Lindström, Å. & Green, M. 2013. Monitoring population changes of birds in Sweden. Annual report

for 2012, Department of Biology, Lund University. 80 pp.

We present the results of the Swedish Bird Survey, run by the Department of Biology, Lund University,

as a part of the National Monitoring Programme of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The

results for 2012 include data from 625 winter point count routes in 2011/2012 (37

th winter), of which

306 were carried out during the Christmas/New Year count and 263 summer point count routes (38

th

year). A third programme is running since 1996 with 716 Fixed routes, systematically (semi-randomly)

distributed over Sweden (combined line transect and point counts). In total 481 Fixed routes were

completed in the summer of 2012 (fourth best year). In the programme for covering night-active birds

(3

rd season), 112 routes were covered at three occasions each (March, April and June). Trends were

analyzed using TRIM. The distribution of the covered routes is presented in Figure 1.

In the Christmas/New Year count 2011/2012, about 180,000 individuals of 134 species were

counted by 247 observers, which was an increase compared to previous winters. Moderate to strong

increases in winter populations over the last decade are present in 12 species. Declines over the same

period are prominent in 32 species (Fig. 12).

On the point count routes in summer 2012, about 96,000 birds of 205 species were counted by

164 observers. From the Fixed routes 138,000 birds of 217 species were reported by 247 persons. Trend

graphs for a large number of species are presented in Fig. 12. More graphs and indices can be found on

the homepage (address below). Over the last 10 years, some of the most pronounced declines are found

in Common Eider, Willow Ptarmigan, Rock Ptarmigan, Common Pheasant, Common Coot, Spotted

Redshank, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Swift, House Martin, Sand Martin, Siberian Tit,

Fieldfare, Redwing, Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit, European Greenfinch, Common Redpoll, Common

Rosefinch, Lapland Longspur, Yellowhammer, Ortolan and Rustic Bunting. Some of the strongest

increases during the same period are shown by Greylag Goose, Whooper Swan, Red Kite, White-tailed

eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Wryneck, Mistle Thrush,

Common Redstart, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff (both Swedish ssp.), European Goldfinch

and crossbills.

The night routes showed high owl activity in the south but a dramatic low in the north, compared

to 2011. A few trends from the first three year are presented (Fig. 3). High numbers of Spotted Crake,

Corncrake, European Nightjar and River Warbler were recorded during the night routes in 2012. The

numbers of larger mammals counted were in most cases similar to the years before.

Bird indicators were calculated for Sweden based on summer point counts and the species

selection and methods of the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme. Farmland birds

(“Vanliga jordbruksfåglar”, 14 species) show a more than 50% decline since 1975. Woodland birds

(“Vanliga skogsfåglar”, 21 species) have declined with about 30%, whereas a group of other common

birds (“Övriga vanliga fåglar”, 45 species) have declined with about 10%. We also present the

corresponding indicators based on the new system with Fixed routes (indices since 1998). In the recent

5–10 years, the indicators based on the two schemes have become more and more similar within each

habitat. Another set of indicators, official indicators of biodiversity within the national Environmental

Objectives set by the Swedish Parliament based on data from the Fixed routes, are presented as well

(Fig. 6). Five indicators (lakes and streams, forest, mountain birch forest, northern wetlands and ‘a rich

diversity of plant and animal life’) showed small positive changes between 2011 and 2012. The

indicators for birds in southern wetlands, farmland and mountain tundra showed lower values 2012

compared to 2011. A new indicator for reduced climate impact is presented in this report.

Homepage:

www.zoo.ekol.lu.se/birdmonitoring

Lindström, Å. & Green, M. 2013. Övervakning av fåglarnas populationsutveckling. Årsrapport för 2012.

Rapport, Biologiska institutionen, Lunds Universitet. 80 pp.

I denna rapport redovisas populationstrender för 168 svenska fågelarter för åren 1975–2012. Fåglarna

har räknats på vintern och på sommaren enligt strikt standardiserade metoder. Sommar- respektive

vinterpunktrutter har räknats sedan 1975, i huvudsak i södra Sverige. Standardrutterna räknas också på

sommaren (sedan 1996) men täcker hela Sverige. Vintern 2011/2012 räknades 180 000 fåglar av 134

arter på 306 rutter. Sommaren 2012 räknades 95 000 fåglar av 205 arter på 263 punktrutter och 138 000

fåglar av 217 arter på 481 standardrutter. På standardrutterna räknades för andra året även större

däggdjur och totalt sågs

1257 djur av 23 arter. Talrikaste arterna var rådjur, fälthare, dovhjort och

älg.

Mest nämnvärt på fågelsidan var den fortsatta nedgången för många vanliga småfåglar i norra

Sverige, ett mönster som framträtt allt mer under de allra senaste åren, samt att det f n går mycket dåligt

för flertalet av Sveriges sparvar. På den positiva sidan noterar vi fortsatta framgångar för många

”sydliga arter” såsom svarthätta och sydlig gransångare.

Över de senaste 10 åren uppvisar följande arter några av de mest oroväckande nedgångarna: ejder,

dalripa, fjällripa, svartsnäppa, havstrut, tornseglare, hussvala, backsvala, lappmes, kungsfågel,

ängspiplärka, grönfink, gråsiska, rosenfink, gulsparv, ortolansparv, videsparv och lappsparv. Samma

period har en påtaglig ökning registrerats för exempelvis grågås, sångsvan, glada, havsörn, brun

kärrhök, lärkfalk, större hackspett, göktyta, dubbeltrast, rödstjärt, svarthätta, gransångare (båda raserna),

steglits och mindre korsnäbb. Ser man på trender för hela grupper av arter går det fortsatt sämst för

fåglarna i jordbrukslandskapet, samt i korttidsperspektivet för fjällens fåglar.

Inom nattfågeltaxeringen, det nya system som startades under 2010, inventerades 112 rutter vid

upp till tre tillfällen (mars, april och juni) under 2012. Det totala antalet inräknade individer av flertalet

ugglearter var betydligt lägre 2012 än året före. Det berodde främst på att väldigt få ugglor registrerades

i norra och mellersta Sverige. I södra Sverige var däremot 2012 ett gott uggleår. Förhållandevis höga

antal av småfläckig sumphöna, kornknarr, nattskärra och flodsångare noterades också. Antalet

observerade däggdjur på nattrutterna var generellt lika de för 2010–2011. För fälthare, vildsvin och

rådjur var dock siffrorna klart högre.