Follow the links for more information

Leif Nilsson
Ecology Building
S-223 62  Lund
Sweden

leif.nilsson@zooekol.lu.se

Annual Midwinter Counts have been organised in Sweden as a part of the   International Midwinter Counts (IWC) of Wetlands International since the start of the counts in 1967. 

Load down the latest report here

A report covering the first forty years of midwinter counts of waterfowl in Sweden has just been published as a special issue of Ornis Svecica:

Nilsson, L. 2008. Changes in numbers and distribution of wintering waterfowl in Sweden during forty years, 1967-2006. Ornis Svecica 18:135-226.

International Goose Counts in Sweden  

Regular country-wide goose counts within the framework of the Goose Specialist Group of Wetlands International are undertaken in Sweden since 1977/78.

Load down the latest report here

Offshore seaduck counts in the Baltic

In the winter 2007 a special survey started around the Baltic countries to cover the seabirds and especially seaducks in the entire Baltic sea. Large scale aerial surveys and boat surveys were planned but due to bad weather it was not possible to cover all areas as planned. 

In the winter 2009 all Swedish offshore waters could be covered by counts. The data are just now being analysed but it is clear that marked changes have occurred among wintering seaducks in Swedish/Baltic aters.

The Longtailed Duck has shown a dramatic decrease in numbers during recent years.

The results will be regularly updated on the link below when results become available.

Offshore Swedish Seabird Counts

HOW YOU CAN HELP 

Goosemarking.

Check goose-flocks for neck-banded individuals. 

For more information about codes, marking places etc follow the link New geese have been marked in the summer of 2008, so there will be many more neckbands to read in trhe coming migration season.

Neckbanding of Bean Geese with the same kind of neckbands has also started in Sweden again. Follow the links to the .Taiga Bean Goose Project

Nordic Taiga Bean Goose Research

Neckbanding of Nordic Greylag Geese

Nordic Taiga Bean Goose Research

Neck-banding of Bean Geese have been undertaken in different areas of Sweden and Finland during the late seventies and eighties. In Sweden neckbanding of Bean Geese started again in northern Sweden in 2005. Since the start 78 Bean Geese have been neck-banded at staging areas at Umeå and Luleå. Ten of these have been equipped with satellite PTTs.

At the moment five geese with PTTs are in northern Fennoscandia, whereas one bird has moved to a moulting site on Novaja Zemlja in Russian arctic.

To read more about the Bean Goose Research follow the link below:

Nordic Taiga Bean Goose Research

GOOSE AND WATERDFOWL COUNTS 2008/09 IN SWEDEN

Midwinter counts of waterfowl have been undertaken in Sweden sinced 1967, whereas goose counts started in 1977/78. The results for the last season are now being analysed and will be available if you follow the links below. Increases continues for staging and wintering Greylag Geese, Barnacle Geese and Canada Geese. whereas the number of Bean Geese were lower then in the 80is. An all time high was noted for the Barnacle Goose with an October count exceeding 133000 individuals.

FOR INFORMATION OF THE LATEST RESULTS FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW  OR DOWNLOAD THE ANNUAL REPORT

Goose counts in Sweden

Duck counts in Sweden

Dowinload the latest report

September count of geese and cranes

NEW BREEDING WATERBIRD SURVEY IN THE SWEDISH MOUNTAIN CHAIN

The Rapa delta, Sarek national park, one of the best waterfowl                             Flock of Common and Velvet Scoters at Lake Tärnasjön
habitats in the Swedish mountain chain.

During 1972 - 1975 the breeding waterbird populations of northernmost Fennoscandia were surveyed for the first time. This survey covered the northernmost parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway and has never been repeated since then. During the summer of 2009, the Swedish mountain chain was surveyed once more, this time from helicopter and all old squares in the mountain chain and most special study areas here were visited once more.

The results are still to be analysed but the general impression from the survey is that there are marked changes for some species. It was clear already when doing the work that the Common Scoter has increased in the mountain chain, whereas we found fewer Velvet Scoters than expected. The Whooper Swan was another species that had increased and also moved into new areas. The impression was that the Scaup was more scarce in the south of the mountain chain but that it had kept its possition better in the north.

INTERNATIONAL GOOSE-MEETING IN SWEDEN OCTOBER 2009

The Goose Research Group of Wetlands International will have its 12th meeting at Höllviken in SWweden during the period 9 - 14 October.

For more information go to: