protected Protected Protected
Unterer Niederrhein,orsoyer Rheinbogen-Komplex COORDINATES : N5134E00640 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected Unterer Odertai Bei Schwedt COORDINATES : N5301E01418 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Aythya marila Aythya marila Aythya marila Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Anser albifrons Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Anas acuta Aythya ferina Mergellus albellus Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Anser albifrons Cygnus c. bewickii Anas crecca Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta b. bernicla Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Somateria mollissima Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta b. bernicla Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Anser anser Anser anser
Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Spring Winter Spring Winter Spring Summer Winter Spring Winter Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Moulting Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Moulting Summer Winter Moulting Summer
40000 4500 26838 280 2511 13400 2500 400 800 6000 250 23848 9675 7488 48027 6930 13040 7550 29298 24518 600 1000 500 4700 4300 2500 12300 6500 25000 360 13500 7000 2500 52300 4207 8025 898 2587 317 15713 30178 7976 19268 98097 26069 53819 28315 18779 10031 4380 25519 53644 3037 2932 644 695 37206 592 230 27563 31662 47365 94467 81509 125000 19541 74877 137737 25507 84947 306 25000 4950 70974 5927 15000 1733 1768 857 880 150000 21019 61069 2079 2040
1990 1990 1990 1989 1990 1990 1989 1990 1989 1989 1989 1992 1992 1989 1993 1991 1989
1985 12154 4930 4580 28903 3568 6550 3950 16730 17521 249 3100 2040
10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 10 10 1 1 1 10 10 10 1 1 10 10 1 1 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 10
Protected
Unterwarnow R. COORDINATES : N5410E01208 PROTECTED Unterweser COORDINATES : N5323E00830 PROTECTED Varchentiner See COORDINATES : N5337E01250 PROTECTED Wadden Sea (Hamburgisches) COORDINATES : N5358E00830 PROTECTED Wadden Sea (Ns) COORDINATES : N5343E00828
Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Partially Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Wadden Sea (Sh) COORDINATES : N5424E00849
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Wallnau
COORDINATES :
N5428E01102
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
279
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Wallnau ... continued
COORDINATES :
Warder See
Unknown
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Protected Unknown Unknown
Weserstaustufe Schlsselburg COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED

COORDINATES :
STATUS :
Anas strepera Anas clypeata Aythya marila Somateria mollissima Somateria mollissima Melanitta nigra Melanitta nigra Bucephala clangula Anser anser Anser anser Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Somateria mollissima Anser albifrons Aythya marila Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Aythya fuligula Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus
Autumn Autumn Winter Spring Winter Spring Winter Winter Moulting Summer Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
722 600 7509 25000 33691 20000 19000 6000 3000 2000 800 4600 2000 350 400 8000 11396 8000 45000 15940 5600 4135 864 500 3518 55050 47466 3365 1300 2500 15000 5000 6500 14000
1987 1990 1989 1977 1979 1992 1993 1994 1967 1990 1990 1993
1502 605 2000 70 539 110 18194 209 91 28531 1696 4 2400 2852 7750
10 10 8 8 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 9 9 10 10 10 8 8 10 10 10 1 8 8 10 10 11 11 10
Wesseker See N5439E01010
PROTECTED STATUS :
Westbucht Des Fehmarnsundes COORDINATES : N5426E01106 PROTECTED Wieker Bodden Wittow Peninsula N5435E01315 PROTECTED Windebyer Noor Unknown Wismar Bucht N5408E01132
STATUS :
STATUS :
Wittensee
Unknown N5241E01226
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Witzker See
Wostevitzer Teiche (R) N5429E01334 Zschornaer Stausee N5116E01344
GHANA
Sites in Ghana that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Navrongo
COORDINATES :
N1050W00103
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Dendrocygna viduata
Winter
2750
1984
2750
10
GREECE
Sites in Greece that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Aetolikon Lagoon COORDINATES : N3825E02130
Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Partially Protected Protected
Aythya ferina Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya ferina Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Branta ruficollis
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
15050 4500 11400 10 22 2100 7000 61000 1500 45000 48000 18000 500 300 10 40000 1400 70000 1000 5
1987 1970 1969 1970 1968 1989 1973 1989 1968 1969 1969 1969 1969 1973 1970 1982 1970 1969 1987
5816 1125 5350 3 12 738 1904 26773 5 10136 6343 2573 1 7221 688 1428 8 -
11 10 11 11 11 8 8 1 8 1 8 8 8 11 11 8 8 8 8 11
Agoulinitsa Lagoon (Drained) COORDINATES : N3736E02130 PROTECTED Agros (Drained) N4052E02250 Alyki Lagoon COORDINATES : N4025E02235 Amvrakikos Wetlands COORDINATES : N3852E02050
COORDINATES :
COORDINATES :
Axios Delta, Loudhias Delta, Aliakmon Delta N4029E02243 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected Epanomi Lagoon N4025E02256
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Not Supplied
280
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Evros Delta COORDINATES : N4052E02612
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Ismaris (Formerly Mitrikou) COORDINATES : N4056E02517
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Kaiafa
N3731E02130 N4029E02118 N4113E02312
Not Supplied Partially Protected Protected
Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Branta ruficollis Branta ruficollis Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Anser anser Anas crecca Aythya nyroca Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Mergus merganser Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Mergus merganser Aythya nyroca Anas penelope Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Aythya ferina Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Aythya ferina Cygnus olor Mergus merganser Mergus merganser Cygnus olor Anser erythropus Anser anser Branta ruficollis Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Aythya ferina Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Aythya nyroca Mergus merganser Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anas crecca Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Mergus merganser Netta rufina Anas penelope
Winter Winter Spring Passage Winter Passage Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Passage Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Passage Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
2014 400 35000 150 116 2000 1800 1320 63000 3860 34568 26000 36000 8820 15 30 70 3000 12000 30 1050 45 94 11 26 890 1260 6500 1187 40227 37200 27000 30 93 2 90 6000 12000 12000 200 2200 6000 20000 754 12050 20000 600 24 13 1143 50 3000 61 1235 12000 5200 30 5 4240 20000 10000 806 10900 1500 30 14 25 900 12000 50000 28500 18 11000 6 500 6000
1987 1969 1985 1988 1985 1 1982 1970 1989 1971 1973 1969 1983 1983 1984 0 1970 1971 1989 1994 1988 1982 1982 1988 1988 1971 1982 1987 1988 1968 1973 1973 1973 1989 1973 1970 1970 1970 1987 1986 1993 1988 1994 1985 1989 1967 1986 1989 1989 1970 1970 1993 1989 1990 1969 1989 1994 1970 1987 1982 1968 1976 1987 1989 1973
429 8 35000 23 2000 17 504 13797 1050 7924 9400 14409 1887 1782 54 20 6 292 177 1742 275 2915 4489 12476 32 1912 986 520 40 321 553 2 147 7184 5040 202 3 131 61 395 3214 1386 1 1626 1076 2 418 3293 6 4 5 231 381 12780 6523 2228 100 984
8 8 10 11 11 10 10 8 1 1 8 8 1 8 11 11 11 10 8 11 9 11 2 11 11 2 8 8 8 8 8 1 11 11 8 11 8 8 8 11 8 8 8 8 1 8 11 1 2 10 11 10 10 8 8 8 11 11 1 8 8 8 8 10 1 11 11 1 8 1 8 11 8 8 8 8
Kastoria
Kerkini
COORDINATES :
Kheimaditis Lake and Lake Zazaris COORDINATES : N4030E02135 PROTECTED Kotychi Lagoon COORDINATES : N3758E02117 Lysimachia
COORDINATES :
STATUS :
Partially Protected Protected Partially Protected Protected Protected Partially Protected Protected Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
N3836E02123
Messi Lagoon COORDINATES : N4056E02510
Messolongi and Aitolikon Lagoons COORDINATES : N3820E02130 PROTECTED Mikri and Megali Prespa COORDINATES : N4045E02104
STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Nestos Delta and Keramoti Lagoons COORDINATES : N4057E02444 PROTECTED Porto Lagos Lagoons COORDINATES : N4100E02507
STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Ptelea-Elos Lagoon (Karakatsali) COORDINATES : N4056E02517 PROTECTED Spercheios Delta COORDINATES : N3850E02240 Taka
STATUS :
Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
N3725E02225 N3836E02130
Not Supplied Partially Protected Protected Protected
Trichonis
Vistonis (Bourou) COORDINATES : N4102E02510 Volvi and Koronia COORDINATES : N4041E02325 Voulkaria
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
N3852E02050
Xirolimni Lagoon (Fanari) COORDINATES : N4056E02510
281
GREENLAND
Sites in Greenland that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Aqajarua Sullorsuaq COORDINATES : N6940W05200 Protected status: Not Protected Eqalummiut Nunaat-Nassuttuup Nunaa COORDINATES : N6725W05030 Protected status: Not Protected
COORDINATES :
Somateria spectabilis Anser a. flavirostris Anser a. flavirostris Branta leucopsis Anser brachyrhynchus Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Mergus serrator Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Branta leucopsis Anser a. flavirostris Clangula hyemalis Anser brachyrhynchus Branta leucopsis Anser a. flavirostris Anser a. flavirostris Anser brachyrhynchus Branta leucopsis Mergus serrator Anser a. flavirostris Branta leucopsis
Moulting Autumn Breeding Autumn Moulting Autumn Autumn Moulting Autumn Breeding Autumn Moulting Breeding Autumn Autumn Autumn Breeding Moulting Autumn Moulting Spring Autumn
30000 2500 300 400 3000 400 400 1000 625 210 400 300 4000 1600 440
1973 1973
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Fleming Fjord N7137W02307 Protected status: Not Protected
Hochstetter Forland COORDINATES : N7330W02000 Protected status: Protected Hurry Fjord COORDINATES : N7053W02230 Protected status: Not Protected Ikkattoq Fjord and Islands COORDINATES : N6240W05015 Protected status: Not Protected Kilen
N8115W01200 Protected status: Protected N7122W02447 Protected status: Not Protected
Kjoveland
Kuannersuit Kuussuat COORDINATES : N6940W05317 Protected status: Not Protected

COORDINATES :
Myggbukta
N7329W02134 Protected status: Partially Protected N6820W05200 Protected status: Not Protected
Naternaq
Nuna Masarsuttalik N7100W02400 Protected status: Not Protected
Orsted Dal and Coloradodal COORDINATES : N7140W02320 Protected status: Not Protected Qinnguata Marraa Kuussuaq COORDINATES : N6956W05417 Protected status: Not Protected Sarqaqdalen COORDINATES : N7007W05210 Protected status: Not Protected Stordal-Moskusoksefjord-Badlanddai-Loch Fyne COORDINATES : N7330W02200 Protected status: Partially Protected
GUINEA-BISSAU
Sites in Guinea-Bissau that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Lagoa de Cufada COORDINATES : N1143W01502
PROTECTED STATUS :
Reserve
Nettapus auritus
Winter
250
1990
125
11
HUNGARY
Sites in Hungary that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Balaton
COORDINATES :
N4646E01709
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
Balaton West N4646E01909 Balaton-Ost N4655E01803
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected Protected Not Protected
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Biharugra-Begecs Fishponds N4658E02136 Csaj Lake at Tomorkeny N4636E02007
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
COORDINATES :
Csokmo, Halasto N4659E02120
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Anser albifrons Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Bucephala clangula Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser erythropus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter
5000 30000 50 8710 9000 13000 1500 4050 3800 15000 5000 10000 2050 278 1500 1700 1200 71 1200 680 566 25000 16
1985 1979 1983 1987 1985 1992 1995 1993 1991 1989 1992 1995 1992 1993 1992 1992 1974 1984
15513 13 4085 4567 1419 600 1570 1851 7270 139 702 445 14 283 239 266 2501 16
8 11 11 2 10 8 1 8 11 1 10 8 10 10 8 8 8 11 1 1 1 8 11
282
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Dinnyes Ferto + Velencei-To COORDINATES : N4710E01832 Drava: COORDINATES : N4550E01806 Duna 2: Baja Dunafoldvar COORDINATES : N4630E01858
Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anas platyrhynchos Bucephala clangula Anser f. rossicus Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Aythya nyroca Bucephala clangula Aythya nyroca Bucephala clangula Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Oxyura leucocephala Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons
Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Spring Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Spring Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Breeding Spring Winter Autumn Breeding Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring
90 3000 2500 20090 850 3000 1210 1609 1230 908 1000 3000 8000 10000 1000 3000 200 3000 4000 5000 500 10 862 12 835 8000 8000 2000 1500 1000 1088 759 1000 800 2000 780 9524 9949 2726 15000 65000 17000 110000 47000 130000 450 54 300 2800 540 6700 4800 60000 210 18 8240 3850 10400 40000 11 380 635 13 7000 33000 70000 3500 9000
1985 1993 1992 1988 1986 1986 1987 1987 1989 1988 1995 1987 1988 1995 1990 1990 1989 1993 1983 1993 1968 1986 1995 1995 1994 1987 1995 1990 1990 1983 1978 1982 1978 1991 1995 1991 1992 1992 1994 1994 1992 1988 1992 1986 1988 1987 1992 1975 1994 1992 1995 1986 1989 1995 1994 1991 1988 1995 1985 1993 1995
168 834 9730 549 765 355 550 258 445 130 1640 4700 270 1360 40 604 3633 100 3 368 478 4100 4400 650 180 400 379 210 1000 343 2000 181 4739 5871 1456 5368 16706 5200 48500 37460 130 33 19 960 1236 1512 1738 954 4370 7228 76 175 3 2340 9420 13100 974 2192
11 8 10 11 11 9 9 9 9 9 8 1 1 10 8 1 8 8 10 10 8 11 11 11 11 1 1 1 3 1 11 8 10 11 10 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 8 1 10 1 1 10 11 11 8 8 1 1 11 1 1 11 8 1 1 8 1
Dunakanyar (Danube Bend) COORDINATES : N4745E01905 PROTECTED Duna: 1795-1798 Fkm Venek COORDINATES : N4745E01744 PROTECTED Duna: 1809-1821 Fkm Asvanyraro COORDINATES : N4750E01728 PROTECTED
Duna: 1832-1836 Fkm Tejfalusziget Dunasziget COORDINATES : N4806E01720 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Duna: 1837-1844 Fkm Dunakiliti COORDINATES : N4756E01720 PROTECTED Duna: Beda-Karapancsa COORDINATES : N4557E01851 PROTECTED Duna: Gemenc COORDINATES : N4615E01853 PROTECTED
Duna: Gny-Szob COORDINATES : N4742E01846
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Duna: Gyor COORDINATES : N4740E01736 Duna: Horany-Surany COORDINATES : N4709E01929 Duna: Karapancsa COORDINATES : N4557E01851
Duna: Nyergesujfalu COORDINATES : N4745E01831 Duna: Sutto COORDINATES : N4745E01825 Duna: Sutto-Nesmely COORDINATES : N4745E01823 Duna: Szodliget COORDINATES : N4745E01908 Duna: Szodliget-God COORDINATES : N4740E01900 Duna: Tahi
COORDINATES :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Protected
N4745E01904
Ferto To (Lake Ferto) COORDINATES : N4730E02028 Hortobagy

COORDINATES :
N4737E02105
PROTECTED STATUS :
Kardoskuti Feherto COORDINATES : N4630E02028
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Kisbalaton
COORDINATES :
N4640E01914
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
283
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Kisbalaton ... continued
COORDINATES :
Kiskunsagi Szikes Tavak N4652E01914
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Lake Feher at Kardoskut N4630E02038 Lake Ferto N4730E02028
Unknown Unknown
Nagyberki Halastavak N4620E01804
PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Bucephala clangula Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Aythya nyroca Anas platyrhynchos Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Anser f. rossicus Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Mergellus albellus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser
Winter Autumn Breeding Spring Winter Spring Breeding Winter Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Breeding Winter Breeding Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Autumn Breeding Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Breeding Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Breeding Spring Winter
9000 5000 240 11000 10000 10000 240 1000 20000 3000 3000 2000 15000 25000 50 80 500 500 1500 1000 45 15 250000 45 15800 1756 2037 8603 10933 80 1500 10 30000 3000 800 1000 800 10 28000 5000 40000 1000 5000 4000 1500 1000 800 25000 5000 100 18 4000 7500 1100 5000 250 300 25000 650 12000 36400 20 30 1500 2000 2000 11 11 1250 320 2400 35000 11000 50000 2640 5840 1200 240 350 480
1995 1993 1995 1995 1975 1975 1989 1989 1994 1994 1994 1994 1993 1994 1994 1994 1994 1976 1985 1995 1991 1995 1983 1992 1983 1973 1995 1995 1993 1995 1967 1992 1987 1992 1995 1985 1993 1992 1986 1993 1989 1987 1989 1988 1985 1993 1987 1978 1988 1987 1978 1985 1990 1992 1992 1990 1989 1988 1987 1987 1992 1992 1986 1993 1994 1987 1988 1992
2640 2460 3752 6030 1000 20000 250 817 504 3280 7620 13 26 126 298 630 286 1618 699 513 3535 80 324 8130 746 293 306 232 14600 2500 340 1910 640 740 366 140 6738 855 100 762 78 1386 134 30 981 130 1098 58 501 840 2 129 31 159 20745 2281 4114 1233 2912 225 187 281
1 1 11 1 1 10 11 10 10 8 8 11 1 1 11 11 1 10 1 1 11 11 8 11 10 8 8 1 10 11 8 11 11 8 10 1 1 11 1 8 10 8 1 8 1 1 8 11 8 11 11 8 8 8 1 8 8 8 8 8 10 11 11 8 8 8 11 11 8 8 8 1 8 1 1 1 1 10 3 1
Nagyhegyes Elepi-H.to N4731E02120 PROTECTED Palkonya COORDINATES : N4559E01754 PROTECTED Pitvaros, Kiralyhegyes Ret, Legelo COORDINATES : N4615E02040 PROTECTED Retszilasi Fishponds COORDINATES : N4650E01835 PROTECTED
COORDINATES :
Soponya Fishponds N4702E01827
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Sumonyi Halastava k N4558E01754 Szaporca COORDINATES : N4550E01806

Unknown Protected Protected
Szegedi Feherto N4615E02010
COORDINATES :
Tata: Oreg-To N4739E01818 Tiszaalpari Ret N4748E02000 Tisza-Ii: Viztarozo N4730E02030
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Velencei To (Lake Valence) N4710E01832
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
284
ICELAND
Sites in Iceland that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Akureyri
N6540W01805
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
Mergus merganser Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Mergus merganser Mergus merganser Somateria m. borealis Branta b. hrota Somateria m. borealis Bucephala islandica Branta leucopsis Cygnus cygnus Anser a. flavirostris Somateria m. borealis Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Cygnus cygnus Branta b. hrota Somateria mollissima borealis Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Aythya marila Histrionicus histrionicus Bucephala islandica Bucephala islandica Bucephala islandica Mergus merganser Cygnus cygnus Anser a. flavirostris Mergus merganser Histrionicus histrionicus Anser anser Cygnus cygnus Anser a. flavirostris Mergus merganser Histrionicus histrionicus Anser anser Cygnus cygnus Anser a. flavirostris Histrionicus histrionicus Cygnus cygnus Bucephala islandica Mergus merganser Histrionicus histrionicus Anser brachyrhynchus Mergus merganser Bucephala islandica Bucephala islandica
Winter Moulting Moulting Spring Autumn Winter Winter Moulting Autumn Breeding Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Spring Spring Moulting Spring Moulting Moulting Moulting Winter Breeding Breeding Moulting Breeding Breeding Moulting Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Moulting Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Moulting Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter
32 1000 10000 7000 25 13 100000 150000 20 15000 1800 1200 40000 6000 10000 1300 80000 4000 700 300 10000 4000 3900 400 1300 1400 1500 174 5000 46 120 200 4000 15 123 3000 200 1000 200 200 156 271 150 30000 9 50 26
1977 1969 1979 1977 1977 1976 1977 1971 1977 1975 1979 1971 1977
6500 3300 220 1100 -
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 1 1 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Alftafjordur-Hamarsfjordur N6434W01430
Alftafjordur-Hofsstadavogur COORDINATES : N6500W02240

COORDINATES :
Alftanes
N6405W02200 N6410W02040
Apavatn
Borgar Fjordur N6430W02200
Breida Fjordur COORDINATES : N6520W02300 Bruara-Laugarvatn COORDINATES : N6410W02035

Eyelendid
N6532W02020
Ferjubakkafloi-Nordura N6436W02140 N6405W02242
Gardskagi
Grunnafjordur N6423W02155
Hjorsey-Straumfjordur COORDINATES : N6432W02215 Longufjordur COORDINATES : N6445W02230 Lonsfjordur COORDINATES : N6425W01440

COORDINATES :
Myvatn-Laxa
N6540W01700
Olfusforir
COORDINATES :
N6357W02115
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Osar
N6357W02242 N6610W01640 N6347W02035
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Partially Protected Unknown
Oxarfjordur Safamyri
Seydisfjordur COORDINATES : N6518W01350

Siglufjordur Skogar
N6610W01853 N6542W01935
Skumsstadavatn COORDINATES : N6340W02030 Sog
COORDINATES :
N6410W02115
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Stafnes-Hvalsnes-Sandgerdi COORDINATES : N6400W02245

COORDINATES :
Unknown Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown
Thjorsarver
N6435W01915
Thorvaldsstadir-Hrafnsvik COORDINATES : N6602W01457

Veidivotn
N6410W01850
Ystrafall: Adaldalur N6551W01725
285
IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)

Sites in Iran that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes ref er to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Abbas Ali Kesh Ab-Bandan COORDINATES : N3630E05310 Adzhiyab Floodlands COORDINATES : N3728E05412 Agh Gol Marsh COORDINATES : N3410E04850
Unknown Unknown Not Protected Unknown Protected
Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Anas acuta Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Tadorna ferruginea Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Aythya fuligula Cygnus c. bewickii Anas strepera Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Anas strepera Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Mergellus albellus Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus c. bewickii Anas platyrhynchos Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Netta rufina Anser anser Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
12000 60000 13000 3605 450 3 360 7503 900 19 150 368 2480 20000 1500 30000 4000 16 1300 2500 4200 5 2200 4800 25 2530 849 51 500 32 1500 30000 14900 540000 67800 55000 3850 24300 65000 130 34500 382 2100 2118 18 154 90 8245 13427 14500 72000 21000 90000 127500 103980 19000 5000 47000 25000 25 24 12370 700 6 3000 9110 20956 32313 2055 5230 12843 35450 123720 4297 2367 3200 2550 11400 14200
1974 1974 1989 1994 1989 1975 1975 1975 1975 1994 1970 1993 1970 1988 1977 1990 1973 1990 1991 1974 1970 1972 1972 1994 1991 1990 1989 1989 1981 1981 1981 1981 1989 1972 1993 1990 1981 1981 1972 1971 1986 1970 1970 1973 1976 1977 1974 1971 1972 1973 1972 1972 1972 1989 1988 1988 1988
7633 36941 2736 1334 85 104 1963 225 91 674 300 239 400 1 361 476 1304 566 510 848 673 6 3761 6623 4597 14400 4200 37984 60774 3994 5580 1680 10579 5000 24 2664 350 9 19 25 7 94 384 554 4407 79 1968 1033 6480 6215
10 10 9 1 8 11 11 11 11 11 11 8 10 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 11 8 8 11 10 10 8 10 11 8 8 8 8 8 8 10 10 8 10 10 8 11 10 11 10 11 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 8 2 1 2 2 11 10 9 10 11 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 10 11 11 11
Ahwaz and Shush Marshes and Plains COORDINATES : N3110E04840 PROTECTED Alagol, Ulmagol and Ajigol Lakes COORDINATES : N3723E05438 PROTECTED
STATUS :
STATUS :
Amirkelayeh Lake COORDINATES : N3718E05010
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Anar Marz Ab-Bandan COORDINATES : N3642E05250 Anzali Mordab COORDINATES : N3725E04928
Unknown Protected
Aras Rud (Bralan-Aras Dam) COORDINATES : N3950E04420 Bakhtegan and Tashk Lakes COORDINATES : N2940E05330
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Bandar Krashahr Lagoon and Sefid Rud COORDINATES : N3720E04955 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected Biza Dasht
COORDINATES : N3600E04600 PROTECTED Byby Shirvan Lake COORDINATES : N3712E05445 PROTECTED Caspian Coast Anzaly-Langarud COORDINATES : N3725E04953 PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Partially Protected
Caspian Coast Astara-Hashtpar COORDINATES : N3814E04857 PROTECTED Caspian Coast Babolsar-Farahabad COORDINATES : N3645E05250 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Caspian Coast Bandar Turkman-Gomishan-Ussr Border COORDINATES : N3700E05403 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected
286
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Caspian Coast Bandar Turkman-Gomishan-Ussr Border ... continued Caspian Coast Chalus-Babolsar COORDINATES : N3635E05200 PROTECTED Caspian Coast Farahabad-Ashur COORDINATES : N3655E05335 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Partially Protected
STATUS :
Partially Protected
Caspian Coast Hashtpar-Anzaly COORDINATES : N3743E04842 PROTECTED Caspian Coast Langarud-Ramsar COORDINATES : N3705E05030 PROTECTED Caspian Coast Ramsar-Chalus COORDINATES : N3645E05100 PROTECTED Caspian Coast Gasankuli Kuidzhuk COORDINATES : N3740E05355 PROTECTED Chaf Bala Ab-Bandan COORDINATES : N3716E05012 PROTECTED Chah Nimeh COORDINATES : N3000E06000 PROTECTED Changiz Marsh COORDINATES : N3845E04520 Chogha Kor Marsh COORDINATES : N3155E05054
STATUS :
Partially Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected
STATUS :
STATUS :
Partially Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Not Protected Unknown Not Protected Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Damgah Azbaran COORDINATES : N3632E05218 PROTECTED Dasht-E Moghan (Aras River) COORDINATES : N3800E04700 PROTECTED Dasht-E-Arjan and Parishan COORDINATES : N3034E05153 PROTECTED
Anas clypeata Aythya marila Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Oxyura leucocephala Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Anas penelope Anas platyrhynchos Aythya fuligula Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya fuligula Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Cygnus cygnus Anas acuta Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Anas strepera Anser albifrons Anser anser Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser albifrons Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Anser albifrons Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anas platyrhynchos Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Anser anser Marmaronetta angustirostris Anas acuta Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Aythya nyroca Marmaronetta angustirostris
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter
4500 1660 46850 57380 21400 499 28 2930 48970 10134 3031 5070 8099 2980 29500 3100 94544 21916 9453 19724 22745 8834 284 653 7700 680 5 2 96 57 46 3500 1400 10 135 120 1950 331 1371 61 455 180 5760 4180 5610 2200 45000 14000 25000 5862 61 5500 20000 950 2520 1274 10076 643 420 190 10011 7 11 4500 70 10000 1700 11 15060 31200 20000 163235 80000 83200 24600 31200 3600 175 6 750 140 2820
1988 1990 1972 1972 1983 1973 1972 1985 1986 1971 1972 1989 1985 1989 1972 1989 1973 1977 1971 1973 1973 1975 1972 1977 1980 1994 1994 1986 1993 1993 1994 1994 1994 1995 1994 1994 1990 1991 1991 1995 1988 1991 1989 1990 1986 1995 1992 1974 1992 1988 1990 1990 1990 1974 1995 1975 1991 1992 1977 1988 1992 1993 1993 1991 1986 1991 1983 1983 1993 1974 1971 1995 1991 1990
1501 553 280 2985 5381 6 518 24 992 1048 142 597 1302 694 149 2297 1534 220 2433 3029 25 2 1322 340 3 20 11 46 3500 1400 47 74 1950 91 592 16 36 2490 894 1292 1900 777 199 318 425 4583 285 8 1112 16 532 58 2 6093 9408 10001 42400 33128 30196 4044 6974 846 40 564
11 10 9 9 2 9 11 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 2 9 8 8 10 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 11 11 1 10 8 8 11 1 8 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 8 11 1 8 1 8 10 10 11 10 11 8 11 11 1 11 8 8 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 10 11 10 10 1
Dasht-E-Shoeybi COORDINATES : N3600E04600 Dez River Marshes COORDINATES : N3150E04838
PROTECTED STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Dez Dam
COORDINATES : N3238E04828 Dorudsan Dam COORDINATES : N3015E05220 Fereidoon Kenar Marshes COORDINATES : N3635E05231
Unknown Not Protected Partially Protected
Galugah Ab-Bandan COORDINATES : N3700E04900 Gandoman Marsh COORDINATES : N3150E05107 Gareh Chay Rud COORDINATES : N3410E04820
Unknown Not Protected Unknown
PROTECTED STATUS :
287
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Gavekhoni and Ziandeh Rud COORDINATES : N3220E05247
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
COORDINATES :
Gerde Gheet and Mamiyand Marsh N3702E04540 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Not Protected
COORDINATES :
Ghara Gheshlaq Marshes N3710E04550
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
COORDINATES :
Gharaso (Boralan) Marsh N3945E04436 Gomishan Marsh N3715E05355
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Goorous Marsh N3702E04546 Gopy (Kobi) Lake N3657E04530
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Protected
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Gori Gol
N3750E04640
Protected Not Protected
Haft Barm Lake COORDINATES : N2940E05210
COORDINATES :
Hamidieh Plains N3120E04820
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
COORDINATES :
Hamoun-I Puzak (South End) N3120E06145 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Partially Protected
COORDINATES :
Hamoun-I Sabari and Hamoun-I Hirmand N3045E06115 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected
Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Aythya nyroca Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas acuta Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya fuligula Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Cygnus cygnus Anser erythropus Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya marila Mergus merganser Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Anas crecca Marmaronetta angustirostris Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Breeding Winter Breeding Breeding Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
1740 3276 11300 4560 6607 41519 13256 8374 26 6 4000 2500 3000 10 39 4379 7223 15000 10000 60 2700 8 3400 500 256 1773 3200 850 16000 13000 30000 40000 8000 12000 17000 4800 204 22 11450 3200 100 9 7000 2886 1300 3000 5000 20000 4 1200 40 15 6 36 1030 34000 200 10052 1845 9482 12418 8924 8976 658 42 42 2446 814 2500 57976 4500 26354 18100 213 9620 950 3956 1656 8461 8000 13000 222500 35000 300000 18000 1020 74883 956 6200
1989 1990 1991 1989 1990 1990 1990 1989 1994 1994 1992 1992 1993 1991 1993 1994 1991 1970 1990 1993 1993 1993 1989 1969 1993 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1994 1989 1994 1994 1994 1975 1991 1974 1992 1970 1975 1995 1986 1968 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1985 1970 1993 1974 1977 1974 1994 1993 1994 1994 1993 1993 1994 1981 1974 1974 1973 1973 1976 1993 1983 1993 1984
459 1769 4571 1321 10401 2839 841 5 2093 1700 1603 3 8 2601 1520 3742 540 3 1136 167 60 288 4368 4568 10824 20672 4270 5478 10368 960 41 7 5683 1067 2040 3 500 2 5289 632 2671 3963 2432 2794 136 612 180 1141 22259 1316 6512 43 2224 259 1358 618 2336 568 2721 1168 1202 205 387 265 -
8 1 1 8 1 8 8 8 11 11 10 10 10 11 1 1 1 1 8 11 8 11 10 11 8 10 10 8 1 1 8 1 8 1 1 10 8 10 10 10 11 11 1 8 8 10 10 8 11 8 11 11 11 8 8 10 11 1 8 1 1 8 8 8 11 10 11 8 11 10 11 8 10 11 11 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 1 8
288
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Harm Karion COORDINATES : N2810E05330 Hashelan Marsh COORDINATES : N3433E04655 Helleh River Delta COORDINATES : N2910E05050
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Protected
Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anser erythropus Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Anser anser Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas strepera Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya nyroca Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya fuligula Tadorna ferruginea Anser anser Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas crecca Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus c. bewickii Anas strepera Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Cygnus cygnus Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus cygnus
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
230 1364 7500 130 173 10056 37 750 1388 8072 1915 8000 12000 5000 1000 885 2500 5300 6500 15850 15500 4960 1103 7 160 36 285 3565 750 7765 12100 6842 9360 6400 17 360 403 1350 4350 1420 8000 15000 30000 6000 1125 3400 250 3 1730 590 10050 400 15300 34 22 5 5 1500 2 290 243 50 9 102 6255 3350 5200 8000 16500 8000 6000 37 3500 2160 607 245
1987 1994 1994 1970 1988 1993 1990 1987 1991 1992 1989 1990 1990 1975 1994 1991 1974 1974 1975 1975 1974 1974 1994 1994 1994 1989 1994 1989 1994 1989 1989 1992 1988 1990 1994 1984 1994 1976 1976 1976 1976 1975 1994 1975 1972 1974 1977 1983 1972 1971 1989 1994 1994 1994 1994 1987 1971 1989 1994 1986 1984 1989 1984 1974 1984 1986 1977 1994
77 682 4586 5400 150 328 3248 839 502 4229 1290 47 885 527 65 228 3192 3120 119 2 32 101 2189 150 4244 2681 4394 1992 1280 11 120 202 315 280 484 5995 1266 1320 254 1294 63 29 7562 4 75 58 49 10 706 996 985 230 3239 156 240 1 53
10 11 10 10 8 1 11 8 8 1 8 8 8 8 8 10 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 11 8 11 10 10 8 10 8 10 8 8 11 11 11 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 10 11 11 10 10 10 9 11 11 11 11 8 8 11 1 8 10 11 11 1 1 8 8 10 8 8 11 8 8 8 8
Hirem
COORDINATES : N2740E05410 Horeh Bamdej Marshes COORDINATES : N3145E04836
Unknown Not Protected
Incheh Borun Lake COORDINATES : N3713E05430 Izeh and Shiekho Lakes COORDINATES : N3152E04954
Not Protected Unknown
Jom Jomeh Marsh COORDINATES : N3301E04743 PROTECTED Kafeh Larestan and Surrounds COORDINATES : N2928E05354 PROTECTED Kafeh Uazd Khasht and Shohrehpar COORDINATES : N2949E05225 PROTECTED Kaftar Lake
COORDINATES :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Not Protected
N3034E05247
PROTECTED STATUS :
Kamjan Marshes COORDINATES : N2945E05305 Kaniborazan COORDINATES : N3647E04544 Karkheh River Marshes COORDINATES : N3145E04825 Karun River Marshes COORDINATES : N3145E04854
Unknown Unknown Partially Protected Not Protected
Lapoo-Zargmarz Ab-Bandan COORDINATES : N3650E05317
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Lavandavil Marsh COORDINATES : N3818E04852 PROTECTED Mahabad Dam (Yusef Kandy) COORDINATES : N3640E04540 PROTECTED Maharlu Lake COORDINATES : N2930E05248
STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Not Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Miankaleh and Gorgan Bay COORDINATES : N3650E05345
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
289
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Miankaleh and Gorgan Bay ... continued
Mishdagh Dasht N3600E04600 Nowruzlu Dam COORDINATES : N3655E04610

COORDINATES :
Unknown Not Protected
Cygnus c. bewickii Anser erythropus Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Tadorna tadorna Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Tadorna ferruginea Anas querquedula Marmaronetta angustirostris Anser anser Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus c. bewickii Anser erythropus Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anas penelope Anas strepera
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Breeding Spring Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter
16 7500 10020 12518 1605 72535 32400 125590 132082 30412 3640 45846 29 2192 22500 1600 8000 2382 1110 702 556 2500 27 156 650 5000 1 1850 1150 19 765 51 30600 8013 93990 9416 30000 4200 50 27 359 32300 16240 86000 12850 20400 25000 4435 4840 185 2000 3500 3720 26400 21405 348435 9500 237150 12500 16975 19979 13200 50 65 86 624 68 175 3000 2350 1200 45100 7000 6500 360 1130 10 15000 2530 680 10000 4423
1986 1990 1975 1983 1975 1985 1991 1975 1986 1988 1984 1990 1971 1990 1985 1990 1971 1990 1990 1990 1992 1992 1974 1992 1974 1977 1971 1992 1988 1987 1977 1977 1977 1988 1991 1992 1985 1985 1975 1989 1975 1975 1973 1985 1985 1971 1994 1985 1994 1994 1991 1987 1971 1970 1995 1995 1971 1970 1988 1977 1973 1977
8 393 36 734 128 15967 9968 91 71 1596 577 1 122 2500 17 1850 230 4 286 10 1322 1968 8993 104 1357 1191 1 435 29 18 512 1225 804 1170 2963 5355 182 1783 2074 3444 1508 16 17 624 14 600 500 240 150 80 132 64 229 557
8 8 10 8 8 8 8 8 1 1 10 8 11 8 8 8 8 10 8 8 8 10 1 10 10 10 11 10 8 11 1 1 8 1 8 8 8 8 10 11 10 8 8 8 8 8 8 10 8 10 10 1 1 8 1 8 8 8 10 8 1 8 11 10 10 10 11 1 11 9 1 9 10 8 8 10 10 11 8 11 8 8 8 8
Oveizeh and Surrounds N3130E04805 Roshandan Ab-Bandan COORDINATES : N3640E05249 Selke Protected Region COORDINATES : N3720E04928
COORDINATES :
COORDINATES :
Seyed Mohalli, Zarinkola and Larim Sara N3645E05300 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Protected
COORDINATES :
Shadegan Marshes N3020E04820
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Shahkelayeh Ab-Bandan N3710E05011 PROTECTED STATUS : Shalo Marsh COORDINATES : N3203E05050 PROTECTED STATUS : Sharol Dasht COORDINATES : N3600E04600 PROTECTED STATUS : Shur Gol, Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi COORDINATES : N3700E04530 PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
COORDINATES :
Siakesheem P.r. N3725E04921
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
290
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Siakesheem P.r. ... continued
Susangerd Marshes COORDINATES : N3145E04755 Uromieh Lake COORDINATES : N3750E04530
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Voshmigir Dam COORDINATES : N3712E05445 Zargan Plain COORDINATES : N3120E04829 Zaribar Lake COORDINATES : N3532E04607
Not Protected Unknown
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Anser anser Anas strepera Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas querquedula Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Mergellus albellus Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas crecca Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Moulting Summer Winter Autumn Breeding Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Breeding Winter
475000 30000 20000 30000 32 30500 1995 1755 560 60 58 63 3600 5672 1705 35000 3600 64000 21200 15 340 7500 1252 23500 650 14 3 250 4000
1973 1973 1973 1973 1977 1973 1990 1990 1995 1976 1989 1994 1988 1990 1995 1995 1972 1972 1990 1973 1973 1973 1975 1974
1397 29 1245 3 22 399 397 13 720 900 441 14225 7500 487 7441 130 -
8 8 8 8 11 8 9 9 10 11 11 1 1 8 1 10 10 1 10 11 11 11 8 10 2 9 9 11 11 10 8
IRAQ
Sites in Iraq that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes ref er to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Al Musayyib Wetland COORDINATES : N3250E04418 Al Sharqi Ponds COORDINATES : N3205E04650 Attariya Plains COORDINATES : N3325E04455 Baquba Wetlands COORDINATES : N3355E04450
Not Protected Unknown Not Protected Not Protected
Anas clypeata Anas strepera Tadorna ferruginea Aythya nyroca Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Marmaronetta angustirostris Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya fuligula Anas strepera Marmaronetta angustirostris Anser anser Anas penelope Anas strepera Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Tadorna ferruginea Anas penelope Marmaronetta angustirostris Anser albifrons Anas clypeata Anas penelope Anas strepera Aythya fuligula Anas strepera Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Mergellus albellus
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter
6000 1310 412 13 5000 6000 8650 180 1000 5390 16295 6000 10830 59600 12300 12200 42280 1310 1030 2850 5000 30 325 70 1280 2700 100 2000 4000 6000 5375 39255 3000 5400 210 1000
1968 1979 1968 1968 1968 1968 1967 1960 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1960 1979 1979 1960 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1920 1960 1968 1975 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979
10 10 10 11 10 10 10 11 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 11 10 10 10 11 10 11 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10
Central Marshes COORDINATES : N3120E04705 Fuhud Marshes COORDINATES : N3100E04639 Haur Al Hammar COORDINATES : N3045E04705
Not Protected Unknown Not Protected
Haur Al Haushiya COORDINATES : N3205E04654 Haur Al Hawiizeh COORDINATES : N3122E04737 Haur Al Saadiyah COORDINATES : N3213E04633 Haur Al Shuwaija COORDINATES : N3242E04555
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Haweija Marshes COORDINATES : N3515E04355 PROTECTED Hor Abul Warid and Hor Al Abara COORDINATES : N3400E04455 PROTECTED Hor Aluwez COORDINATES : N3037E04220 PROTECTED Lake Razazah COORDINATES : N3246E04340
Not Protected Unknown Unknown Not Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
291
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Samarra Lake COORDINATES : N3415E04350 Shatt Al Gharraf COORDINATES : N3200E04600 Tharthar Lake COORDINATES : N3405E04320 Usathe Lake COORDINATES : N3237E04355
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Unknown
Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Marmaronetta angustirostris Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Anas strepera Anas clypeata
Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter
10000 25 10000 10000 3000 5000
1960 1989 1989 1979 1979
10 11 11 10 10 10 10
IRELAND
Sites in Ireland that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Baldoyle Est COORDINATES : N5325W00603 Ballyallia Lough COORDINATES : N5247W00856 Ballycotton-Shanagarry COORDINATES : N5149W00802 Ballyhaunis Lakes COORDINATES : N5340W00846 Bannow Bay COORDINATES : N5213W00648 Barrow: Monasterevin-Athy COORDINATES : N5259W00707 Barrow: Upper Floodplain COORDINATES : N5245W00655 Blackwater Callows COORDINATES : N5210W00800 Cahore Marshes COORDINATES : N5235W00612 Camus Bay COORDINATES : N5512W00810 Carlingford Lough COORDINATES : N5405W00610 Castlebar Lough COORDINATES : N5350W00925 Castlemain Harbour COORDINATES : N5204W00956 Coole Lough COORDINATES : N5302W00847 Cork Harbour COORDINATES : N5149W00811
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied
Branta b. hrota Anas crecca Anas clypeata Cygnus olor Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Anser a. flavirostris Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Anas acuta Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Cygnus olor Tadorna tadorna Mergus serrator Cygnus olor Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Anas acuta Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Branta leucopsis Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Mergus serrator Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Cygnus c. bewickii Mergus serrator Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser a. flavirostris Anas penelope Anas clypeata
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter
761 4000 768 110 194 174 1161 191 180 245 410 149 315 115 773 1500 700 420 102 384 243 272 109 2295 635 334 111 694 110 248 540 365 424 270 233 268 258 316 201 594 12250 570
1991 1984 1977 1972 1991 1995 1995 1986 1980's 1980s 1995 1980's 1995 1980's 1980s 1967 1973 1986 1986 1986 1995 1986 1995 1980s 1971 1995 1979 1980s 1985 1995 1992 1985 1981 1980s 1972 1972 1986 1995 1980s 1995 1980s 1984
152 1931 511 11 65 39 191 492 180 143 34 187 54 298 56 73 110 49 187 121 156 38 12 53 191
9 9 2 9 9 11 1 10 8 8 8 8 1 8 1 9 9 11 9 11 9 8 9 8 1 9 8 11 1 10 9 1 8 1 8 1 9 9 9 8 8 8 11 9
Corofin Lakes COORDINATES : N5255W00905 PROTECTED Cull/Killag COORDINATES : N5211W00637 PROTECTED Donegal Bay COORDINATES : N5437W00810 PROTECTED Dublin Bay COORDINATES : N5320W00613 PROTECTED Dundalk Bay COORDINATES : N5400W00618 PROTECTED Dunfanaghy New Lake COORDINATES : N5509W00759 PROTECTED Dungarvan Estuary and Harbour COORDINATES : N5200W00736 PROTECTED Durnesh Lough COORDINATES : N5422W00818 PROTECTED Glen Lough COORDINATES : N5336W00734 PROTECTED Inishkea Islands COORDINATES : N5415W01008 PROTECTED Inner Galway Bay COORDINATES : N5308W00903 PROTECTED Killala Bay
COORDINATES :
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
N5415W00910 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Ladys Is. lake COORDINATES : N5211W00626 Status: Not Supplied
PROTECTED STATUS :
Little Brosna Callows COORDINATES : N5304W00802
Not Supplied
292
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Lough Boderg COORDINATES : Unknown

Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied
Anser a. flavirostris Anas clypeata Cygnus olor Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Aythya ferina Cygnus olor Anas clypeata Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Branta b. hrota Anas penelope Anser a. flavirostris Cygnus olor Anas clypeata Anser a. flavirostris Cygnus cygnus Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anser a. flavirostris Anser anser Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Cygnus c. bewickii Anas clypeata Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Anser a. flavirostris Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Cygnus c. bewickii Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Branta leucopsis Branta b. hrota
Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Spring Winter Spring Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
325 500 290 8000 22000 592 232 5600 424 750 157 1110 370 4340 14800 605 165 542 560 271 2000 750 480 301 448 801 550 1047 273 100 117 1000 120 292 650 452 300 130 160 345 114 1257 460 444 901 124 318 200 621 108 112 1167 317 177 513 127 413 292
1992 1974 1996 1996 1970's 1980s 1972 1970's 1988 1980 1985 1982 1982 1990's 1990's 1980s 1976 1980 1995 1988 1977 1976 1995 1969 1988 1995 1995 1980's 1980,s 1980's 1995 1985 1977 1975 1995 1991 1995 1995 1980s 1969 1995 1995 1995 1995 1971 1995 1995 1980s 1995 1986 1995 1978 1970 1980s 1995 1980s 1980s
127 301 19 763 150 231 85 133 87 47 260 168 258 240 156 336 72 39 4 300 8 31 61 179 84 -
9 9 9 1 1 8 9 9 2 9 3 8 8 1 8 8 9 9 8 11 8 9 11 8 2 8 2 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 8 10 8 8 8 9 1 8 8 8 9 8 8 1 8 9 8 2 9 8 8 8 8
Lough Carra
N5334W00914
Lough Corrib N5324W00914
Lough Derg COORDINATES : N5300W00820 Lough Derravaragh N5336W00725 Lough Ennell COORDINATES : N5325W00725 Lough Foyle COORDINATES : N5507W00705
COORDINATES :
Lough Gara COORDINATES : N5356W00827

COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied
Lough Gur
N5225W00838 N5335W00728
Lough Iron
Lough Oughter N5402W00723 Lough Owel COORDINATES : N5331W00725 Lough Rea COORDINATES : N5308W00838 Lough Ree COORDINATES : N5335W00800
COORDINATES :
Lough Swilly
N5459W00730
Loughs Kinale and Derragh COORDINATES : N5340W00740 Mulroy Bay COORDINATES : N5318W00945
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied
North Wicklow Coastal Marshes N5302W00603 PROTECTED Rahasane Turlough COORDINATES : N5308W00847 PROTECTED River Foyle: Strabane Derry COORDINATES : N5455W00832 PROTECTED River Shannon: Lower COORDINATES : N5245W00842 PROTECTED River Slaney COORDINATES : N5222W00632 PROTECTED River Suck COORDINATES : N5340W00823 PROTECTED
COORDINATES :
Rogerstown Est N5331W00603
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Seagrange Park COORDINATES : N5320W00615 Shannon Callows N5315W00750 Shannon Estuary COORDINATES : N5231W00850 Shenick Island: Skerries COORDINATES : N5335W00600 Sligo Bay COORDINATES : N5418W00840
Southwest Clare Lakes N5240W00915
Swords: Malahide Est Broad Meadow N5325W00613 PROTECTED
Tacumshin Lough White Hole COORDINATES : N5211W00626 PROTECTED The Lough: Cork COORDINATES : N5152W00828
COORDINATES :
The Mullet, Blacksod and Broadhaven N5415W01000 PROTECTED
293
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Tralee Bay and Lough Gill COORDINATES : N5215W00956 Tramore Backstrand N5210W00710 Trawbeaga Bay COORDINATES : N5520W00721 Wexford Harbour + Slobs COORDINATES : N5211W00626
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Supplied
Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied
Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Anas acuta Anas clypeata Branta b. hrota Branta leucopsis Branta b. hrota Cygnus olor Cygnus c. bewickii Anser a. flavirostris Branta b. hrota Anas acuta Aythya marila Cygnus cygnus
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
318 1430 666 444 500 643 319 226 518 10450 2609 700 4277 367
1967 1980s 1969 1969 1995 1995 1995 1988 1976 1995 1995 1972 1981 1986
98 236 129 200 98 92 18 966 -
2 1 9 9 1 9 1 2 9 1 1 9 10 8
COORDINATES :
Wilkinstown
N5337W00615
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Supplied
ISRAEL
Sites in Israel that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Carmel Coast COORDINATES : N3233E03455 Golan Heights N3300E03545 Hula Valley COORDINATES : N3303E03537
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected Partially Protected Protected
COORDINATES :
Jezreel/Beit Shaan Valley N3232E03520
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
COORDINATES :
Judean Foothills N3145E03455 Lake Galilee N3248E03535
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
North Coast Israel N3250E03505 North Jordan Valley COORDINATES : N3225E03535

COORDINATES :
Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Aythya ferina Oxyura leucocephala Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Breeding Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
7 13 153 15 25 12 31524 23554 15000 8721 30 138 750 11500 139 12000 7868 6 30 1024 68 4 15 192 8319 15 75 920 302 4883 10 94 92
1990 1977 1977 1993 1993 1975 1993 1991 1993 1974 1974 1992 1982 1982 1989 1986 1993 1989 1991 1985 1993 1983 1985 1989 1988 1990 1992 1989
11 10 11 10 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 10 11 11 11 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 11 11
COORDINATES :
North Negev
N3110E03445
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
ITALY
Sites in Italy that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes ref er to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Bacino Montedison COORDINATES : N4041E01759 Barrea COORDINATES : N4143E01359 Campotosto Lagoon COORDINATES : N4233E01322 Caorle Lagoon COORDINATES : N4537E01301 Cave di Migliarino N4347E01018 Cave di Pietrafitta COORDINATES : N4300E01212 Columena COORDINATES : N4004E01814 Comacchio Area COORDINATES : N4437E01205
COORDINATES :
Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser anser Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Marmaronetta angustirostris Anser anser Aythya ferina
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
33 26 10 2750 370 50 11 10 2 740 16000
1985 1983 1987 1975 1983 1988 1981 1976
17 8 3 4 5 2 176
11 11 11 10 10 11 11 11 11 10 9
294
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Comacchio Area ... continued Diga Poma COORDINATES : N3756E01306 PROTECTED STATUS : Foce del Simeto COORDINATES : N3724E01506 PROTECTED STATUS : Gorgo Lagoon COORDINATES : N3725E01320 PROTECTED STATUS : Laghi Pontini COORDINATES : N4116E01302 PROTECTED STATUS : Laguna di Orbetello and Lago di Burano COORDINATES : N4224E01119 PROTECTED STATUS : Lame di San Rossore E Migliarino COORDINATES : N4346E01016 PROTECTED STATUS : Lanca Po di Venezia COORDINATES : N4458E01223 PROTECTED STATUS : Lesina COORDINATES : N4149E01518 PROTECTED STATUS : Manfredonia Gulf COORDINATES : N4134E01553 PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anas penelope Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Anas penelope Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anas penelope Anas penelope Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Aythya fuligula Aythya ferina
Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Passage Winter Passage Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Passage Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
95 30 9 55 11 15 19 30 7800 1000 6000 11287 15060 1500 5000 250 4050 4050 50 90 10 99 12 13 10 20000 6000 14850 4450 1500 31 12 6000 7000 340 42 50 2000 300 15000 6200 25000
1976 1976 1987 1986 1989 1985 1983 1989 1989 1978 1978 1978 1982 1982 1992 1987 1980 1974 1975 1978 1978 1989 1977 1978 1993 1989 1976 1976 1976 1986 1976 1977 1977 1977
10 55 2 3900 200 1260 5306 10373 200 1004 50 1751 1751 2 37 2 1698 477 6028 423 120 6 3 348 522 8 2298 905 2394
11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 2 9 2 2 9 9 1 1 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 9 9 1 8 8 11 11 9 9 9 11 11 10 10 8 9 9
Marano Lagoon COORDINATES : N4545E01315 PROTECTED STATUS : Pian di Spagna and Lago di Mezzola COORDINATES : N4613E00927 PROTECTED STATUS : Punte Alberete and Vallee Della Canna COORDINATES : N4430E01215 PROTECTED STATUS : Siracusa Salines COORDINATES : N3658E01517 PROTECTED STATUS : Soprano di Serradifalco Lagoon COORDINATES : N3726E01354 PROTECTED STATUS : Stagno di Cabras COORDINATES : N3956E00827 PROTECTED STATUS : Stagno di Molentargius COORDINATES : N3913E00910 PROTECTED STATUS : Stagno di Sena Arrubia COORDINATES : N3945E00835 PROTECTED STATUS : S.clemente-Primaro COORDINATES : N4436E01218 PROTECTED STATUS : Tagliamento-Isonzo COORDINATES : N4540E01315 PROTECTED STATUS : Valgrande Franchetti COORDINATES : N4534E01252 Valle Casse Campotto COORDINATES : N4436E01150 Valle Ca Pisani COORDINATES : N4458E01223 Valle Ca Zuliani COORDINATES : N4458E01223 Valle Dragoiesolo COORDINATES : N4529E01238 Valle Figheri COORDINATES : N4518E01207 Valle Miana-Serraia COORDINATES : N4518E01207 Veneto COORDINATES : N4522E01212 Viverone COORDINATES : N4518E00802 V. di Volano L. Naziana COORDINATES : N4447E01217 V. Furlana COORDINATES : N4436E01210
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Protected Partially Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
JORDAN
Sites in Jordan that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Azraq Oasis COORDINATES : N3146E03650
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas acuta Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
3490 20000 2000 180000 100000 180 84
1992 1967 1967 1989 1984
457 36 -
8 10 10 10 10 1 11
295
KALININGRAD (RUSSIA)
Sites in Kaliningrad that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Polesk
COORDINATES :
N5453E02106
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Mergellus albellus
Winter
300
1992
150
11
KAZAKHSTAN*
Sites in Kazakhstan that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Caspian Coast: O-Va Durneva-Turkmenia Border COORDINATES : N4400E05100 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown
Chardara Vdchr COORDINATES : N4110E06815
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Ili River Delta COORDINATES : N4530E07430 Karakol Lake COORDINATES : N4330E05300
Protected Unknown
Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya marila Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Aythya nyroca Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Netta rufina Aythya marila Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus olor Anas platyrhynchos Mergellus albellus Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus olor Anser anser
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter July Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Breeding Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Breeding Breeding Moulting
4000 200 10000 20000 25000 6000 1500 100 6000 6000 7500 8000 500 3000 5000 221 800015000 800010000 334 3448 153100
1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1970 1991 1970 1970 1970 1996 1991 1991 1991 1991 1987 1991 1987 1987 -
4000 200 10000 20000 25000 4250 950 50 3000 3000 8000 500 3000 5000 2000 2000 250000 8000 2000 2000 76170
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 1 1 10 1 10 8 1 1 10 10 10
Kurgaldzhino and Tengiz Lakes COORDINATES : N5027E06910 PROTECTED Kushmurun Lake COORDINATES : N5300E06430 PROTECTED NE Caspian Shallows COORDINATES : N4640E05100 PROTECTED Sorbulak Lake COORDINATES : N4410E07630 PROTECTED Tobol Ishim Watershed COORDINATES : N5430E06600 PROTECTED Turgai Depression COORDINATES : N4842E06211 PROTECTED
Not Protected Unknown Not Protected Unknown Unknown Protected
KENYA
Sites in Kenya that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Apero Rice Scheme COORDINATES : S0010E03455 PROTECTED Dandora Oxidation Ponds COORDINATES : S0115E03655 PROTECTED Kingangop Dam COORDINATES : S0042E03634 PROTECTED Lake Naivasha COORDINATES : S0046E03621 PROTECTED Lake Nakuru NP COORDINATES : S0022E03605 PROTECTED Lake Solai COORDINATES : N0002E03610 PROTECTED Lake Turkana: Fergusons Gulf COORDINATES : N0330E03600 PROTECTED Makuyu Dam COORDINATES : S0051E03710 PROTECTED Ol Bolossat COORDINATES : S0020E03626 PROTECTED Siminis Dam, Njabeni COORDINATES : S0040E03620 PROTECTED Tana Bridge COORDINATES : S0050E03720 PROTECTED Thika Sewage Ponds COORDINATES : S0057E03717 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Protected Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied
Anas querquedula Anas erythrorhyncha Anas acuta Anas undulata Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Netta erythrophthalma Anas clypeata Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Anas querquedula Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas querquedula
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
3000 2553 8000 781 2000 6000 2295 8000 3000 10000 5000 2000 10000 8000 2500 2000
1983 1994 1981 1991 1988 1973 1972 1981 1985 1972 1985 1977 1977 1981 1983 1988
2100 511 427 802 7 3750 550 2713 2350 933 -
10 9 10 8 10 9 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 10
LAC TCHAD (CAMEROON, NIGER, NIGERIA, TCHAD)

Sites in Lac Tchad that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Lac Tchad (All Quadrats) COORDINATES : N1340E01420 Protected status: Unknown
Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Plectropterus gambensis
14410 13457 575
1984 1987 1987
4287 2961 135
2 2 9
* Additional key site information omitted from this table can be found on page 336 at the end of Annex 2.
296
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Lac Tchad (All Quadrats) ... continued
Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
704 472514 535326 5200 45
1987 1987 1984 1987 1970
255 147887 235146 -
9 2 2 10 9
LATVIA
Sites in Latvia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Babite Lake COORDINATES : N5655E02345 Daugava at Lielvarde COORDINATES : N5642E02452 Engure Lake COORDINATES : N5717E02452 Gulf of Riga: West Coast COORDINATES : N5725E02300
Partially Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Unknown
Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Aythya ferina Clangula hyemalis Melanitta fusca Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Cygnus cygnus Bucephala clangula Mergus merganser Clangula hyemalis Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anas crecca Anas acuta Aythya ferina Mergellus albellus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anser f. rossicus
Passage Spring Breeding Winter Winter Moulting Winter Autumn Moulting Winter Winter Winter Passage Passage Passage Passage Passage Passage Passage Passage Spring Autumn Passage
800 3900 450 12100 2120 10000 3000 510 450 4000
1995 1996 1992 1995 1984
200 530 2700 220000 200000 13000 1890 8000 21560 1024 500 250 2000 4000 3000 4000 300 450 -
10 10 1 1 1 1 1 10 1 1 11 8 1 1 1 10 1 10 1 1 10 10 10
Kemeru Tirelis COORDINATES : N5700E02334 PROTECTED Latvian Coast: Ainazi-Svetupe River COORDINATES : N5747E02418 PROTECTED Latvian West Coast: Inshore COORDINATES : N5700E02100 PROTECTED Latvian West Coast: Offshore COORDINATES : N5630E02030 PROTECTED Liepaja Lake COORDINATES : N5630E02104 PROTECTED Lubana Lowlands COORDINATES : N5650E02652 PROTECTED
Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected
Satini Fishponds N5639E02224 Skrunda Fishponds COORDINATES : N5640E02155 Teichi and Pelecares Bog COORDINATES : N5630E02600
COORDINATES :
LITHUANIA
Sites in Lithuania that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Kursiu Lagoon and Nemunas River Delta COORDINATES : N5521E02112 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected
Kursiu Spit
COORDINATES :
N5418E02055
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Meteliai Lakes COORDINATES : N5418E02347 Palanga COORDINATES : N5555E02103 Zuvintas Lake COORDINATES : N5430E02337
Protected Partially Protected Protected
Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Anser anser Anas penelope Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Polysticta stelleri Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Anas crecca Anas penelope Aythya marila Clangula hyemalis Melanitta fusca Melanitta fusca Aythya nyroca Polysticta stelleri Clangula hyemalis Mergus merganser Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca
Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring Spring Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Spring Spring Spring Winter Spring Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Moulting Autumn Breeding
4000 3300 18000 7000 256 900 3200 30000 892 41100 50000 13 1100 25420 10300 13200 8000 300000 92700 700000 21 1489 71000 15000 19000 9200 900 400 500 24
1963 1992 1985 1992 1993 1995 1995 1961 1994 1995 1961 1995 1991 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1995 1986 1986 1995 1986 -
460 570 570 7800 6270 82 31400 27860 5 650 11350 100000 >15000 41200 690 62000 6000 24
3 1 1 2 2 2 10 10 10 5 1 2 11 1 1 5 10 10 1 1 1 11 1 1 10 2 2 10 10 10 11
PROTECTED STATUS :
297
MACEDONIA (FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF)

Sites in Macedonia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Dojran Lake COORDINATES : N4113E02244 Ohrid Lake COORDINATES : N4100E02040 Prespa Lake
Aythya nyroca Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Mergus merganser Aythya fuligula Mergus merganser
10 7000 10 6500 1 9000 3
1989 1990 1990 1989 1987 1989 1989
2 3613 3 3113 0 6375 1
11 5 11 11 11 10 10
COORDINATES :
N4050E01843
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
MADAGASCAR
Sites in Madagascar that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Amboromalandy Lake COORDINATES : S1600E04600 Ankerika

PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
S1901E04427 S1902E04422
Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas erythrorhyncha Anas hottentota Dendrocygna viduata Thalassornis leuconotus Anas bernieri Anas erythrorhyncha Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Anas melleri Anas erythrorhyncha Anas hottentota Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas bernieri Anas erythrorhyncha Anas hottentota Dendrocygna viduata Anas erythrorhyncha Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata
October October October Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
258 481 1878 492 29 202 566 916 386 406 71 244 308 472 500 800 21 600 100 1148 980 408 499
1994 1995 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1993 1993 1993 1994 1993 1993 1994 1994 1994 1994
492 29 202 566 916 386 406 71 244 174 388 434 400 20 345 78 849 576 408 499
10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Antsamaka
Antsohaly (Antsoale) S1906E04434 Befotaka COORDINATES : S1901E04424 Lac Alaotra COORDINATES : S1735E04820
Lac Bemamba S1850E04422
PROTECTED STATUS :
Lac DAlarobia/Tsarasotro (Antananarivo) S1900E04732 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Protected Lac Soamalipo COORDINATES : S1901E04425 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Protected
COORDINATES :
MALAWI
Sites in Malawi that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Kuti Ponds
COORDINATES :
S1342E03425
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Thalassornis leuconotus
Winter
550
1993
285
10
MALI
Sites in Mali that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes ref er to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Central Inner Niger Delta COORDINATES : N1540W00400
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
COORDINATES :
Fleuve Niger: Gao Labbezonga N1430E00110 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Unknown
COORDINATES :
F.Niger: Gourna Rharous-Bourem N1635W00010 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Unknown
COORDINATES :
Lac Debo (Inner Niger Delta) N1520W00410 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Protected
Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
12200 530 1040 2780 29740 42060 2125 28500 750 5700 15400 34100 33800 975 5100 29000 30400 230 5514 8060 520 4085 150000 206000 20
1979 1972 1986 1980 1986 1987 1986 1983 1983 1983 1984 1978 1983 1983 1983 1983 1978 1978 1994 1983 1986 1994 1994 1994 1986
831 181 337 132 11001 18406 443 10635 194 1980 4375 13363 16099 346 1825 8671 10064 7 1133 653 144 1060 61589 64537 4
9 2 9 9 9 9 2 6 10 6 11 11 2 2 2 9 9 10 1 8 8 1 1 1 11
298
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Lac Faguibine (Inner Niger Delta) COORDINATES : N1640W00400 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Unknown
Lac Fati (Inner Niger Delta) COORDINATES : N1610W00350
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Protected
Lac Horo (Inner Niger Delta) COORDINATES : N1610W00400 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Lac Kabara (Inner Niger Delta) COORDINATES : N1540W00440 PROTECTED Lac Korienze (Inner Niger Delta) COORDINATES : N1520W00350 PROTECTED Lac Tanda (Inner Niger Delta) COORDINATES : N1540W00500 PROTECTED Lac Tele (Inner Niger Delta) COORDINATES : N1620W00350 PROTECTED Lac Walado Debo (Inner Niger Delta) COORDINATES : N1510W00410 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Unknown Unknown
STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Protected
Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Anas acuta Anas querquedula Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna bicolor Alopochen aegyptiacus Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Aythya nyroca Alopochen aegyptiacus Sarkidiornis melanotos Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Anas querquedula Alopochen aegyptiacus Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Anas querquedula Marmaronetta angustirostris Alopochen aegyptiacus Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Aythya nyroca Alopochen aegyptiacus Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
67100 28400 126800 150000 300 3900 356 2140 23000 3000 622 600 46500 31800 5600 340 1500 50 3000 7500 450 26815 460 100 9000 16300 263 1310 1100 125500 83130 900 780 21000 61 300 3500 8000 807 700 1210 25800 20 1560 5012 12860 263 12284 45672 1050 16381 14696 201455 803617 4000
1983 1983 1983 1983 1983 1984 1985 1985 1984 1985 1985 1987 1978 1978 1987 1972 1980 1979 1978 1983 1984 1980 1977 1984 1978 1978 1986 1987 1991 1978 1986 1972 1984 1984 1972 1978 1983 1983 1972 1980 1980 1974 1974 1978 1978 1979 1979 1986 1978 1984 1986 1978 1978 1987 1977
14280 5680 27966 41981 60 988 94 445 75 788 171 299 17309 19284 3017 12 329 15 16 0 1348 20 365 330 113 430 233 8975 37365 128 414 7063 71 700 1600 1 29 2 1054 28 23 338 0 2813 12551 215 4894 1634 39260 233034 71
2 2 2 2 1 9 9 2 2 9 9 9 2 9 2 9 9 11 8 8 8 8 9 10 8 8 8 8 8 3 1 9 4 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 11 9 9 9 10 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 9
Mare de Gossi COORDINATES : N1548W00119 Mares du Gourma COORDINATES : N1539W00235 NE Inner Niger Delta Lakes COORDINATES : N1550W00300
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Northern Inner Niger Delta COORDINATES : N1620W00320 Southern Inner Niger Delta COORDINATES : N1430W00410
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
MAURITANIA
Sites in Mauritania that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Aftout-Es-Sahel COORDINATES : N1718W01612 Diawling NP COORDINATES : N1626W01623
Unknown Protected
Kaedi, Gorgol COORDINATES : N1615W01320 Lac de Mal COORDINATES : N1657W01321 Lac dAleg
COORDINATES :
Anas acuta Anas querquedula Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Anas querquedula Alopochen aegyptiacus Anas acuta Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas querquedula Plectropterus gambensis
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Moulting
24000 55000 13000 200 702 33100 84000 6200 38000 370 15550 16 9100 4000 260 1850 2920 91680 -
1970 1970 1995 1976 1975 1995 1995 1995 1976 1976 1984 1987 1983 1984 1984 1996 1996 1983 -
1661 5 1 1180 700 38000 123 4089 3 2120 1444 64 41288 -
10 10 8 8 8 8 8 10 10 9 9 11 2 9 9 10 10 2 11
N1705W01359
PROTECTED STATUS :
Lac Rkiz
COORDINATES :
N1645W01510
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
299
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Mares de Kankossa COORDINATES : N1555W01133 PROTECTED Podor-Bogue: Vallee du Senegal COORDINATES : N1640W01430 PROTECTED
COORDINATES :
STATUS : STATUS :
Aythya nyroca Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas querquedula Aythya nyroca Plectropterus gambensis
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
40 925 520 27165 60 510
1987 1976 1976 1976 1987 1976
40 463 280 21083 60 172
11 11 11 10 11 11
N1600W01230 PROTECTED Sud du Lac Rkiz (Interdunes) COORDINATES : N1640W01529 PROTECTED
Soufa-Gleita
STATUS : STATUS :
MOROCCO
Sites in Morocco that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Aguelmane Aberhane COORDINATES : N3241W00531

PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Not Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Partially Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown
Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
38 386 61 320 33 302 1973 282 400 600 4 65 59 2 10 14 65 8 63 10 7 149 15 90 400 47 350 16 10 50 50 1000 26 300 4 908
1985 1989 1991 1992 1991 1991 1993 1993 1983 1987 1991 1983 1984 1991 1983 1991 1991 1993 1990 1990 1981 1992 1972 1983 1983 1981 1988 1983 1984 1984 1989 1970 1989 1993 1986 1986
3 239 15 210 17 102 395 56 58 157 1 4 17 5 22 3 34 5 30 20 87 4 140 3 20 10 17 61 476
8 1 8 1 11 1 1 8 1 10 11 8 8 11 11 11 11 11 10 11 11 1 11 3 2 8 1 11 11 3 8 10 8 1 11 10
Aguelmane Affenourrir N3318W00513
Aguelmane Azigza N3302W00525 Aguelmane de Sidi Ali COORDINATES : N3240W00505 Aguelmane Ntghalouine COORDINATES : N3324W00506 Aguelmane Tifounassine COORDINATES : N3312W00506
Barrage Al Massira N3329W00726
Barrage de Mansour Ed-Dehbi N3048W00646 PROTECTED
Barrage de Taghdout N3033W00718 Barrage Del Kansera COORDINATES : N3400W00600 Barrage Ialla Takerkoust COORDINATES : N3121W00807 Barrage Idriss Premier COORDINATES : N3443W00442
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Barrage Mechra Homadi N3441W00257
Barrage Rwidane N3344W00658 Barrage Wad Al Makhazine COORDINATES : N3457W00545 Daya Del Jadida COORDINATES : N3313W00831 Daya Pres de Khnifiss COORDINATES : N2801W01213
Dayet Afourgah N3334W00507 Dayet Al Hafs (Jorf Lasfar) N3308W00837
Dayet Annoceur N3334W00507 PROTECTED Dayet Ifrah COORDINATES : N3339W00446 PROTECTED Embouchure de Loued Dra COORDINATES : N2840W01105 PROTECTED Embouchure de Loued Massa COORDINATES : N3001W00939 PROTECTED Embouchure de Loued Moulouya N3509W00223 PROTECTED Embouchure Oued El Ouar COORDINATES : N2808W01153 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Embouchure Oued Loukkos N3509W00611 Iriki Depression N2950W00630
Lac de Ouiouane N3313W00519 Lagune de Khnifiss COORDINATES : N2808W01159 Lagune de Layoune COORDINATES : N2709W01314
300
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Lagune de Sidi Moussa-Oualidia COORDINATES : N3247W00857 PROTECTED Marais de Moul Bergui COORDINATES : N3231W00857 PROTECTED Marais du Bas Loukkos COORDINATES : N3508W00604 PROTECTED
Not Protected Unknown Unknown
Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Anas penelope Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
58 736 19 23 68 6100 120 2 1400 4700 26000 1350 10960 20 250 54 4 4 1000 882 5500 336 98 15
1991 1987 1972 1992 1993 1974 1987 1992 1984 1988 1975 1988 1991 1976 1987 1991 1987 1992 1968 1989 1968 1988 1985 1988
12 104 19 8 33 18 8 286 2162 8190 99 4973 1 120 18 1 38 300 163 123 38 4
8 1 11 11 11 9 8 11 1 1 1 8 1 11 10 11 11 11 1 8 8 1 10 11
Merja Daoura et Sidi Mohammed Ben Mansour COORDINATES : N3438W00618 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown
COORDINATES :
Merja de Douy Et N3406W00501
Partially Protected Unknown Protected Protected
Merja Oulad Skher COORDINATES : N3503W00613 Merja Sidi Bou Ghaba COORDINATES : N3416W00639 Merja Zerga COORDINATES : N3445W00617
Merzouga (Daiet Srij) COORDINATES : N3105W00359 Plan Deau de Safi COORDINATES : N3215W00916
Not Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Restinga (Oued) Smir N3547W00524
Sebkha Bou Areg N3508W00257 Sebkha Zima COORDINATES : N3209W00850
Sedd El Mejnoun; El Kelaa des Sgharnas COORDINATES : N3209W00818 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown
NAMIBIA
Sites in Namibia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Swakoppoort Dam COORDINATES : S2213E01630
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Oxyura maccoa
Winter
784
1993
392
10
THE NETHERLANDS
Sites in the Netherlands that have at least once supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Alblasserwaard COORDINATES : N5153E00450 Ameland

COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
N5327E00547
PROTECTED STATUS :
Amsterdamsche en Schoonebeker Veld COORDINATES : N5241E00700 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected Ankeveense plassen COORDINATES : N5218E00506 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected Balgzand en Wieringen COORDINATES : N5255E00452 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected
Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Branta bernicla Branta bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anser f. fabalis Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Branta bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser anser Branta leucopsis Anas strepera Anas strepera Aythya fuligula Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas penelope Aythya ferina Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser
Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring
883 48102 2365 22452 17790 21396 13453 1300 420 6902 5782 9887 4148 1174 787 487 17453 2957 9522 700 1077 13286 2486 22906 13740 5061 65000 2701 6005 11768 4868
1993 1991 1991 1994 1994 1987 1992 1986 1991 1990 1993 1989 1989 1990 1990 1992 1992 1993 1993 1993 1992 1987 1994 1993 1994 1993 1990 1994 1991 1993 1993
577 25414 625 14685 10493 6689 8808 325 279 2793 3469 3082 1434 707 342 303 12308 2353 5032 338 577 5675 916 7178 4855 2833 23596 1720 2306 8922 3144
1 1 8 1 1 1 8 11 1 8 1 1 8 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 8 8 1 3 8 1 1
Biesbosch
COORDINATES :
N5145E00446
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Brabantse- /Gelderse Maas COORDINATES : N5149E00534 De Deelen
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
COORDINATES : N5302E00555 Dollard e.o. COORDINATES : N5316E00708
301
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Dollard e.o. ... continued
Drontermeer e.o. COORDINATES : N5230E00551
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Dwingelosche Heide COORDINATES : N5248E00624 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected Eemmeer, Nijkerkernauw, Nuldernauw e.o. COORDINATES : N5201E00520 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected
Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Anas crecca Anas acuta Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser f. fabalis Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anas penelope Anas penelope Aythya ferina Anas clypeata Anas penelope Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Anser f. rossicus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta bernicla Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anas strepera Anas clypeata Anser anser Anser anser Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta bernicla Anas penelope Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Tadorna tadorna Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta bernicla Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser f. fabalis Anser f. rossicus
Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Spring Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Spring Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Spring Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Spring Winter
6666 11900 5700 8301 656 989 1829 17500 2450 2480 900 5156 16841 18710 4365 1420 18180 10200 1864 27450 63100 9000 7600 17100 8000 1800 4805 77904 42775 45575 47470 16989 19265 32126 26793 4765 670 415 247 4025 99350 42430 87676 4450 19670 181 4116 17787 67156 349 1086 8443 3285 7030 812 1270 10455 10325 14640 472 3165 9250 11860 4303 19457 6913 5720 4698 3500 1942 1139 2637 26259 7342 14591 10100 9965 12861 20881 982 5849 16257 885 5854
1993 1994 1994 1989 1990 1990 1994 1990 1986 1990 1988 1993 1992 1993 1993 1989 1990 1992 1989 1992 1990 1992 1993 1993 1994 1993 1989 1991 1992 1992 1993 1988 1994 1987 1990 1989 1990 1989 1990 1991 1991 1993 1994 1991 1994 1991 1993 1992 1992 1992 1989 1991 1993 1991 1989 1989 1993 1993 1993 1990 1992 1990 1990 1990 1993 1989 1993 1992 1987 1993 1993 1990 1993 1992 1993 1991 1985 1988 1994 1985 1991 1994 1987 1994
2302 6412 3134 4432 206 480 1583 4889 812 1772 493 3632 15810 16229 1974 464 11074 4027 913 10773 24770 2317 2888 8882 4316 826 2258 33820 19243 34916 40052 9775 12829 12907 18536 2052 366 232 116 823 25545 16278 62243 2205 11861 91 2351 8929 43104 187 724 3103 2287 3513 284 307 3769 6094 7130 314 814 3249 8214 2884 9239 4036 4094 4445 2475 737 397 1736 9314 5975 10291 8179 8348 6026 11087 677 3408 4977 180 4302
1 1 1 1 8 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 8 1 8 1 1 8 8 1 1 11 11 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 8 8 1
Eilandspolder COORDINATES : N5234E00450 Fluessen Heegermeer COORDINATES : N5257E00534
Partially Protected Not Protected
Fochtelooerveen COORDINATES : N5300E00624 Friese noordkust COORDINATES : N5322E00546
Partially Protected Reserve
Gaasterland en Lemsterland COORDINATES : N5252E00533
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Gelderse Poort COORDINATES : N5153E00602
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Goeree
COORDINATES :
N5151E00401 N5219E00514
PROTECTED STATUS :
Gooimeer
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Grevelingen COORDINATES : N5146E00359
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Griend
COORDINATES :
N5315E00516 Groningse Noordkust COORDINATES : N5327E00631
Reserve Reserve
Gronings-Drentse Veenkolonien COORDINATES : N5303E00700 PROTECTED Groote Peel e.o. COORDINATES : N5124E00552 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
302
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Groote en Kleine Wielen e.o. COORDINATES : N5314E00555 PROTECTED Haringvliet COORDINATES : N5147E00412 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Het Binnenveld COORDINATES : N5202E00536 Hoeksche Waard COORDINATES : N5147E00425 Hollands Diep COORDINATES : N5142E00430 IJssel
COORDINATES :
N5218E00606
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
IJsselmeer
COORDINATES :
N5249E00518
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Ketelmeer
COORDINATES :
N5236E00545
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Koevordermeer e.o. COORDINATES : N5256E00541 Krimpenerwaard COORDINATES : N5157E00442 Kwade Hoek en Westplaat COORDINATES : N5152E00401
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Anser anser Anser anser Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. fabalis Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Branta leucopsis Anas strepera Anas clypeata Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas penelope Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Anas penelope Anas strepera Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas penelope Anas acuta Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas penelope Anas strepera Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Aythya ferina Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas crecca Anas penelope Anas strepera Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Anas strepera
Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Spring Winter Winter Spring Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Spring Winter Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
30845 8352 5171 4134 23898 6920 19484 17988 24519 1009 754 1219 488 1000 9600 12120 2713 3047 349 478 508 1108 1966 34378 21974 545 7439 23035 905 21142 44351 155235 4787 1112 6747 6133 5760 17202 18230 7125 19500 4000 449 415 17874 30611 1055 3712 478 10054 14414 10206 4220 22868 12390 19889 24358 1995 22063 16285 5430 25844 4300 898 11959 14892 451 709 516 3675 453 6191 5970 542 9700 7250 59210 533 36068 81760 78295 4880 1039 607
1990 1992 1992 1994 1991 1991 1992 1992 1994 1989 1992 1989 1991 1986 1992 1993 1992 1994 1991 1989 1991 1987 1992 1991 1994 1992 1993 1991 1991 1992 1993 1991 1992 1990 1992 1993 1991 1993 1992 1993 1991 1993 1991 1992 1992 1993 1994 1993 1994 1993 1993 1990 1990 1989 1994 1992 1990 1989 1986 1987 1986 1990 1992 1994 1994 1994 1992 1992 1992 1990 1994 1994 1993 1991 1991 1991 1992 1994 1990 1990 1992 1993 1994 1990
20236 4956 3858 3260 10438 5720 14707 12882 15285 504 351 335 170 212 2276 7254 1440 1110 262 130 310 232 1078 29021 12055 362 4785 16748 623 8886 29622 130209 2626 367 4505 4343 4961 11853 13764 4558 9794 1800 248 211 12405 18177 722 1938 356 6537 11379 9772 2349 12689 8213 15226 17850 1396 12783 11702 2740 20729 1313 490 5128 8504 198 274 358 2908 260 2085 4208 353 3824 1579 34232 342 16090 45396 28117 2103 567 342
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 1 8 8 3 8 8 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 8 8 8 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1
Lauwersmeer e.o. N5321E00613
Leekstermeergebied COORDINATES : N5311E00629 Lek COORDINATES : N5158E00500 Lepelaarplassen e.o. COORDINATES : N5223E00512 Limburgse Maas COORDINATES : N5122E00610 Maasland Den Bosch-Oss COORDINATES : N5147E00532 Markermeer COORDINATES : N5233E00515
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Markiezaat
COORDINATES :
N5128E00416
PROTECTED STATUS :
Reserve
303
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Midden Delfland en Oude Leede COORDINATES : N5158E00421 PROTECTED Nederrijn COORDINATES : N5156E00538 PROTECTED Nieuwe Waterweg/Calandkanaal COORDINATES : N5156E00412 PROTECTED Nieuwkoopse Plassen COORDINATES : N5209E00448
COORDINATES :
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected
Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas strepera Mergellus albellus Anas strepera Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Somateria mollissima Melanitta nigra Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Branta bernicla Branta bernicla Branta bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Branta leucopsis Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas crecca Anas clypeata Anas penelope Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Anas strepera Aythya fuligula Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Anas penelope Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Cygnus c. bewickii Anas penelope Anser albifrons Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Spring Autumn Spring Winter Winter Spring Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter
515 458 9326 494 428 417 2175 4733 14720 21570 10660 72804 140000 538 3108 653 1761 14090 7861 10335 3580 18194 3458 4411 1009 764 400 6700 12110 5381 3842 5400 1510 126500 20140 6575 19550 885 90000 7500 2155 2658 1749 1236 3000 4172 18184 13806 4804 305 15485 23936 9000 34000 21605 7625 12760 6600 10405 793 3365 10118 5948 6976 579 39200 175 25110 11101 798 2045 5100 404 10500 5500
1992 1993 1994 1993 1991 1994 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1993 1993 1992 1994 1991 1990 1990 1994 1993 1994 1990 1990 1989 1989 1990 1991 1992 1990 1989 1991 1994 1990 1988 1989 1989 1989 1993 1990 1990 1992 1990 1992 1993 1990 1989 1992 1993 1994 1994 1991 1990 1990 1989 1993 1993 1993 1991 1993 1993 1993 1993 1993 1993 1989 1992 1992 1989 1994 1994 1994 1991 1993 1989 1991
208 259 2826 307 115 83 1272 1696 11420 1 2862 46570 103796 257 1392 149 468 10814 6628 8662 3252 13651 1791 1861 918 575 253 4148 7259 2836 2147 3755 598 52580 5002 3916 15589 278 30552 2700 851 1758 475 346 1710 1878 14868 10579 2487 234 9225 13282 3576 19894 11176 2295 5148 3043 5036 506 2255 2448 2286 1638 395 25191 122 12285 5706 439 439 1730 176 6126 1417
1 1 8 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 8 8 1 8 1 1 8 8 8 1 8 8 1 1 8
Noordoostpolder-west N5244E00541
Noordzee benoorden de Wadden COORDINATES : N5330E00523 PROTECTED Noord-Beveland COORDINATES : N5135E00347 PROTECTED Oosterschelde COORDINATES : N5135E00356 PROTECTED
Not Protected Not Protected Reserve
COORDINATES :
Oostvaardersplassen N5227E00521
PROTECTED STATUS :
Reserve
Oostzaanse Polders en Het Ilperveld COORDINATES : N5227E00455 PROTECTED Oost- en Westdongeradeel COORDINATES : N5321E00556 PROTECTED Oost-Flevoland-noord N5232E00544 Oost-Flevoland-zuid COORDINATES : N5228E00536
COORDINATES :
STATUS : STATUS :
Partially Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
Oost-Zeeuwsch Vlaanderen COORDINATES : N5118E00401 Oude Land van Strijen COORDINATES : N5145E00431 Oude Maas COORDINATES : N5150E00428 Oude Venen COORDINATES : N5308E00556
COORDINATES :
Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected
Oudegaasterbrekken e.o. N5300E00534
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Overflakkee
N5144E00412
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
COORDINATES :
Polder Mastenbroek N5235E00602
Polder Zeevang COORDINATES : N5233E00501

COORDINATES :
Polders Ronde Hoep en Groot-Mijdrecht N5215E00457 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
Polders Zoetermeer-Alphen aan de Rijn COORDINATES : N5206E00430 PROTECTED STATUS : Polders rond Fijnaart COORDINATES : N5139E00432 PROTECTED STATUS : Polders rond Steenbergen COORDINATES : N5135E00421 PROTECTED STATUS : Putten COORDINATES : N5150E00419 PROTECTED STATUS :
304
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Raamsdonk, Heusden e.o. COORDINATES : N5142E00504 PROTECTED Reeuwijkse Plassen e.o. COORDINATES : N5202E00446 PROTECTED Reitdiepdal COORDINATES : N5320E00623 PROTECTED Rottige Meenthe COORDINATES : N5251E00553 PROTECTED Rottumeroog en Zuiderstrand COORDINATES : N5333E00635 PROTECTED Rottumerplaat COORDINATES : N5333E00628 PROTECTED Schiermonnikoog COORDINATES : N5329E00613 PROTECTED
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Reserve Reserve Partially Protected
Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anas penelope Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta bernicla Branta bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas acuta Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Branta leucopsis Branta bernicla Branta bernicla Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Anas penelope Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Branta bernicla Branta bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas acuta Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Branta bernicla Branta bernicla Branta bernicla Anas penelope Anas acuta Branta bernicla Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Anas strepera Aythya ferina Mergellus albellus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Mergus serrator Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anas acuta Aythya ferina Tadorna tadorna Branta leucopsis Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Anas clypeata Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Summer Autumn Autumn Spring Summer Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Summer Autumn Winter Autumn Winter
880 1079 25000 250 219 4355 5090 5760 5095 5997 4050 3050 5415 891 420 1159 926 4155 3796 4890 5171 3910 14300 15200 8020 82665 37705 44676 991 7039 19065 6861 9575 19843 2847 616 770 4630 7200 12000 8023 16217 643 5075 204 8651 1800 612 6902 440 5000 25000 8000 14000 395 2100 1925 3184 1013 640 3940 3150 1828 4140 18095 2014 606 1103 5662 22474 4143 2602 3691 1595 2608 24911 3864 318 472
1991 1992 1990 1994 1991 1987 1984 1992 1992 1992 1992 1991 1984 1984 1989 1992 1993 1989 1991 1991 1994 1993 1992 1992 1992 1990 1992 1989 1994 1993 1992 1994 1987 1994 1990 1993 1992 1992 1989 1992 1994 1990 1987 1991 1993 1992 1992 1993 1994 1994 1989 1990 1989 1992 1993 1989 1991 1990 1990 1993 1993 1990 1994 1990 1990 1993 1994 1994 1991 1993 1993 1989 1991 1992 1992 1993 1994 1990 1992
430 412 14976 56 77 2683 1677 2610 3729 4445 2570 2772 2480 318 126 714 763 3219 1895 3129 4298 1967 8675 3765 2310 32590 17400 27894 646 3728 14851 5411 5577 10001 1368 173 584 1842 6184 10070 6116 10074 271 3118 54 2704 680 134 2658 160 1000 13890 4600 7780 156 1172 1450 1940 537 170 1948 1890 1031 2560 13878 1019 318 518 2882 18488 2320 1054 2542 742 746 11902 3385 227 375
1 1 1 8 8 11 11 1 1 1 8 8 8 11 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 8 8 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 1 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 8 1 1 1 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Schouwen-Duiveland COORDINATES : N5142E00355
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Slotermeer e.o. COORDINATES : N5255E00538 Sneekermeer e.o. COORDINATES : N5302E00546
PROTECTED STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Staphorsterveld en Haerster- en Gennerbroek COORDINATES : N5236E00608 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Protected Terschelling COORDINATES : N5324E00522 PROTECTED STATUS : Partially Protected
Texel
COORDINATES :
N5306E00451
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Tholen
COORDINATES :
N5135E00408 Tjeukemeer e.o. COORDINATES : N5254E00549
Van Oordts Mersken e.o. COORDINATES : N5302E00602 Veerse Meer COORDINATES : N5132E00343 Veluwemeer e.o. COORDINATES : N5224E00543 Vlieland
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
N5316E00459 Volkerakmeer COORDINATES : N5139E00415
Reserve Reserve
Vughtse Gement COORDINATES : N5142E00514
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
305
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Waal
COORDINATES :
N5150E00523
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Waddenzee (open water) COORDINATES : N5307E00506 Walcheren COORDINATES : N5132E00336

COORDINATES :
Reserve Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected
Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas penelope Aythya ferina Anas clypeata Aythya marila Somateria mollissima Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anas penelope Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas penelope Anas acuta Anas acuta Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser brachyrhynchus Branta leucopsis Anser brachyrhynchus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas acuta Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser anser Branta bernicla Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser anser Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Anser anser
Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Summer Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn
682 16442 20468 5409 489 38145 114494 206 6960 19898 447 933 12652 25867 43459 6045 6495 46451 30055 3489 3371 770 12430 2338 531 343 27037 26973 443 921 6000 9700 8500 2650 10550 23474 97680 2215 7622 16412 40495 12660 515 1672 1577 326 498 11765 2428 3025 200 14745 14280 4600 285 31514 7220
1992 1990 1992 1994 1993 1994 1995 1991 1992 1993 1993 1989 1992 1992 1994 1991 1989 1992 1992 1992 1989 1992 1994 1989 1990 1994 1992 1994 1993 1993 1991 1986 1993 1989 1989 1991 1990 1992 1993 1994 1992 1981 1991 1989 1990 1990 1991 1991 1991 1991 1993 1991 1993 1993 1991 1994 1993
338 11897 15555 3377 343 15645 87842 145 4575 12406 248 563 7171 17886 28395 3956 4994 29595 26732 2013 2579 312 8233 1061 285 218 8465 15588 203 545 4437 3590 5067 959 3435 16900 46767 1547 2792 7012 22443 6286 336 1127 1003 174 256 10139 639 1832 83 4767 11890 994 172 16430 2120
1 1 1 8 8 1 1 3 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 1 8 1 1 1
Waterland
N5225E00500
Weerribben e.o. COORDINATES : N5247E00556 Westerschelde COORDINATES : N5123E00344
West-Zeeuwsch Vlaanderen COORDINATES : N5120E00349 Wieden

COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
N5240E00603
PROTECTED STATUS :
Wieringermeer COORDINATES : N5251E00455
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected
Witte and Zwarte Brekken e.o. COORDINATES : N5259E00540 PROTECTED Wonseradeel en Workum COORDINATES : N5300E00527 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Wormer- en Jisperveld COORDINATES : N5230E00450 Zoommeer COORDINATES : N5130E00414 Zuidlaardermeer e.o. COORDINATES : N5309E00641 Zuid-Beveland-oost COORDINATES : N5127E00405 Zuid-Beveland-west COORDINATES : N5129E00351 Zuid-Beveland-midden COORDINATES : N5225E00525 Zwarte Meer e.o. COORDINATES : N5237E00556
Partially Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
NIGER
Sites in Niger that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Dan Doutchi COORDINATES : N1400E00530

COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Alopochen aegyptiacus Dendrocygna viduata Sarkidiornis melanotos Dendrocygna viduata Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas querquedula Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna viduata Dendrocygna viduata Sarkidiornis melanotos
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
509 9450 7771 11249 600 33000 26 3971 3003 580
1993 1995 1995 1993 1984 1984 1994 1993 1995 1995
268 8918 126 7169 26 2111 -
10 10 10 1 9 9 11 10 10 10
Fleuve Niger: Labezanga-Niamey N1430E00110 PROTECTED Fleuve Niger: Niamey-Tillaberi COORDINATES : N1300E00220 PROTECTED Galmi
N1359E00543
N1150E00332 Mare de Dosso COORDINATES : N1315E00310 Mare de Mari (Tillaberi) COORDINATES : N1411E00130
Gatawani
306
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Mare de Tahoua COORDINATES : N1450E00510 Mare de Zinder COORDINATES : N1415E00110 Mare Marie (Tillaberi) COORDINATES : N1415E00130 P.n. Du W COORDINATES : N1400E00100 Tabalak COORDINATES : N1405E00535 Tara I Et Ii COORDINATES : N1153E00320
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Protected Not Protected Not Protected
Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Anas acuta Dendrocygna viduata Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Dendrocygna viduata
4266 1894 20480 2900 4047 1385 3895
1995 1993 1995 1995 1993 1993 1994
1184 1454 1587 1008 3024
10 1 10 10 10 5 10
NIGERIA
Sites in Nigeria that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
F. Niger: Gaya-Kainji Dam COORDINATES : N1110E00400 F. Yedseram: Bama COORDINATES : N1130E01240 Hadejia-Nguru COORDINATES : N1239E01021
Dendrocygna viduata Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Thalassornis leuconotus Aythya nyroca Dendrocygna bicolor Thalassornis leuconotus Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas hottentota Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
26850 200 4080 47879 2249 2594 25083 98689 50 3800 20 300 2000 20 500 100 1500
1984 1967 1992 1995 1993 1989 1994 1995 1978 1972 1968 1968 1967 1967 1967 1970 1969
26850 200 1693 7754 1575 1146 17959 19097 108 50 563 5 125 25 825
10 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 9 1 11 11 11 11 1
Kazaure
COORDINATES : N1240E00810 Nguru Matara (Kano) COORDINATES : N1250E01000
Unknown Unknown
NORWAY
Sites in Norway that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Helgeland Archipelago COORDINATES : N6530E01100 PROTECTED Ja Srsmla COORDINATES : N6318E00753 PROTECTED Maere COORDINATES : N6357E01125 PROTECTED Nordre yeren Natrue Reserve COORDINATES : N5953E01109 PROTECTED Porsanger Fjord COORDINATES : N7030E02530 PROTECTED Varanger Fjord COORDINATES : N7000E03000 PROTECTED Vesterlen COORDINATES : N6846E01517 PROTECTED
Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied Protected Not Supplied Not Supplied Not Supplied
Branta leucopsis Mergus serrator Anser brachyrhynchus Cygnus cygnus Anas crecca Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Polysticta stelleri Anser brachyrhynchus
Spring Winter Spring Winter Spring Autumn Spring Spring Spring
12000 3216 200 7600 60 97 12500 -
1989 -
681 -
10 8 1 1 8 11 11 10 1
OMAN
Sites in Oman that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Dhofar Khawrs COORDINATES : N1702E05426 Khawr Dhirif COORDINATES : N1856E05721
Partially Protected Unknown
Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter
51 15
1994 -
17 -
10 11
POLAND
Sites in Poland that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Bieganowo (Arable Land) COORDINATES : N5217E01714
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Anser f. rossicus
Winter
4000
1992
4000
10
307
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Borzymowskie COORDINATES : N5231E01852 Buda Stalowska Fishponds COORDINATES : N5030E02147 Central Polish Coast COORDINATES : N5450E01700 Dabie Lake
Unknown Not Protected Not Protected
Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Somateria mollissima Clangula hyemalis Melanitta fusca Mergellus albellus Cygnus cygnus Anser f. rossicus Anser anser Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Anas strepera Anas clypeata Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Cygnus olor Netta rufina Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Aythya nyroca Anser anser Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Melanitta fusca Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser f. rossicus Clangula hyemalis Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Mergus serrator Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser f. rossicus Anas strepera Clangula hyemalis
Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Moulting Moulting Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Breeding Moulting Autumn Winter Winter Winter Breeding Autumn Breeding Winter Breeding Winter Breeding Breeding Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Breeding Winter Winter Winter Breeding Autumn Winter Breeding Winter
500 511 9472 5000 112 7000 10000 13300 2670 3410 3500 15000 7082 8000 11000 10650 18 13585 3396 34720 11000 235 184 43312 -
1977 1993 1991 1995 1984 1993 1992 1995 1994 1994 1992 1992 1994 1993 1992 1995 1983 1995 1995 1992 1983 1971 1993 -
200 33 23500 260400 53900 201 550 15000 5000 14000 10000 650 10000 700 1000 6460 6227 2215 18 4300 22 21 2200 900 1750 4509 7650 45 2670 33 2105 105 1549 159 18 6000 56750 4124 3550 3750 8463 5588 4 6520 1092 803400 357210 5315 9000 12 5504 60 1 30 25000 10828 360 56550
9 11 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 11 10 11 11 10 10 11 10 10 11 10 11 10 11 10 11 11 1 1 11 10 11 5 10 11 10 10 1 1 1 1 1 11 11 11 11 11 1 10 1 1
COORDINATES :
N5330E01500
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Druzno Lake COORDINATES : N5403E01927 Gdansk Bay COORDINATES : N5435E01840
Partially Protected Not Protected Not Protected Unknown Unknown Protected Protected Not Protected Unknown Partially Protected Partially Protected Protected Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Not Protected Unknown Unknown Not Protected
Goczalkowice Reservoir COORDINATES : N4955E01852 PROTECTED STATUS : Goreckie Lake COORDINATES : N5217E01647 PROTECTED STATUS : Leba: M.reskowo-J.sianowskie COORDINATES : N5420E01810 PROTECTED STATUS : Lezczak Fishponds COORDINATES : N5008E01816 PROTECTED STATUS : Luknajno Lake COORDINATES : N5349E02138 PROTECTED STATUS : Miedwie Lake COORDINATES : N5313E01454 PROTECTED STATUS : Mietkow Reservoir COORDINATES : N5057E01636 PROTECTED STATUS : Milicz Fishponds (Jamnik Complex) COORDINATES : N5130E01659 PROTECTED STATUS : Milicz Fishponds (Potasznia Complex) COORDINATES : N5133E01731 PROTECTED STATUS : Milicz Fishponds (Ruda Sulowska Complex) COORDINATES : N5131E01706 PROTECTED STATUS : Milicz Fishponds (Slawno complex) COORDINATES : N5133E01723 PROTECTED STATUS : Mosty-Zahajki Reservoirs COORDINATES : N5140E02315 PROTECTED STATUS : Nysa Reservoirs COORDINATES : N5027E01715 PROTECTED STATUS : Oder Bank COORDINATES : N5330E01415 PROTECTED STATUS : Odra: Lower Valley (Gryfino) COORDINATES : N5315E01427 PROTECTED STATUS : Odra: Lower Valley (Marwice) COORDINATES : N5315E01427 PROTECTED STATUS : Odra: Mudflats (Stary Kostrzynek) COORDINATES : N5250E01410 PROTECTED STATUS : Otmuchowski Reservoir COORDINATES : N5028E01706 PROTECTED STATUS : Piwonia: K/M Sosnowica COORDINATES : N5134E02256 PROTECTED STATUS : Plon Lake COORDINATES : N5309E01506 PROTECTED STATUS : Pomeranian Bay COORDINATES : N5320E01415 PROTECTED STATUS : Przemkow Fishponds COORDINATES : N5134E01549 Rosowko Lake COORDINATES : N5319E01425 Rozpuda COORDINATES : N5402E02236 San: K/M Sanok 17km COORDINATES : N4936E02211 Siemien Fishponds COORDINATES : N5140E02250
COORDINATES :
Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Not Protected Protected Not Protected
Slonsk Reserve N5233E01443
Slupsk Bank COORDINATES : N5420E01630
PROTECTED STATUS :
308
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Sobieszewo Stogi 5km COORDINATES : N5418E01845 Swidwie Reservoir COORDINATES : N5334E01422 Szczecin Lagoon COORDINATES : N5350E01430
Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Mergellus albellus Anas platyrhynchos Anser f. rossicus
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Breeding Winter Winter Moulting Autumn Winter Winter Winter
300 7500 36900 7738 30000 33085 100 100 150 140 3257 3150
1979 1992 1992 1993 1992 1993 1982 1984 1979 1981 1990 1992
63 2029 9410 54200 21288 4016 6529 20342 20 20 600 15 30 51 9000 12000 1265 20071 2400
11 11 1 1 5 10 5 5 11 11 1 11 11 11 10 10 5 11 10
Warta: Chojno Wronki 12km COORDINATES : N5243E01623 PROTECTED Warta: Gorzow Borek 18km COORDINATES : N5236E01522 PROTECTED Warta: Middle River COORDINATES : N5212E01810 PROTECTED Wiercica: K/M Potok Zloty 2km COORDINATES : N5056E01904 PROTECTED Wisla: Grudziadz 12km COORDINATES : N5331E01848 PROTECTED Wistula Lagoon COORDINATES : N5422E01930 PROTECTED Wistula: Deblin-Plock COORDINATES : N5200E02038 Zgierzyniecki Reservoir COORDINATES : N5227E01626
Unknown Unknown Not Protected Unknown Unknown Not Protected Partially Protected Unknown
PORTUGAL
Sites in Portugal that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
N4039W00834 Barragem Do Alvito COORDINATES : N3817W00754 Estuario Do Tejo COORDINATES : N3845W00905 Lagoa de Sto. Andre COORDINATES : N3806W00849 Ria de Faro COORDINATES : N3700W00755
Aveiro
COORDINATES :
Partially Protected Not Protected Protected Partially Protected Protected
Melanitta nigra Netta rufina Anser anser Anas penelope Anas crecca Netta rufina Anas penelope
23410 250 3320 5819 14377 619 6793
1994 1987 1996 1992 1991 1994 1993
13779 1 1727 3090 8145 390 2635
11 8 8 8 8 8 8
ROMANIA/MOLDOVA
Sites in Romania/Moldova that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Stnca Co ste sti Reservoir COORDINATES : N4757E02710
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Anser anser Anser erythropus
Winter Winter
2000 250
1991 1990
250
10 10
ROMANIA
Sites in Romania that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Bacau I and II Reservoirs COORDINATES : N4638E02655 Balta Alba

COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
N4515E02715
PROTECTED STATUS :
Black Sea Coast COORDINATES : N4430E02850
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Cefa Fishponds COORDINATES : N4655E02141
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Aythya nyroca Bucephala clangula Mergus merganser Anas strepera Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Anser anser Branta ruficollis Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Summer Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter
50 200 290 1000 5000 500 1000 300 5 510 1050 10000 460 41000 29000 165 11000 1100 2300 60
1988 1983 1993 1970 1972 1969 1970 1970 1988 1994 1990 1990 1994 1990 1990 1992 1995 1993 1993 1991
40 28 120 200 1 220 1050 2750 92 7000 9000 30 4000 500 950 30
11 9 2 10 10 10 10 11 11 1 10 1 11 10 10 11 10 1 1 11 11
309
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Danube Delta and Razelm-Sinoe Lagoon Complex COORDINATES : N4510E02920 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected
Dobrudja
COORDINATES :
N4415E02815
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
Dr gas ni Reservoir COORDINATES : N4436E02418 Fizes Valley COORDINATES : N4657E02405 Grleni COORDINATES : N4638E02647 Insula Mic a Br ilei COORDINATES : N4455E02755 Lake Agigea COORDINATES : N4402E02832 Lake Comana COORDINATES : N4410E02606 Lake Dunareni COORDINATES : N4411E02746 Lake Tasaul COORDINATES : N4421E02835 Lake Techirghiol COORDINATES : N4358E02840
Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Branta ruficollis Anas strepera Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Netta rufina Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Melanitta fusca Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Bucephala clangula Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Branta ruficollis Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Tadorna tadorna Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Branta ruficollis Branta ruficollis Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Cygnus cygnus Aythya nyroca Bucephala clangula Aythya nyroca Anser anser Aythya nyroca
Breeding Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Spring Winter Spring Spring Winter Spring Autumn Winter Spring Winter Breeding Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Summer Winter Autumn Summer Winter Winter Breeding Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Passage Winter Summer Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Spring Winter Spring Winter Winter
2 1 2100 3307 3394 358000 4200 50000 36000 20360 9807 10963 404573 170100 5100 32220 7110 369150 171160 10200 584 182756 12000 17 280 4986 811 280 364000 1000 1000 50 36 70 900 46 9 100 29 400 10000 18 75 65 1200 150 40000 86 30000 300 9000 12 24 35 8 175 846 412 10 300 75
1988 1971 1994 1989 1989 1991 1971 1988 1971 1971 1988 1971 1969 1988 1971 1969 1971 1989 1969 1991 1989 1979 1992 1989 1988 1989 1989 1989 1989 1994 1974 1983 1993 1969 1990 1992 1988 1988 1990 1993 1989 1969 1988 1992 1989 1989 1990 1991 1993 1990 1990 1993 1994 1993 1996 1993 1994 1989 1989
1 522 846 125000 19000 13000 30000 300 9860 168 2860 52 2484 256 58 150000 100000 433 17 12 13 418 9 2456 15 16 14 15788 7 300 1970 5 16 30 150 26
11 11 10 1 1 1 10 1 1 8 10 8 1 1 8 8 10 1 10 11 8 10 1 10 10 10 1 8 10 2 2 10 10 11 11 11 2 11 11 11 11 11 9 11 11 11 11 8 11 1 11 10 11 1 11 11 11 11 11 10 1 10 11 11 11
PROTECTED STATUS :
Lakes Istria-Nunta s i-Tuzla COORDINATES : N4432E02844
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Lakes Ma a-R deanu-Crja-Vdeni COORDINATES : N4604E02807 PROTECTED Mures: Rdesti COORDINATES : N4604E02807 PROTECTED Mure s: Tifra-Aiud COORDINATES : N4610E02340 PROTECTED Parches-Somova COORDINATES : N617E02345 PROTECTED Pitesti Reservoirs COORDINATES : N4512E02838 PROTECTED Por ile de Fier Reservoir COORDINATES : N4442E02220 PROTECTED Rotba 0 Fishponds COORDINATES : N4553E02633 PROTECTED Strejesti Reservoir COORDINATES : N4435E02419 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Unknown Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
RUSSIA
Sites in Russia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Akhtarski and Sladki Limans COORDINATES : N4600E03800
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Cygnus olor Anser anser
Breeding Breeding
3200 5000
1 1
310
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Azov Sea: Eastern Coast COORDINATES : N4546E03805
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Anser anser Anser anser Branta ruficollis Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Netta rufina Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Anser anser Anas crecca Netta rufina Cygnus cygnus Anas crecca Anas acuta Aythya fuligula Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. fabalis Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Branta ruficollis Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Bucephala clangula Anser albifrons Somateria mollissima Bucephala clangula Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta b. bernicla Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya marila Polysticta stelleri Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Bucephala clangula Mergus merganser Branta b. bernicla Polysticta stelleri Mergus merganser Polysticta stelleri Anser f. rossicus
Passage Passage Winter Passage Winter Passage Passage Winter Passage Winter Passage Winter Passage Passage Passage Passage Winter Passage Winter Passage Passage Passage Passage Winter Passage Winter Passage Passage Winter Breeding Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Breeding Breeding Breeding Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Passage Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Breeding Moulting Breeding Summer Passage Spring Breeding Spring Spring Passage Passage Breeding Passage Passage Passage Passage Passage Autumn Breeding Breeding Breeding Breeding
120000 1500 31400 52000 8300 26400 1000 1500 6000 9000 1000 2000 640 -
1981 1981 1981 1977 1992 -
7000 2000 15000 10000 750 2000 -
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 1 1 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 1 1 1 1
Azov Sea: Kuban Delta COORDINATES : N4520E03715

COORDINATES :
Not Protected Protected Not Protected
Caspian: Biryuchek Island N4540E04900
Caspian: Kizlyar Bay COORDINATES : N4440E04700 Chalmny-Varre COORDINATES : N6700E03710 Chaselskaya Lakes COORDINATES : N6528E07910 Dvuobje (Middle Ob River) COORDINATES : N6500E06530
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Faustovo Floodplains COORDINATES : N5519E03836 Kandalakshskaya Bay COORDINATES : N6700E03315

Partially Protected Partially Protected Not Protected
Kanin Peninsula: N6640E04440
Kanin Peninsula: Torna-Shoina Interstream Area N6757E04317 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Protected
Khaypudyrskaya Bay N6835E05945
Kola Peninsula: Ainovy Islands N6950E03135 PROTECTED
Kola Peninsula: Gavrilovsky Archipelago COORDINATES : N6910E03556 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected Kola Peninsula: Iokanga and Ponoy Rivers COORDINATES : N6730E03715 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Protected
311
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Kola Peninsula: Kildin Island Murmansk COORDINATES : N6918E03330 PROTECTED STATUS : Kola Peninsula: Lumbovka-Ponoy Reka Rivers COORDINATES : N6730E04030 PROTECTED STATUS : Kola Peninsula: Ponoy Losinga-Zakaznik COORDINATES : N6700E03900 PROTECTED STATUS : Kola Peninsula: Rybachky Peninsula COORDINATES : N6935E03300 PROTECTED STATUS : Kola Peninsula: Savikha Bay-Litsky Islands COORDINATES : N6820E03850 PROTECTED STATUS : Kola Peninsula: Som Ostrovov COORDINATES : N6900E03630 PROTECTED STATUS : Kola Peninsula: Voronjya River Mouth COORDINATES : N6911E03549 PROTECTED STATUS : Manych-Godilo Lakes COORDINATES : N4436E04300 PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Protected
Polysticta stelleri Anser f. rossicus Cygnus cygnus Polysticta stelleri Polysticta stelleri Polysticta stelleri Mergus merganser Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser erythropus Anser anser Branta ruficollis Branta ruficollis Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Branta leucopsis Branta b. bernicla Somateria mollissima Cygnus c. bewickii Aythya marila Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anas penelope Anas platyrhynchos Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Branta ruficollis Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anas acuta Somateria spectabilis Clangula hyemalis Clangula hyemalis Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Branta ruficollis Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas querquedula Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Bucephala clangula Anser f. rossicus
Spring Moulting Autumn Spring Spring Spring Autumn Autumn Spring Spring Spring Winter Autumn Spring Breeding Passage Winter Autumn Moulting Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Spring Autumn Autumn Autumn Breeding Spring Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Moulting Passage Passage Passage Moulting Passage Passage Moulting Moulting Passage Moulting Passage Moulting Breeding Moulting Breeding Breeding Breeding Moulting Autumn Breeding Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Passage Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Moulting
2063 4488 15000 6009 3430 1000 100000 10000 4500 105000 450000 22500 555000 285000 52500 15000 3541 82500 72537 28500 1500 165000 801000 82500 15000 91500 46500 6000 -
1994 1994 1994 1994 1980 1995 -
15000 500 2650 45000 5000 25000 1500 22000 3000 15000 20000 -
10 1 1 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 1 10 10 1 10 1 1 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 1 1 1 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 1
North Karelia Lakes COORDINATES : N6600E03300 Oka Valley COORDINATES : N5443E04110 Onega Bay COORDINATES : N6430E03530 Pechora Delta COORDINATES : N6815E05345 Pskovsko-Chudskoye Lakes COORDINATES : N5709E02751
Protected Partially Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Protected
Pyasina and Pura Rivers N7310E08530 Pyasina River Delta COORDINATES : N7348E08720
COORDINATES :
Streca and Varzuga Rivers N6630E03740 PROTECTED Ustje Obi (Mouth of Ob River) COORDINATES : N6638E06900 PROTECTED
COORDINATES :
STATUS : STATUS :
500 50000
Vashutkiny, Padimeyskiye and Khargeyskiye Lakes COORDINATES : N6800E06200 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Protected
312
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Vaygach Island COORDINATES : N7000E05930 Veselovskoye Reservoir COORDINATES : N4700E04130

Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Protected
Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Anser anser Branta ruficollis Anser albifrons Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anser anser Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas platyrhynchos Anas platyrhynchos Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas acuta Anas querquedula Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Mergellus albellus Anser albifrons Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Branta b. bernicla Clangula hyemalis Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Anas crecca Anas acuta Aythya fuligula Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Netta rufina Aythya ferina Cygnus cygnus Anser f. fabalis
Breeding Breeding Breeding Passage Spring Passage Breeding Passage Passage Passage Winter Breeding Moulting Passage Winter Moulting Breeding Moulting Passage Winter Moulting Passage Moulting Breeding Breeding Passage Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring Spring Spring Breeding Breeding Breeding Breeding Passage Passage Breeding Moulting Autumn Breeding Passage Passage Moulting Passage Passage Passage Passage Passage Passage Autumn Autumn
15000 21000 10000 30000 25000 4800 21000 47700 6000 24000 213300 1200 207510 124780 13001 55000 172500 17500 4500 3000 9000 3000 6000 40000 500 2600
1981 1981 1981 1981 1981 -
8000 25000 -
1 1 1 1 10 11 1 10 10 10 10 1 1 10 10 1 10 1 10 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 10 10 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Vinogradovskaja Valley N5540E03730 Volga Delta N4600E04840
Vyalye Lake COORDINATES : N5910E03010 Vyborg Bay COORDINATES : N6035E02835
Western Chertovo Lakes COORDINATES : N6410E08000 Western Ilmen Area COORDINATES : N4600E04725
PROTECTED STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Yurto Lakes
N6335E07910
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
SAUDI ARABIA
Sites in Saudi Arabia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Al-Hair
COORDINATES :
N2425E04650 N2833E03617
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Partially Protected Unknown Unknown Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not protected Unknown
Al-Jamdal Al-Jawf
Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna tadorna Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala
Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring
70 2 855 35 31 128 21 50
1991 1994 1991 1988 1993 1984
436 18 41 16 -
10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
N2800E03942 PROTECTED Jubayl Lagoons = Sabkah Al Fasl COORDINATES : N2700E04940 PROTECTED Tabuk COORDINATES : N2823E03638 PROTECTED Wadi Hanifah 50km COORDINATES : N2420E04700 PROTECTED Wadi Jizan Dam = Malaki COORDINATES : N1703E04258
Wadi Tendeha Dam N1820E04230 Yanbu Al-Bahr N2608E03800
313
SENEGAL
Sites in Senegal that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Boundoum Kassak COORDINATES : N1622W01600

Plectropterus gambensis Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Dendrocygna viduata Anas acuta Anas querquedula Alopochen aegyptiacus Anas querquedula Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Marmaronetta angustirostris Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter July Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter
500 2600 247 2010 7900 1390 1665 6300 40000 50000 340 50000 1668 901 4 32620 66050 2662 10163 3210 240984 246000 34250 4 1 230
1976 1993 1993 1983 1976 1973 1980 1972 1989 1971 1973 1959 1987 1987 1969 1987 1986 1991 1976 1976 1986 1976 1989 1979 1993 1972
103 520 49 86 133 56 1256 8601 7376 120 334 180 420 5012 755 557 239 54598 92001 11000 12
9 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 11 8 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 11 11 10
Debi
N1630W01600 N1612W01540
Lac de Guier
COORDINATES :
Lampsar and Djeuss Floodplains N1615W01618 PROTECTED Ndiael N1614W01605
STATUS :
Unknown Protected Protected Protected
COORDINATES :
P.N. du Niokolo Koba COORDINATES : N1300W01300

COORDINATES :
P.N. des Oiseaux du Djoudj N1625W01615
PROTECTED STATUS :
SLOVAKIA
Sites in Slovakia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Cenkov-Moca COORDINATES : N4745E01829 Cenkov-Sturovo COORDINATES : N4747E01839 Cicovske Mrtve Rameno COORDINATES : N4745E01744 Duajske Luhy COORDINATES : N4756E01735
Unknown Unknown Protected Protected
Anser anser Anser f. rossicus Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Anas platyrhynchos Bucephala clangula Anser f. rossicus Aythya nyroca Anser anser Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser erythropus
Winter Winter Breeding Passage Passage Winter Passage Winter Winter Winter Breeding Passage Breeding Breeding Winter Passage
280 4000 30 280 25701 2940 40051 500 60 15 6000 -
1993 1985 1993 1993 1993 1994 1993 -
93 832 30000 -
11 8 11 10 10 10 1 10 10 10 11 10 11 11 10 11
Duna: Bratislava-Sap N4750E01720 Latorica COORDINATES : N4828E02200

Unknown Protected Partially Protected Protected Protected Protected
Orava Reservoir N4924E01933
Parizske Mociare N4745E01831 Trnavske Rybniky COORDINATES : N4822E01733 Zemplinska Sirava Reservoir COORDINATES : N4848E02200
SLOVENIA
Sites in Slovenia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Drava: Ormoz COORDINATES : N4625E01613 Drava: Ptuj COORDINATES : N4625E01551
Bucephala clangula Anser anser Bucephala clangula
800 200 1103
1990 1993
337 501
8 10 8
SOUTH AFRICA
Sites in South Africa that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Allemanskraaldam COORDINATES : S2817E02709
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis
Winter Winter
4481 2654
1992 1994
4481 2654
10 10
314
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Botriviervlei COORDINATES : S3421E01906 De Hoop Vlei COORDINATES : S3426E02025 Kalkfonteindam COORDINATES : S2930E02515 Knelpoortdam COORDINATES : S2946E02653 Langvlei
COORDINATES :
Anas smithii Anas smithii Tadorna cana Anas undulata Anas undulata Anas smithii Anas smithii Anas undulata Anas smithii
352 509 1047 1087 807 853 528 615 581
1994 1994 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992 1994 1992
352 509 1047 1087 807 853 528 615 581
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
S3358E02241
Rocher Pan COORDINATES : S3236E01818 Spioenkop Dam COORDINATES : S2841E02929 Strandfontein Sewage Works COORDINATES : S3405E01831
SPAIN
Sites in Spain that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Albufera de Adra COORDINATES : N3638W00302 Albufera de Alcudia COORDINATES : N3945E00303 Albufera de Valencia COORDINATES : N3916W00023
Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Anas strepera Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Aythya ferina Oxyura leucocephala Netta rufina Anas clypeata Anas penelope Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Oxyura leucocephala Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anser anser Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter -
230 1 1000 28752 2 12205 12285 8 700 7300 14000 30 23 104 5 39 2 2620 128 285 1 1 4 2 4 4300 7241 9455 4119 12875 42822 15500 6144 22 3 5
1992 1968 1991 1986 1986 1981 1975 1991 1968 1995 1995 1991 1986 1979 1991 1985 1986 1987 1988 1985 1985 1989 1976 1992 1988 -
103 77 18573 7516 2788 6 350 7300 1047 30 23 34 3 17 1 2620 48 155 2 2 1163 1836 5846 1942 6834 35549 11792 3878 4 1 5
1 11 8 1 11 1 8 10 1 10 9 10 10 1 11 1 11 10 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 9 9 1 1 8 1 1 1 11 11 11
Albufera Mallorca COORDINATES : N3945E00303 PROTECTED Almenara (Estanques-Estanys) COORDINATES : N3943W00015 PROTECTED Arrozales de Puebla y Villafranco COORDINATES : N3609W00551 PROTECTED Bahia de Cadiz COORDINATES : N3629W00613 PROTECTED Campo Golf Almerimar COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Campo Golf Playa Serena COORDINATES : N3834W00542 PROTECTED Canada de las Norias COORDINATES : N3646W00244 PROTECTED Charcones de Entinas COORDINATES : N3638W00250 PROTECTED Charcones Miguel Esteban COORDINATES : N3931W00305 PROTECTED Corta de Olivillos COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Coto del Rey COORDINATES : N3700W00700 PROTECTED Dehesa de Monreal COORDINATES : N3950W00339 PROTECTED Delta del Ebro COORDINATES : N4040E00041 PROTECTED Delta del Llobregat COORDINATES : N4118E00205 PROTECTED Depuradora Santa Pola COORDINATES : N3808W00038 PROTECTED Desembocadura Guadalhorce COORDINATES : N3638W00427 PROTECTED Doana
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Not Protected Not Protected Protected Protected Not Protected Not Protected Unknown Not Protected Unknown Unknown Not Protected Protected Unknown Unknown
N3700W00624 N4040E00041
Ebro Delta
Embalse de Casas de D. Antonio COORDINATES : N3940W00550 PROTECTED Embalse de Cordobilla COORDINATES : N3720W00442 Embalse de Elchie COORDINATES : N3813W00031
STATUS :
Unknown Protected Not Protected
315
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Embalse de la Coronela COORDINATES : N3710W00525 PROTECTED Embalse de la Vinuela COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Embalse de Malpasillo COORDINATES : N3717W00440 PROTECTED Embalse del Chato COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Embalse del Esla COORDINATES : N4145W00548 PROTECTED Embalse del Hondo COORDINATES : N3818W00046 PROTECTED Embalse del Vicario COORDINATES : N3856W00358 PROTECTED Embalse Santiago-S. Martin COORDINATES : N4222W00707 PROTECTED Embalse Vega del Jabalon COORDINATES : N3856W00358 PROTECTED Estero de Domingo Rubio COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Gallocanta (Inc: El Langunazo) COORDINATES : N4056W00130 PROTECTED
Not Protected Not Protected Protected Not Protected Unknown Protected Not Protected Unknown Not Protected Protected Unknown
Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Netta rufina Aythya ferina Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter -
243 7 44 2 2502 37 1 15 90 2 11100 3860 12541 35680 79220 2765 1 4 2570 60 3 18 9 20 3 29 407 7 13 559 110 12 15 2 465 1 130 11 114 1 1 105 8
1991 1992 1985 1981 1978 1989 1979 1979 1985 1991 1992 1992 1972 1988 1993 -
61 7 7 2 1251 14 1 3 27 2 680 127 4367 38 16485 445 1 4 2570 16 2 18 5 11 2 12 127 7 13 173 0 1 8 0 96 1 25 5 43 1 31 8
1 10 1 11 10 1 11 11 1 11 8 8 8 8 1 1 11 11 10 1 11 1 10 1 11 1 11 1 10 1 10 11 1 11 1 11 1 10 1 11 11 1 1
Grande y Chica de Villafranca COORDINATES : N3924W00317 PROTECTED Graveras Ciempozuelos COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Guadiamar Encauzado COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Guadiamar Hato Blanco COORDINATES : N3740W00550 PROTECTED Laguna Amarga COORDINATES : N3718W00436 PROTECTED Laguna Arjona COORDINATES : N3609W00551 PROTECTED Laguna Capacete COORDINATES : N3659W00451 PROTECTED Laguna Cigarrera COORDINATES : N3652W00553 PROTECTED Laguna Comisario COORDINATES : N3629W00601 PROTECTED Laguna de Jarales COORDINATES : N3718W00434 PROTECTED Laguna de Jeli COORDINATES : N3625W00601 PROTECTED Laguna de la Mata COORDINATES : N3750W00040 PROTECTED Laguna de la Ratosa COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Laguna de los Tollos COORDINATES : N3652W00600 PROTECTED Laguna de Medina COORDINATES : N3636W00601 PROTECTED Laguna de Palos COORDINATES : N Laguna de Tarage COORDINATES : N3629W00601 Laguna de Tarelo COORDINATES : N
COORDINATES :
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Not Protected Protected Unknown Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Unknown Protected Not Protected Protected Protected Unknown Not Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Unknown Protected Protected Not Protected
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Laguna de Tiscar N3725W00440
Laguna de Zonar COORDINATES : N3729W00441 Laguna del Acebuche COORDINATES : N Laguna del Gosque COORDINATES : N3713W00505 Laguna del Hoyo COORDINATES : N4052W00450 Laguna del Portil COORDINATES : N3720W00646 Laguna del Rincon COORDINATES : N3727W00437 Laguna del Taray COORDINATES : N3929W00317
316
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Laguna Dulce COORDINATES : N3659W00451 PROTECTED Laguna Fuente Piedra COORDINATES : N3659W00444 PROTECTED Laguna Galiana COORDINATES : N3630W00540 PROTECTED Laguna Gobierno COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Laguna Grande V. C. COORDINATES : N3929W00317 PROTECTED Laguna Honda COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Laguna Montellano COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Laguna Pena COORDINATES : N3652W00553 PROTECTED Laguna Pilon COORDINATES : N3652W00553 PROTECTED Laguna Salada COORDINATES : N3659W00451 PROTECTED Laguna Santa Ollala COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Laguna Taraje COORDINATES : N3700W00553 PROTECTED Laguna Vega O Pueblo P. M. COORDINATES : N3924W00256 PROTECTED Lagunas de las Canteras COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Lagunas de Terry COORDINATES : N3620W00600 PROTECTED Lagunas de Zorilla COORDINATES : N3650W00550 PROTECTED Lagunas Ojos de Villaverde COORDINATES : N3845W00222 PROTECTED Las de Terry COORDINATES : N3620W00600 PROTECTED Las de Zorilla COORDINATES : N3650W00550 PROTECTED Las Nuevas COORDINATES : N3720W00520 PROTECTED Las. de Alcazar COORDINATES : N3924W00317 PROTECTED La. de Campillos (136500452+3) COORDINATES : N3710W00445 PROTECTED La. de Fuente de Piedra COORDINATES : N3659W00444 PROTECTED La. de los Tollos (El Cuervo) COORDINATES : N3652W00600 PROTECTED La. de Manjavacas COORDINATES : N3924W00250 PROTECTED La. de Medina COORDINATES : N3636W00601 PROTECTED La. de Pastrana COORDINATES : N3929W00317 PROTECTED La. de Retamar La. de Dehesa COORDINATES : N3924W00256 PROTECTED La. del Taray COORDINATES : N3929W00317 PROTECTED La. Nava Grande de Malagon COORDINATES : N3906W00351 PROTECTED Lucio Congrejo Grande COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Lucio de Vetalengua COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Lucios de Mari Lopez COORDINATES : N3650W00540 PROTECTED Maltiempo (Marismillas) COORDINATES : N Mar Menor COORDINATES : N3736W00046 Marismas de Sevilla COORDINATES : N3725W00459 Marismas del Guadalquivir COORDINATES : N3659W00619
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Protected Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Not Protected Protected Partially Protected Protected Unknown Partially Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Protected Unknown
Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Netta rufina Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Anser anser Anas clypeata Netta rufina Netta rufina Aythya ferina Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Anas strepera Netta rufina Netta rufina Netta rufina Netta rufina Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas clypeata Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
50 11 1 4 5 3 14 9 4 4 13 127 53 5 76 107 495 30 120 6165 5010 775 350 17600 50 2070 1000 775 700 1469 4592 500 3 5 2750 7500 13500 22500 1 15 185 71191 5296 113910 8700
1989 1988 1989 1989 1991 1972 1991 1980 1972 1972 1972 1973 1986 1974 1983 1979 1972 1986 1981 1991 1991 1991 1991 1978 1992 1989 1989 1985 1985
29 6 1 2 5 2 8 4 4 4 7 31 17 5 26 36 495 6 6165 132 14 576 150 33 450 198 109 2 5 2750 7500 13500 22500 1 185 45058 2759 44782 4375
1 10 11 11 11 11 1 10 11 11 1 1 1 11 1 1 10 8 8 10 9 9 8 8 8 1 8 8 10 9 8 8 11 11 10 10 10 10 11 11 10 1 1 1 1
Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown
317
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Marismas del Guadalquivir ... continued
Marismas del Odiel COORDINATES : N3709W00715 Pantaneta de Gibalbin COORDINATES : N Playa del Hondo COORDINATES : N3818W00046 Preparque Este COORDINATES : N3659W00610 P. Conde de Guadalhorce COORDINATES : N3650W00451 P. de Almansa COORDINATES : N3850W00105 P. de Buendia COORDINATES : N4018W00242 P. de Gasset COORDINATES : N3906W00358 P. de Guadalmellato COORDINATES : N3802W00446 P. de Iznajar COORDINATES : N3715W00417 P. de Orellana COORDINATES : N3854W00528 P. de Penarroya COORDINATES : N3856W00250 P. del Ebro COORDINATES : N4259W00401 P. del Hondo COORDINATES : N3818W00046
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected Not Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Not Protected Unknown Not Protected Not Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Not Protected Protected Protected Unknown Unknown
Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Aythya ferina Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anas penelope Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Netta rufina Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Netta rufina Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Netta rufina Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Netta rufina Anas strepera Anas clypeata Netta rufina Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala
Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter -
159110 17000 39800 85500 525 230 5010 15610 3 23 3 12300 3 294 2521 373 12 52 1333 15983 1411 435 10 45 6 1520 1 16 1 1 500 1 1000 3 151 19 9 2 421 858 10000 21275 5000 1 5365 900 1 350 3300 6000 8500 250 141
1989 1972 1985 1985 1989 1989 1985 1992 1991 1987 1989 1980 1980 1992 1976 1991 1989 1987 1981 1975 1992 1978 1987 1983 1986 1984 1975 1975 1988 1983 1980 1983 1980 1972 1983 1968 1984 1972 1972 1984 1983 -
77385 7554 13111 47270 60 1942 1899 3 9 1 12300 1 59 20 10 3 19 611 8235 392 2 274 1 4 1 1 12 237 1 39 19 160 173 326 8301 467 36 900 1 350 674 1601 1700 63 46
1 8 1 1 10 1 1 8 11 1 11 10 11 9 9 8 11 11 8 8 1 8 11 10 11 1 11 11 11 11 8 11 8 11 1 10 11 11 8 9 8 8 8 11 8 10 11 10 9 9 2 11 1
Raco de Lolla COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Ria de Cedeira COORDINATES : N4336W00803 PROTECTED Rio Ojailen COORDINATES : N PROTECTED Rio Zujar COORDINATES : N3850W00521 PROTECTED Ruidera (138500251-7) COORDINATES : N3852W00250 PROTECTED Salina de la Mata COORDINATES : N3756W00046 PROTECTED Salina de la Mata COORDINATES : N3756W00046 PROTECTED Salina de Santa Fe COORDINATES : N3808W00038 PROTECTED Salinas de Cerrillos COORDINATES : N3638W00243 PROTECTED Salinas de Santa Pola COORDINATES : N3808W00038 PROTECTED Salinas de Santa Pola y Pinet COORDINATES : N3808W00038 PROTECTED Tabla de Vado Ancho COORDINATES : N3924W00317 Tablas de Daimiel COORDINATES : N3902W00338
Tablas del Giguela (Molineta) COORDINATES : N3906W00338 PROTECTED Vado-Ancho COORDINATES : N3924W00317 PROTECTED Vedados de Silla COORDINATES : N3922W00023 PROTECTED Vedados de Sueca COORDINATES : N3911W00015 PROTECTED Vegas Altas El Palazuelo COORDINATES : N3900W00550 Veta la Palma COORDINATES : N3659W00546
Unknown Not Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
318
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Villafafila (Grande y Chica) COORDINATES : N4150W00534 PROTECTED Zonas Humedas del Sur de Cordoba COORDINATES : N3725W00445 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Anser anser Oxyura leucocephala
Winter Breeding
56930 135
1992 -
17598 -
1 1
SUDAN
Sites in Sudan that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Jebel Aulia Dam COORDINATES : N0800E03010 Lake Abiad

COORDINATES :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
Aythya nyroca Anas querquedula Anas querquedula Anas penelope Aythya nyroca Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca
5 15000 11000 3000 15 4700 105
1983 1983 1983 1983 1983 1983 1983
15000 11000 3000 105
11 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10
N1015E02955
Lake Keilak COORDINATES : N1045E02920 Nile: Khartoum COORDINATES : N1535E03230 Sudd/Jonglei Canal COORDINATES : N0700E03110 White Nile Bird Sanctuary COORDINATES : N1545E03230
SVALBARD AND JAN MAYEN

Sites in Svalbard and Jan Mayen that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Bjornoya
COORDINATES :
N7430E01900
Not Protected Protected Not Protected Protected Protected Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Protected Protected
Boheman
COORDINATES : N7822E01440 Daudmansoyra COORDINATES : N7815E01300
Anser brachyrhynchus Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Anser brachyrhynchus Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta b. hrota Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta leucopsis Branta b. hrota
Autumn Autumn Breeding Moulting Breeding Moulting Breeding Breeding Breeding Breeding Breeding Moulting Breeding Breeding Breeding Breeding
150 900 300 500 2100 1000 30 750 1200 3000 350 300 240 1800
1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
COORDINATES :
Dunoyane
N7704E01500
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Forlandsoyane COORDINATES : N7820E01136 Isoyane

COORDINATES :
N7708E01448
Nordenskiold-Kysten COORDINATES : N7750E01350 PROTECTED NW Spitzbergen National Park COORDINATES : N7937E01230 PROTECTED Olsholmen COORDINATES : N7715E01415 PROTECTED Tusenoyane COORDINATES : N7705E02210 PROTECTED
SWEDEN
Sites in Sweden that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Alboke
N5656E01647 N5635E01415 N5940E01722 N5603E01407
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected
Anser f. fabalis Cygnus cygnus Anser f. fabalis Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Mergus merganser Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Anser anser
Winter Spring Spring Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Autumn
1410 1000 1400 780 871 1808 2890 950 15000 3000 2000 2550 1125 1990 2000 2146
1994 1983 1975 1978 1982 1991 1983 1989 1979 1986 1986 1988
837 818 191 53 507 2064 950 58 1355 791 439 468 918
10 10 2 10 9 8 9 1 1 10 8 1 8 9 8 10 8
Almhult
Alstasjn
Araslvsjn
Asnen
N5645E01435 N5545E01255 N5529E01320
Barsebck Brringe
Bottorp
COORDINATES :
N5636E01614
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
319
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Brviken Dybck Egeside
COORDINATES :
N5835E01623 N5524E01333 N5553E01412
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Partially Protected
Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Aythya fuligula Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Anas clypeata Cygnus cygnus Cygnus olor Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Anas penelope Mergus merganser Anser anser Anas crecca Anser f. fabalis Branta leucopsis Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Clangula hyemalis Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Clangula hyemalis Aythya fuligula Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Cygnus cygnus Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Mergus merganser Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Clangula hyemalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Aythya fuligula Mergus merganser Mergus merganser Aythya fuligula Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser erythropus Aythya fuligula Mergus merganser Cygnus cygnus Aythya fuligula Anser f. fabalis Mergus merganser Cygnus cygnus
Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Autumn November Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Spring Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Spring
2000 4912 11000 2500 3500 5181 1400 4000 400 417 2150 5552 2205 16000 2163 4000 4000 822 11760 3695 379800 3840 2420 3245 23230 27648 1180 1540 2610 10595 10000 2400 800 800 2663 925120 1258 875 3375 1300 4500 15000 1990 3214 11250 10000 1428 3000 4000 1040 1067 25515 4700 11140 6 12887 5770 400 14101 840 2000 1000
1990 1994 1983 1983 1992 1985 1989 1995 1983 1974 1978 1994 1995 1970 1993 1989 1978 1991 1980 1989 1993 1986 1988 1978 1981 1978 1978 1993 1993 1985 1983 1986 1983 1994 1977 1980 1994 1986 1994 1984 1970 1968 1969 1978 -
1500 4012 556 1495 4217 268 2634 87 614 41 1936 4 2476 822 11760 3695 379800 3840 2420 3245 23230 13539 336 760 839 6353 1925 399 367 2663 925120 345 319 211 680 2616 15000 1990 1109 400 1656 878 1133 2027 137 278 19855 2060 3468 5353 426 9 794 109 1000
8 1 10 8 2 1 8 1 10 8 8 8 8 10 8 1 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 9 8 10 2 1 10 1 9 9 1 1 9 9 8 9 1 1 1 8 8 1 2 1 1 8 8 1 2 1 11 8 8 8 8 8 10 1
Ellestadsjn COORDINATES : N5533E01343 Falsterbo Peninsula COORDINATES : N5525E01250 Finjasjon COORDINATES : N5613E01338 Foteviken COORDINATES : N5528E01256
Gamleby
N5745E01625 N5708E01213
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected
Getteron Godelov
N5534E01325 Gotland East Coast COORDINATES : N5724E01842
Gotland Northwest Coast COORDINATES : N5755E01845 Go-Karlskrona COORDINATES : N5611E01523 Hckeberga COORDINATES : N5534E01325 Hammarsjon COORDINATES : N5559E01412 Hjalmaren
COORDINATES :
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected Not Protected Protected
N5915E01545 Hjlstaviken COORDINATES : N5939E01722
Hoburgs Bank COORDINATES : N5645E01835 Jordberga COORDINATES : N5525E01324 Kabusa-Hammar COORDINATES : N5522E01400 Kalmar Sound COORDINATES : N5650E01630 Kapellhamn-Slite COORDINATES : N5754E01844 Karlshamn-Ronneby COORDINATES : N5611E01505 Krageholmsjn COORDINATES : N5530E01345 Kungsbacka COORDINATES : N5725E01207 Kvismaren COORDINATES : N5911E01522
Not Protected Protected Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Protected
Lake Tjalmejaure Laisdalen Valley COORDINATES : N6618E01622 PROTECTED Landsort-Musko COORDINATES : N5859E01752 PROTECTED Lommabukten COORDINATES : N5536E01301 PROTECTED Marielund COORDINATES : N5646E01249 PROTECTED Mockeln COORDINATES : N5640E01408 PROTECTED Nedre Dalalven COORDINATES : N6027E01527 PROTECTED
320
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Norra Oland COORDINATES : N5722E01704 North Midsjo Bank COORDINATES : Not Protected Oland East Coast COORDINATES : N5640E01645
Not Protected Not Protected Reserve Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
Clangula hyemalis Clangula hyemalis Bucephala clangula Anser f. fabalis Cygnus olor Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Aythya fuligula Mergus merganser Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Mergus merganser Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Aythya fuligula Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Cygnus olor Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser anser Anser f. fabalis Anser Anser Anser Anser Anser Anser Anser f. f. f. f. f. f. f. fabalis fabalis fabalis fabalis fabalis fabalis fabalis
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Autumn Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Summer Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Passage Summer Autumn Autumn Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Spring Winter Winter Autumn Spring Winter Autumn Winter Winter
108052 75980 3875 1500 2670 17000 3187 1000 1000 11500 4200 11600 12997 4884 1510 2500 10000 3500 1300 1500 11800 2700 3500 4500 2000 49600 5300 37000 6100 9800 1000 3000 3262 1290 1850 8710 3058 1000 2000 950 1110 850 3800 2300 975 5500 5000 6150 2404 3150 3538
1991 1993 1970 1991 1982 1993 1985 1993 1 1991 1991 1985 1986 1980 1985 1984 1989 1979 1979 1991 1994 1990 1982 1986 1992 1991 1979 1985 1978 1986 1978 1978 1980 1985 1983 1978 1984 1987
49000 75980 3875 1135 2670 2020 1000 9534 3262 8600 3064 1236 1263 1384 2500 633 720 11800 607 1408 2297 21620 3963 2345 4232 360 2300 924 254 1338 4560 3058 783 370 407 289 850 1470 574 381 172 1832 2155 120 629 1140
1 1 1 1 1 10 8 10 1 1 2 1 8 8 1 8 10 5 9 8 1 8 2 1 10 1 6 1 1 10 10 10 8 3 1 8 2 1 1 11 8 9 8 10 2 9 8 8 2 1 8 8 8
Oppmannasjn N5605E01419 Oresund N5613E01239 N5810E01140 N5833E01354
Orust
Osten
Pukaviksbukten COORDINATES : N5611E01446 Revsudden-Monsteras COORDINATES : N5654E01622

COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Protected Protected
Ringsjn
N5553E01330 N4830E01545 N5908E01535
Roxen
Segersj
N5645E01435 PROTECTED South Stockholm Archipelago COORDINATES : N5650E01630 PROTECTED Svde COORDINATES : N5535E01339 PROTECTED Tkern
COORDINATES :
Skatelv
N5822E01447
PROTECTED STATUS :
Tmnaren
N6006E01712 N5540E01304
Unknown Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Unknown Not Protected Not Protected Unknown Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected
Trolleberg
Trolle-Ljungby N5600E01420 N5857E01736 N5918E01502 N5641E01452 N5650E01337 N5718E01222
Tullgarn
Tysslingen
Ursa-Jt Vesan
COORDINATES :
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Veselngen
COORDINATES :
Vomb-Krankesjn COORDINATES : N5540E01337 Yddingen

COORDINATES :
N5533E01315
Ystad-Beddinge COORDINATES : N5525E01339
Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Anser f. fabalis Bucephala clangula
SWITZERLAND
Sites in Switzerland that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Bieler See (Schussmundung Inkl) COORDINATES : N4702E00705 PROTECTED Colombier-La Thielle (Zihlkanal) COORDINATES : N4658E00657 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Not Supplied Not Supplied
Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula
Winter Winter
18520 41525
1982 1982
7247 2598
8 8
321
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Corcelettes-La Raisse,vaumarcus COORDINATES : N4652E00642 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Cudrefin (Debarcadere Excl.)-Estavayer (Debarcadere Excl.) COORDINATES : N4652E00657 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Estavayer (Debarcadere Excl.)-Yvonnand COORDINATES : N4647E00650 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Fleur Deau-Pointe de Promenthoux N4625E00619 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Hermance Frontiere-Yvoire-Chateau COORDINATES : N4620E00619 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Jonction Arve/Rhone Pont Cff-U.e Verbois COORDINATES : N4609E00605 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied La Thielle (Zihlkanal)-Cudrefin (Debarcadere Incl.) COORDINATES : N4658E00705 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Mammern Exkl.-Stein Am Rhein (Brucke) COORDINATES : N4736E00856 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Stein Am Rhein (Brucke)-Unterhalb Bibermuhle (Land COORDINATES : N4736E00847 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Villeneuve la Tiniere-Rivaz Debarcadere COORDINATES : N4625E00651 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied Yvoire-Chateau-Pointe des Balises Pres DAnthy COORDINATES : N4620E00619 PROTECTED STATUS : Not Supplied
COORDINATES :
Netta rufina Aythya fuligula Netta rufina Aythya fuligula Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Netta rufina Aythya fuligula Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
254 21350 1116 13929 1958 17500 19800 14650 12000 10 12178 2600 22000 13700 41409 10532 14840 13142 15930
1993 1985 1993 1989 1993 1991 1991 1968 1993 1985 1986 1991 1991 1973 1984 1985 1992 1978 1981
71 5392 587 6842 742 6520 8109 2839 6049 1 3174 718 7043 4470 16109 1662 4205 2929 3733
8 8 1 8 1 1 8 8 8 11 8 1 8 1 1 8 8 8 8
SYRIA
Sites in Syria that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Baath Lake
COORDINATES :
N3552E03838 Bahrat Homs (Qattine) COORDINATES : N3438E03635
Anser anser Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya fuligula Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Branta ruficollis Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca
Winter Breeding Passage Winter Winter Winter Breeding Spring Winter Winter Autumn Breeding Passage Winter Winter Spring Winter Spring Autumn Autumn
1000 100 20 8000 400 2000 300 300 400 300 20 20
1993 1994 1994 1982 1982
150 500 100 150 -
10 11 11 11 10 10 11 11 10 10 11 11 11 10 11 10 10 11 10 11
COORDINATES :
Euphrates River N3540E03945
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Lake Muzayrib N3242E03601 Sabkhat Al-Jabbul COORDINATES : N3604E03730

COORDINATES :
COORDINATES :
Tual Al-Abba N3625E03920
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
TANZANIA
Sites in Tanzania that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Arusha NP Alkaline Lakes COORDINATES : S0315E03655
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Oxyura maccoa
1000
10
TCHAD
Sites in Tchad that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Cuvette de MBourao COORDINATES : N0951E01451 Depression de Toubouri COORDINATES : N0955E01501 Lac de Tikem COORDINATES : N0948E01506 Lac Fitri COORDINATES : N1250E01728
Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
Dendrocygna viduata Sarkidiornis melanotos Sarkidiornis melanotos Dendrocygna viduata Sarkidiornis melanotos Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
3600 1000 900 5000 1700 11000 24800 200 1450 5200
1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1984 1987
1793 339 359 2310 567 3590 9040 61 593 2570
11 11 11 11 10 2 2 9 2 2
322
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Lac Fitri ... continued Mare de Katoa COORDINATES : N1050E01505 PROTECTED Mare de Nzili COORDINATES : N1107E02257 PROTECTED Mare Tchakam COORDINATES : N1329E02044 PROTECTED Mourdi Depression (Mare de Bagada) COORDINATES : N1800E02200 PROTECTED Plaines du Logone (Tchad) COORDINATES : N1122E01508 PROTECTED Polders du Kanem COORDINATES : N1200E00150
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Anas acuta Anas querquedula Aythya nyroca Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas acuta Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Marmaronetta angustirostris Dendrocygna viduata Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
56000 83000 500 5000 15000 40 100 200 13000 500 1400 2200 45 10
1986 1986 1987 1987 1987 1967 1969 1962 1987 1986 1986 1987 1970 1971
24760 24520 180 2500 7500 40 50 3000 125 635 554 35 10
2 2 2 10 11 11 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 11
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
TUNISIA
Sites in Tunisia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Ariana (Er Riana) Sebkha COORDINATES : N3650E01018
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Barrage Bezirk COORDINATES : N3643E01038 PROTECTED Barrage Chiba COORDINATES : N3642E01046 PROTECTED Barrage El Haouareb COORDINATES : N3534E00944 PROTECTED Barrage Ghdir El Goulla (El Golla I) COORDINATES : N3647E01004 PROTECTED Barrage Lebna COORDINATES : N3644E01055 PROTECTED Barrage Mlaabi COORDINATES : N3650E01058 PROTECTED Barrage Mornaguia (El Golla Ii) COORDINATES : N3647E01002 PROTECTED Barrage Oued El Kebir COORDINATES : N3614E00946 PROTECTED Barrage Sidi Abdelmonem COORDINATES : N3652E01056 PROTECTED Barrage Sidi Saad COORDINATES : N3522E00940 PROTECTED Besbessia COORDINATES : N3658E00957 PROTECTED El Kebira COORDINATES : N3622E00951 PROTECTED El Kourzia Sebkha COORDINATES : N3622E00943 PROTECTED En Noual Sebkha COORDINATES : N3420E00948 PROTECTED Garaet Mabtouha COORDINATES : N3659E00957 PROTECTED Garaet Zougrata COORDINATES : N3359E00956 Hadj Kacem COORDINATES : N3452E01010 Kalaat El Andeless Estuaire COORDINATES : N3658E01010 Kneiss Islands and Coast COORDINATES : N3422E01016 Lac de Tunis COORDINATES : N3649E01015 Lac Ichkeul COORDINATES : N3710E00940
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna tadorna Anas clypeata Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anas penelope Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anas penelope Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anas penelope Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Anas penelope Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna tadorna
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
2 2000 8000 10 3 50 59 11 21 12 12 3 3 112 2 95 3200 1500 33 2017 12750 5880 20 5 25000 800 1300 10662 26344 700 600 20450 50000 9100 120000 25030 38 1650
1986 1987 1987 1989 1987 1992 1989 1989 1987 1993 1987 1991 1989 1978 1986 1970 1977 1973 1983 1990 1990 1991 1970 1975 1975 1969 1975 1974 1977 1986 1989 1977 1982 1986 1974 1978 1989
616 1606 4 1 20 29 4 3 4 3 1 1 663 500 7 793 6376 1786 4 3 5246 3420 648 21 5445 14321 1503 20450 5866 332
11 9 9 1 11 5 10 1 8 10 8 11 11 8 11 9 3 11 2 2 2 9 11 10 9 10 8 8 8 10 1 1 1 8 1 1 8 8
Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Protected Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Lagune de Ghar El Melah COORDINATES : N3709E01011 Lagune de Soliman COORDINATES : N3644E01029
Unknown Unknown
323
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Menzel Dar Bel Ouar Sebkha COORDINATES : N3556E01023 PROTECTED Sebkha de Moknine COORDINATES : N3535E01057 PROTECTED Sebkha de Sejoumi COORDINATES : N3646E01019 PROTECTED Sebkha El Jem COORDINATES : N3522E01020 PROTECTED Sebkha et Saline de Monastir COORDINATES : N3545E01046 PROTECTED Sebkha Kelbia COORDINATES : N3552E01015 PROTECTED
Unknown Unknown Protected Protected Unknown Protected
Oxyura leucocephala Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Tadorna tadorna Anas clypeata Oxyura leucocephala Aythya ferina Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna tadorna Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
8 150 1850 12600 18000 349 10720 2393 44 1800 90000 14000 40000 5 25000 27 950 5 952 600 30 4700 200 15000 2500 55
1975 1987 1986 1990 1976 1973 1973 1986 1968 1973 1977 1973 1978 1975 1975 1974 1983 1974 1973 1971 1992 1972 1971 1975 1971 1975
31 582 3206 1730 205 281 4413 126 1261 10 240 115 6 84 1060 14
9 10 8 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 11 8 11 11 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 10
Sebkha Rherra Ou El Ghorra N3508E01030 Sebkha Sidi Khalifa COORDINATES : N3614E01027 Sebkha Sidi Mansour COORDINATES : N3414E00930
COORDINATES :
COORDINATES :
Sidi El Hani Sebkha N3529E01022
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
TURKEY
Sites in Turkey that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Acigol
COORDINATES :
N3751E02948
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected Not Protected Protected
COORDINATES :
Aksehir Gl N3833E03124 Akyatan Gl N3635E03519
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
Akyayan Gl N3635E03539 Amik Gl
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected Unknown Not Protected Not Protected Unknown
COORDINATES :
N3619E03615 Aynas Swamp (Drained) COORDINATES : N3640E03452 Bafa Gl COORDINATES : N3732E02724 Bataklik/Hotamis COORDINATES : N3737E03310
Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Marmaronetta angustirostris Anser albifrons Anas strepera Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Oxyura leucocephala Anas penelope Marmaronetta angustirostris Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Anas crecca Marmaronetta angustirostris Anas strepera Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas strepera Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anas penelope Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Netta rufina Aythya ferina
Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
450 350 150 15900 5000 576 978 520 854 160000 252475 40000 100000 70 16801 191 29700 1 30000 7000 12600 1200 1250 1500 482 2490 4 790 33 1 9000 500 80 9200 5000 550 2604 54250 11210 8 1 3000 70000
1988 1968 1989 1969 1971 1992 1989 1992 1969 1972 1969 1969 1971 1992 1993 1971 1970 1969 1967 1968 1968 1989 1967 1972 1971 1971 1971 1990 1967 1967 1967 1988 1993 1973 1986 1973 1993 1993 1969 1969
152 150 6450 478 224 372 12320 3647 2419 910 1 6922 40 4643 7576 1750 2680 251 282 155 1 25 1 5731 136 429 12491 69 2 160 -
10 8 10 8 8 8 1 8 8 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 11 11 10 9 2 8 9 9 9 11 9 11 11 9 9 11 1 10 8 8 1 8 11 11 9 9
COORDINATES :
Bendimahi Delta N3856E04339
Beysehir Gl COORDINATES : N3742E03134 Burdur Gl
COORDINATES :
N3741E03012
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Buyuk Cekmece N4102E02836 Calti Gl COORDINATES : N3746E02941

COORDINATES :
324
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Camalti Salt Pans COORDINATES : N3836E02657 Cavuscu Gl COORDINATES : N3824E03154 Celebibag Sazligi COORDINATES : N3858E04320 Corak Gl COORDINATES : N3741E02948
Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anas crecca Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Tadorna ferruginea Anser albifrons Oxyura leucocephala Anser albifrons Anas penelope Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Aythya nyroca Anas acuta Tadorna tadorna Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anas crecca Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Aythya nyroca Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Anas acuta Oxyura leucocephala Anser erythropus Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas penelope Anas crecca Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser albifrons Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Tadorna ferruginea Anas crecca Netta rufina Netta rufina Aythya fuligula Oxyura leucocephala Anser albifrons Anser anser Anas crecca Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Anas penelope Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Tadorna ferruginea
Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Moulting Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Breeding Breeding Winter Autumn Breeding Moulting Autumn Breeding Winter Autumn Breeding Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Breeding Breeding Autumn Autumn Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
200 92 300 1610 10 300 85 930 20200 40000 100 534 25500 17500 10000 50 60 15 40000 2500 300 9000 98 105 6000 17320 9 500 25 8000 19 2000 30000 50000 6 1 1450 1000 25275 25000 90 66 25000 150 1296 25 959 30 60 27100 53 12 1750 12000 1503 1299 10478 1 8178 920 11000 1060 18370 300 201 30 2 236 10000 3 4000 85 7113 900
1988 1971 1968 1971 1986 1969 1970 1992 1988 1967 1967 1968 1967 1986 1972 1970 1969 1969 1969 1992 1993 1993 1967 1971 1968 1971 1972 1970 1992 1993 1967 1967 1992 1971 1993 1993 1993 1969 1992 1993 1969 1971 1971 1973 1967 1969 1969 1969 1971 1989
107 6112 5 178 9384 700 39 20030 562 667 10000 16667 1 472 22 5469 4184 1 3113 1 10 594 13 382 416 3720 2146 822 404 7360 20 50 47 300 78 98 430
8 11 10 10 11 10 11 10 8 8 11 11 10 11 9 9 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 11 11 10 10 11 10 11 1 11 11 10 10 11 11 1 8 8 8 10 8 8 11 9 11 10 11 11 10 10 10 9 9 9 8 9 11 8 10 8 8 8 11 11 11 11 9 9 11 9 11 9 1
Demir Kopru Baraji COORDINATES : N3835E02825 Dden (=kulu) Gl COORDINATES : N3932E03309 Eber Gl COORDINATES : N3840E03113 Edremit Sazligi COORDINATES : N3824E04318 Emen Gl COORDINATES : N3709E03640 Ercek Gl COORDINATES : N3839E04333
COORDINATES :
Not Protected Unknown Not Protected Not Protected
Eregli Marshes N3731E03358
PROTECTED STATUS :
Eregli (Ak-Gol) COORDINATES : N3731E03358 Garsurgole

COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Unknown Protected
N3720E03647
PROTECTED STATUS :
Goksu Delta COORDINATES : N3618E03357
PROTECTED STATUS :
Golbek; Bumsey; Kusucol COORDINATES : N3918E03250 Hirfanli Baraji COORDINATES : N3902E03352 Horkum Gl COORDINATES : N3820E04256 Hotamis/Bataklik COORDINATES : N3737E03310
Unknown Unknown Not Protected Not Protected
Hoyran Gl and Egridir Gl COORDINATES : N3757E03053 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Not Protected
Isikli Gl (civril Gl) COORDINATES : N3812E02956
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Karagol (Destroyed) COORDINATES : N3641E02953 Karamik Gl COORDINATES : N3824E03045
Karapinar Ovasi COORDINATES : N3747E03338
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
325
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Karatas Gl COORDINATES : N3724E03001 Kavak Delta COORDINATES : N4034E02649 Kizilirmak Delta COORDINATES : N4135E03604
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected
Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas penelope Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Melanitta fusca Anser erythropus Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Anser albifrons Tadorna ferruginea Anas crecca Anser anser Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Anas crecca Aythya ferina Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas clypeata Netta rufina Aythya ferina Cygnus olor Anser anser Anas crecca Aythya nyroca Tadorna ferruginea Melanitta fusca Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser albifrons Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Moulting Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Breeding Moulting Winter Winter Autumn Breeding Autumn Autumn
5 780 212 10200 73 5000 16750 31690 8000 600 61 28 2 16000 16000 16000 10000 10000 16000 3 90 500 800 10000 6000 45000 100 50000 1398 200000 400 5000 42000 950 3000 120 231 35000 11700 1400 274 105000 1000 45000 22000 60000 23000 23000 20000 1244 6000 10580 10 820 39 29 90 128 1 9718 1625 1358 16500 323 300 75 8000 1 600 40 60 12000 11000
1987 1990 1968 1992 1967 1973 1973 1967 1992 1970 1988 1967 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1990 1969 1970 1970 1968 1967 1968 1967 1967 1990 1990 1969 1987 1973 1967 1973 1967 1967 1967 1967 1967 1967 1993 1969 1971 1969 1969 1970 1971 1992 1993 1992 1970 1992 1991 1992 -
1 88 141 19 98 4378 4827 1584 6 2 16000 16000 16000 10000 10000 16000 1 10328 433 40802 649 34 71 883 6123 6 2768 1044 370 898 31 251 1 2203 1 29 90 34 1 3706 56 109 1 300 -
11 10 8 8 11 11 8 8 8 8 1 11 1 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 11 2 2 2 8 8 8 8 8 11 8 8 8 10 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 11 8 10 11 11 11 11 8 1 8 10 11 10 11 10 11 11 11 11 10 10
Kocabas Delta COORDINATES : N4018E02718 Kokarot COORDINATES : N3635E03532
Unknown Unknown
Krater Gl COORDINATES : N3742E03345 Kulu Gl COORDINATES : N3902E03310
Kurbaga Gl COORDINATES : N3818E03514 Manyas Gl COORDINATES : N4014E02760
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Marmara Gl COORDINATES : N3835E02806 Menderes Delta COORDINATES : N3732E02717
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Meric Delta COORDINATES : N4046E02614 Mogan Gl COORDINATES : N3945E03249 Nemrut Dagi COORDINATES : N3837E04213 Ovagolu (Likely Destroyed) COORDINATES : N3619E02925 Sakarya: Lake Ne of Ahiler COORDINATES : N3720E03128 Salda Gl N3730E02941 Sarikum Gl COORDINATES : N4201E03451 Seyfe Gl COORDINATES : N3917E03425 Seyhan Baraji COORDINATES : N3659E03519 Sodah Gol
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Not Protected Partially Protected Unknown Unknown Not Protected Protected Protected
Partially Protected Not Protected Unknown Protected
N3849E04259
COORDINATES :
Suleymanhali Gl N3725E03304
Sultansazligi COORDINATES : N3818E03514
326
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Sultansazligi ... continued
Tersakan Gl (Cihanbejli) COORDINATES : N3836E03303 Tuz Gl COORDINATES : N3830E03330
Unknown Unknown
Tuzla Gl (Ceyhan Delta) COORDINATES : N3640E03505
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
Uluabat Gl (Apolyont Gl) COORDINATES : N4009E02835 PROTECTED Upper Murat Vadigi COORDINATES : N3910E04219 Van Sazligi COORDINATES : N3829E04319 Yarisli Gl COORDINATES : N3735E03001 Yedi Kugular Baraji COORDINATES : N4040E03550 Yemisli Gl COORDINATES : N3641E03526 Yesilirmak Delta COORDINATES : N4124E03640 Yesilova Marsh COORDINATES : N3730E02954 Yumurtalik Lagoons COORDINATES : N3641E03539
STATUS :
Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Not Protected Unknown Unknown Partially Protected Unknown Unknown
Tadorna ferruginea Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Marmaronetta angustirostris Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Aythya ferina Anser albifrons Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Anser albifrons Anser albifrons Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Anas crecca Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Mergellus albellus Tadorna ferruginea Oxyura leucocephala Marmaronetta angustirostris Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Anas penelope Tadorna tadorna Aythya fuligula Tadorna ferruginea Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope
Winter Autumn Autumn Autumn Autumn Breeding Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Spring Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Autumn Breeding Breeding Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
539 600000 15000 9000 150 6 17000 41000 8000 394 1 57000 53800 1400 2160 2000 20000 174 800 30000 750 22240 20 1300 1420 45 12 33 415 206 20 1 205 9600 2767 6000 500 301 1100 10000
1990 1970 1972 1992 1987 1969 1987 1972 1969 1968 1968 1990 1969 1970 1986 1992 1969 1992 1992 1987 1970 1969 1969 1990 1987 1967
118 1934 137 17413 22 5969 2 291 4103 12515 38 11 49 70 2080 554 1247 343 60 124 3116
8 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 9 9 11 8 1 10 8 8 8 8 1 8 8 1 11 8 10 11 10 11 8 8 11 11 11 9 9 9 10 8 8 8
PROTECTED STATUS :
TURKMENISTAN
Sites in Turkmenistan that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Adzhiyab Floodlands COORDINATES : N3728E05412
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Amudarya Valley: Chardzhou-Neftezavodsk COORDINATES : N3915E06350 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Amudarya Valley: Darganata-Tyuyamuyun COORDINATES : N4050E06200 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Amudarya Valley: Druzhba Nukus COORDINATES : N4145E06030 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Amudarya Valley: Karabekaul Chardzhou COORDINATES : N3855E06352 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Amudarya Valley: Kerky Karabekaul COORDINATES : N3815E06437 PROTECTED Amudarya Valley: Mukry Kerky COORDINATES : N3740E06530 PROTECTED Caspian Coast: Gasankuli Kuidzhuk COORDINATES : N3740E05355 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus cygnus Anas platyrhynchos Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Anser anser Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Cygnus c. bewickii Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Mergus serrator Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Anas platyrhynchos
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
8400 14306 35000 9750 6900 25200 11787 4620 17 1500 57450 1350 16695 10438 3760 42280 35830 15604 1254 8390 21 20000 17284 4551 349 4200 50 3000 17790
1980 1980 1979 1989 1979 1989 1987 1986 1986 1991 1990 1994 1988 1986 1994 1989 1987 1986 1986 1988 1991 1989 1991 1989 1987 1994 1972 1972 1990
1554 3293 10681 3828 242 6274 3969 141 377 26612 354 3161 129 1548 13327 13086 2922 223 2555 4 5848 6213 1629 111 1752 152 6513
9 2 9 9 9 8 8 8 11 10 5 8 8 8 1 8 1 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 1 9 10 9 11
Unknown
STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Unknown
Dzharsai River Floodplains COORDINATES : N3800E06145 Goigyrlan Floodlands COORDINATES : N4120E05810
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Unknown
PROTECTED STATUS :
327
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Iolotan Reservoir COORDINATES : N3710E06227 Karakum Canal COORDINATES : N3750E06307 Kelifskiye Lakes COORDINATES : N3750E06420
Aythya nyroca Anser erythropus Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser anser Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Anas acuta Anas querquedula Anas clypeata Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Mergellus albellus Oxyura leucocephala Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Mergus merganser Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Aythya nyroca Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus cygnus Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Oxyura leucocephala Netta rufina Aythya fuligula Mergellus albellus Mergellus albellus Netta rufina Aythya fuligula Mergellus albellus Cygnus cygnus Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Oxyura leucocephala Oxyura leucocephala Anser anser Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina Oxyura leucocephala Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Netta rufina Aythya ferina
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
70 25 75 600 226 795 3785 2500 1000 29000 20600 38000 138000 8500 8000 8500 36700 31700 5000 5670 9000 360 700 1100 2300 340 250 11500 10000 13500 5000 15 200 78 223 2530 67900 33700 6820 460 10 21500 4200 59 202 3200 8100 74100 9000 31000 4950 1800 25000 3000 4 30600 2116 630 380 29000 2500 707 3050 14330 59790 31430 18200 12550 8612 10016 302 57 504 1635 210 4420 6 2538 7150 25000 4248 3960
1972 1975 1974 1994 1987 1986 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 1976 1974 1973 1974 1974 1974 1993 1974 1976 1970 1975 1975 1993 1973 1972 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1986 1990 1993 1987 1994 1986 1986 1986 1993 1986 1993 1994 1986 1986 1986 1993 1994 1989 1993 1993 1993 1993 1994 1991 1988 1991 1994 1993 1994 1994 1994 1986 1993 1994 1977 1983 1982 1977 1989 1985
98 1290 1 284 160 1582 1224 70 60 5994 4320 556 230 44 106 8 68 1 3362 141 1820 3 1 223 2530 67900 33700 6820 460 2 6245 904 20 74 640 2740 21888 3684 9462 1090 520 5452 618 10430 1203 214 92 12405 650 309 1778 3430 34714 13328 11006 2781 2316 4153 103 628 968 267 289 364 883 9
10 11 10 8 8 8 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 1 1 8 8 10 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 11 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 8 8 11 8 8 8 1 1 1 10 1 1 1 11 1 8 8 8 5 11 10 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 11 8 8 11 8 11 8 8 8 8 8
Khangui River Floodplains COORDINATES : N3830E06100 Khauzkhan Reservoir COORDINATES : N3710E06120
Unknown Unknown
Kolkhozbent Reservoir COORDINATES : N3705E06230 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Krasnovodsk and North-Cheleken Bays COORDINATES : N3950E05300 PROTECTED STATUS : Protected
Kurtlinskoye Reservoir COORDINATES : N3803E05817 Lake Aibugyr COORDINATES : N4125E05740 Lake Dengizkul COORDINATES : N3911E06406
Lake Kattashor COORDINATES : N3900E06300
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Lake Koikyrlan COORDINATES : N4140E05900
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Lake Romankul (30km W. of Kattashor) COORDINATES : N3900E06250 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Lake Sarakamysh COORDINATES : N4200E05730
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Lake Sultandag COORDINATES : N3845E06418
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
Lakes Delili, Mamedkul, Kyzylai COORDINATES : N3735E05433 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Unknown
328
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Lower Atrek Floodplains COORDINATES : N3728E05430
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
L. Kyzylburun,ainakul,tailak,turangulduz COORDINATES : N3850E06405 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown N of Gyaurs: Irrigation and Lakes COORDINATES : N3758E05900 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown
Anser anser Anser erythropus Anas penelope Anas strepera Anas crecca Oxyura leucocephala Mergellus albellus Anas strepera Mergellus albellus Oxyura leucocephala Mergus serrator Netta rufina Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Netta rufina Mergellus albellus Anser anser Netta rufina
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
3799 25 5162 4220 65400 358 300 35000 500 21 360 4000 70 50 2500 1360 1200 12300
1979 1989 1989 1979 1988 1986 1988 1985 1979 1978 1975 1976 1974 1994 1994 1994 1994
426 1777 1351 2859 18 7000 120 7 1670 23 774 625 697 4807
8 11 8 1 8 8 8 2 8 11 9 11 10 10 8 1 11 10
Ovadandepe Irrigation N3805E05810 River Tedzhen Floodplains N3810E06010
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Saryyazyn Reservoir N3620E06240 Soltandesht Floodlands COORDINATES : N3730E05930 Tedzhen Reservoir 2 COORDINATES : N3700E06050 Tyuyamuyun Reservoir COORDINATES : N4110E06140 Zeidovskoye Reservoir COORDINATES : N3740E06500
UKRAINE
Sites in the Ukraine that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Beresansky Liman COORDINATES : N4640E03200 PROTECTED Black Sea State Biosphere Reserve COORDINATES : N4620E03200 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Protected
Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser erythropus Anser anser Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Mergus serrator Mergus serrator Mergus merganser Cygnus olor Aythya ferina Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Anser anser Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Anser anser Cygnus olor Anser albifrons Branta ruficollis Cygnus olor Anser albifrons Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Anas platyrhynchos Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Mergus merganser Cygnus olor Tadorna tadorna Cygnus olor Anser anser Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Cygnus olor Anser albifrons Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Anser anser Aythya marila Bucephala clangula
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Breeding Winter Winter Passage Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Moulting Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
630 10700 1000 15200 30 2758 140000 39150 320 10000 9200 2700 1335 130 615 20100 2380 1000 10000 3000 510 1388 4800 950 20000 3500 80000 800 4000 40000 80000 3000 400 600 5000 2140 1502 680 6000 4890 3810 40000 2110 3600 500 5000 500
1991 1990 1985 1990 1990 1990 1984 1993 1984 1993 1988 1986 1984 1991 1991 1993 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991
455 9382 212 6823 6 874 24706 12341 8 3180 5786 146 46 448 12250 2155 5350 221 794 603 5000 3500 80000 800 4000 40000 80000 3000 1670 1502 680 6000 4890 3810 40000 2110 3600 500 5000 500
10 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 11 10 1 10 8 8 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Budaksky + Gribovsky Limans COORDINATES : N4603E03020 PROTECTED Danube Delta COORDINATES : N4520E02940 PROTECTED Dnestr Delta + Liman COORDINATES : N4615E03015
STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Not Protected
Dzansheisky, Shagany, Alibey, Burnas Limans COORDINATES : N4550E03000 PROTECTED STATUS : Unknown Dzharylgach Bay COORDINATES : N4600E03255
COORDINATES : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
E. Sivash
N4610E03350
Kanevskoye Vodokhranilissche COORDINATES : N5000E03130 PROTECTED Karkinitski Bay COORDINATES : N4551E03435 PROTECTED Kuyalnitsky Liman COORDINATES : N4640E03035
COORDINATES :
STATUS : STATUS :
Not Protected Partially Protected Unknown Partially Protected
Molochnoe Oz. N4635E03520
Middle Sivash COORDINATES : N4600E03440 Obitochnaja Kosa COORDINATES : N4632E03618
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown
329
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Sasyk Liman + Adjacent Sea Area COORDINATES : N4538E02940 PROTECTED Shatskiye Ozera COORDINATES : N5133E02350 PROTECTED Sukhoi Liman COORDINATES : N4640E03200 PROTECTED Utlukskij Liman COORDINATES : N4615E03510 Volyno Podolskaya Hills COORDINATES : N4900E02600 W. Sivash
COORDINATES :
Unknown Not Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected
Anser albifrons Anser anser Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Cygnus olor Anser anser Anser erythropus Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser albifrons Tadorna tadorna
Winter Autumn Autumn Winter Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter
20000 1000 10000 12 8200 2850 1500 200 20000 2000
1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991
18000 6 8200 2850 1500 200 20000 2000
10 10 10 11 10 10 11 10 10 10 10
N4530E03510
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Sites in United Arab Emirates that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Khor Dubai and Zabeel COORDINATES : N2512E05520
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Aythya nyroca
Winter
11
UNITED KINGDOM
Sites in the United Kingdom that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex. Key sites in the UK have been identified using only mid-winter (January) data collected by the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS), an extensive monitoring scheme that operated throughout the autumn and winter period. Use of data from all months, and from annual annual goose censuses would result in a lerger list of key sites, in higher maximum counts for many sites already listed, and, in particular, would identify many sites important solely or primarily as staging sites. Many of these sites are in fact designated or proposed for designation as SPAs and/or Ramsar sites on the basis of their flyway importance during these other periods. A summary of recent UK data is published annually and should be used for further detail (Cranswick et al 1995).
Abberton Reservoir COORDINATES : N5149E00051
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Aberlady Bay COORDINATES : N5601E00251 Appin/Eriska/Benderloch COORDINATES : N5634E00522
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Protected Partially Protected Protected Protected Protected Unknown Protected Protected Protected Unknown Not Protected Protected Protected Partially Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected
Cygnus olor Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Aythya ferina Anser brachyrhynchus Anser a. flavirostris Cygnus c. bewickii Anas strepera Cygnus c. bewickii Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Clangula hyemalis Anas acuta Anser anser Anser anser Anser brachyrhynchus Branta b. hrota Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anas strepera
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
635 846 11483 652 1085 4064 17500 314 296 1051 177 3000 292 13287 3518 441 698 210 7000 2306 4200 6800 5000 309 3660 1300 4850 1600 335
1986 1979 1982 1981 1974 1990 1990 1992 1971 1986 1986 -
545 522 4825 418 692 2510 9479 178 183 592 16 2210 178 7991 2671 149 411 74 703 1809 2806 3965 2685 256 1980 592 47 424 232
1 1 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 1 8 1 10 1 8 10 1 11 9 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 10
Avon: Blashford to Hucklesbrook COORDINATES : N5050W00147 PROTECTED Avon: Sopley to Avon Village COORDINATES : N5035W00148 PROTECTED Ballo Reservoir COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Berney Marshes COORDINATES : N5235E00138 PROTECTED Blackwater Estuary COORDINATES : N5158W00750 Blithfield Reservoir COORDINATES : N5249W00156 Breydon Water COORDINATES : N5235E00140 Broomdykes Scrape Allanton COORDINATES : Unknown Burghead Bay COORDINATES : N5741W00332 Burry Inlet COORDINATES : N5107W00412 Bute Lochs
COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
N5550E00655
Caithness Loch COORDINATES : Unknown Cameron Reservoir COORDINATES : N5617W00250 Carlingford Lough COORDINATES : N5404W00610 Carsebreck and Rhynd Lochs COORDINATES : N5615W00350 Castle Loch Lochmaben COORDINATES : N5507W00326 Cheshunt Gravel Pits COORDINATES : N5143W00002
330
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Chew Valley Lake COORDINATES : N5120W00237 Chichester Harbour COORDINATES : N5050W00048 Christchurch Harbour COORDINATES : N5044W00145 Coll COORDINATES : N5637W00637 Colne Estuary COORDINATES : N5144E00053 Colonsay COORDINATES : N5650W00610 Coombe Hill Canal COORDINATES : N5146W00210 Corbet Lough COORDINATES : Unknown Corby Loch COORDINATES : Unknown Cowgill Reservoir COORDINATES : Unknown Cromarty Firth COORDINATES : N5742W00403
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Unknown Protected Unknown Protected Unknown Protected
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas clypeata Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Cygnus olor Anser a. flavirostris Branta leucopsis Cygnus olor Branta b. bernicla Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus olor Anser anser Anser brachyrhynchus Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Anas penelope Anas acuta Anser brachyrhynchus Branta b. bernicla Branta leucopsis Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Anas acuta Cygnus c. bewickii Anas crecca Anser anser Anser anser Anas penelope Anser anser Anas acuta Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Anas clypeata Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus Branta leucopsis Anser brachyrhynchus Anser a. flavirostris Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anas clypeata Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Bucephala clangula Mergus serrator Anser brachyrhynchus Anas strepera Anser anser
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
425 5500 630 11849 4552 538 792 3093 523 6705 600 260 156 2600 6700 663 530 1127 14878 600 6244 8990 400 3000 6924 10715 11945 187 4132 21650 4261 17637 5050 2200 164 407 435 252 2500 5000 3000 350 16410 3300 464 9800 4900 7700 1000 4420 4410 4204 5400 496 6000
1991 1984 1982 1988 1986 1967 1967 1982 1982 1985 1980 1982 1990 1990 1991 1991 1982 1973 1969 -
263 1681 499 10223 2119 330 634 920 280 5508 489 4 99 1650 4050 98 15 329 10200 82 2677 4691 323 1889 6364 7246 9338 59 3716 17970 2112 13428 3290 1270 111 203 271 509 1000 815 310 9208 2300 228 7538 3023 2466 3586 285 112 3400 354 5160
10 8 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 8 8 8 10 8 1 1 1 10 1 1 1 8 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 8 8 1 11 1 1 1 10 1 1 1 8 8 8 10 1 1 1
Crombie Loch COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Crouch/Roach Estuary COORDINATES : N5136E00045 PROTECTED Danna / Keills COORDINATES : Unknown PROTECTED Deben Estuary COORDINATES : N5200E00121 PROTECTED Dee Estuary (England/Wales) COORDINATES : N5315W00307 PROTECTED Derwent Ings COORDINATES : N5351W00056 Dinnet Lochs COORDINATES : Unknown Dornoch Firth COORDINATES : N5752W00400 Drummond Pond COORDINATES : Unknown Duddon Estuary COORDINATES : N5413W00313 Dundrum Bay COORDINATES : N5415W00550 Dungeness COORDINATES : N5055E00058 Durleigh Reservoir COORDINATES : N5107W00302 Eden: COORDINATES : N5450W00250 Eden: Crosby to Carlisle COORDINATES : N5455W00255 Endrick Mouth COORDINATES : Unknown Fala Flow COORDINATES : Unknown Fedderate Reservoir COORDINATES : Unknown Fiddlers Ferry Lagoons COORDINATES : Unknown Findhorn Bay COORDINATES : N5739W00337 Forth COORDINATES : N5603W00330
Unknown Protected Partially Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Unknown Protected Protected Protected Protected Unknown Unknown Protected Protected
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Gladhouse Reservoir COORDINATES : Unknown Gunton Park Lake COORDINATES : Unknown Haddo House Lakes COORDINATES : N5724W00213
Protected Protected Unknown
331
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Hamford Water COORDINATES : N5153E00113
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Hickling Broad N5244E00134 Holburn Moss COORDINATES : Unknown Holkham Sands COORDINATES : N5257E00047 Hoselaw Loch COORDINATES : Unknown Hule Moss COORDINATES : N5544W00227 Humber Estuary COORDINATES : N5343W00015
Protected Protected Protected Protected Unknown Protected Protected
Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Cygnus c. bewickii Anas clypeata Anser anser Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anser brachyrhynchus Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas acuta Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Clangula hyemalis Mergus serrator Anser a. flavirostris Branta leucopsis Anas clypeata Anser brachyrhynchus Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Anser anser Anas penelope Cygnus olor Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anser anser Anser a. flavirostris Branta leucopsis Anser a. flavirostris Cygnus cygnus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anas clypeata Anser brachyrhynchus Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Cygnus cygnus Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Anser brachyrhynchus Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Branta b. hrota Anas penelope
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
9500 10000 20000 7211 1450 202 500 3200 4100 3600 6550 3773 5856 660 234 12311 11246 3095 11004 30200 512 6000 8646 3200 350 3000 5000 28000 307 250 1695 7000 19259 1280 305 8500 550 250 23070 4082 576 6531 1205 1010 2230 8240 2500 374 406 19150 378 264 37100 9700 261 257 12000 5800 168 1960 412 6007 22000
1985 1979 1985 1982 1986 1972 1990 1992 1987 1976 1986 1970 1968 1985 1973 1987 1967 1968 1968 1990 1991 1973 1988 1978 -
3570 782 903 3854 78 51 2338 820 2054 2604 2688 4687 287 137 7675 9071 157 9390 25804 57 2658 6513 864 7 2385 2368 11993 281 38 763 3389 14109 1169 173 381 110 18230 948 478 3713 674 561 1369 5594 172 288 371 12111 31 187 30690 1760 25 159 7066 4370 115 1046 163 4194 13574
1 8 8 1 8 8 8 1 8 1 1 10 1 10 10 1 1 10 1 1 8 1 1 8 8 1 1 10 1 9 1 1 1 1 10 8 1 8 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 3 1 1 8 10 1 1 9 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Inner Moray Firth N5738W00345 Islay
PROTECTED STATUS :
COORDINATES :
N5545W00611 King George VI Reservoir COORDINATES : N5127W00030 Lake of Mentieth COORDINATES : Unknown Langstone Harbour COORDINATES : N5049W00100 Lindisfarne NNR COORDINATES : N5540W00150 Loch Bee Loch Eye
Partially Protected Unknown Protected Protected Protected
N5720W00725 N5747W00357
Protected Protected
COORDINATES :
Loch Garten
Unknown Unknown N5542W00622 Unknown N5611W00322
Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected
Loch Heilen COORDINATES : Loch Indaal COORDINATES : Loch Ken COORDINATES : Loch Leven COORDINATES :
Loch Mahaick Unknown Loch of Harray COORDINATES : N5903W00312

COORDINATES :
Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected Protected
Loch of Kinnordy Unknown Loch of Lintrathen COORDINATES : N5640W00311 Loch of Skene COORDINATES : N5709W00221
Loch of Strathbeg N5737W00152
PROTECTED STATUS :
Loch of Wester N5831W00309 Loch Spiggie COORDINATES : Unknown

Protected Protected Protected Unknown Protected
Loch Spynie
N5740W00318
Loch Tullybetton Unknown Lough Foyle N5507W00705
332
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Loughs Neagh/Beg COORDINATES : N5435W00625
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Lour
COORDINATES : Unknown Lower Bogrotten COORDINATES : Unknown Ludham How Hill COORDINATES : N5240E00018 Machrihanish COORDINATES : N5525W00540 Martin Mere COORDINATES : N5337W00252
Unknown Unknown Unknown Protected Protected
Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Aythya ferina Aythya fuligula Aythya marila Bucephala clangula Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Cygnus c. bewickii Anser a. flavirostris Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas clypeata Tadorna tadorna Anas crecca Anas acuta Aythya ferina Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anser brachyrhynchus Tadorna tadorna Anas acuta Cygnus c. bewickii Anas strepera Anas acuta Anser brachyrhynchus Branta b. bernicla Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Branta b. bernicla Anser anser Cygnus olor Tadorna tadorna Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas strepera Anas acuta Anas clypeata Branta b. hrota Branta b. bernicla Anas acuta Tadorna tadorna Branta b. bernicla Anas clypeata Anser a. flavirostris Anser brachyrhynchus Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas crecca Anas acuta Anas strepera Anas clypeata Anser brachyrhynchus Cygnus c. bewickii Anser albifrons Tadorna tadorna Anas strepera Anas acuta
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
1746 1192 523 40928 25393 3516 13748 3410 3000 185 1240 619 1046 38240 18000 5000 2940 5547 7963 6700 1400 420 9360 20250 13750 35000 1500 9150 6972 3979 2543 303 970 15507 12711 14898 5538 1714 4868 5179 443 4130 643 840 6164 53615 7570 417 3260 724 418 4219 839 3590 3580 422 1240 10518 4849 88612 9500 6507 1805 729 14000 610 >6000 3644 384 657
1991 1992 1991 1992 1992 1993 19 1989 1976 1976 1976 1971 1981 1981 1983 1984 1993 1993 1990 1974 1983 1984 1987 1975 1975 1985 1987 1985 1986 1979 1970s 1977
1427 1091 293 35897 22335 2361 12910 2605 1883 72 1057 533 791 34188 11210 2974 1658 3882 5539 2004 789 97 2716 5395 1728 21800 460 8078 5369 2582 1158 149 511 6899 10351 10193 3323 1039 3107 3666 70 953 422 683 4544 35048 3182 325 955 627 213 1930 442 1962 2685 1057 2931 3540 56318 6703 2273 1321 527 9456 230 3191 290 193
1 1 1 1 1 10 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 8 1 8 8 1 1 8 1 8 1 1 1 1 10 8 1 1 10 10 1 8 1 8 8 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 10 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 8 8
Medway Estuary COORDINATES : N5128E00043
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected
Mersey Estuary: Ince/Stanlow Banks COORDINATES : N5316W00250 PROTECTED Montrose Basin COORDINATES : N5642W00229 Morecambe Bay COORDINATES : N5407W00258 Nene Washes COORDINATES : N5238E00005 North Norfolk Marshes COORDINATES : N5258E00050
STATUS :
Protected
Protected Protected Protected Protected
PROTECTED STATUS :
PROTECTED STATUS :
North-West Solent COORDINATES : N5045W00130 Orkney COORDINATES : N5900W00300 Orwell Estuary Complete COORDINATES : N5200E00113 Ouse Washes COORDINATES : N5230E00013
Protected Partially Protected Protected Protected
Outer Ards
COORDINATES : N5428W00530 PROTECTED Pagham Harbour COORDINATES : N5045W00045 PROTECTED Poole Harbour COORDINATES : N5042W00157 PROTECTED Portsmouth Harbour COORDINATES : N5050W00109 PROTECTED Queen Mother Reservoir (Datchet) COORDINATES : N5128W00033 PROTECTED Rhunahaorhine COORDINATES : N5540W00538 PROTECTED Ribble Estuary COORDINATES : N5343W00300 PROTECTED
Protected Protected Protected Protected Unknown Protected Protected
Rutland Water COORDINATES : N5238W00038 Scolt Head COORDINATES : Unknown Severn Estuary COORDINATES : N5135W00245
333
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Slains Lochs (Meikle/Sand/Cotehill) COORDINATES : N5721W00157 PROTECTED Solway COORDINATES : N5455W00330 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Somerset Levels COORDINATES : N5101W00255
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected Protected Unknown Protected Protected Protected
South Lancashire Mosses (Geese) COORDINATES : N5332W00300 PROTECTED St Benets Levels Ludham COORDINATES : N5242E00131 PROTECTED Staines Reservoir COORDINATES : N5127W00029 PROTECTED Stour Estuary COORDINATES : N5158E00110 PROTECTED Strangford Lough COORDINATES : N5430W00535 PROTECTED Stranraer Swale
Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Cygnus cygnus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Branta leucopsis Anas acuta Aythya marila Cygnus olor Cygnus c. bewickii Anas crecca Anser brachyrhynchus Cygnus c. bewickii Aythya ferina Cygnus olor Anas acuta Cygnus olor Branta b. hrota Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anser a. flavirostris Anser anser Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas acuta Anas clypeata Somateria mollissima Anser anser Tadorna tadorna Cygnus cygnus Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Cygnus olor Branta b. bernicla Anser a. flavirostris Branta leucopsis Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Anser brachyrhynchus Branta b. bernicla Tadorna tadorna Anas acuta Anser brachyrhynchus Cygnus cygnus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser Anas crecca Anas clypeata Anas strepera Anas clypeata Cygnus cygnus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser anser
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
9200 5372 446 25000 1850 12700 2208 5400 525 237 11330 21690 294 5000 504 940 212 13237 3973 20000 770 3600 5521 3692 20291 753 960 30000 6331 4447 251 33109 3137 1173 4355 1101 1535 640 263 520 896 269 272 25330 27742 20194 6541 12965 272 12000 5000 4590 420 404 601 248 7860 2340
1984 1973 1985 1985 1974 1989 1980 1967 1973 1993 1989 1970s 1991 1993 1985 1993 1972 1970 1986 1991 1991 1991 1992 1992 1989 1990 1986 1986 1986 1983 1970 1967 1969
190 78 221 14287 74 12260 1440 3109 327 164 5174 21690 229 179 160 249 163 10573 2371 565 2860 2409 2099 7884 328 208 25150 4270 1239 62 19166 2727 1055 2497 835 1001 396 144 422 741 250 76 15963 23016 18001 3007 8339 51 1078 173 1534 243 142 316 4 2 -
8 8 1 1 8 1 1 10 1 8 8 10 8 8 8 8 1 1 1 8 1 1 8 8 8 8 8 1 1 8 8 1 10 2 10 1 1 1 10 1 1 9 10 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 10 10 10 8 8 8
N5452W00457 N5121E00050
Unknown Protected
Tay Estuary COORDINATES : N5628W00300 Tay/Isla: COORDINATES : Unknown Tees COORDINATES : N5438W00109 Teviot: Nisbet COORDINATES : N5530W00230 Thames Estuary COORDINATES : N5135E00055 The Fleet COORDINATES : N5035W00235 Tiree COORDINATES : N5630W00650 Tweed Estuary COORDINATES : N5546W00200 Tweed: Mouth-Coldstream COORDINATES : N5545W00210 Upper Lough Erne COORDINATES : N5415W00732 Walland Marsh COORDINATES : N5058E00050 Wash COORDINATES : N5250E00015
PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS : PROTECTED STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Protected Unknown Protected Protected Partially Protected Unknown Unknown Protected Protected Protected
West Water Reservoir COORDINATES : N5544W00308 Wigtown Bay West Side COORDINATES : N5450W00425 Woolston Eyes COORDINATES : N5324W00232 Wraysbury Gravel Pits COORDINATES : Unknown Ythan Estuary COORDINATES : N5719W00200
Protected Unknown Protected Protected Unknown
UZBEKISTAN
Sites in Uzbekistan that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Amudarya Valley: Nukus-Aral Sea COORDINATES : N4235E05920 PROTECTED Amudarya: Amu-Bukhara COORDINATES : N3930E06310 PROTECTED Arnasai Lakes COORDINATES : N4055E06750 PROTECTED
Anas platyrhynchos Marmaronetta angustirostris Mergellus albellus
Winter Breeding Winter
29512 346 522
1990 1993 1986
10337 261
10 10 11
334
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Chardarya Reservoir COORDINATES : N4105E06820 Lake Dengizkul COORDINATES : N3911E06406
Unknown Unknown
Talimardzhan Reservoir COORDINATES : N3825E06535 Tudakul Reservoir COORDINATES : N3950E06450 Tuzkan Lake COORDINATES : N4030E06740 Zamanbobo Lake COORDINATES : N4000E06400
PROTECTED STATUS :
Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Oxyura leucocephala Anas strepera Anas platyrhynchos Netta rufina Aythya ferina Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Mergus merganser Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya nyroca Mergellus albellus Anser anser Netta rufina
Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter
6236 650 59 3200 8100 74100 7000 800 25000 3000 20459 8738 300 14421 15 869 1246 2000
1987 1987 1987 1986 1986 1986 1986 1991 1986 1986 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1986 1987 1991
3211 217 33 1067 3072 27170 2634 267 8544 1014 11127 6790 150 14421 15 435 623 1075
11 1 11 11 11 5 11 10 10 10 11 11 1 10 11 10 11 11
YEMEN
Sites in Yemen that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Al-Hudaydah Sewage Lagoons COORDINATES : N1449E04257 PROTECTED Taizz Sewage Lagoons COORDINATES : N1339E04400 PROTECTED
STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Unknown
Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca
Autumn Winter
6 150
11 11
YUGOSLAVIA
Sites in Yugoslavia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Baeka Jopola (Lake Zobnotica) COORDINATES : N4549E01937 PROTECTED Baeka Palaukie COORDINATES : N4445E02119 PROTECTED Carska Bara COORDINATES : N4520E02026 PROTECTED Derdap (Gorge Dunav) COORDINATES : N4430E02200 PROTECTED Donje Podunavlje COORDINATES : N4449E02117 PROTECTED Drava and Fishpond Donji Miholjac COORDINATES : N4546E01814 PROTECTED Dunav-Zamjevac COORDINATES : N4547E01850 PROTECTED Dunav: Radosevac COORDINATES : N4434E02134 PROTECTED Dunav: Ram COORDINATES : N4445E02119 PROTECTED Dunav: V.gradiste COORDINATES : N4440E02134 PROTECTED Dunav: Zatonj COORDINATES : N4440E02126 PROTECTED Jazovo-Mokrin COORDINATES : N4550E02015 PROTECTED Kopacki Rit COORDINATES : N4529E01853 PROTECTED Ludasko Lake COORDINATES : N4604E01948 Podunavlje COORDINATES : N4537E01843 Sava/Bukovlje COORDINATES : N4540E01610 Skadarsko Jezero COORDINATES : N4216E01906
STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS : STATUS :
Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Not Protected Unknown Protected Not Protected Unknown Not Protected
Aythya nyroca Aythya nyroca Anser anser Bucephala clangula Aythya nyroca Anser anser Anser anser Bucephala clangula Aythya ferina Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Mergellus albellus Aythya nyroca Anser f. rossicus Anser albifrons Anser anser Aythya nyroca Anser anser Anser anser Anser albifrons Anas strepera Anas crecca Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina Aythya nyroca Aythya fuligula Bucephala clangula Mergus merganser Anser erythropus Branta ruficollis
Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Breeding Winter Winter Autumn Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Winter Passage
200 100 2500 2176 150 200 200 3029 10051 3285 6077 1101 1036 30 30000 4000 1000 150 470 300 10000 1000 40000 30000 55000 3000 40000 8500 10 -
1989 1988 1991 1993 1987 1990 1990 1988 1989 1990 1990 1990 1988 1989 1989 1988 1987 1968 1993 1993 1994 1969 1993 1991 1992 -
45 100 580 1088 55 200 1056 5565 1331 2554 436 239 12686 968 223 470 300 44 8711 11400 22255 6 12802 2351 2 -
11 11 1 10 11 8 10 1 8 1 1 8 8 11 1 8 1 11 10 10 10 8 8 8 1 8 1 1 1 11 11
Slano Kopovo (Soskopo) COORDINATES : N4537E02013
PROTECTED STATUS :
Partially Protected
335
Key Site
Season
Maximum Count
Year of Maximum
Average Count
Importance code
Stari Begej
COORDINATES :
N4516E02025 Uzdin Fish Pond COORDINATES : N4506E02032 Vrsac COORDINATES : N4507E02119 Vrsacki Rit COORDINATES : N4508E02115
Partially Protected Unknown Unknown Unknown
Anser erythropus Aythya nyroca Melanitta fusca Aythya nyroca Anser anser Aythya nyroca
Winter Breeding Winter Winter Winter Winter
90 43 14 8000 300
1990 1992 1988 1989
11 14 3425 137
11 11 1 11 5 11
ZAMBIA
Sites in Zambia that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance codes refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Bangweulu Swamps COORDINATES : S1158E03015

COORDINATES :
PROTECTED STATUS :
Protected Protected
Kafue Flats
S1540E02710
PROTECTED STATUS :
Dendrocygna bicolor Plectropterus gambensis Anas undulata Dendrocygna bicolor Plectropterus gambensis Sarkidiornis melanotos Anas undulata Anas erythrorhyncha Anas hottentota
3500 1191 2900 58250 23986 20432 2646 9094 2767
1993 1994 1993 1994 1971 1994 1994 1994 1994
2175 1191 927 19475 12043 6912 945 4601 1041
11 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11
ZIMBABWE
Sites in Zimbabwe that have, at least once, supported more than 1% of an Anatidae population as defined in this publication. The average count is an average of the last five midwinter counts at the site or the average of all available midwinter counts if less than five counts have been made at the site. Importance co des refer to the 11 categories explained at the beginning of this Annex.
Lake Chivero (Mcilwaine) COORDINATES : S1752E03047
PROTECTED STATUS :
Recreational Park
Netta erythrophthalma
Cold Dry
3664
1993
1833
10
Additional key site information omitted from the Estonia and Kazakhstan tables.
ESTONIA ... continued

Saarelinla (Saaremaa) COORDINATES : N5826E02308 Siiksaare Bay COORDINATES : N5819E02251 Sorve Peninsula COORDINATES : N5800E02200 Suur Vain Strait COORDINATES : N5832E02326 Tagalaht Bay
Protected Not Protected Not Protected Partially Protected
Branta leucopsis Anas strepera Mergellus albellus Anser anser Aythya marila Melanitta nigra Melanitta fusca Polysticta stelleri Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus c. bewickii Cygnus cygnus Anser anser Anas penelope Anas acuta Clangula hyemalis Bucephala clangula Bucephala clangula Cygnus c. bewickii Branta leucopsis Cygnus c. bewickii Polysticta stelleri Anser anser Branta leucopsis
Passage Moulting Winter Moulting Spring Spring Spring Winter Spring Passage Spring Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring Autumn Winter Autumn Passage Spring Winter Autumn Spring
5000 >500 360 15000 19400 19800 14000 1300 400 1700 3000 1900 13600 2060 195000 4800 3200 1000 4000 1200 2500 2500 4100
1991 1996 1994 1994 1986 1986 1986 1992 1994 1996 1990s 1994 1994 1994 1995 1995 1993 1993 1996 1994 1996 1991 1996
3100 730 200 500 450 500 2300 500 1650 1400 2800
1 8 8 8 8 8 8 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 1 1 1 1 8 1
COORDINATES :
N5828E02204
Vaida
N5916E02458 Vaike Vain Strait COORDINATES : N5808E02230
COORDINATES :
Varnja-Kolkja N5830E02714 Vatta (Saaremaa) COORDINATES : N5813E02243 Vihtra COORDINATES : N5834E02502 Vilsandi Island COORDINATES : N5823E02152 Vohilaid COORDINATES : N5831E02322
COORDINATES :
Not Protected Protected Not Protected Protected Not Protected
KAZAKHSTAN ... continued

Kurgaldzhino and Tengiz Lakes COORDINATES : N5027E06910 PROTECTED
STATUS :
Not Protected
Oxyura leucocephala Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas penelope Anas platyrhynchos Aythya ferina
Breeding August August August August August
300 800 70000 15000 42000 50000
1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995
8 8 8 8 8 8
336

Atlas of Anatidae Populations in Africa W Eurasia

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Atlas of Anatidae Populations in Africa W Eurasia

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Atlas of Anatidae Populations

in Africa and Western Eurasia

With financial support from the

Wetlands International Publication 41

Wetlands International 1996.

Jozias J. van Aartsen Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries

African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement

Conserving wetlands for people and wildlife

2. Identification of Population Limits

2.2 History of Anatidae population delineation in Western Eurasia and Africa

2. Identification of Population Limits

2.3 Practical versus biogeographic units of population

2. Identification of Population Limits

2.4 Existing reviews of Anatidae populations in the Western Palearctic

2. Identification of Population Limits

2.5 Geographic regions not adequately discussed in previous flyway studies

2. Identification of Population Limits

2. Identification of Population Limits

2. Identification of Population Limits

2. Identification of Population Limits

2.6 Sedentary species

2. Identification of Population Limits

West Africa Eastern and Southern Africa Madagascar

West Africa Eastern and Southern Africa Madagascar

West Africa Eastern and Southern Africa Madagascar

Ethiopian highlands East Africa Southern Africa

Northwest mainland and central Europe 210,000

Britain Ireland Black Sea/E Mediterranean W-C Asia/Caspian Region

Iceland/U.K./Ireland NW Continental Europe W Siberia/Black Sea/E Mediterranean W Siberia/Caspian Region

Cygnus columbianus Anser brachyrhynchus Anser fabalis Anser albifrons

2. Identification of Population Limits

TABLE 1 ... continued

Branta ruficollis Cyanochen cyanopterus Alopochen aegyptiacus Tadorna ferruginea

Tadorna cana Tadorna tadorna

Pteronetta hartlaubii Sarkidiornis melanotos

Anas capensis Anas bernieri

2. Identification of Population Limits

TABLE 1 ... continued

Anas melleri Anas sparsa

Anas eatoni Anas erythrorhyncha

Anas querquedula Anas smithii Anas clypeata

Netta erythrophthalma Aythya ferina

2. Identification of Population Limits

TABLE 1 ... continued

Aythya marila Somateria mollissima

Bucephala islandica Mergellus albellus

NE Europe/Black Sea Balkans (breeding) W Siberia/Caspian Region

U.K. C Europe breeding

3. Establishment of a Network of Protected Areas

3. Establishment of a Network of Protected Areas

4.2 Taxonomic scope, treatment and nomenclature

4.3 Population estimates

4.4 Population trends

4.5 Selection of key sites

4.6 Information on key sites

5. Species Accounts and Maps

5. Species Accounts and Maps

5.3 Key to maps

5. Species Accounts and Maps

FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna bicolor

FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna bicolor

FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna bicolor