1

Simultaneous January 2020 waterbird and wetland census

along the East Atlantic Flyway: National Reports

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

22

© Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, Wetlands International, BirdLife International

This census, part of a monitoring programme, was organized by the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, Wet-
lands International and BirdLife International in cooperation with the national authorities, organisations
and institutions responsible for waterbird and wetland monitoring in their country.
Besides the organisations funding these national monitoring partners, the organisation and carrying
out of the survey of January 2020 was supported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food
Quality through Programme Towards a Rich Wadden Sea and the Swiss foundation MAVA. Additional
funding was received from the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
Safety, Government and National Park Wadden Sea from Niedersachsen, Government and National Park
Wadden Sea from Schleswig-Holstein, Ministry of Environment and Food Denmark, Vogelbescherming
Nederland, the Wetland Bird Survey through the British Trust for Ornithology, Wildfowl and Wetlands
Trust and Tour du Valat.

Organisation and editing: Marc van Roomen1,2, Gabin Agblonon3, Tom Langendoen3, Geoffroy Citegetse4,
Aissatou Yvette Diallo1, Khady Gueye3, Erik van Winden1,2 & Gerold Lüerßen1,5
1
Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative
2
Sovon, Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology
3
Wetlands International
4
BirdLife International
5
Common Wadden Sea Secretariat
Layout: Gerold Lüerßen, Common Wadden Sea Secretariat

Title picture: Google Earth, US Dept of State Geograher, Image Landsat / Copernicus, © Google 2018, Data
SIO, NOAA, [Link], NGA, GEBCO

Recommended citation whole report: van Roomen M., Agblonon G., Langendoen T., Citegetse G., Diallo
A. Y., Gueye K., van Winden E. & Luerssen G. (eds.) 2020. Simultaneous January 2020 waterbird census
along the East Atlantic Flyway: National Reports. Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative p/a Common Wadden
Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven, Germany, Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Netherlands, BirdLife
International, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Recommended citation separate chapters (example): Conde M. B. M. 2020. Rapport du dénombrement des
oiseaux d‘eau , République de Guinée, Du 27 Janvier au 10 Février 2020. In: van Roomen M., Agblonon
G., Langendoen T., Citegetse G., Diallo A. Y. , Gueye K., van Winden E. & Luerssen G. (eds.) 2020. Simul-
taneous January 2020 waterbird census along the East Atlantic Flyway: National Reports. Wadden Sea
Flyway Initiative p/a Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven, Germany, Wetlands International,
Wageningen, The Netherlands, BirdLife International, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 3

Simultaneous January 2020

waterbird and wetland census
along the East Atlantic Flyway:
National Reports

Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative

Wetlands International
BirdLife International
East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020
4

This report is dedicated to the memory of

Mohamed Balla Moussa Conde (Guinee),
Kenneth Gbengba (Sierra Leone) and
Maria Eugenia (Angola)

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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Summary / Résumé

Summary nementales, de responsables de parcs nationaux

et de réserves naturelles, d’ONG et d’organismes
Countries from Iceland to Estonia and from Nor- de recherche ont également été apportées.
way to South Africa, all along the East Atlantic Au total, 250 espèces d’oiseaux d’eau ont été
Flyway, participated in the 2020 East Atlantic enregistrées. Sur les 95 espèces prioritaires de la
Flyway waterbird survey. In many countries in East voie de migration de l’Atlantique Est, plus de 14
Atlantic Africa financial support and extra coun- millions d’oiseaux ont été recensés. Ce matériel
ters were organized to contribute to this survey. sera utilisé pour calculer la taille des populations
Countries have been requested to contribute a sur la voie de migration (il a fallu corriger les
small national overview to give a first impression comptages incomplets et utiliser l’extrapolation).
of the results collected. 32 countries are present- Sur 110 sites importants, des informations sur
ing their results in this report. A further 5 have les circonstances environnementales, l’utilisation
collected count data which can be used in future humaine et les pressions ont été recueillies. Une
analyses. A total of more than 12,000 observers analyse complète de l’état de la population des
have collected this data, often in their free time espèces utilisant cet voie de migration et de l’état
but also large contributions of government institu- des zones humides qu’elles utilisent sera publiée
tions, national park and nature reserves officers, à la fin de 2021.
NGO’s and research organisations are involved. Ce travail s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une coopé-
250 waterbird species have been recorded in total. ration entre l’Initiative de la voie de migration de
Of the 95 East Atlantic Flyway focal species, more la mer des Wadden (WSFI), Wetlands International
than 14 million birds have been counted. At 110 (WI) et BirdLife International (BLI) visant à amélio-
important sites information about environmental rer le suivi des oiseaux d’eau et des zones humides
circumstances, human use and pressures have le long de la voie de migration de l’Atlantique Est.
been collected. A comprehensive analyses of the Cette coopération a été initiée après l’inscription
population status of the species using this flyway de la mer des Wadden (partagée par le Danemark,
and the state of the wetlands they use will be l’Allemagne et les Pays-Bas) au patrimoine mon-
published at the end of 2021. dial en 2009.
This work is part of a cooperation between the
Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative (WSFI), Wetlands
International (WI) and BirdLife International
(BLI) to improve the monitoring of waterbirds
and wetlands along the East Atlantic Flyway. This
cooperation was initiated after the inscription of
the Wadden Sea (shared by Denmark, Germany and
The Netherlands) as a World Heritage site in 2009.

Résumé
Les pays de l’Islande à l’Estonie et de la Norvège
à l’Afrique du Sud, tout au long de la voie de
migration de l’Atlantique Est, ont été invités à
participer spécifiquement au dénombrement de
2020 sur les oiseaux d’eau de la voie de migra-
tion de l’Atlantique Est. Dans de nombreux pays
d’Afrique de l’Est Atlantique, un soutien financier
et des compteurs supplémentaires ont été orga-
nisés pour contribuer à ce recensement. Il a été
demandé aux pays de fournir un petit aperçu
national pour donner une première impression
des résultats recueillis. 32 pays présentent leurs
résultats dans ce rapport. Cinq autres pays ont
collecté des données de comptage qui pourront
être utilisées dans de futures analyses. Au total,
plus de 12 000 observateurs ont collecté les
données, souvent pendant leur temps libre, mais
d’importantes contributions d’institutions gouver-

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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Content

Summary / Résumé 5
Content 6
1. Introduction 7
2. Methods 9
3. Norway 12
4. Sweden 14
5. Finland 17
6. Estonia 20
7. Latvia 23
8. Lithuania 26
9. United Kingdom 28
10. Denmark 31
11. Germany 34
12. Netherlands 38
13. Belgium 41
14. France 44
15. Portugal 47
16. Morroco 49
17. Mauritania 53
18. Senegal 61
19. The Gambia 66
20. Guinee-Bissau 69
21. Guinee 73
22. Sierra Leone 76
23. Liberia 80
24. Cote d’Ivoire 83
25. Ghana 87
26. Benin 90
27. Nigeria 93
28. Cameroun 96
29. São Tomé and Príncipe 100
30. Gabom 103
31. Congo Brazzaville 106
32. Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC) 109
33. Angola 112
34. Namibia 116
35. Discussion 119

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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1. Introduction

For conservation and management of waterbirds, their sites using the East Atlantic Flyway as well as
knowledge about their status is needed: how policy and advocacy at national and international
many are there, where do they occur and where level. This cooperation started after the inscription
are changes happening? Besides the status at of the Wadden Sea (shared by Denmark, Germany
individual sites or countries,it is equally impor- and The Netherlands) as a World Heritage site in
tant, especially for migratory birds, to have this 2009. Waterbird populations using the Wadden
knowledge on the level of the flyway: how is Sea, both during breeding and migration, depend
the ‘total’ population doing? With that kind of on the (coastal) sites along the East Atlantic Fly-
knowledge questions can be answered like: how way during periods of the year that they are not
important is my site or country relative to the size within the Wadden Sea itself. This perspective for
of the entire population or are changes at my site cooperation is the same for other countries as their
or country similar or different from the fate of breeding, migrant or wintering populations also
the total population? These analysis allows the use other sites along the flyway. By cooperating in
assessment of local or national responsibility for the flyway context, we ultimately collect informa-
the conservation status of a species and its habi- tion that allow countries to understand the use
tat, it gives indications if local or global drivers of the flyway which is beneficial to conservation
are causing population change. Most migratory nationally and locally.
waterbirds breed and winter large distances apart
The overall aims of the survey 2020 were:
with stop-over sites in between. The combination
of breeding sites, stopover sites and wintering sites • Collect simultaneous counts of waterbirds us-
and the area between them, used by the same ing (coastal) wetlands along the East Atlantic
individual birds is called a flyway. The combination Flyway in January 2020 as a vital contribution
of birds of the same species or subspecies using to assessments of population size, distribu-
these sites is called a flyway population. tion and trends of flyway populations of
This report presents results of work on ‘coastal’ waterbird species.
waterbird populations of the East Atlantic Flyway. • Collect counts of individual (key) sites along
The East Atlantic Flyway combines areas from this flyway as a vital contribution to monitor-
arctic Northeast Canada to East Siberia, boreal and ing these sites, especially their importance
temperate Europe and Russia and continues along for waterbirds in the non-breeding period
the East Atlantic seashore from Norway to South of January.
Africa. At this flyway many Palearctic and African • To collect data about environmental cir-
waterbird populations occur, long and more short cumstances, including human use and
distance migrants, and also resident populations. conservation at the sites counted as vital
Monitoring flyway populations requires a mo- contributions to assessments of causes for
ment during the year cycle that active migration population change.
is at its minimum and numbers can relatively • To increase capacity for monitoring of water-
easily be assessed at the whole range where the bird numbers and wetlands assessments as
population occurs. This is mostly done during the vital part of local, national and flyway con-
breeding season or wintering period depending on servation and adaptive management.
the species. This report concentrates on data col- The current report summarizes the basic results
lected during the winter period through ‘coastal’ per country and forms a background document
wetland counts in January (and February) 2020 for the future analysis. A full assessment of the
along the whole East Atlantic coast of Europe results will be published in 2021.
and Africa (see figure 1). Besides the assessment
of waterbird numbers present also environmental
circumstances, pressures and conservation meas-
ures at the sites visited were collected to allow
future analyses of likely drivers for changes in
population status.
This work is part of a cooperation between the
Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative (WSFI), Wetlands
International (WI), BirdLife International (BLI),
local organisations and government institutions
of countries along the Flyway. The aim of the
monitoring is to improve the knowledge base for
the conservation, management of waterbirds and

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

8

Figure 1 Poster used for the announcement of the Total East Atlantic Flyway survey of January 2020. Also Iceland, Finland, Estonia,
Latvia, Lithuania and Poland not visible on the map were part of the study area.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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2. Methods

Monitoring strategy and 2014). For the same region also a photographic
guide book of waterbirds for the African East
methods Atlantic Flyway is widely distributed to help
The framework of the monitoring programme identification of species (Barlow & Dodman 2015).
consists of abundance monitoring, environmental
monitoring and vital rate monitoring (van Roomen, Sites
Delany & Schekkerman 2013). This integrated The International Waterbird Census contributes to
approach assesses the state of the species and the assessment of the status of waterbird species
contributes to the assessment of site condition and flyway populations (Wetlands International
(at site level more counts are needed than only 2017) but can collect valuable data for site moni-
in January for state monitoring). It enables warn- toring as well. The counts are site based and the
ings where conservation and management actions January counts contribute to our knowledge of the
are needed and it will help with pointing to likely value of individual sites as well. It is a robust as-
causes and formulating hypotheses for more in sessment of the importance of sites in the middle
depth research. At the same time the programme of the non-breeding period. The data presented in
also enables evaluation of ongoing and new this report contributes also to that aim. However
responses in conservation and management col- sites should not only be assessed for their im-
lecting data about successes and where improved portance in January and proper site monitoring
approaches are needed. Of the three elements of should also include the periods during migration
the programme, currently the abundance and en- time, moult and breeding when different popula-
vironmental monitoring is implemented within the tions and sometimes much higher numbers are
WSFI, WI and BLI cooperation and covered in this present. This kind of site monitoring is carried out
report. Vital rate monitoring is also carried out for in many individual countries and for site monitor-
many species and populations by a large number ing and complete site assessment that data needs
of organisations and institutes but is mostly not to be used. Summary data of these national site
brought together across species on flyway level. monitoring programmes often contributes to the
Important Bird and Biodiversity areas programme
Abundance monitoring of BirdLife International (BirdLife International
2006), see also Wetlands International & BirdLife
International (2018). Counting total numbers at
Species and populations sites is often straight-forward in relatively small
The principles as outlined in the guidelines for sites but becomes much more difficult in large
waterbird monitoring (Hearn et al. 2018) devel- complex sites. Many of these large and complex
oped under the African Eurasian Waterbird Agree- sites are covered in this report. In tidal areas
ment (AEWA are followed.). For most waterbird waterbirds are often distributed over large areas
species, the breeding period or the non-breeding of mudflat during low tide but are fortunately
period (January) is the best time for monitoring gathering during high water at high tide roots.
flyway populations across countries. The non- This is the moment to count them and coordinated
breeding period is optimal for species which breed surveys require many observers at a large number
across large ranges of remote habitats in relatively of counting units, sometimes on uninhabited
low densities. In winter they often concentrate islands, at the right time. A large number of tropi-
on a few sites in high concentrations. The cur- cal tidal wetlands even provides more difficulties
rent report focuses mainly on these species and as they are fringed by mangroves making high
follows the methodology of the International tide roost counts impossible. At these sites only
Waterbird Census. sample counts of parts of the area are possible
This so called mid-winter or January count is and extrapolations are needed to assess total
part of a long tradition of waterbird surveys un- numbers at these sites. These kinds of analyses
der the umbrella of the world-wide International are not done yet for the surveys reported in this
Waterbird Census (IWC) coordinated by Wetlands report. Also in other countries and other sites the
International. International manuals for this numbers reported for 2020 are counted numbers
census are available (Delany 2010, Hearn et al. only and no corrections for incomplete coverage
2018) and most countries have developed their or different detectability are made yet.
own manual in local language. An East Atlantic
Flyway manual for Africa in English, French and
Portuguese is available as well (van Roomen et al.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

10

Environmental monitoring References

Based on the Important Bird and Biodiversity areas Agblonon G., Nsabagasani C., Langendoen T. & van
programme to assess state of habitat, pressures Roomen M. (eds) 2017. National census reports
and conservation responses at sites (Birdlife In- East Atlantic Africa 2017. Results of waterbird and
ternational 2006) a questionnaire was developed wetland monitoring in the East AtlanticFlyway.
to collect expert opinions from local observers Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Programme
and site managers. This questionnaire was further Rich Wadden Sea, Wetlands International &
fine- tuned and extended during pilot use in 2013 BirdLife International, Wilhelmshaven.
and 2014 and was in full use during the survey in
Barlow C.R. & Dodman T. 2015. African East At-
2017 and largely stayed the same for the survey
lantic Flyway Guide – Photographic Field Guide
in 2020 (van Kleunen et al. 2018). By filling in
to Waterbirds and Seabirds of Africa’s Western
the standard excel form for main sites a unique
Coastline. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat,
overview of human use and pressures of wetlands
Wilhelmshaven, Germany, BirdLife International,
along the East Atlantic Flyway has been collected.
Cambridge, United Kingdom, Programme Rich
Wadden Sea, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
About this report BirdLife International. 2006. Monitoring Important
Countries from Iceland to Estonia and from Nor- Bird Areas: a global framework. Cambridge, UK.
way to South Africa, all along the East Atlantic BirdLife International. Version 1.2.
Flyway, participated to the 2020 East Atlantic Fly-
Delany, S. 2010. Guidance on waterbird monitoring
way survey as part of their International Waterbird
methodology: Field Protocol for waterbird count-
Census. In many countries in East Atlantic Africa
ing. Wetlands International. Pp 5-17.
also financial support and in some extra coun-
ters were organized to contribute to this survey. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife
Countries have been requested to contribute a International (2019). Handbook of the Birds of the
small national overview to this report to give a World and BirdLife International digital checklist
first impression of the results collected and put of the birds of the world. Version 4
emphasis to the large local and national efforts to Hearn R., Nagy S., van Roomen M., Hall C., Citegese
this kind of international programmes. Of in prin- G., Donald P., Hagemeijer W. & Langendoen T.
ciple 40 countries, 32 has done so, giving a large 2018. Guidelines on waterbird monitoring. AEWA
overview of results from all over the flyway both in Conservation Guidelines No. 9, AEWA Technical
Africa and Europe. It is as such a follow-up report Series. Bonn, Germany.
of the one made after the total survey of 2017,
which covered East Atlantic Africa (Agblonon et van Kleunen A., Nsabagasani C., Citegetse G., Dod-
al. 2017). Countries missing are often contribut- man T. & van Roomen M. 2018. Status description
ing to the results which later will be analyses for of environmental conditions at important sites
trends etc. but were not able, for several reasons, for waterbirds along the East Atlantic flyway in
to contribute a chapter at this stage. Also results 2017 In: van Roomen M., Nagy S., Citegetse G. &
of more inland countries will be used in future Schekkerman H. 2018 (eds). East Atlantic Flyway
analyses as not all species and populations of in- Assessment 2017: the status of coastal waterbird
terest are only occurring in the countries covered. populations and their sites. Wadden Sea Flyway
Countries reporting count results have done so for Initiative p/a CWSS, Wilhelmshaven, Germany,
the East Atlantic Flyway ‘focal’ species as covered Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Neth-
in van Roomen et al. 2018 or for the whole group erlands, BirdLife International, Cambridge, United
of waterbird species following Ramsar definition Kingdom
of “waterbirds”. Only species with less than 50 van Roomen M., Delaney S. & Schekkerman H.
counted individuals along the whole flyway have 2013. Integrated monitoring of coastal waterbird
been excluded from that countries list. Taxonomy populations along the East Atlantic Flyway: a
and bird names follow Handbook of the Birds of framework and programme outline for Wadden
the World and BirdLife International (2019). Sea populations. Common Wadden Sea Secre-
tariat, Wilhelmshaven.
van Roomen M., Delany S., Dodman T., Fishpool
L., Nagy S., Ajagbe A., Citegetse G. & Ndiaye A.
2014. Waterbird and site monitoring along the

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 11

Atlantic coast of Africa: strategy and manual

(also available in French and Portuguese). BirdLife
International, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Wad-
den Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven, Germany,
and Wetlands International, Wageningen, The
Netherlands.
van Roomen M., Nagy S., Citegetse G. & Schek-
kerman H. 2018 (eds). East Atlantic Flyway As-
sessment 2017: the status of coastal waterbird
populations and their sites. Wadden Sea Flyway
Initiative p/a CWSS, Wilhelmshaven, Germany,
Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Neth-
erlands, BirdLife International, Cambridge, United
Kingdom.
Wetlands International & BirdLife International
2018. Critical Site Network Tool 2.0. Online data-
base. Wetlands International, Wageningen, The
Netherlands. URL: [Link]
org/en
Wetlands International 2017. Waterbird Popula-
tion Estimates. [Link]

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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3. Norway

© Georg Bangjord

Results of January counts the winter months make monitoring of waterbirds

even more challenging.
2020 of waterbirds along Monitoring of wintering waterbirds in Norway
the Norwegian coast was initiated in some selected stretches of coast-
line in 1975, and with a national coverage of 9 se-
Svein-Håkon Lorentsen lected areas since 1980 (figure 1). The monitoring
is organised by the Norwegian Institute for Nature
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NINA, and is conducted by members of
Research, NO-7485 Trondheim, Nor- the Norwegian Ornithological Society. Annually
way, shl@[Link] about 100 members of the Ornithological society
participate in the monitoring.

2. METHODS
The 9 selected areas for monitoring are divided
into smaller localities/count units, 299 in total,
each 1-2 km long (some up to 4-5 km), cover-
ing minimum 600 km of coastline (c. 2% of the
mainland coastline). Each of these localities are
counted from land at fixed vantage points, pref-
1. INTRODUCTION erably by the same person each year. The counts
Stretching from 64 to 79 °N the Norwegian are performed during late January to late Febru-
coast offers a multitude of suitable habitats for ary in most areas except the two northernmost
wintering waterbirds, from rocky coasts to tidal areas (Troms and Varangerfjorden) where they
areas. Monitoring of wintering birds are, however, are performed in early March due to the lack of
challenging as the mainland coastline, including daylight during winter.
fiords and small bays, covers nearly 29,000 km,
and nearly 101,000 km when including the shores 3. RESULTS
of all islands outside the coast. Only a fraction
of these coastlines are accessible from roads. The results from 2018 and 2020 are presented in
Furthermore, harsh weather during daytime, and table 1, however, note that they are not directly
lack of daylight north of the Arctic circle during comparable as we have not received the result

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 13

(Anas platyrhyncos), Common Guillemot (Uria

aalge), King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) and the
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (Table 1).

4. DISCUSSION

Pressures
Shallow wintering areas might be affected by
wind turbines which are being planned in some
areas. Also conflicts of area use with salmon farms
might affect wintering waterbirds. The shipping
traffic poses a risk of oil spills which could severely
impact diving species like cormorants, ducks,
grebes and divers. Bycatch might be a problem
at least with local fisheries at certain times of
the year.

Figure 1. Map showing the 9 areas selected for monitoring Acknowledgements

of wintering waterbirds along the Norwegian coast. The red
dots represent the centre of each of the localities/count units.
The monitoring programme for wintering water-
birds is financed by the Norwegian Environmental
from the northernmost area from 2020 yet. Agency. We are very thankful to all members of the
The five most common wintering waterbirds Norwegian Ornithological Society that participate
within the 9 selected areas for monitoring in 2018, in the counts every winter.
when all areas were completed, is the Common
Eider (Somateria mollissima), followed by Mallard
Table 1. Numbers of counted waterbird species in the 9 monitored areas along the Norwegian coast in 2018 and 2020.
Scientific name English name 2018 2020 Scientific name English name 2018 2020
Cygnus olor Mute Swan 97 74 Fulica atra Common Coot 12 4
Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan 359 283 Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon 281 208
Branta canadensis Canada Goose 22 168 Gavia arctica Arctic Loon 14 34
Anser anser Greylag Goose 21 73 Gavia immer Common Loon 113 103
Anser brachyrhynchus Pink-footed Goose 20 7 Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 502 597
Anser albifrons Greater White- 15 6 Gulosus aristotelis European Shag 1199 862
fronted Goose Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 2567 2604
Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck 5331 3192 Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oyster- 226 236
Somateria spectabilis King Eider 9510 1180 catcher
Somateria mollissima Common Eider 28852 8438 Pluvialis apricaria Eurasian Golden Plover 4 0
Polysticta stelleri Steller’s Eider 2453 1 Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover 1 0
Melanitta fusca Velvet Scoter 2414 2788 Vanellus vanellus Northern Lapwing 142 0
Melanitta nigra Common Scoter 1306 985 Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 81 84
Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye 980 827 Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 23 57
Mergellus albellus Smew 3 5 Calidris canutus Red Knot 0 0
Mergus merganser Goosander 60 12 Calidris alpina Dunlin 11 4
Mergus serrator Red-breasted 1872 2147 Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper 3965 2373
Merganser Scolopax rusticola Eurasian Woodcock 9 0
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck 2 5 Gallinago gallinago Common Snipe 23 3
Aythya ferina Common Pochard 0 2 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 1 0
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck 152 112 Tringa totanus Common Redshank 26 4
Aythya marila Greater Scaup 43 165 Rissa tridactyla Black-legged Kit- 322 250
Mareca strepera Gadwall 0 2 tiwake
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 2395 1756 Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 20 49
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 11627 10780 Larus canus Mew Gull 169 154
Anas acuta Northern Pintail 4 10 Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed 66 0
Anas crecca Common Teal 137 91 Gull
Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe 14 28 Larus argentatus European Herring 4920 7315
Gull
Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe 70 60
Larus glaucoides Iceland Gull 5 5
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 86 83
Larus hyperboreus Glaucous Gull 394 1
Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe 185 181
Larus marinus Great Black-backed 1242 1249
Rallus aquaticus Western Water Rail 3 2
Gull
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen 1 1

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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4. Sweden

© Leif Nilsson

Results of January 2020 (IWC) started, the Baltic coast north of Stockholm
archipelago was normally totally ice-covered. Dur-
counts of waterbirds along ing cold winters the ice-coverage extended to the
the Swedish coasts. south of Sweden even if some open waters were
still available in some places, especially around
the island of Gotland. In later years winters have
Fredrik Haas & Leif Nilsson been milder and open water has been available
also along more northerly areas of the east coast
Dept. of Biology, Biodiver- and to a large extent also in the inland of south
sity and Conservation Science, Sweden.
Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, The southern part of the Swedish coastline
including the two large islands Öland and Gotland
S-223 62 Lund, [Link]@ has an open coastline with a mix of beaches, shal-
[Link], [Link]@[Link] low vegetated areas and moraine coasts. Extensive
archipelagos with thousands of small islands and
skerries are found along most of the Baltic coast,
the archipelagoes being widest in the Stockholm
region (up to 70 km from the mainland to the
outermost skerries).
In Sweden regular January counts have been
undertaken every year since the start of the Inter-
national Waterfowl Count in 1967. Every winter
a network of sites (both coastal and inland) have
1. INTRODUCTION been surveyed by a large number of volunteers.
Sweden with a coastline of around 2,400 km is In addition to these annual counts large scale
situated in the northern part of Europe. At the country-wide surveys were organized in 1971-
Swedish west coast the water has a typical marine 1974, 1987 – 1989 (partial), 2004 and 2015 (see
character, whereas the water at the east coast Nilsson & Haas 2016). The country-wide surveys
(Baltic Sea) is more or less brackish. In winter most included all inshore coastal waters (including the
waterbird habitats are found along the coasts as archipelagoes) but not the offshore-areas, which
most inland waters except in the south are covered were surveyed in 2007-2011 and 2016 (Nilsson
with ice. When the International Waterfowl Count 2016).

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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In this chapter we present estimates of the sampled by aerial strip surveys in 2007-2011 and
wintering waterbird populations based on the lat- 2016. For details on survey methods see Nilsson
est country-wide survey in 2015 and preliminary & Haas 2016, Nilsson 2016. The survey in 2020
results from the 2020 January count. was based on a combination of air-, boat- , and
land-based counts (see Fig. 1 for the geographi-
cal coverage).
The Swedish midwinter counts cover ducks,
geese, swans, grebes, divers, coot, herons and
cormorants. In the last four winters waders have
also been included. Gulls are not counted.

3. RESULTS
The total estimated wintering populations of
different waterbird species in inshore coastal
Swedish waters was estimated to be 616,000
individuals at the total survey in January 2015
(Table 1). This estimate does not include the
mainly offshore species Long-tailed Duck Clangula
hyemalis, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra and
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca. A small proportion
of the Long-tailed Ducks can be observed from
the shore at the ground counts but the absolute
majority in Swedish waters are found on offshore
banks in the central parts of the Baltic Sea. The
number of Long-tailed Ducks was estimated to
be about 370,000 within the Swedish Exclusive
Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea in the winter
of 2016 (Nilsson 2016). Table 1 also shows pre-
liminary totals for the 2020 midwinter count. In
all 864 coastal sites (Fig. 1) were counted by 174
Figure 1: Map of south and central Sweden showing the distri-
bution of Midwinter counts of coastal areas in January 2020.
observers. In the archipelagoes 124 counting units
were covered with boat and 111 from air. No less
2. METHODS than 629 coastal sites were surveyed by ground-
based voluntary observers.
After the first years of the January counts in
Sweden, the entire coastline (including the ar-
chipelagoes) was divided into counting units of 4. DISCUSSION
suitable size with well-defined borders. Small All species wintering in the inshore parts of
units were preferred to guarantee that the counts Swedish coastal waters have increased markedly
of a unit could be completed during one day. For during the past 50 years (for details see Nilsson
analysis, these units could then be grouped into & Haas 2016). Some species, which were hardly
larger functional units (or sites). During the annual seen during the counts in the first years, such as
counts, the units were covered from the ground Wigeon Mareca penelope have established a regu-
by volunteers using binoculars and telescopes. lar wintering habit in south Sweden with 8.770
Some areas in the archipelagoes were covered by individuals at the country wide survey in 2015.
boat during the annual counts. For the country- The increasing wintering populations in Swedish
wide surveys a combination of extended ground inshore waters are clearly an effect of the milder
counts and aerial surveys were used. During the winters in more recent years.
first country-wide survey (in 1971-1974) a large The annual midwinter counts of waterbirds
number of sites were covered in the archipelagoes include a reasonably high proportion of the water-
thanks to cooperation with the Swedish Coast- birds that are estimated to winter at the Swedish
guard. At the country-wide survey in 2015 it was coast. For a species like the Mallard about 75%
not possible to cover all archipelagoes with total of the estimated population was actually counted
counts, instead parts of these areas were sampled in January 2020. The most numerous species in
by aerial line transects. The offshore areas were the dataset from 2020 was the Tufted Duck with

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

16

91,589 observed individuals, which can be com- result of over-fishing and eutrophication, which
pared to an estimated number of about 182,000 in turn has been favorable for fish eating species.
in year 2015. This species is the dominating diving On the other hand, benthic feeding species as a
duck species in inshore Swedish coastal waters group, show a negative trend in the Swedish Baltic
during the winter. The counts in 2020 accounted Sea during the past 30 years. The reason for this
for close to 50% of the estimated population of remains unclear.
wintering Goldeneyes in coastal waters. The west
coast harbors the vast majority of Eiders wintering Acknowledgements
in Sweden. This area was surveyed with the same
Over the years several hundred observers have
methods in 2015 and 2020, and the coverage was
taken part in January counts, without their help
about the same. Thus, the number of Eiders should
we had not been able to cover so many sites as
be directly comparable. Although, carefulness is
we did. Financial support to the project has been
needed when comparing only two time points, the
obtained from the Swedish Environmental Protec-
results indicate a heavy decline.
tion Agency.
Some species showed a clear increase between
2015 and 2020. Even if the counts in 2020 did
References
not cover all coastal areas, more individuals of
Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Pintail were observed Nilsson, L. 2016. Changes in numbers and distri-
in 2020 than was estimated for 2015. These bution of wintering Long-tailed Ducks Clangula
species were all hardly seen in the early years of hyemalis in Swedish waters during the last fifty
midwinter counts, there increase being an effect years. Ornis Svecica 26:162-176.
of spreading north in response to milder winters.
Nilsson, L. & Haas, F. 2016. Distribution and num-
Not only climate change has benefited the number
bers of wintering waterbirds in Sweden 2015 and
of waterfowls wintering in Sweden. The amount of
changes during the last fifty years. Ornis Svecica
small fish has increased markedly, most likely as a
26:3-54.

Table 1: Estimated totals for waterbird species in Swedish coastal waters at the country-wide survey in 2015 together with pre-
liminary totals for the Swedish coast from the annual sample counts in January 2020. Goose numbers are from coastal as well as
inland localities. NA = data not available. Gulls are not included.

Scientific name English name 2015 2020 Scientific name English name 2015 2020
Cygnus olor Mute Swan 50,500 19,533 Anas platyrhyn- Mallard 87,000 64,843
Anser fabalis Bean goose 41,367 37,926 chos
Anser brachy- Pink-footed goose 129 468 Anas acuta Northern Pintail 25 291
rhynchus Anas crecca Common Teal 496 2,844
Anser anser Greylag goose 37,907 49,026 Tachybaptus Little Grebe 35 119
Anser albifrons Greater white-fronted 10,503 4,759 ruficollis
goose Podiceps grise- Red-necked Grebe 20 48
Branta canadensis Canada goose 37,801 45,786 gena
Branta leucopsis Barnacle goose 26,488 68,521 Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 2,733 3,592
Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck 370,000 NA Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe 86 74
Somateria mol- Common Eider 52,580 20,494 Fulica atra Common Coot 11,863 23,991
lissima Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon 124 66
Melanitta fusca Velvet Scoter 8,166 2,788 Gavia arctica Arctic Loon 36 88
Melanitta nigra Common Scoter 5,543 4,788 Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 606 1,355
Bucephala Common Goldeneye 87,000 41,626 Ardea alba Great White Egret 0 1
clangula Gulosus aristotelis European Shag 23 802
Mergellus albellus Smew 8,007 4,166 Phalacrocorax Great Cormorant 14,258 10,996
Mergus Goosander 35,000 11,159 carbo
merganser Haematopus Eurasian Oyster- NA 11
Mergus serrator Red-breasted 5,196 4,653 ostralegus catcher
Merganser Pluvialis apricaria Eurasian Golden NA 65
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck 112 172 Plover
Aythya ferina Common Pochard 1,217 1,696 Vanellus vanellus Northern Lapwing NA 47
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck 182,000 91,589 Numenius Eurasian Curlew NA 286
Aythya marila Greater Scaup 26,853 21,524 arquata
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler 1 23 Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper NA 782
Mareca strepera Gadwall 114 946 Tringa totanus Common Redshank NA 26
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 8,771 15,096

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 17

5. Finland

© Aleksi Lehikoinen

January 2020 International coastal areas are ice covered already in January,
Waterbird Census (IWC) in which is the key limiting factor for wintering
waterbirds. However, reduced ice cover due to the
Finland climate change has increased habitat availability,
and thus the number of wintering waterbirds
has greatly increased in Finland in recent years
Aleksi Lehikoinen1, Tero Toivanen2 and (Lehikoinen et al. 2013).
Markku Mikkola-Roos3 IWC has been conducted in Finland since
1
Finnish Museum of Natural History. 1957 as a part of national winter bird monitoring
P.O. Box 17, FI-00014, University of scheme. The number of routes has been around
500-600 in recent years. The first national esti-
Helsinki, Finland,
mate of the total numbers of wintering waterbirds,
2
BirdLife Finland. Annankatu 29 A which also included excessive counts outside the
16, FI-00100 Helsinki, Finland, standard routes, was made in 2016 (Lehikoinen et
3
Finnish Environmental Institute. al. 2017). In this summary, we present the total
Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 count estimates of waterbird based on counts in
January 2016 as well as annual IWC totals dur-
Helsinki, Finland
ing 2018–2020. Results for 2020 are preliminary.

[Link]
The annual IWC data from Finland is mainly based
on numbers from standard winter bird count
routes, in which the waterbirds observations are
1. INTRODUCTION made from land as a rule. In total, there were
619–639 routes covered around the new year dur-
Finland has a long coast line and a large archi- ing years 2018–2020 (Figure 1). In January 2016
pelago in the Baltic Sea including large areas of and 2020, additional surveys were organized also
shallow waters suitable especially for diving ducks outside these routes, being partly coordinated by
and swans. In addition, there are a large number the local ornithological societies.
of lakes inland. In most years, most of the waters In addition, four boat surveys and aerial
including all inland lakes and the majority of the surveys including line transects were organized

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

18

(2,950 and 4,000 kilometres in 2016 and 2020, [Link]

respectively) altogether (Figure 2). The aerial
surveys were partly conducted in February due to Altogether over 170,000 waterbirds were esti-
unfavourable weather conditions in January. The mated to winter in Finland in January 2016 (Table
January 2016 was cold and large part of the inner 1). The variation in annual mid-winter counts of
archipelago and coastal waters were frozen dur- years 2018–2020 are also shown in Table 1. The
ing the first days of the month whereas January results of the additional aerial survey in 2020
2020 was extremely mild and also some inland are presented as well in Table 1. Total estimates
lakes in Southern Finland were ice free. Based on for 2020 on the basis of midwinter-, and addi-
all the surveys total winter population sizes were tional counts will become available after further
estimated in 2016 covering also birds wintering analyses.
outside survey sites.
4. DISCUSSION
As the numbers of wintering waterbirds have in-
creased in Finland only recently due to the reduced
ice cover, most of the important wintering areas
still lack legal protection. The wintering areas
might be affected by e.g. offshore wind farms
which are currently being planned to several lo-
cations off the Finnish coast, including also IBA
areas. The intense shipping traffic especially on
the Gulf of Finland poses a risk of oil spills, which
could be detrimental for e.g. the wintering areas of
several diving duck species. There are no reliable
estimates about the bycatch mortality in Finland,
although it is supposed to be small compared to
e.g. southern Baltic Sea. Eutrophication of the
Baltic Sea can change the plant, invertebrate
and fish communities in the long-term affect-
ing the food availability of wintering waterbirds.
Recreational boating can also be important cause
of disturbance in some important wintering sites.

Acknowledgements
We are grateful to all of the volunteer birdwatch-
Figure 1 Locations of Finnish winter bird count routes in 10 km
x 10 km grids in January 2020. Colours indicate abundances
ers participating to the data collection. Boat
of observed Mallards Anas platyrhychos and white grids are surveys were conducted in collaboration with the
survey sites without Mallard observations. Finnish Border Guard and the Ministry of Environ-
ment funded the aerial surveys.

References
Fraixedas, S., Lehikoinen, A. & Lindén, A. 2015:
Impact of climate and land-use change on winter-
ing bird populations in Finland. – Journal of Avian
Biology 46: 63–72.
Lehikoinen, A., Jaatinen, K., Vähätalo, A., Clausen,
P., Crowe, O., Deceuninck, B., Hearn, R., Holt, C. A.,
Hornman, M., Keller, V., nilsson, L., Lan- gendoen,
T., Tománková, I., Wahl, J. & Fox, A. D. 2013: Rapid
climate driven shifts in wintering distribution of
Figure 2. Transect lines of the aerial surveys in the Finnish three waterbird species. – Global Change Biology
archipelago conducted in January-February 2020
19: 2071–2081.
Lehikoinen, A., Kuntze, K., Lehtiniemi, T., Mikkola-

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 19

Roos, M. & Toivanen, T. 2017: Winter population D. A., Wahl, J., Zenallo, M. & Lehikoinen, A. 2015:
estimates of waterbirds in Finland in January Climate driven changes in winter abundance of a
2016. — Linnut -vuosikirja 2016: 6–15. migratory waterbird in relation to Eu protected
areas. – Diversity and Distribution 21: 571–582.
Pavón-Jordán, D., Fox, A. D., Clausen, P., Dagys,
M., Deceuninck, B., Devos, K., Hearn, R., Holt, C.,
Hornman, M., Keller, V., Langendo- en, T., Ławicki,
Ł., Lorentsen, S. H., Luigujõe, L., Meisser, W., Musil,
P., nilsson, L., Paquet, J.-Y., Stipniece, A., Stroud,

Table 1. Annual totals of observed waterbirds during yearly mid-winter (IWC) counts 2018–2020. Under 2020 air are the raw counts
of the aerial surveys (c. 2,950 km). Also given are the Total Winter population estimates of waterbirds in Finland during January
2016 based on full area surveys (Lehikoinen et al. 2017), NA = Not available.

Scientific name English name 2018 IWC 2019 IWC 2020 IWC 2020 air Total 2016
Cygnus olor Mute Swan 2,185 2,475 2,541 5,832 9,130
Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan 1,442 768 1,180 17 4,091
Cygnus columbianus Tundra Swan 1 0 1 0 0
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose 3 1 0 0 5
Branta canadensis Canada Goose 76 2 673 0 78
Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck 4,949 1,923 1,523 7,820 20,530
Somateria mollissima Common Eider 2 4 0 0 38
Polysticta stelleri Steller's Eider 0 0 0 0 12
Melanitta fusca Velvet Scoter 66 55 11 20 411
Melanitta nigra Common Scoter 52 90 32 53 866
Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye 3,906 3,787 3,683 3,480 21,995
Mergellus albellus Smew 198 120 59 43 1,277
Mergus merganser Goosander 5,890 5,436 5,637 2,528 23,940
Mergus serrator Red-breasted Merganser 97 56 11 16 324
Aythya ferina Common Pochard 1 0 0 0 21
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck 7,691 4,510 11,783 2,246 56,631
Aythya marila Greater Scaup 28 5 31 0 93
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler 0 0 1 0 1
Mareca strepera Gadwall 0 1 0 0 1
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 2 2 1 0 15
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 7,280 10,790 7,051 343 32,020
Anas crecca Common Teal 5 5 6 0 50
Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe 1 4 0 0 18
Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe 0 0 0 0 5
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 4 1 2 0 41
Fulica atra Common Coot 37 3 2 0 210
Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon 5 1 2 0 50
Gavia arctica Arctic Loon 3 4 2 0 21
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 271 209 207 54 1,042
Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper 135 234 173 84 720
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 92 73 44 2 390
Larus canus Mew Gull 1,578 1,012 1,083 1,891 NA
Larus argentatus European Herring Gull 5,508 4,160 4,180 826 NA
Larus hyperboreus Glaucous Gull 0 0 2 0 NA
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull 360 233 304 50 NA

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

20

6. Estonia

© Leho Luigujõe

Results of January 2020 bird Census (IWC) project, led by International

Waterfowl Research Bureau (IWRB). From 1991
counts of waterbirds in Es- the project has been managed by the Estonian
tonia Ornithological Society. Initially the concept was
an annual complete count, but starting 1991 the
project was changed into a traditional monitoring
Leho Luigujõe, Estonian Orni- programme, where counts are held on monitoring
sites. From 1996 onward the mid-winter count is a
thological Society, Veski 4, part of the Estonian State Monitoring Programme.
Tartu, Estonia & The estimation of wintering waterfowl was done
Estonian University of Life Sci- by the Commission of Bird Numbers in The Esto-
nian Ornithological Society.
ences, Kreutzwaldi 1, Tartu,
Estonia 2. METHODS
Most of the data of the IWC are collected by
volunteers. Numbers of observers in Estonia are
between 200 and 300. The count is held in Janu-
ary with centralised dates in the middle of the
month. Estonian waters have been divided into 7
main sections, 20 subsections and 338 counting
units (Figure 1). Depending on ice conditions and
the coverage areas the coast of Estonia has been
divided into monitoring and non-monitoring units.
There are 98 monitoring sites in total on Estonian
coast and 40 sites inland.
Aerial survey took place in winter 2016. Tran-
[Link] sects were placed every 3 km. Total length of
Mid-winter counts (IWC) in Estonia were con- transects are 7,500 km (Figure 2). Each transect
ducted for the first time in the winter of 1960/61. was flown one time in winter season. Counts
The project was run by the Baltic Commission for were performed in favourable conditions follow-
the Study of Bird Migration. In 1967 Estonia was ing standard methods. Distance sampling was
one of the first to join the International Water- used. All observations were attributed to one of

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 21

Figure 1. Mid-winter count in Estonia in January 2020 Figure. 2. Aerial transects of waterbird count in Estonian
coastal waters in the winter 2016. Map with indication of
sites covered or indication of parts of the coast/land covered.

four counting belts. Density surface maps were vironmental Board of Estonia, Estonian University
calculated for all species and species groups (like of Life Sciences, The Cohension Fund EU.
fish and benthos eaters)
Literature
3. RESULTS Elts, Jaanus; Leito, Aivar; Leivits, Agu; Luigujõe,
Leho; Nellis, Renno; Ots, Margus; Tammekänd,
Table 1: Numbers of wintering waterbirds in Esto-
Indrek & Väli, Ülo; (2019). Status and numbers of
nian monitoring sites counted in 2018-2020 based
Estonian birds, 2013 - 2017. Hirundo, 32(1), 1 -
on the IWC data (coastal sites only) Also given is
39. (in Estonian with English summary), https://
the status and numbers of wintering waterbirds
[Link]/hirundo/files/Elts_et_al_2019-[Link]
in Estonia (2013-2017) (Elts et al. 2019) updated
by Leho Luigujõe, based on data from IWC and
aerial surveys. Method: 1 – Complete count (exact
census in entire or approximately entire Estonia);
2 – Expert estimate (estimation by specialists
studying the species); 3 – Compilation (consolida-
tion of various sources, including literature and
projects data of different areas by non-expert);
4 – Approximate estimation according to previous
data and recent known trend; 5 – Rough estima-
tion – based on Estonian regional estimations and
density of population in neighbouring countries
(Southern Finland, Latvia). Reliability: A – reliable
numerical data concerning last years; B – rate of
occurrence is generally well known, but quantita-
tive data is insufficient or incomplete; C – (up-to-
date) data is (almost) missing. NA= not available.

4. DISCUSSION
Main threats for waterbirds are by-catch and
small oilspills. Some pressure expected in future
concerning off-shore powerplants.

Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements for observers (275 observ-
ers in the year 2020)
Funding: Environment Agency of Estonia, En-

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

22

Scientific name English name 2018 2019 2020 Totals estimated

2013-2017
Cygnus olor Mute Swan 6,966 12,699 8,566 8,000-17,000
Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan 1,595 635 1,177 1,000-3,000
Cygnus columbianus Tundra Swan 2 8 0 5-30
Branta bernicla Brent Goose 0 0 0 0-1
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose 1 71 0 0-10
Branta canadensis Canada Goose 28 0 0 1-30
Anser anser Greylag Goose 2 0 1 0-5
Anser fabalis Bean Goose 2 0 0 0-5
Anser albifrons Greater White-fronted Goose 0 0 4 0-5
Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck 17,583 15,930 17,271 100,000-500,000
Somateria mollissima Common Eider 4 4 5 10-30
Polysticta stelleri Steller’s Eider 388 265 266 800-1,500
Melanitta fusca Velvet Scoter 415 298 393 2,000-10,000
Melanitta nigra Common Scoter 517 310 531 12,000-240,000
Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye 12,131 10,814 10,359 30,000-50,000
Mergellus albellus Smew 1,744 1,524 1,524 1,000-3,000
Mergus merganser Goosander 7,435 8,146 5,395 4,000-22,000
Mergus serrator Red-breasted Merganser 1,376 893 1,081 500-2,500
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck 0 1 0 NA
Aythya ferina Common Pochard 6 2 27 5-30
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck 5,755 3,898 9,107 3,000-5,000
Aythya marila Greater Scaup 433 322 2,152 300-3,500
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler 1 0 0 NA
Mareca strepera Gadwall 83 6 61 0-5
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 42 9 30 10-50
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 21,982 15,927 16,252 16,000-21,000
Anas acuta Northern Pintail 8 2 7 NA
Anas crecca Common Teal 185 21 45 20-00
Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe 13 13 18 15-30
Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe 16 1 5 5-20
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 58 92 128 50-250
Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe 9 2 25 1-20
Rallus aquaticus Western Water Rail 0 8 2 10-50
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen 4 8 0 1-10
Fulica atra Common Coot 2,147 80 49 50-2,500
Grus grus Common Crane 0 0 1 NA
Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon 149 44 124 500-3,000
Gavia arctica Arctic Loon 29 1 25 50-350
Ciconia ciconia White Stork 0 0 0 0-3
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 700 115 245 150-600
Ardea alba Great White Egret 0 6 7 0-3
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 567 540 533 100-1,000
Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher 0 0 2 NA
Pluvialis apricaria Eurasian Golden Plover 0 0 1 NA
Vanellus vanellus Northern Lapwing 4 0 3 NA
Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 0 0 3 NA
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 1 0 0 0-1
Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper 48 85 169 50-150
Scolopax rusticola Eurasian Woodcock 0 1 2 5-50
Gallinago gallinago Common Snipe 8 1 13 5-30
Lymnocryptes minimus Jack Snipe 0 0 1 1-20
Rissa tridactyla Black-legged Kittiwake 1 0 0 0-1
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 1,001 803 937 500-3,000
Larus canus Mew Gull 4,932 5,818 2,648 50,000-100,000
Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull 0 1 0 0-3
Larus argentatus European Herring Gull 5,781 7,455 5,111 30,000-50,000
Larus cachinnans Caspian Gull 6 0 0 NA
Larus glaucoides Iceland Gull 0 0 0 0-1
Larus hyperboreus Glaucous Gull 0 0 1 0-3
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull 254 208 308 500-1,000

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 23

7. Latvia

© Ģirts Strazdiņš

Results of waterbird counts 2. METHODS

in Latvia, January 2020 Counts should be carried out every year in the
same sites, the boundaries of which do not change
from year to year. Wintering sites shall be surveyed
Antra Stīpniece, Latvian on the central dates of the survey (11/12 January
in 2020) or on the day as close as possible to the
Ornithological Society central dates with suitable weather conditions
for the survey (good visibility, not disturbed by
waves and fog). Record the species of birds, the
number, if possible, sex, age, census accuracy, ice
condition (what % of water body is frozen) and the
extent to which the census is affected by weather
and disturbance. It is also reported if the place is
completely frozen or dry and there are no birds.
The survey of wintering waterfowl on the coast
was carried out on foot along the shore, grouping
1. INTRODUCTION observations in 1 km sections, the boundaries of
IWC is an international public monitoring project which were determined using GPS devices.
launched in Europe in 1967. It is coordinated Between 4 and 26 January, 965 possible winter-
by Wetlands International. In January 2020, the ing places for waterfowl were inspected, including
survey took place for the 54th time in Latvia. the entire available shoreline, 558 places have
Since 2016, wintering waterbirds surveys have been visited for the first time (Figures 1 and 2).
been part of the Latvian Biodiversity Monitor- This can be explained by the fact that additional
ing Program and are financed by Latvian Nature places have been counted due to the census of
Conservancy Board. swans, and by the presence of waterfowl in places
Aims and tasks previously not used for wintering due to the warm
To obtain data on wintering of waterfowl on winter. According to [Link], the average
the coast (along its entire length) and in at least air temperature in Latvia in January 2020 was +
130 inland places. To obtain data on wintering of 3.1 ° C, which is 6.3 ° C above the monthly norm.
the Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus and the Tundra It has become the warmest January in the history
Swan Cygnus bewickii and geese. Identify trends of observations.
in changes in the number of common species.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

24

sus. According to the data of [Link].

lv, the number of the White-fronted Geese and
Greylags began to increase at about January 20th.
For the Goosander, Goldeneye and Smew, the
trend of changes over the last five years is steep
decline. This is presumably due to the dispersal
of birds in the many available ice-free waters.
The trend for long-term changes in these species
is a moderate increase. The long term moderate
increase and the unclear trends over the last 5
years for Mallard, Tufted Duck, Long-tailed Duck,
Figure 1 Distribution of IWC sites in January 2020 blue- old Herring Gull, Whooper Swan are apparently also
sites, pink – new ones associated with dispersal over a large area away
from ancient concentrations and coastal areas.
On the central dates 42% of site visits were
At the same time, the availability of many
made. If more than one count is received for one
unfrozen places has caused a steep increase in
site, the one closest to the central date, performed
the last 5 years for species that have had lit-
by the same observer as in previous years, or the
tle habitat in Latvia so far in the winter – Grey
one where the site survey is more complete, was
Heron, Great Egret, Coot. For the Great Egret and
used.
the Mute Swan these trends could be the result
not only of regrouping but also of more global
3. RESULTS population growth.
For a number of species, both fish eaters
(Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant) and benthic
A total of 94,377 birds of 47 species were counted
eaters (Velvet Scoter and Common Scoter), most
- 43,620 on the coast and 50,757 inland. More
of these winterers have been observed on the
than 14,116 birds were observed outside the
usually ice-free coast of the Baltic Sea. The steep
boundaries of previously known observation sites.
increase over a 5-year period could be due to an
Although a larger area than in other years was
improvement in feeding conditions on the coast,
inspected the total number of birds observed was
an earlier start to migration (for the Velvet Scoter)
lower than in 2019 (121,221), (Table 1).

Figure 2. Number of sites counted in Latvia.

4. DISCUSSION or an increase in the entire Baltic population (for

the Cormorant). Although fish-eating, the number
The unusually warm winter showed the scene of of divers in coastal sections is stable, the changes
autumn (Arctic Loons, Long-tailed Ducks, Velvet in the short term are unclear. These species use
Scoters and Scaup inland) or early spring (one deeper waters more than the Great crested grebe
Great Bittern singing quietly in Lake Kaņieris, and the Cormorant.
Whooper Swans in pairs in nesting habitats) in
some places. At the same time, geese migration
had not started yet on the central dates of the cen-

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 25

Acknowledgements
Many thanks to all observers (169 in 2020).
Funding was received from the Latvian Nature
Conservancy Board.

Table 1. Waterbirds identified to species in mid-January 2020 in Latvia.

Scientific name English name Number Scientific name English name Number
Cygnus olor Mute Swan 7,178 Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 2,550
Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan 1,401 Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe 1
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose 7 Rallus aquaticus Western Water Rail 5
Branta canadensis Canada Goose 11 Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen 2
Anser anser Greylag Goose 67 Fulica atra Common Coot 1,555
Anser fabalis Bean Goose 78 Grus grus Common Crane 6
Anser albifrons Greater White-fronted 12 Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon 487
Goose Gavia arctica Arctic Loon 89
Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck 13,786 Ciconia ciconia White Stork 1
Melanitta fusca Velvet Scoter 3,328 Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 191
Melanitta nigra Common Scoter 2,325 Ardea alba Great White Egret 110
Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye 6,610 Botaurus stellaris Eurasian Bittern 1
Mergellus albellus Smew 47 Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 6,533
Mergus merganser Goosander 5,526 Scolopax rusticola Eurasian Woodcock 2
Mergus serrator Red-breasted Mergan- 327 Lymnocryptes minimus Jack Snipe 1
ser Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 624
Aix galericulata Mandarin Duck 1 Larus canus Mew Gull 1,961
Aythya ferina Common Pochard 27 Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck 1,711 Larus argentatus European Herring Gull 9,675
Aythya marila Greater Scaup 87 Larus cachinnans Caspian Gull 1
Mareca strepera Gadwall 9 Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull 288
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 23 Alcedo atthis Common Kingfisher 42
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 21,690 ducks 2,995
Anas crecca Common Teal 31 gulls 2,371
Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe 6 other water birds 567
Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe 1

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

26

8. Lithuania

© Igoris Semionovas

Results of January count and wintering water birds could be found mainly
2020 of waterbirds in Lith- at the sea or near power or hydroelectric power
plants. As the climate warms, winters are increas-
uania ingly warmer when water bodies do not freeze and
wintering birds spread throughout the country.
IWC counts are organised every winter from
Laimonas Šniaukšta1,2 2010 in Lithuania. More than 30,000 birds are
1
On behalf of Lithuanian Ornitho- counted during winter counts with up to 70,000
birds during warm winters.
logical Society, Naugarduko str. Main sites in Lithuania are: Baltic Sea coast,
47-3, LT-03208 Vilnius, Lithu- Lithuanian part of Kuršių Bay, Nemunas and Neris
ania. 2Birds at river Nemunas near rivers near Kaunas City, Flooded meadows in Šilutė
district (during warm winters).
Kaunas
2. METHODS
Counts were done at 51 sites by the volunteers
mainly with a help of National and Regional parks
and reserves employees. Main counts were carried
out on January 10-12 (total January 9-18).

3. RESULTS
92 Observers registered more than 67,000 win-
1. INTRODUCTION tering birds. This winter was mild, waters not
Lithuania is a country in the Baltic region of Eu- frozen and spread birds were observed across
rope, situated on the eastern shore of the Baltic all the country. Mallard was the most numerous
Sea. Lithuanian ecosystems include natural and waterfowl species with total number of more than
semi-natural (forests, bogs, wetlands and mead- 28,800 registered birds. The second most abundant
ows) and anthropogenic ecosystems. Winters in species was Common Goldeneye with a number
Lithuania used to be cold, when the temperature of more than 7,900 and the third – Velvet Scooter
drops down to -20°C, most of open water is frozen with a number of more than 5,000 birds registered.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 27

Figure 1: Map with indication of coverage of the country and total

numbers of waterbirds counted in January 2020.

These three species are the most common during At Nemunas river in Kaunas abundant gather-
winter counts in Lithuania. Great Crested Grebe ings of wintering swans is an annual event. During
(~3,500) and Eurasian Coot (~3,400) were also recent warm winters when the temperatures are
numerous this year. Common Merganser was mild and waters or the river not frozen kayaking
only sixth most numerous species (~2,600) dur- became quite a popular activity. However, it was
ing this count. noticed that passing kayaks scares and flushes
swans, some of which collides with electrical
wires across the river and get killed or severely
4. DISCUSSION injured. Some preventive measures have been
Mild winters makes it hard to have good coverage implemented: dedicated markings were placed on
of wintering birds as they are spread through the the wires and also informative messages were sent
country. Species like Common and Velvet Scoters, to the kayaking organizing parties with a request
Long-tailed ducks are getting less numerous at the to avoid the territory.
Lithuanian Baltic Sea coast. This could be the re-
sult of lack of food, change of wintering territories
orbycatch and death of wintering birds in fishing Acknowledgements
nets. Also, species as Steller’s Eider, which were a
Last winter 92 observers (most of them volunteers)
common wintering visitor, has totally disappeared
took part in IWC, we thank them all very much.
at the Lithuanian Baltic Sea cost for more than
10 years now, because of change of the wintering
territories to the Barents Sea.
Table 1: Waterbird species and numbers counted at the sites covered.

Scientific name English name total Scientific name English name total
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose 19 Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 226
Anser anser Greylag Goose 53 Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 28,850
Anser fabalis Bean Goose 1 Anas acuta Northern Pintail 6
Anser albifrons Greater White-fronted 6 Anas crecca Common Teal 68
Goose Tachybaptus rufi- Little Grebe 27
Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck 991 collis
Melanitta fusca Velvet Scoter 5,077 Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe 5
Melanitta nigra Common Scoter 137 Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 3,545
Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye 7,965 Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe 2
Mergellus albellus Smew 219 Ardea alba Great White Egret 182
Mergus merganser Goosander 2,671 Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 465
Mergus serrator Red-breasted Merganser 5 Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 696
Aythya ferina Common Pochard 35 Larus canus Mew Gull 4,790
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck 604 Larus argentatus European Herring Gull 2,228
Aythya marila Greater Scaup 45 Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull 385
Mareca strepera Gadwall 27

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

28

9. United Kingdom

© Teresa Frost

Results of January counts and since at least 1993/94 for other waterbirds.
of waterbirds in the United WeBS is a partnership, with the survey run by a
national coordination team at BTO and volunteer
Kingdom local coordinators for regions and estuaries.
In January 2019, the latest published survey,
counts were carried out at 4,431 count units at
Teresa Frost, 2,427 sites. It is likely that similar coverage was
Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS), British achieved in January 2020, with counts received
Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, for 4,263 count units so far.
Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, UK
[Link]@[Link] 2. METHODS
Almost all the major wetlands (estuaries, freshwa-
ter bodies and marshlands) of the UK are counted
at least once each year. Most counts are carried
out by volunteers, or a mixture of site wardens
and volunteers. Coastal sites are counted at high
tide when birds are roosting. Most counts are
land based, but boats are used for access in some
1. INTRODUCTION: places. Large sites are sub-divided into count units.
Many small sites are also counted.
The UK is a country with an extensive coastline, a Most sites are counted once a month through-
maritime climate and a strategic geographic posi- out the year, on count dates set in advance to
tion on the East Atlantic Flyway. The combination optimise counting at high tide during daylight for
makes it a favoured location for many waterbirds as many coastal sites as possible. The data from
in winter. the January WeBS counts are submitted to IWC.
The Wetland Bird Survey and its predecessors The reporting year runs from July to June, so the
allow us to take a long view of waterbird popula- consolidation of count unit data to site totals
tion change in the UK, with counting at some sites does not take place until the following winter and
being continuous since 1947. We can calculate results are published after this in the spring. As
population trends from the 1966/67 winter for this means that January 2020 UK totals are not yet
most wildfowl species, 1974/75 for wader species, available, the numbers here relate to recent years.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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4. DISCUSSION
One important use of WeBS trends is in assessing
species’ status. In the most recently published
Birds of Conservation Concern, Pochard and
Ringed Plover were added to the national “Red
list” due to declines of over 50% in their 25-year
WeBS trends. More positively, UK WeBS trends
for colonising species such as Little Egret and
Great White Egret or species where there has
been conservation effort such as Avocet have
increased rapidly.
A key driver in the 1940s for setting up the
counts was concern over habitat loss and develop-
ment pressure. This is still the case today, and the
WeBS dataset has been used to inform hundreds
of development proposals on wetlands. In some
cases this has played a major part in halting a
detrimental development proposal. In other cases
WeBS counts have informed requirements for
compensatory wetland creation as mitigation for
the loss of mudflats and other wetland habitats.
Year to year changes in populations are often
in response to weather. For example, exception-
Figure 1: Map of WeBS sites counted at least once in the July ally cold weather in Eastern Europe in January
2018 – June 2019 reporting period. 2017 pushed some birds to find refuge further
west, in Britain.
3. RESULTS
Acknowledgements:
Table 1 gives the five year average count for
WeBS is a partnership jointly funded by the
January 2015-2019, as January 2020 results are
BTO, RSPB and JNCC, in association with WWT,
not yet published. The most important sites for
with fieldwork conducted by volunteers. We
waterbirds in the UK are large coastal estuarine
are indebted to the time and skills of the 3,300
wetlands, with those holding the biggest num-
WeBS Counters who collected the data and the
bers of the species of interest of this report: The
140 volunteer Local Organisers who coordinate
Thames Estuary, Blackwater Estuary, the Wash,
their efforts.
and Humber Estuary are on the east coast of Eng-
land. On the west coast, the Severn and the Dee
Estuaries border England and Wales, Morecambe
References
Bay and Ribble Estuary are in north-west England Frost, T.M., Calbrade, N.A., Birtles, G.A., Mellan,
and Solway Estuary borders England and Scotland H.J., Hall, C., Robinson, A.E., Wotton, S.R., Balmer,
(combined totals of these sites are in Table 1). D.E. and Austin, G.E. 2020. Waterbirds in the UK
For producing national population estimates, 2018/19: The Wetland Bird Survey. BTO/RSPB/
and depending on the species, modelling is used JNCC. Thetford.
to extrapolate the counts to uncounted areas.
Frost, T.M., Austin, G.E., Hearn, R.D., McAvoy,
The latest population estimates for Great Britain
S.G., Robinson, A.E., Stroud, D.A., Woodward,
included a January estimate for some species (as
I.D. & Wotton, S.R. 2019. Population estimates
well as peak winter estimates for 98 species or
of wintering waterbirds in Great Britain. British
populations) and where available is also given in
Birds 112: 130–14.
table 1. Source: Frost et al, 2019.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

30

Table 1. Average counts for January 2015-2019 for East Atlantic Flyway focal species at the nine most important UK
Estuaries, all other sites in the UK and total in the UK in that years. Also given are Great Britain January estimates
based on Frost et al 2019. *Great Britain January estimates are not available for all species (NA), and do not include
population estimates for Northern Ireland.

Scientific name English name Nine estuaries All other sites Total GB January
Estimate*
Branta bernicla Brent Goose 32,969 63,512 96,481 98,900
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose 14,516 8,152 22,668 NA
Anser anser Greylag Goose 3,319 54,152 57,471 NA
Somateria mollissima Common Eider 2,486 12,532 15,018 NA
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck 16,482 30,044 46,526 47,000
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler 1,885 14,367 16,252 19,000
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 74,782 275,590 350,372 440,000
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 8,831 115,873 124,704 620,000
Anas acuta Northern Pintail 6,188 12,464 18,652 19,000
Anas crecca Common Teal 26,895 163,115 190,010 420,000
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 310 6,699 7,009 12,000
Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe 5 181 186 NA
Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe 2 74 76 99
Platalea leucorodia Eurasian Spoonbill 1 48 49 NA
Ardea alba Great White Egret 10 75 85 NA
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 2,785 17,549 20,334 45,000
Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher 100,285 100,403 200,688 260,000
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet 1,636 6,016 7,652 7,800
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 10,435 14,187 24,622 29,000
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover 1,385 4,121 5,506 19,000
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 1 17 18 17
Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 20,832 40,732 61,564 100,000
Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 18,135 13,387 31,522 42,000
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 2,663 7,948 10,611 36,000
Calidris canutus Red Knot 127,606 66,783 194,389 210,000
Calidris alba Sanderling 3,123 5,356 8,479 18,000
Calidris alpina Dunlin 145,056 151,660 296,716 320,000
Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper 24 1,016 1,040 8,900
Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank 13 26 39 49
Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 30 396 426 640
Tringa totanus Common Redshank 20,659 41,903 62,562 77,000
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 19,727 172,496 192,223 NA
Larus melanocephalus Mediterranean Gull 21 415 436 NA
Larus canus Mew Gull 3,902 37,160 41,062 NA
Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull 721 6,949 7,670 NA
Larus argentatus European Herring Gull 10,334 65,395 75,729 NA
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull 1,047 8,408 9,455 NA

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 31

10. Denmark

© Morten Scheller Jensen

The January 2020 count of ment Programme for the Aquatic and Terrestrial
Environment of Denmark.
waterbirds in Denmark The first ‘complete’ national census combin-
ing land-based counts of lakes and inshore
waters with aerial surveys of offshore areas was
Preben Clausen, Rasmus Due conducted in November 1967. Since then such
surveys has been undertaken in four autumns, 15
Nielsen, Thomas Bregnballe, winters (2 in the 1960s, 3 in the 1970s, 3 in the
Jacob Sterup & Ib Krag Peters- 1980s, 2 in the 1990s, and 5 since 2000), two
springs and five summers. The highest numbers of
en, Department of Bioscience, waterbirds are found in autumn and winter, where
Aarhus University, Denmark totals typically sum up to 1-2 million staging or
wintering waterbirds. In years without complete
midwinter censuses, Denmark contribute to the
International Waterbird Census through a ‘reduced
site network’, where 49 sites have been censused
almost annually during 1987-2016, where 41 are
counted from land and 8 from aircraft.
This programme is currently under revision and
1. INTRODUCTION since 2017 more sites have been included in the
count scheme. this means that more sites will be
The Danish waterscape is characterized by a mix- reported to the IWC, but due to logistics, man-
ture of shallow coastal lagoons, estuaries, inlets, power and financial limitations many large sites
sounds and bays, and more open but relatively are not counted annually but in a rotation scheme,
shallow offshore areas. Inland there are lakes so data from specific sites will be provided from
and ponds, and an increasing number of restored 3-4 out of 6 years in the coming years.
wetlands. These provide a combination of habitats
that embrace most waterbird communities. The
Danish Wadden Sea and some few other large sites 2. METHODS
with intertidal mudflats holds thousands of wad-
ers. Lakes, lagoons and sheltered inshore waters The 2019/20 midwinter count scheme was planned
provide roosting areas for thousands of swans to be the 16th complete national census. Despite
and geese feeding inland. Waterbird censuses a winter with many low-pressure passages and
in Denmark have been undertaken on a regular associated gales and rain, i.e. impossible count
basis since 1965, and is today embraced under conditions, an almost full survey was nevertheless
NOVANA – the National Monitoring and Assess- conducted, because we managed to staff two air-
craft on several ‘good days’, made 15 aerial surveys

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

32

3. RESULTS
National totals for winter 2019/2020 are far from
being available, as we are still in the process of
quality assessing aerial survey data, and have
to check land-based counts for possible double
entries. Minimum totals for selected species
(East Atlantic Flyway focal species) and based on
the land based counts only, is given in Table 1.
An indication of totals in Denmark is also given
through the results of the last complete 2016
midwinter census.
Figure 1: Survey routes of the 15 aerial flights conducted from
late December 2019 to late February 2020. The map includes
both surveys conducted as total counts and surveys conducted 4. DISCUSSION
using the line-transect method.
Note that for all species, 2020 totals will expect-
edly be remarkably higher, when numbers from
aerial surveys and supplementary data from sites
not covered by our network is included. This is
especially true for species found in highest num-
bers offshore, i.e. Somateria molissima, where the
majority are counted from aircraft. Supplementary
data from BirdLife Denmark will also add more
swans, geese and dabbling ducks. Totals for spe-
cies marked with an * were not reported for the
2016 midwinter census, because they occur in
much higher numbers in other parts of the year
(where we have focused counts covering these), or
because numbers counted will be underestimates.
This is in particular the case for gulls, which are
Figure 2: Map of Denmark highlighting midwinter 2020 cover- not counted and reported from all sites, and many
age by land-based counts. gulls feed inland when counts are made, so for all
gulls the numbers for 2020 are much lower than
(82 survey hours) and almost got the full survey true numbers.
(Fig. 1). Two areas were not counted during late The national censuses have been used to iden-
December-early March, i.e. the North Sea off the tify sites of international and national importance
Wadden Sea, and the Wadden Sea itself. However, for waterbirds. After the latest 2018 revision of
the latter was counted from land in mid-January, designation and delineation of the Danish Natura
so for many species we probably have reasonable 2000 network, 124 Special Protection Areas for
totals for this site anyway. The missing count Birds have been designated with reference to the
offshore the Wadden Sea is problematic especially EU Birds Directive Article 4. Of these sites approx.
with regards to providing national totals for Com- 80 have staging, molting or wintering waterbird
mon Scoter, as this site usually in other years have species as qualifying species, and these and some
held 20-40 % of the wintering Danish population further sites are designated for breeding water-
of the species. birds listed in Annex I of the Directive. In Denmark
During 3-26 January c. 150 observers (profes- there are c. 90 shooting-free reserves like-wise
sional and amateur ornithologists, and state forest designated to protect the staging and winter-
district reserve managers and wardens) contrib- ing waterbirds from hunting, and many of these
uted to the land-based counts, and reported reserves also restrict other recreational activities
numbers from c. 1,300 count-units. They also considered more disturbing, e.g. by introducing
marked observations of waterbirds, mostly swan speed-limits for motorboats and areas where
and goose flocks in agricultural areas, from c. 500 wind- and kite-surfing is prohibited.
locations outside the count units (Fig. 2). Report-
ing of count results were made through an online Acknowledgements
reporting website, [Link], which is
used both to manage the counters, site coverage, Thanks to all observers and pilots engaged in mak-
data inputs, and refunding observers expenditures ing the 2020 midwinter census one of the hitherto
on transport (car kilometers, ferries etc.). most comprehensive surveys of waterfowl in our
country. The NOVANA programme is funded by the
Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark and
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 33

Main sources Fredshavn, J.R., Holm, T.E., Sterup, J., Pedersen, C.L.,
Nielsen, R.D., Clausen, P., Eskildsen, D.P. & Flensted,
Clausen, P., Petersen, I.K., Bregnballe, T. & K.N. 2019. Størrelse og udvikling af fuglebestande
Nielsen, R.D. 2019. Trækfuglebestande i danske i Danmark - 2019. Artikel 12-rapportering til
Fuglebeskyttelsesområder, 2004 til 2017. Aarhus Fuglebeskyttelsesdirektivet. Aarhus Universitet,
Universitet, DCE – Nationalt Center for Miljø og DCE – Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi, 46
Energi, 310 s. - Teknisk rapport nr. 148. s. - Videnskabelig rapport nr. 363.
Clausen, P., Holm, T.E., Laursen, K., Nielsen, R.D. & Nielsen, R.D., Holm, T.E., Clausen, P., Bregnballe.
Christensen, T.K. 2013. Rastende fugle i det dan- T., Clausen, K.K., Petersen, I.K., Sterup, J., Balsby,
ske reservatnetværk 1994-2010. Del 1: Nationale T.J.S., Pedersen, C.L., Mikkelsen, P. & Bladt, J. 2019.
resultater. Aarhus Universitet, DCE – Nationalt Fugle 2012-2017. NOVANA. Aarhus Universitet,
Center for Miljø og Energi, 118 s. -Videnskabelig DCE – Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi, 264
rapport fra DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og s. - Videnskabelig rapport nr. 314.
Energi nr. 72. [Link]

Table 1. Preliminary land-based totals for midwinter 2020 for East Atlantic Flyway focal species. Also the numbers counted (both
land- and aerial surveys) during the last complete 2016 midwinter survey are given, Numbers below 100 are accurate, between
100 and 10,000 rounded to nearest 100 birds, and above 10,000 to nearest 1000 birds. * not available.

Scientific name English name 2,016 2020

Branta bernicla Brent Goose 6,809 12,400
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose 157,065 259,000
Anser anser Greylag Goose 106,295 79,000
Somateria mollissima Common Eider 396,000-592,000 45,000
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck 21,020 21,000
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler 168 600
Mareca strepera Gadwall 188 3,500
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 29,249 91,000
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 139,233 79,000
Anas acuta Northern Pintail 7,026 14,000
Anas crecca Common Teal 4,091 35,000
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe * 4,500
Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe * 7
Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe * 2
Ardea alba Great White Egret * 200
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 15,345 14,000
Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher * 23,000
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet * 5
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover * 1,900
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover * 2
Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew * 20,000
Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit * 800
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone * 100
Calidris canutus Red Knot * 6,400
Calidris alba Sanderling 2,293 800
Calidris alpina Dunlin * 18,000
Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper 389 19
Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank * 2
Tringa totanus Common Redshank * 400
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull * 13,000
Larus canus Mew Gull * 28,000
Larus argentatus European Herring Gull * 21,000
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull * 1,400

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

34

11. Germany

© Hans Glader

Preliminary results of the 1. INTRODUCTION

January 2020 count of Germany is located rather northeast along the
waterbirds in coastal and East Atlantic Flyway, resulting in huge numbers
of waterbirds staging at coastal and inland sites.
inland Germany Both the southern Baltic coast and adjacent
offshore areas as well as the Wadden Sea and
Johannes Wahl1, Klaus Günther2, the adjacent offshore areas in the North Sea are
Jürgen Ludwig3, Nikolas Prior1 of outstanding importance for a wide variety
of waterbirds, e.g. waders and sea ducks. In the
1
Dachverband Deutscher Avifau- northern lowlands many hundred thousand geese
nisten (DDA) / Federation of Ger- and swans stopover and winter, as do large num-
man Avifaunists, An den Speichern bers of dabbling and diving ducks among others.
The latter are also found in their thousands e.g.
2, D-48157 Münster. 2 Schutzs- on the pre-alpine lakes. Besides large numbers of
tation Wattenmeer, Hafenstr. 3, staging waterbirds German wetlands including the
D-25813 Husum. 3 Lower Saxo- coastal and offshore areas also harbour millions
ny Water Management, Coastal of waterbirds during winter with a tendency to
increasing numbers due to the increasingly mild
Defence and Nature Conservation winters in recent years.
Agency, State Agency for Bird Pro- Counting waterbirds has a long tradition in
tection, Alte Hafenstr. 2, D-21729 Germany with its roots dating back as far as
the 1940s. With the start of the International
Freiburg/Elbe. Waterbird Census (IWC) in 1966/67, in both
German states a more systematic approach was
adopted and e.g. synchronous count dates were
introduced. Up to now, the IWC in January is
the most important count for waterbirds with
more than 2,000 count units visited in recent
years. In Germany, however, many species reach
their maximum numbers during autumn and/or
spring migration. Hence, monthly counts were

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 35

established at many sites with the start the IWC

(or even before). However, this could not be kept
up everywhere and count intensity was reduced
in some areas in the 1970s, mainly to November,
January and March. But nowadays at many sites
(again) monthly counts from September to April
or October to March take place, but at more and
more wetlands also year-round. Up to now, the
Waterbird Census remains the backbone of the
monitoring during the non-breeding season in
Germany. It covers the Baltic coast and inland
wetlands.
The Wadden Sea is by far the most important
waterbird region in Germany. Starting in 1980/81
a new count scheme has been introduced. From
the late 1980s this was expanded into a compre-
hensive, year-round monitoring with counts every
2 weeks (spring-tide rhythm) in most counting
units under the Trilateral Monitoring and Assess-
ment Program (TMAP), which is carried out by
Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands. Besides
ground-based counts this also includes aerial
surveys especially targeting Common Shelduck Figure 1: Count units for which data was available for Janu-
and Common Eider. Data from TMAP also feed ary 2020 (dark red). Besides these also summary data for the
into the national waterbird database run by the Baltic coast in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the island of
Fehmarn and the federal state of Bremen are included in the
DDA. In 1990 the Seabirds at Sea (SAS) pro- totals given in Table 1. Count units belonging to these areas
gramme was established in Germany leading to a are given in light red.
tremendous increase in knowledge on distribution
and numbers of waterbirds in the offshore areas count was available from around the official IWC
in the North Sea and the Baltic. The SAS counts weekend 11th/12th January.
are coordinated by the Research and Technology All waterbird species covered by the African-
Centre Westcoast of the University of Kiel. There is Eurasian Waterbird Agreement are counted.
a close cooperation between the SAS team and the Additionally observers are asked to record the
DDA and joint analyses are run e.g. for the article “extended species list” including 19 additional
12 reporting under the Birds Directive. wetland-related species, mainly consisting of
All these programmes we refer to as the „Moni- raptors and passerines. In the Goose and Swan
toring of migratory and wintering waterbirds”. It is monitoring a limited list of waterbirds typically
coordinated at national level by the DDA in close occurring in the open (agricultural) habitats is
cooperation with the coordinators of TMAP and counted. The counts are conducted by more than
SAS as well as many ornithological associations, 2,000 dedicated volunteers. Their annual contribu-
the Federal Nature Conservation Agency (BfN) tion adds up to more than 100,000 hours annually.
and federal state agencies within the national Moreover more than hundred are conducting the
bird monitoring framework (Sudfeldt et al. 2012). counts as part of their job, mainly in the Wadden
Sea, but also at protected areas, such as Biosphere
Reserves or National Parks.
2. METHODS
Online data entry speeds up data availability
The surveys take place in defined counting units, In October 2011, the portal [Link] went online.
covering all types of inland wetlands (but mainly Since then more than 50 million casual records
lakes, reservoirs, gravel pits etc., rivers and bar- have been submitted (Oct. 2020). Starting in
rages) as well as coastal waters in the Wadden autumn 2016 the Waterbird Census was the first
Sea and along the Baltic coast. Counts in these of the standardised bird monitoring programmes
areas are mainly conducted from the ground, only in Germany to go online. As of October 2020 c.
few counts are done by boat or plane. In January 4,700 count units were online with 6,000+ count
2020 counting mainly took place between the 8th units being available at the end of the process
and the 13th, but also counts around the 25th/26th to digitize count units. Bringing the monitoring
were considered from the Wadden Sea in case no

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

36

programmes for non-breeding waterbirds suc- than figures for species wintering mainly inland
cessively online is a huge step forward regarding (many ducks, gulls). Moreover we include two
data availability. This enables us to present some additional columns, one giving an indication in
preliminary results of the International Midwinter the completeness of the available count data, the
Count from January 2020. In the years before this second presenting total estimates for a wintering
would have been impossible with monthly counts season, based on the winters 2011/12 to 2015/16,
at many thousand count units. with winter being defined mainly as December
to February.
3. RESULTS
The figures given in Table 1 are preliminary and
4. DISCUSSION
incomplete with the degree of incompleteness The winter 2019/20 was the second warmest
varying between species. We provide the totals winter since recording began in 1881 according
in three areas, a) Wadden Sea, b) Baltic coast, to the German Meteorological Service ([Link]).
c) inland. Count data for a) and b) were largely In January the average temperature was 3.8 °C
available already, thus figures are more reliable above the value for the international reference

Table 1: Preliminary results of waterbird counts in January 2020 in coastal and inland Germany (without offshore areas). Listed are
only the species belonging to the East Atlantic Flyway focal species. Count totals for many species are yet incomplete, as outside
the Wadden Sea and the Baltic coast mainly data submitted via the online portal [Link] are included. Especially for species
wintering at inland sites, figures are very incomplete. Not included are any data from offshore surveys. The Availability column gives
some indication on the (in)completeness of the available count data (I = c. >90% available, II = c. 50-90%; III = <50%). The last
column gives an indication on the “true” number: these estimates (for 2011/12 to 2015/16; Gerlach et al. 2019) account for gaps in
the count data, gaps in coverage of the counting schemes and include offshore areas. “Winter” mainly refers to the wintering period,
for most species this being December to February. More on the national population estimates will be published by Wahl et al. in
Die Vogelwelt. Species marked with an O are mainly wintering offshore (> 50%). Data marked with an A comes from aerial surveys.
Scientific name English name Wadden Sea Baltic Coast Inland Total Availability Estimated
of count data number
from Jan. in winter
2020 2011/12 -
2015/16
Branta bernicla Brent goose 11,658 34 174 11,866 I 10,500
Branta leucopsis Barnacle goose 104,547 36,065 117,593 258,205 II 355,000
Anser anser Greylag Goose 16,474 18,473 75,441 110,388 II 160,000
Somateria mollissima Common EiderO A71.011 75,842 18 146,871 III 450.000-
600.000
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck 59,987 572 3,733 64,292 I 125,000
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler 2,405 122 911 3,438 II 5,500
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 67,851 32,964 22,660 123,475 I 140,000
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 35,033 41,336 131,651 208,020 III 810,000
Anas acuta Northern Pintail 9,780 563 1,293 11,636 I 15,500
Anas crecca Common Teal 6,670 2,801 20,536 30,007 II 46,000
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 30 6,290 16,357 22,677 II 43,000
Podiceps auritus Horned GrebeO 25 115 30 170 III 2,200
Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe 0 33 931 964 I 850
Platalea leucorodia Eurasian Spoonbill 1 0 0 1 I [11-50]
Ardea alba Great White Egret 149 301 3,950 4,400 III 10,000
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 167 28,084 25,376 53,627 II 73,000
Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher 114,521 77 3 114,601 I 195,000
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet 214 0 0 214 I 3,700
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 8,588 48 0 8,636 I 19,000
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover 9 0 0 9 I 90
Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 52,498 1,987 1,656 56,141 I 125,000
Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 758 3 0 761 I 9,000
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 1,190 0 0 1,190 I 2,100
Calidris canutus Red Knot 7,687 168 0 7,855 I 26,000
Calidris alba Sanderling 1,725 161 0 1,886 I 3,700
Calidris alpina Dunlin 45,397 718 444 46,559 I 170,000
Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper 50 60 0 110 III 370
Tringa totanus Common Redshank 2,210 26 130 2,366 I 4,100
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 3,994 9,227 29,213 42,434 III 220,000
Larus canus Mew Gull 8,014 3,991 7,115 19,120 III 165,000
Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed GullO 68 1 19 88 III 4,900
Larus argentatus European Herring Gull 11,168 19,300 5,988 36,456 III 155,000
Larus marinus Great Black-backed GullO 733 1,244 117 2,094 III 18,500

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 37

period 1961 to 1990. Due to the shortcomings (JMMB) consisting for Germany of Klaus Günther,
mentioned before, only results for species with Bernd Hälterlein, Peter Körber, Jürgen Ludwig,
a high share of available data (category I) can Gregor Scheiffarth and Jens Umland takes care of
meaningfully be discussed. From these Brent bird count coordination, assessment and report-
Goose was present in rather high numbers as ing. Werner Eikhorst (Bremen), Bernd Hälterlein
one would expect in such mild conditions. The (aerial surveys Common Eider Wadden Sea), Jens
same holds true for Black-necked Grebe, but also Hartmann (Fehmarn), Mathias Vieth (Baltic coast
Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Pintail, taking Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) and Georg
into account that coverage is generally lower in Heine (Lake Constance) provided additional data
such species and data from some inland sites are
or summaries of the January 2020 counts for
missing. Interestingly almost all waders came in
their regions.
with (much) lower numbers compared with the
At the national level the Federal Nature Conser-
latest estimates. One would expect that in such
a mild winter numbers would be rather high. vation Agency (BfN) and the federal state agencies
Thus the low numbers suggest that the (partially support the DDA within the framework of the
long-term) decline in species such as Eurasian Administrative Agreement on bird monitoring in
Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit or Germany. In the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea
Red Knot is continuing. The very low count totals area the Schutzstation Wattenmeer coordinates
of Common Shelduck, Eurasian Curlew and Dunlin the counts on behalf of the National Park author-
are rather hard to explain. All three species were ity. In the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park
not in decline recently (Kleefstra et al. 2019). counts are jointly coordinated and conducted by
From species in which gaps in data availability the National Park authority and the State Agency
for 2020 are larger, the continuing increase in for Bird Conservation in the Lower Saxony Water
Barnacle Goose and Great White Egret as well Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Con-
as in in wintering Greylag Goose are recogniz- servation Agency.
able already from the count totals. In Northern
Shoveler and Common Teal numbers seem rather Literature
high compared to the assumed larger gaps in
data availability, but this is in line with such a Gerlach, B., R. Dröschmeister, T. Langgemach, K.
non-winter as in 2019/20. Borkenhagen, M. Busch, M. Hauswirth, T. Heinicke,
For all gull species no interpretation of count J. Kamp, J. Karthäuser, C. König, N. Markones, N.
totals is possible without proper trend analyses as Prior, S. Trautmann, J. Wahl & C. Sudfeldt (2019):
only parts of the true numbers are covered by the Vögel in Deutschland – Übersichten zur Bestands-
day-time or land-based counts. situation. DDA, BfN, LAG VSW, Münster. [in Ger-
man with English summary and captions]
Acknowledgements Kleefstra, R., M. Hornman, T. Bregnballe, J. Frikke,
Above all we thank all those participating in the K. Günther, B. Hälterlein, P. Körber, J. Ludwig & G.
waterbird counts in January 2020 and the many Scheiffarth (2019): Trends of Migratory and Win-
years before, especially the many that did this in tering Waterbirds in the Wadden Sea 1987/1988
their spare time. Without the invaluable support - 2016/2017. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 39,
and continuous work of the coordinators from Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Joint Monitor-
the federal state to the local level such counts ing Group of Migratory Birds in the Wadden Sea,
are hardly imaginable: Johannes Baust, Rüdi- Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
ger Burkhardt, Bernhard Disch, Thomas Dolich, Sudfeldt, C., R. Dröschmeister, J. Wahl, K. Berlin, T.
Norman Donner, Heidemarie Eichstädt, Regina Gottschalk, C. Grüneberg, A. Mitschke & S. Trau-
Eidner, Werner Eikhorst, Jochen Fischer, Andreas tmann (2012): Vogelmonitoring in Deutschland –
Goedecke, Thomas Heinicke, Bernd Heinze, Uwe Programme und Anwendungen. Naturschutz und
Helbing, Veronika Huisman-Fiegen, Harald Jacoby, Biologische Vielfalt 119, Landwirtschaftsverlag,
Christoph Kemptner, Stefan Kluth, Mona Kuhnigk, Münster. [in German]
Alfons Kurz, Jochen Lehmann, Bernd Litzkow,
Martin Müller, Simone Müller, Frank Radon, Falk
Schieweck, Martin Schlorf, Michael Schmolz, Mar-
tin Schulze, Rico Spangenberg, Dietmar Sperling,
Stefan Sudmann, Günter Süßmilch, Klaus-Henry
Tauchert, Mathias Vieth, Stefan Wolff.
In the Wadden Sea area the Joint Monitor-
ing Group of Migratory Birds in the Wadden Sea

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

38

12. Netherlands

© Hans Schekkerman

Results of January 2020 of the area of The Netherlands consists of water),

relatively mild winters and location on the East
waterbird count in The Atlantic migration route, The Netherlands is very
Netherlands attractive for wintering and migrating waterbirds.
Waterbird counts in The Netherlands have a long
tradition and are nowadays part of a national
Menno Hornman governmental ecological surveillance scheme
(‘Netwerk Ecologische Monitoring’). The monthly
Sovon Dutch Centre for Field waterbird counts mainly aim to inform about
Ornithology Toernooiveld 1, trends in numbers at national scale and site
6525 ED Nijmegen, level (Natura 2000 sites) and deliver data to
several other (international) frameworks like the
The Netherlands. International Waterbird Count (IWC) and the
[Link]@[Link] Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Program
(TMAP, carried out by Denmark, Germany and
The Netherlands). Furthermore, the data collected
with the waterbird scheme provide essential input
for the national Art 12 report to the EU. The IWC
counts in the Netherlands are organised from 1967
onwards. However, locally some counts already
started in 1947.

2. METHODS
1. INTRODUCTION The Dutch waterbird scheme (Hornman et al. 2020)
has a standardized set up, with fixed (monthly)
The Netherlands are a fairly small low laying
counting dates and fixed counting units. Sovon
country in Western Europe bordering the North
acts as national coordinator, in close collabora-
Sea. Hence its name, about 26% of the country is
tion with several (national as well as regional)
situated below sea-level (protected by dikes and
governmental bodies and Statistics Netherlands
dunes). Large parts of the country are a big delta
(trend analyses and quality control).
of the Rhine, Meuse, Schelde and Eems rivers.
Fieldwork is carried out by more than 1,900
Thanks to its water rich character (almost 20%

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 39

volunteers and locally also professional counters

(mainly ship-based or aerial surveys). The counts
cover all important wetlands and goose and swan
staging/wintering sites, including vast farmland
areas. Waterbird and geese and swan counts are
carried out monthly in September-April (with an
additional goose count in May), in some areas year
round as well. During IWC in January, numerous
smaller waterbodies, urban parks and various
canals are additionally visited, with focus on the
low western part of the country, where largest
concentrations of waterbirds occur. In January in
total 3,500 counting units are counted covering
c 24,000 km2 which is approximately 59% of the
country’s surface. Tidal areas are counted during
high tide, whereas the open waters of Lake IJssel-
meer, Lake Markermeer, Wadden Sea and coastal
zone of North Sea are covered with aerial surveys
(latter for sea-ducks in January and November). Figure 1: Main Dutch monitoring sites (blue: State Water sys-
Since 2014 seabirds are counted with aerial sur- tems and Special Protected Areas which are counted monthly
veys in the entire Dutch part of the North Sea in from Sep-Apr or whole year round (some)) and geese and swan
September, November, January/February and the counting sites in agricultural areas (green). In addition many
other sites are counted during the IWC in January which are
coastal zone also in April and June. In addition, the not indicated on the map.
vast dataset and ongoing work of the sea migra-
tion counts are used for calculating trends as well. east of The Netherlands (e.g. Taiga Bean Goose,
Common Goldeneye, Goosander, Smew) have more
negative trends than species in which the country
3. RESULTS represents the core wintering range (e.g. Barnacle
In 1967 during the first official IWC more than Goose, Gadwall) or species that predominantly
650,000 birds were counted. Hereafter total winter Southwest of The Netherlands (Eurasian
number has increased, but the coverage of the Spoonbill, Northern Shoveler, Sanderling, Pied
country increased also considerably. Since 2011 Avocet). It is likely that the tendency for warmer
total number of counted waterbirds was never winters is a major driver for these developments,
below 5 million (average 5.43 million). In January but other factors (also species-specific) may play
2020 (rounded) 5,485,000 birds were counted. a role as well.
Barnacle Goose (731,000), Greater White-fronted Regarding trends in Natura 2000 species, about
Goose (669,000), and Wigeon (622,000) were the 2/3 of the species occurs in numbers which meet
most numerous bird species, as was the case in the national goals for favourable conservation sta-
most years before, although Barnacle and Greater tus, e.g. Great White Egret, Gadwall and Barnacle
White-fronted Goose switched rank 1 and 2. Goose. Exceptions in this group are Pink-footed
Thanks to the quick submission of counting data Goose, Spotted Redshank, Mallard and Common
(thanks to online portals and apps) the result of Goldeneye (number lower than national goals for
the January 2020 count is already as good as favourable conservation status). Within the group
complete. of 20 species, for which a recovery of numbers
was aimed for at national level, most species are
still (far) below these aims, e.g. Bewick’s Swan,
4. DISCUSSION Kentish Plover and Black-necked Grebe. These
Since 1975, the monthly average number of developments are partly caused by international
waterbirds in The Netherlands has about dou- developments (e.g. changes in migration strategy
bled, albeit showing some signs of decline in the in Pink-footed Goose and decline in flyway popu-
past decade. This recent decline is mainly due to lation of Bewick’s Swan). At the level of individual
lower numbers in some goose and swan species, Natura 2000 sites, trend in waterbird numbers
whereas several duck species still experience an are very heterogeneous. Online, [Link]/nl/
ongoing increase. gebieden gives a full overview of all sites, species
Species with core wintering areas more North- and trends as well as links to general information
about these sites.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

40

Acknowledgements References
In January 2020 more than 1,900 volunteer coun- Hornman M., Hustings F., Koffijberg K., van Win-
ters participated in the IWC census. I would like den E., van Els P., Kleefstra R., Sovon Ganzen- en
to thank them all for their time and commitment. Zwanenwerkgroep & Soldaat L. 2020. Watervo-
Thanks to their enthusiastic and unremitting com- gels in Nederland in 2017/2018. Sovon rapport
mitment, the regional coordinators were able to 2020/01, RWS-rapport BM 19.18. Sovon Vo-
motivate many counters and recruit new ones. gelonderzoek Nederland, Nijmegen.
Without the professional counts in the Delta area,
van Kleunen A., van Roomen M., van Winden E.,
IJsselmeer and North Sea the census wouldn’t be
Hornman M., Boele A., Kampichler C., Zoetebier D.,
complete. The Dutch Waterbird scheme is part of
Sierdsema H., van Turnhout C. 2020. Vogelrichtli-
the Dutch governmental Network of Ecological
jnrapportage 2013-2018 van Nederland – status
Monitoring (NEM) and is commissioned by Rijk-
en trends van soorten. Wettelijke Onderzoekstaken
swaterstaat - Central Information Services, the
Natuur & Milieu, WOt-technical report 172, Wa-
Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
geningen.
and the 12 Provinces. It is carried out by Sovon
Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology and Statistics
Netherlands.
Table 1. Counted numbers (preliminary) of selected species (East Atlantic Flyway focal species) in The Netherlands during the IWC
waterbird count in January 2020. The total average population estimates in the Netherlands (including estimates for uncounted
sites) in 2013-2017 are given as well (van Kleunen et al. 2020), NA is not assessed.

Scientific name English name Number Total Scientific name English name Number Total
counted estimate counted estimate
2020 2013- 2020 2013-
2017 2017
Branta bernicla Brent Goose 52,809 61,800 Charadrius Kentish Plover 1 0
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose 731,149 738,000 alexandrinus
Anser anser Greylag Goose 426,860 519,000 Numenius Whimbrel 4 0
Somateria Common Eider 56,945 91,600 phaeopus
mollissima Numenius Eurasian Curlew 147,546 172,000
Tadorna tadorna Common 44,170 67,200 arquata
Shelduck Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 64,468 69,100
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler 14,802 16,200 Arenaria inter- Ruddy Turnstone 7,186 5,900
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 621,785 888,000 pres
Anas platyrhyn- Mallard 259,594 542,000 Calidris canutus Red Knot 34,462 87,600
chos Calidris alba Sanderling 10,747 15,300
Anas acuta Northern Pintail 25,768 30,400 Calidris alpina Dunlin 199,264 248,000
Anas crecca Common Teal 63,621 74,800 Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper 166 500
Podiceps Great Crested 20,364 18,700 Calidris minuta Little Stint 4 0
cristatus Grebe Actitis hypoleu- Common Sand- 19 NA
Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe 102 100 cos piper
Podiceps Black-necked 875 800 Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank 169 NA
nigricollis Grebe Tringa nebularia Common Green- 22 NA
Phoenicopterus Greater Flamingo 10 18 shank
roseus Tringa totanus Common Red- 12,724 9,900
Platalea Eurasian Spoonbill 151 NA shank
leucorodia Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 209,003 NA
Ardea alba Great White Egret 9,227 7,600 Larus melano- Mediterranean 56 NA
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 255 NA cephalus Gull
Pelecanus ono- Great White 1 0 Larus canus Mew Gull 220,973 NA
crotalus Pelican Larus fuscus Lesser Black- 282 NA
Phalacrocorax Great Cormorant 32,015 38,100 backed Gull
carbo Larus argentatus European Herring 106,828 133,000
Haematopus Eurasian Oyster- 165,071 174,000 Gull
ostralegus catcher Larus michahellis Yellow-legged 37 NA
Recurvirostra Pied Avocet 4,223 2,700 Gull
avosetta Larus marinus Great Black- 5,762 NA
Pluvialis Grey Plover 30,002 26,700 backed Gull
squatarola Sterna hirundo Common Tern 1 NA
Charadrius Common Ringed 513 400 Thalasseus sand- Sandwich Tern 32 NA
hiaticula Plover vicensis

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 41

13. Belgium

© Koen Devos

Coastal waterbirds in the Belgian shoreline. More than half of the entire
length of the coast (34 km) is bordered with build-
Belgium: results of the ings and boulevards. Intertidal saltmarshes and
mid-January 2020 count mudflats are found at two locations: the eastern
bank of the Yzer estuary at Nieuwpoort and the
tidal inlet of the Zwin area near the Dutch border.
Koen Devos, Research Institute The tidal flats and saltmarshes along the river Yzer
cover about 33 ha, beside some 25 ha of dune
for Nature and Forest (INBO) habitats. The Zwin nature reserve at Knokke is part
Herman Teirlinckgebouw, Ha- of a transboundary wetland, with around 250 ha
venlaan 88 bus 73, 1000 Brus- in Belgium and 25 ha in The Netherlands. Both
these areas are nationally and internationally pro-
sel, Belgium tected, with tidal habitats recently been restored
[Link]@[Link] and expanded by nature restoration projects.
Until 10 years ago, also the port of Zeebrugge
held important waterbird numbers but most of
the suitable feeding areas for waders have been
gradually disappearing due to the construction of
new container terminals.
1. INTRODUCTION
Coastal waterbird numbers in Belgium are rather
2. METHODS
small. The main reason is that, of all the Euro- Mid-monthly waterbird counts in Flanders – the
pean countries bordering the sea, Belgium has northern region of Belgium - are carried out during
one of the shortest (65.4 km in length) and most the period October to March (Devos et al. 2020)
urbanised coastlines with few suitable habitats and do also cover coastal habitats. Hence, they
for waterbirds. Along the coast, narrow sandy provide quite complete and reliable information
beaches prevail, with broader beaches restricted about the numbers and trends of waterbirds that
to the west coast near De Panne (c. 3 km long) occur along the Belgian coast. These counts are
and at both sides of the Zeebrugge harbour piers organised by the Flemish Research Institute for
(c. 1 km). The tidal range amounts to between 3-5 Nature and Forest (INBO), while most of the field-
m. Stony breakwaters - constructed to prevent work is done by skilled volunteers (with support
marine erosion - are a characteristic feature along of the NGO Natuurpunt).

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

42

effects of bird movements, the majority of the

roosts were counted more or less simultaneously
(by 14 counters).

3. RESULTS
The results of the East Atlantic Flyway count
along the Belgian coast are summarized in Table
1. The most numerous species were Eurasian
Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Ruddy Turnstone. The
Figure 1. Map with the Belgian shoreline and indication of the distribution of these species is largely restricted
main wintering areas of coastal waterbirds. to the Belgian coastline, so their numbers are very
For the East Atlantic Flyway assessment 2020, close to the total Belgium population number. In
all counts took place on 19/20 January and contrast, some wader species such as Northern
included all waterbird species, with exception Lapwing and Eurasian Curlew mainly occur at
of gulls. Waders along the coast were counted inland sites, especially on agricultural grasslands
during high tide, when they gather on high tide and arable fields. Their numbers in coastal areas
roosts. Traditional roost places are well known only represent a small proportion of the Belgian
and their coverage during the 2020 count can be population. This is also the case for cormorants,
regarded as complete. In order to minimise the herons, grebes, geese and ducks.

Table 1: Species totals of coastal waterbirds along the Belgian coast and for the whole of Belgium (preliminary
figures) during the mid-January count 2020. Numbers for Belgium don’t include numbers for Wallonia, but for most
species these are usually very low (except for grebes, cormorants and Mallard).

Scientific name English name Coast Total Belgium

Branta bernicla Brent Goose 24 27
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose 8 12,829
Somateria mollissima Common Eider 1 1
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck 368 2,997
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler 4 3,023
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 233 30,279
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 400 33,788
Anas acuta Northern Pintail 25 436
Anas crecca Common Teal 23 8,980
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 27 1,658
Platalea leucorodia Eurasian Spoonbill 1 13
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 78 3,702
Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher 1,654 1,955
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet 47 262
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 187 187
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover 82 82
Vanellus vanellus Northern Lapwing 779 33,306
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 1 1
Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 339 9,076
Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit 2 2
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 1,197 1,199
Calidris canutus Red Knot 7 7
Calidris alba Sanderling 251 251
Calidris alpina Dunlin 1,847 1,856
Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper 38 38
Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank 11 11
Tringa totanus Common Redshank 302 356

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 43

4. DISCUSSION
Placed in an international context, coastal wader
populations in Belgium are rather small and do not
represent a large proportion of total flyway popu-
lations (< 1%). For many species, the results of the
2020 count are in line with the trends in previous
years. This is especially the case for species that
show long term declines as Purple Sandpiper (up
to 330 in the 1970s) and Grey Plover (up to 560
in the 1990s). Numbers of other species such as
Eurasian Oystercatcher and Ruddy Turnstone seem
to stabilize, after a substantial increase in the sec-
ond half of the 20th century. Sanderling numbers
are fluctuating strongly between years and months
and reached a rather low level in January 2020.
In the 20th century, habitat loss and degra-
dation was an important factor in some local
declines in wader species, as in the Zwin nature
reserve where changed tidal dynamics lead to
the silting up of mudflats and the main brackish
lagoon. During the last 10 to 15 years however,
large nature restoration and development projects
(with support of European LIFE programs) have
been realised in some of the major wintering areas
for waterbirds along the Belgian coast. The most
recent project involved the enlargement of the
Zwin nature reserve by another 120 ha of tidal
habitats, replacing adjacent agricultural land. Dur-
ing the last winters, positive effects on the number
of waders have already been observed in this area.
The main pressure right now for waterbirds along
the Belgian coast is probably disturbance. Espe-
cially the beaches – that are used as foraging areas
by several waders species – can be very crowded.
Also high tide roost outside the nature reserves
are very susceptible to disturbance by walkers (and
dogs). But also low flying aircrafts, helicopters and
paramotors are known to disturb birds regularly.
On the long term, sea level rise can be a serious
threat to the current mudflats and saltmarshes.

Acknowledgements
Many thanks go to the dedicated counters: Paul
Lingier, Serge Allein, Geert Jonckheere, Jean Piet-
ers, Roland François, Bart But, Wouter Faveyts, Leo
Declercq, Guido Rappé, Georges De Putter, Frank
De Scheemaeker and Marc De Ceuninck.

References
Devos K., T’jollyn F., Desmet P., Piesschaert F. &
Brosens D. (2020). Watervogels – Wintering water-
birds in Flanders, Belgium. ZooKeys 915: 127-135.
[Link]

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

44

14. France

© Olivier Coindet

Results of the 2020 Inter- wetlands are also of great importance, including
some large wetlands areas such as the Rhine
national Waterbird Census Valley, the region of Champagne and lakes and
in France ponds of the Brenne and the Dombe areas. Each
year over 2,7 million waterbirds are counted by a
volunteer and professional network of birdwatch-
Caroline Moussy & ers and protected area managers that continues
Gwenaël Quaintenne to grow, making the IWC one of the first citizen
LPO Ligue Pour la Protection des Oi- science programme in France.
seaux, BirdLife International France.
With the collaboration of Lucie 2. METHODS
Schmaltz who coordinated the IWC in The IWC in France relies mainly on the network of
France in 2019 and 2020. some 66 local coordinators deployed at the scale
of administrative Counties and Regions. They
coordinate participants, organise the cover and
date of the census and are in charge of reporting
the data to the national coordination. Relaying the
official date of the IWC in Europe and Africa (fixed
to the 11th-12th January in 2020) a 7-days win-
1. INTRODUCTION dows is allowed to account for local constraints
At the crossroad between the Black Sea-Medi- such as tidal cycle or bad weather. Since 2016, the
terranean and the East Atlantic flyways, France process for reporting census data goes through
is an attractive country for many overwintering an online reporting module. This new system of
waterbird species thanks to its number and di- reporting was only possible thanks to the hard
versity of wetlands and its network of protected work done by the local coordinators to digitalize
sites. Most waterbirds are found along the North around 10,100 counting units inside some 500
Sea and the Channel Sea, the Bay of Biscay, and functional sites. Using this system, observers can
the Mediterranean Sea, totalling 5,165 km of now report their observations directly in the field
coastline. They frequent large estuarine bays and using the smartphone app NaturaList. Most sites
intertidal flats, coastal marshes, Mediterranean are visited on foot but boats are also used to visit
lagoons, linear rocky and sandy shorelines. Inland islands in Brittany and some mainland lakes. Due

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 45

Figure 1: Cover of the 2020 IWC in France. Total number of waterbirds counted dur-
ing the 2020 mid-January census in France and location of sites meeting criteria for
international importance

to its extent and inherent problems of accessibil- high. Numbers of Nearctic shorebirds, Red Knot,
ity, only the Camargue is surveyed each year by Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone are back to their
plane. In 2020, 497 sites were counted (i.e. a good previous levels. Only Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Stint
cover of 93%) for a total of 2,854,886 waterbirds. and Purple Sandpiper showed numbers below
More than 1,500 birdwatchers - mainly volunteers 10-years averages.
but also professional from Nature Conservation Regarding Gulls and Tern, numbers remains
NGOs, public agencies, protected areas etc. - were difficult to interpret because counts are not ex-
involved in the census. haustive for this group during the period of the
formal IWC. According to the latest 5th French
Gulls Census (winter 2017/2018), Black-headed
3. RESULTS Gull numbers (709,857 ind. reported in 2017/2018)
See table below. and Herring Gull (169,193 ind.) are in continuous
decline, so are Mew Gulls. In contrast we observe
an increase of Sandwich Tern numbers (1,019
4. DISCUSSION ind.). The top 5 sites for EAF focal species in At-
Similarly to 2018, a mild autumn and winter seems lantic France are: the Réserve Naturelle de Moëze
to explain again fewer numbers of Anatidae, Coot (Charente-Seudre) with 104,839 ind., the Aiguillon
and Grebes counted this mid-January 2020 (this Bay (85,428 ind.), the Bassin d’Arcachon (76,108
was especially true for diving ducks not reported ind.), the Mont-Saint-Michel Bay (69,338 ind.)
there). Numbers of Brent Goose, which tradition- and the Bourgneuf/Noirmoutier Bay (51,487 ind.).
ally moves in cycles, are at the low point. Numbers
of Mallards, the main contributor to the group was Acknowledgements
also low (-20% compared to last year). In contrast, This work would have been impossible without
and probably linked to successful breeding seasons the participation of field ornithologists, mostly
and the mild winter, this 2020 census reached volunteers, counting birds for a large number of
record levels of Greater Flamingo (52,284 ind.), ornithological associations and organizations. The
Eurasian Spoonbill (2,102 ind.) and Great Egret International Waterbird Census is funded by the
(7,616 ind.). Ministère de la Transition Ecologique, Direction
As a whole, numbers of shorebirds were also de l’eau et de la biodiversité.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

46

Table 1: Total numbers of the focal species of the East Atlantic Flyway assessment recorded in France in mid-January 2020.
Numbers are given according to each Wetland International region (North-West Europe (Atlantic), North-West Mediterranean
and Central Europe)

Scientific name English name French name Atlantic NW Med C Eur Total
Branta bernicla Brent Goose Bernache cravant 93,331 0 0 93,331
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose Bernache nonnette 88 0 0 88
Anser anser Greylag Goose Oie cendrée 12,287 2,018 1,129 15,434
Somateria mollissima Common Eider Eider à duvet 108 29 0 137
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck Tadorne de Belon 52,406 8,095 0 60,501
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler Canard souchet 29,939 11,734 9 41,682
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon Canard siffleur 33,843 12,210 622 46,675
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Canard colvert 180,685 26,007 13,505 220,197
Anas acuta Northern Pintail Canard pilet 12,461 3,493 76 16,030
Anas crecca Common Teal Sarcelle d’hiver 91,530 31,798 1,214 124,542
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe Grèbe huppé 26,107 3,978 899 30,984
Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe Grèbe esclavon 177 0 0 177
Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe Grèbe à cou noir 3,908 3,998 3 7,909
Platalea leucorodia Eurasian Spoonbill Spatule blanche 1,933 169 0 2,102
Ardea alba Great White Egret Grande Aigrette 7,616 777 257 8,650
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant Grand Cormoran 57,195 14,680 2,105 73,980
Haematopus ostrale- Eurasian Oyster- Huîtrier pie 43,463 0 0 43,463
gus catcher
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet Avocette élégante 21,980 2,509 0 24,489
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover Pluvier argenté 34,764 1,007 0 35,771
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Pluvier grand-gravelot 13,583 216 0 13,799
Plover
Charadrius alexan- Kentish Plover Pluvier à collier inter- 201 480 0 681
drinus rompu
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel Courlis corlieu 99 0 0 99
Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew Courlis cendré 29,390 630 1 30,021
Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit Barge rousse 7,125 1 0 7,126
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone Tournepierre à collier 29,993 66 0 30,059
Calidris canutus Red Knot Bécasseau maubèche 48,947 4 0 48,951
Calidris alba Sanderling Bécasseau sanderling 29,612 201 0 29,813
Calidris alpina Dunlin Bécasseau variable 295,984 26,973 0 322,957
Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper Bécasseau violet 736 0 0 736
Calidris minuta Little Stint Bécasseau minute 67 621 0 688
Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank Chevalier arlequin 393 9 0 402
Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank Chevalier aboyeur 655 40 0 695
Tringa totanus Common Redshank Chevalier gambette 6,469 414 0 6,883
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull Mouette rieuse 286,613 25,133 2,830 314,576
Larus melanocephalus Mediterranean Gull Mouette mélanocé- 8,881 1,151 1 10,033
phale
Larus canus Mew Gull Goéland cendré 13,102 2 39 13,143
Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Goéland brun 14,278 9 1 14,288
Gull
Larus argentatus European Herring Gull Goéland argenté 60,548 0 0 60,548
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Goéland marin 11,280 0 0 11,280
Gull
Thalasseus sandvi- Sandwich Tern Sterne caugek 1,020 581 0 1,601
censis

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 47

15. Portugal

© José Perdigão

January water bird census of this institute dedicated to the monitoring and
results in Portugal conservation of birds. However volunteers also
regularly participate in the censuses, some for
more than 30 years.

Vitor Encarnação,
Instituto da Conservação da Na- 2. METHODS
The counts are performed mostly from points lo-
tureza e das Florestas, IP cated on the edge of the wetlands. In large estua-
CEMPA - Centro de Estudos de rine wetlands, counting is also carried out from a
vessel along a predefined transect and during high
Migrações e Proteção de Aves tide. Larger areas, such as estuaries, are geographi-
cally divided into smaller counting units that are
Av. Combatentes da Grande counted separately. All the species of waterbirds
Guerra, 1, 2890-015 Alcochete are counted, namely, Grebes (Podicepediformes);
Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae); Herons, Storks,
Ibis and Spoonbills (Ciconiformes); Flamingos
(Phoenicopteriformes); Ducks and Geese (Anseri-
formes); Moorhen and Coots (Gruiformes); Wad-
ers, and Terns, (Charadriformes). Gulls have been
excluded from the counts until now.
In coastal areas, the counts are carried out
during spring tide and during the high tide pe-
1. INTRODUCTION riod, avoiding hunting days. For Grebes, Ducks,
Geese and Coots, monthly counts are carried out
Within Portugal the most important sites for between October and March of each year. The
waterbirds are estuaries and coastal lagoons. most important areas, such as the Tagus and Sado
However, mainly in the southern half of the estuaries, are counted every month, for all species.
country, there are a considerable number of dams The periods for carrying out the counts are fixed
with water reservoirs which are also important. and the same for all locations. Whenever possible,
The northern half of the country is more moun- the number of birds is quantified by direct count-
tainous, and although there are some reservoirs, ing. In the case of numerous flocks or in flight,
only a few have interesting numbers, the most counting is performed by estimation.
important being located along the coast. The The country is divided into 17 basins or sub-basins,
censuses in Portugal are carried out since 1975, in which 115 counting sites have been identified
mainly by professionals, technicians and guards (Figure 1).
from the Institute for Nature Conservation and
Forests, coordinated by CEMPA, the department

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

48

4. DISCUSSION
The main threats or pressures on waterbird popu-
lations in Portugal are the disturbance by human
activities linked to fishing and sport, as well as the
destruction of habitats. Specifically in some estu-
aries, the transformation of salt complexes into
intensive fish farms, together with the increase in
sea level, is causing the absence of places of refuge
and intertidal rest for a very wide range of waders.

Acknowledgment
A first thanks to the 15 CEMPA’s volunteer, for
their efforts and collaboration in the continuity
of great quality that they have been giving to this
project, some of them for more than two decades.
To the technicians and wardens of the ICNF of the
different protected areas, who participate in this
project, for the excellent and profound work they
have been doing in accompanying and monitoring
the areas for which they are responsible.
Figure 1: Counted sites in January 2019

Table 1: Counted number and estimated total per species for January 2019 in Portugal. For species indicated with ? no total estimate
could be made.
Scientific name English name Count Total Scientific name English name Count Total
estimate estimate
Anser anser Greylag Goose 2,893 3,000 Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 6,192 7,000
Melanitta nigra Common Scoter 2,900 3,200 Burhinus oedicnemus Eurasian Thick-knee 17 90
Haematopus os- Eurasian Oystercatcher 959 1,150
Mergus serrator Red-breasted Mer- 29 45
tralegus
ganser
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet 6,125 6,300
Alopochen aegyptiaca Egyptian Goose 101 160
Himantopus himan- Black-winged Stilt 1,245 1,700
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck 1,129 1,200
topus
Tadorna ferruginea Ruddy Shelduck 1 5
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 7,017 6,500
Netta rufina Red-crested Pochard 245 350
Pluvialis apricaria Eurasian Golden Plover 245 ?
Aythya ferina Common Pochard 607 650
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover 13,594 15,000
Aythya nyroca Ferruginous Duck 76 80
Charadrius alexan- Kentish Plover 1,836 2,000
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck 744 800 drinus
Spatula querquedula Garganey 1 5 Vanellus vanellus Northern Lapwing 8,593 ?
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler 31,702 34,000 Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 202 250
Mareca strepera Gadwall 1,922 2,200 Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 479 500
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon 5,258 6,500 Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 2,273 3,000
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 11,401 15,000 Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit 35,837 40,000
Anas acuta Northern Pintail 46,274 48,000 Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 423 500
Anas crecca Common Teal 16,866 20,000 Calidris canutus Red Knot 63 250
Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe 808 850 Calidris pugnax Ruff 95 150
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 417 500 Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper 10 100
Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe 124 150 Calidris alba Sanderling 1,677 1,900
Phoenicopterus roseus Greater Flamingo 7,887 8,200 Calidris alpina Dunlin 68,177 80,000
Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen 30 120 Calidris minuta Little Stint 258 400
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen 217 ? Gallinago gallinago Common Snipe 228 ?
Fulica cristata Red-knobbed Coot 2 2 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 308 350
Fulica atra Common Coot 7,539 80,000 Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper 37 50
Ciconia nigra Black Stork 35 50 Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank 13 25
Ciconia ciconia White Stork 558 600 Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 393 400
Platalea leucorodia Eurasian Spoonbill 2,330 2,500 Tringa totanus Common Redshank 3,117 3,500
Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis 30,597 60,000 Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern 46 50
Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron 3 8 Sterna hirundo Common Tern 19 30
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 485 ? Thalasseus sandvi- Sandwich Tern 352 400
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 1,492 1,600 censis
Ardea alba Great White Egret 186 230 Pandion haliaetus Osprey 40 55
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 1,161 1,300 Circus aeruginosus Western Marsh-harrier 90 110

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 49

16. Morocco

© Mohamed Dakki

Results of January count As this country is at the crossroads of several bird

2020 of waterbirds in Mo- migration routes between Europe and tropical
Africa, its wetlands provide key wintering stops
rocco for millions of birds, of which nearly one million
are believed to winter in the country. In Morocco,
the International Waterbird Census is organized
Mohamed Dakki1,2, Asmaâ Ouas- by the Scientific Institute since 1983, and this
sou1,2, Rhimou El Hamoumi2, chapter provides an overview of the main results.
In its first phase, it was focused on ducks and
Mohammed-Aziz El Agbani1,2 coots, but starting in 1991, it was extended to
and Abdeljebbar Qninba1,2 all waterbird species and to all the regions. This
1
Scientific Institute, Mohamed improvement is due to a large training program
of national observers and their organization in the
V University in Rabat, Morocco NGO and BirdLife partner GREPOM. Since 2013,
2
GREPOM/BirdLife Morocco, the IWC in Morocco is organized in the regional
context of the Mediterranean Waterbirds (MWB)
Avenue Ibn Batouta, Rabat, Mo- network, coordinated and stimulated by the Tour
rocco du Valat, in France. Actually, the IWC in Morocco is
at its top performance, both in exhaustiveness and
rapidity in data gathering and analyses. Through
this short note, we provide basic information on
the situation and evolution of IWC in Morocco.
The 2020 results are briefly presented to show
both the composition of the wintering communi-
1. INTRODUCTION ties and the importance of Morocco in the East
Due to its location straddling the Mediterranean Atlantic context.
and Saharan biomes, Morocco has two maritime
fronts, Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to 2. METHODS
the west, giving it 3,500 km of coastal wetlands.
These are enriched by a large number of inland The only monitoring technique used since 1983 is
swamps, lakes, sebkhas and gueltas occupying the direct count. For each site (Figure 1), we have
coastal plains, mountains and Saharan plateaus. chosen the best places and itineraries to ensure

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

50

an optimal cover of the whole bird habitats. For and Fulica atra, Anas platyrhynchos and Anas
most of the sites, the counts are made from ter- crecca, which are both in coastal lagoons and in
restrial points, overlooking the wetland, but ad- inland lakes, marshes and reservoirs. Even if we
ditionally we use boats in some large lagoons and focused on coastal birds, the sea duck Melanitta
bays. ost of the counts are organized in January, nigra is recorded with a medium number. The
as much as possible between the 10th and 20th; vulnerable species are in relatively low numbers,
but considering the wideness of the country and mainly Aythya fuligula (442 ind.), which number is
the low number of observers, we extended the continuously decreasing in favor of Aythia nyroca
monitoring period to the whole month, and in (1,506 ind.), and Marmaronetta angustirostris
some rare cases, we exceptionally accept few (727 ind.), represented by less than 25% of its
counts from late December or early February. The population in Morocco.
counts are made by individuals, but sometimes by
small teams of 2-4 persons, mainly for covering
large sites. The number of observers involved in
4. DISCUSSION
the counts vary generally around 20-30 people, During early years of the monitoring, the number
depending on the availability of human and lo- of visited wetlands exceptionally exceeded 70 sites
gistical resources, but it goes lesser than 10 in and the number of counted birds, often limited to
2000 and 2012, obliging the Wetland team of ducks and coots, rarely reached 180,000 (Figure 2).
the Scientific Institute to deploy a great effort to Through an ambitious program, implemented since
cover the best wetlands in the country. However, 1991, we enlarged counts to the whole country
the organization of volunteers into the GREPOM and extended the census to all waterbird groups.
NGO, created in 1993, and the establishment of The total counts frequently exceeded the threshold
the MWB regional coordination, have provided, of 400,000 waterbirds and the national network
since 2013, substantial logistical help that allowed of IWC wetlands reached 280 sites. However, we
to increasingly involve more GREPOM observers, annually cover only 60 to 100 wetlands, mainly
which number reached 68 in 2020. depending on autumn and winter weather and on
the availability of logistical resources.
These 2020 counts were very exceptional, both
by the high numbers of observers and visited
wetlands, which reached respectively 68 and 108.
More than 95% of the counts were held in January,
between the 2th and 29th, with 60% between the
10th and 20th; but we accepted four counts made
in late December 2019 and early February 2020.

Pressures and threats

In several wetlands, natural habitats are
continuously losing in area, both under human
pressures and droughts. Artificial reservoirs are
increasing in number and attract mainly ducks
and coots, while some polluted inland wetlands
(as Wad As-Saqia Al Hamra in the South and Merja
Figure1: IWC wetland network in Morocco.
Fouwarate in the North) are growing with the im-
3. RESULTS provement of their hydrology. During our visits, we
frequently observe poaching, heavy disturbances
A total of 112 species was recorded, cumulat- to birds, and an increasing number of stray dogs,
ing 456,048 individuals, which number is very which represent a real threat for resident species.
close to the average number calculated for the
last five years (453,346 ind.). About 94% of this Acknowledgements
number belongs to 45 species, represented with We would like to thank all the observers who par-
more than 1,000 individuals, whereas 43 species ticipated in this census, in particular the GREPOM
cumulated less than 100 individuals (table 1). volunteers and the engineers and technicians of
We underline that 50% of the total counts be- the Department of Water and Forestry, as well as
long to seven species only: Larus fuscus, Calidris the Tour du Valat and VBN (BirdLife Netherlands),
alpina, Calidris canutus and Recurvirostra avo- who provided the coordination of the IWCs in
setta, mainly concentrated in coastal wetlands, Morocco with appreciable logistical assistance.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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Table 1: Total numbers of the waterbird species reported in the 2020 January count.
Scientific name English name French name Total Scientific name English name French name Total
Oxyura leuco- White-headed Érismature à tête 728 Charadrius dubius Little Ringed Pluvier petit- 347
cephala Duck blanche Plover gravelot
Anser anser Greylag Goose Oie cendrée 47 Charadrius alex- Kentish Plover Pluvier à collier 5,569
Anser albifrons Greater White- Oie rieuse 68 andrinus interrompu
fronted Goose Vanellus vanellus Northern Lapwing Vanneau huppé 2,242
Melanitta nigra Common Scoter Macreuse noire 8,340 Numenius Whimbrel Courlis corlieu 1,030
Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck Tadorne de Belon 11,920 phaeopus
Tadorna fer- Ruddy Shelduck Tadorne casarca 1,926 Numenius Eurasian Curlew Courlis cendré 484
ruginea arquata
Marmaronetta Marbled Teal Marmaronette 727 Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit Barge rousse 7,529
angustirostris marbrée Limosa limosa Black-tailed Barge à queue 586
Netta rufina Red-crested Nette rousse 2,469 Godwit noire
Pochard Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone Tournepierre à 558
Aythya ferina Common Pochard Fuligule milouin 8,322 collier
Aythya nyroca Ferruginous Duck Fuligule nyroca 1,506 Calidris canutus Red Knot Bécasseau 23,098
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck Fuligule morillon 442 maubèche
Spatula querq- Garganey Sarcelle d’été 1 Calidris pugnax Ruff Combattant varié 543
uedula Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper Bécasseau cocorli 97
Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler Canard souchet 17,877 Calidris alba Sanderling Bécasseau sanderling 17,939
Mareca strepera Gadwall Canard chipeau 938 Calidris alpina Dunlin Bécasseau variable 42,473
Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon Canard siffleur 930 Calidris minuta Little Stint Bécasseau minute 7,219
Anas platyrhyn- Mallard Canard colvert 23,933 Gallinago gal- Common Snipe Bécassine des 403
chos linago marais
Anas acuta Northern Pintail Canard pilet 6,221 Lymnocryptes Jack Snipe Bécassine sourde 10
Anas crecca Common Teal Sarcelle d’hiver 20,737 minimus
Tachybaptus Little Grebe Grèbe castagneux 4,606 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sand- Chevalier guig- 220
ruficollis piper nette
Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe Grèbe jougris 4 Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper Chevalier cul-blanc 123
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grèbe huppé 1,776 Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank Chevalier arlequin 16
Grebe Tringa nebularia Common Green- Chevalier aboyeur 2,368
Podiceps nigri- Black-necked Grèbe à cou noir 909 shank
collis Grebe Tringa totanus Common Redshank Chevalier gambette 3,924
Phoenicopterus Greater Flamingo Flamant rose 5,091 Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper Chevalier sylvain 65
roseus Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper Chevalier stagnatile 1
Rallus aquaticus Western Water Rail Râle d’eau 15 Larus genei Slender-billed Gull Goéland railleur 3,022
Porphyrio por- Purple Swamphen Talève sultane 131 Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull Mouette rieuse 11,207
phyrio Larus melano- Mediterranean Mouette mélano- 207
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen Gallinule poule-d’eau 1,918 cephalus Gull céphale
Fulica cristata Red-knobbed Foulque à crête 6,117 Larus audouinii Audouin’s Gull Goéland 8,380
Coot d’Audouin
Fulica atra Common Coot Foulque macroule 41,543 Larus fuscus Lesser Black- Goéland brun 53,283
Grus grus Common Crane Grue cendrée 1,161 backed Gull
Ciconia nigra Black Stork Cigogne noire 2 Larus argentatus European Herring Goéland argenté 4
Ciconia ciconia White Stork Cigogne blanche 3,203 Gull
Platalea leuc- Eurasian Spoon- Spatule blanche 884 Larus michahellis Yellow-legged Goéland leuco- 13,910
orodia bill Gull phée
Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis Ibis falcinelle 1,986 Larus hyperboreus Glaucous Gull Goéland 1
bourgmestre
Nycticorax Black-crowned Bihoreau gris 439
nycticorax Night-heron Larus marinus Great Black- Goéland marin 9
backed Gull
Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron Crabier chevelu 115
Sternula albifrons Little Tern Sterne naine 2
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret Héron garde-boeufs 7,991
Gelochelidon Common Gull- Sterne hansel 13
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron Héron cendré 1,400
nilotica billed Tern
Ardea alba Great White Egret Grande Aigrette 62
Hydroprogne Caspian Tern Sterne caspienne 354
Egretta garzetta Little Egret Aigrette garzette 1,524 caspia
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant Grand Cormoran 11,889 Chlidonias Whiskered Tern Guifette moustac 46
Burhinus oedic- Eurasian Thick- Oedicnème criard 127 hybrida
nemus knee Chlidonias niger Black Tern Guifette noire 4
Haematopus Eurasian Oyster- Huîtrier pie 1,483 Thalasseus benga- Lesser Crested Sterne voyageuse 1
ostralegus catcher lensis Tern
Recurvirostra Pied Avo cet Avocette élégante 22,571 Thalasseus sand- Sandwich Tern Sterne caugek 219
avosetta vicensis
Himantopus Black-winged Échasse blanche 2,535 Pandion haliaetus Osprey Balbuzard 84
himantopus Stilt pêcheur
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover Pluvier argenté 5,774 Circus aerugi- Western Marsh- Busard des 255
Pluvialis apricaria Eurasian Golden Pluvier doré 3,431 nosus harrier roseaux
Plover Alcedo atthis Common King- Martin-pêcheur 46
Charadrius Common Ringed Pluvier grand- 12,140 fisher d’Europe
hiaticula Plover gravelot

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Figure 2: Evolution of the yearly counted numbers of sites and birds, between 1983 and 2020.

ANNEX
List of participants in the January counts 2020
Aghzaaui M., Ait Baamrane A., Amezian M., Amrij
H., Aourir M., Azaouaghe S., Benhamza A., Ben-
tayaa I., Bouamama M., Boumaaza M., Bourouah
B., Caballero A., Chahir A., Cherkaoui I., Dakki M.,
de Lope M.J., Douini I., El Abbassi S., El Allouli N., El
Aouki A., El Aouki A., El Bouzidi H., El Haoua M.K.,
El Khamlichi R., El Mouden E., Elaji A., Essabbani
A., Esshasah K., Fahmi A., Fernández M.J., Goutou
Y., Hammouradia H., Hassani H., Jabar I., Kimdil L.,
Laarbi Jebari M., Lahrouz S., Lieron V., El Agbani
M.A., Maire B., Mansouri A., Mansouri I., Mounir
M., Nahli A., Noaman M., Notario J., Onrubia A.,
Oudghiri A.K., Oulaarif R., Oulahrir B.Y., Ousaaid
D., Qninba A., Radi M., Rguibi O., Rihane A., Squalli
W., Tamraoui Y., Zidane H., Zinessabah D.

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17. Mauritania

© Lars Soerink

Parc National du Banc d’Arguin Il représente le tiers du linéaire côtier du pays et

occupe la moitié orientale du Golfe d’Arguin. La
(PNBA) position du PNBA de carrefour biogéographique
lui confère un caractère exceptionnel qui lui a
Dénombrement des oiseaux valu d’être successivement classé site Ramsar
d’eau au Parc National du en 1982, puis Patrimoine mondial de l’Humanité
Banc d’Arguin en Janvier par l’Unesco en 1989 et Don à la terre en 2001
par WWF. Le Parc National du Banc d’Arguin est
2020, MAURITANIE un site du patrimoine mondial qui se compose
de plus d’une quinzaine d’îles et îlots, des baies,
des lagunes qui abritent un nombre important
Amadou KIDE, Parc National du d’oiseaux d’eau. L’importance de sa biodiversité
Banc d’Arguin, Premier Minis- notamment l’avifaune qui est l’une des valeurs
de son classement comme label de l’UNESCO,
tère, Secrétariat General du le PNBA accueil aussi des espèces afro-tropical,
Gouvernement, Mauritanie l’objectif de ce comptage est de connaitre chaque
mois de janvier l’état de conservation des oiseaux
migrateurs qui hivernent dans le site en quittant
la Russie avec un court séjour en Europe (Europe
de l’est, Angleterre, Mer de Wadden, etc..).
Le Parc National du Banc d’Arguin joue un
rôle important en Afrique de l’Ouest et aussi au
niveau international, il y a des indicateurs qui
nous montrent que les limicoles sont en baisse
depuis 1990, raison pour laquelle d’effectuer
1. INTRODUCTION un comptage global et complet du site PNBA en
Créé en 1976 par le Gouvernement Mauritanien janvier 2020.
par décret présidentiel N° 76-147 du 24 Juin 1976, Ce comptage a pour objectif :
le Parc National du Banc d’Arguin (PNBA) est la
• D’évaluer la taille et la tendance des oiseaux
plus grande Aire Protégée en Afrique de l’Ouest
d’eau du PNBA par rapport aux autres années
avec une superficie de 12 000 km² dont 6 300 km²
correspondantes aux comptages exhaustifs
en zone maritime et 5 700 km² en zone terrestre.
qui se déroulent chaque trois ans.

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• De connaitre l’évolution de la taille de la 2. METHODOLOGIE DU TRAVAIL

population des limicoles, les autres espèces
(Spatule blanche, Héron cendré, Cormorans, Nous avons choisi la période des grandes marées,
Sternes, Pélican blanc, Flamant rose, etc…). qui sont propices au comptage. Pour les dénom-
brements, la plupart des sites complexes ou de
Cette année le dénombrement est particulier c’est grandes dimensions sont divisés en sous-sites
un comptage global et complet, 73 unités de comp- qui constituent des unités de comptage séparées
tage sont visitées dans le parc (voir carte 1 et 2), le (Carte 1 et 2). Le comptage des sous-sites soit
comptage s’est déroulé du 04 au 16 janvier 2020. étroitement coordonné et simultané, deux à trois
observateurs au moins une personne expérimentée
à la tête de chaque groupe pour chaque sous-site.
Les équipes de comptage ont profité de ces
instants de forte concentration en haute marée
pour effectuer les identifications et comptages des
différents groupes d’oiseaux hivernants et séden-
taires. Les oiseaux restent sur les îles au minimum
quatre heures. C’est dans cet intervalle de temps
que les équipes procèdent à l’identification des
espèces et le comptage des différents groupes. Il
a été constaté qu’en la période de grandes marées
(au-delà de 1,42m) au Banc d’Arguin toutes les
vasières sont submergées.

Déroulement du comptage
Ce comptage a mobilisé 46 personnes qui sont
composés de : une équipe du PNBA (23), PND (2),
DAPL (1), les ONG nationales Nature Mauritanie
(2), AMISO (1), NAFORE (1), deux ornithologues
étrangers (un Sénégalais et un Tunisien), une
équipe du WSFI (7), des éco-guides de la popu-
lation locale (7).
Un comité d’organisation et de logistique dont
la mission est de veuillez au bon déroulement du
comptage, qui est constitué par l’équipe du PNBA,
un ingénieur en conception de la base de données
du dénombrement qui est assisté par un agent de
saisie, pour plus de détail voir en Annexe la liste
des participants.

3. RESULTAT
Les résultats obtenus durant les 9 journées du
comptage se répartissent comme suit : au total
1707178 individus dont 1605594 limicoles, 23690
laridés, 77395 Echassiers, 168 rapaces et 331
autres pour ces 5 grands groupes (Tableau 1).
La diversité spécifique est de 59, on observe
des nouvelles espèces comme : Spatule d’Afrique
(Platalea alba), Bécasseau falcinelle (Limicola
falcinellus), Chevalier cul-blanc (Tringa ochropus)
et Chevalier sylvain (Tringa glareola).

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Equipe / Logistique Divers

Jour 1 Participants à Iwik et à Teichott. Installation des participants, coordination
Nouakchott à 16h00 pour arriver à Chami à 19h00 des équipes
Jour 2 9 unités de comptage (22A, 23B, 24B, 24A, 26C, 25B, 22B, 25A, 23A). Réunion de présentation de la méthodolo-
gie de comptage et stratégies à adopter.
Mise à disposition de l’outil LocusMap.
Jour 3 Trois véhicules sont mobilisés pour les 9 unités de comptages. Réunion des responsables pour la réparti-
Départ des équipes à 07h05mn. tion des tâches et des équipes. Restitution
Retour à la base de vie d’Iwik à 13h30mn. des résultats.
Jour 4 8 équipes de comptage composées de 28 personnes (8D, 8C, 8E, 7, 8B, 5, Réunion de compte rendu de la journée
8A, 6). et formation des équipes du lendemain
Une embarcation est mobilisée pour le déplacement à l’unité 7 (Zira) et les
autres équipes sont reparties dans 3 véhicules.
Départ à 08h00 afin d’arriver à temps avant la marée de 09h40mn. Retour
à la base d’Iwik à 12h00.
Jour 5 8 équipes de 19 personnes 1, 2D, 3, 4B, 4A, 2A, 2C, 39. Restitution des résultats de la journée
Les équipes (4A, 4B et 3) utilisent la grande embarcation et les autres équipes et reconstitution des équipes à nouveau.
utilisent les 3 véhicules du PNBA.
Départ à 08h30mn avant la marée de 10h01. Retour à la base d’Iwik à
15h00mn
Jour 6 12 équipes de 13 personnes (32B, 32C, 35, 34B, 34A, 33A, 33B, 32A, 12C, Restitution des résultats de la journée
31A, 12D, 12B) ont mobilisé 2 embarcations pour le déplacement vers les îles. et reconstitution des équipes à nouveau.
Départ à la plage d’Iwik à 09h45mn pour arriver dans les îles avant la haute
marée de 11h48mn.
La première embarcation est de retour à 17h00 et la seconde à 18h00.
Jour 7 7 équipes de 16 personnes (41, 42, 14C, 15, 14B, 40 ; 14A) sont réparties Restitution des résultats de la journée
dans 3 embarcations et 2 véhicules. et reconstitution des équipes à nouveau.
Départ à 07h00 des deux véhicules vers Agadir, arrivée à 08h27mn.
Deux équipes ont pris l’embarcation de la traversée vers l’île d’Agadir, arrivée
à 11h00 en attente de la marée.
Départ de l’embarcation à 11h45mn pour aller dans les îles (Arguin, Ardent
et Marguerit).
Fin du comptage dans les îles à 13h45, retour à Iwik pour arriver à 18h35mn.
Jour 8 9 équipes de 15 personnes (9A, 9B, 10, 11, 12A, 12E, 13A, 13B, 13C) dans Restitution des résultats de la journée.
deux embarcations.
Départ à 09h30mn vers les îles.
Jour 9 Départ à 18h00 d’Iwik vers Teichott.
Jour 10 11 équipes de 14 personnes (19, 20, 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, 21E, 30A, 30B, Formation des groupes qui vont faire le
31B, 36D). comptage de la journée.
Deux embarcations sont mobilisées pour le déplacement vers les îles Kiji et L’unité de comptage 36C n’est pas visitée
Tidra, deux véhicules pour le comptage de la côte Baie de Saint Jean nord. par des contraintes liées à l’accès à la
zone, aussi l’équipe chargée du comptage
à l’île Kiji a eu une panne d’un moteur de
l’embarcation.
Jour 11 6 groupes composés de 11 participants (26A, 26B, 26D, 27, 28, 29). Restitution des résultats de la journée
Trois véhicules sont mobilisés. précédente (jour 10) et préparation de la
1 véhicule est parti à 11h20mn et deux autres véhicules à 11h30mn. journée (jour 11).
Deux autres équipes partent respectivement à 18h05 et à 18h30mn à
Mamghar.
Arrivée des équipes à 19h30 et installation dans la nouvelle base de vie
de Mamghar.
Jour 12 3 groupes de 11 personnes (38, 36A, 37). Restitution des résultats de la journée
Deux véhicules sont mobilisés. précédente (jour 11) et préparation de la
Départ vers 10h51mn, la marée haute est à 11h53mn. journée (jour 12).
Fin du comptage et retour à Nouakchott en longeant la plage.
Jour 13 Réunion de toute l’équipe de comptage à Nouakchott.
L’ensemble des fiches de comptage sont saisie dans la base de données oracle 11g.
La restitution a été faite par Marc van Roomen en présence du staff du PNBA.

4. DISCUSSION site et elle exerce une pression modérée sur les

[Link] contre, le changement climatique a
Au Baie d’Arguin les activités humaines (agri- des effets étendus sur le site ; mais la pression est
culture, zones de bâties, transport, exploitations modérée sur les oiseaux. Malgré les mesures de
minières, tourisme, exploitation de la faune et de conservations, leur efficacité n’est pas évaluée. Au
la flore) ont peu d’impact sur le site. Cependant, Banc d’Arguin l’impact des activités humaines est
la pêche occupe une place importante dans ce presque pareil à celui du Baie d’Arguin. Le change-

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Tableau 1 : Récapitulatif du dénombrement du janvier 2020 en PNBA en Mauritanie

Scientific name French name Count Scientific name French name Count
2020 2020
Phoenicopterus roseus Flamant rose 32,816 Calidris minuta Bécasseau minute 11,006
Phoeniconaias minor Flamant nain 1,119 Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 15
Platalea alba Spatule d’Afrique 4 Tringa ochropus Chevalier cul-blanc 1
Platalea leucorodia Spatule blanche 7,794 Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 2,498
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 3,248 Tringa totanus Chevalier gambette 73,522
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 2,136 Tringa glareola Chevalier sylvain 1
Egretta gularis Aigrette à gorge blanche 1,951 Larus genei Goéland railleur 5,387
Pelecanus onocrotalus Pélican blanc 4,010 Larus ridibundus Mouette rieuse 80
Microcarbo africanus Cormoran africain 9,003 Larus cirrocephalus Mouette à tête grise 55
Phalacrocorax carbo Grand Cormoran 15,326 Larus melanocephalus Mouette mélanocéphale 2
Haematopus ostralegus Huîtrier pie 9,162 Larus audouinii Goéland d’Audouin 95
Pluvialis squatarola Pluvier argenté 21,009 Larus dominicanus Goéland dominicain 13
Charadrius hiaticula Pluvier grand-gravelot 66,069 Larus fuscus Goéland brun 12,698
Charadrius alexandrinus Pluvier à collier inter- 7,670 Larus michahellis Goéland leucophée 2
rompu Sternula albifrons Sterne naine 316
Numenius phaeopus Courlis corlieu 16,770 Gelochelidon nilotica Sterne hansel 767
Numenius arquata Courlis cendré 4,246 Hydroprogne caspia Sterne caspienne 5,092
Limosa lapponica Barge rousse 209,090 Sterna hirundo Sterne pierregarin 196
Arenaria interpres Tournepierre à collier 13,667 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sterne caugek 1,155
Calidris canutus Bécasseau maubèche 130,369 Thalasseus maximus Sterne royale 861
Calidris ferruginea Bécasseau cocorli 33,072 Pandion haliaetus Balbuzard pêcheur 96
Calidris alba Bécasseau sanderling 38,910 Circus aeruginosus Busard des roseaux 39
Calidris alpina Bécasseau variable 969,098

ment d’habitat ou les problèmes directement liés unités de comptage : Île marguerite, Baie d’Arguin
à la santé par les ordures est très étendu, mais la nord-est, Cap Sainte Anne, Îles des pélicans, Aga-
sévérité est modérée. Pour le changement clima- dir-Cap Alzaze et Cap Alzazz-Tagarite.
tique, les effets sont semblables au Baie d’Arguin. Par manque d’embarcations suffisantes et
Aussi les mesures de conservation et l’implication d’équipages pour couvrir les unités citées plus
des populations sont notées sur ce site ; cependant haut, aussi le manque des véhicules pour pouvoir
leur efficacité reste à tester. déplacer les équipes le long de la côte où il y a
des unités de comptage.
Recommandations
Pour améliorer les prochains dénombrements il ANNEXE
est nécessaire de : Liste des participants
• Avoir des moyens financiers suffisants pour
faire le dénombrement efficacement Amadou KIDE, Ahmed Aflawatt, Azeine Abidine
• Mettre à disposition des moyens logistiques [Link], Moustapha Taleb, Fodé Diawara, Djibril
suffisants (véhicules, embarcation Diallo, Diop Ibrahima, Marc van Roomen (NL),
• Renforcer la capacité des agents de terrain Albert de Jong (NL), Rinse van de Vliet (NL), Jan
du PNBA à l’identification des oiseaux et la van Dijk (NL), Romke Kleefstra (NL), Klaus Günther
technique de comptage (GER), Morten Benson Hansen (DEN), Lars Soerink
• Limiter le nombre des participants (NL), Faouzi Maamouri, Paul Messialle, Mohamed
• Mettre en place un réseau des compteurs Camara, Ahmed Boubout, BA Mamdou Abdoul,
nationaux Nahi El Bar, BA Amadou Malick, Ahmedou Moha-
• Avoir un modèle de marée spécifique au PNBA meden, LY Hamidou, Ahmed Medou, Soukeyna
• Suivre les conditions environnementales des Mint Ely, Sidi Ould Ely, Meimouna Mbeirick, Hama
sites où nichent et se reproduisent les oiseaux ould Sidiya, Aicha Mint Saad, Ivecou Mohamed.
• Renforcer le partenariat entre les institutions
ou ONG qui participent au comptage Liste du comité d’organisation
Ebaye Mohamed Mohmoud, Haj Brahim Bouraya,
Contraintes Abou Gueye, Sedoum Bahah, LY Djibril, Hama
Durant ce comptage les moyens financiers sont Hafed, Sid’Ahmed Guewad, Nagi Heibetty.
limités, nous n’avons pas pu couvrir certaines

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Parc National du Diawling (PND) migrateurs, mais aussi des effectifs significatifs à
l’échelle mondiale de plusieurs espèces menacées
ou peu abondantes, ex: le Flamant nain, l’Avocette
Comptage global 2020 de la élégante ou la Barge à queue noire. Le 15 janvier
Réserve de Biosphère Trans- de chaque année est institué comme journée
frontalière du Bas Delta du d’évaluation des potentialités aviaires de la RBT de
part et d’autre du fleuve Sénégal avec la participa-
fleuve Sénégal, rive droite tion des partenaires. Cette activité vient compléter
(RBT-RIM) Mauritanie le suivi hebdomadaire des oiseaux d’eau effectué
notamment depuis la mise en eau des bassins à
partir du mois de juillet. Les données recueillies
Daf Sehla Daf, Zein El Abidine permettent de renseigner la base de données.
Cette dernière permet après traitement de fournir
Ould Sidatt, Boubacar M. El les informations recherchées sur les effectifs, les
Abass Ba & Mohamed Aveloitt espèces, les sites de fréquentation, la qualité des
oiseaux, les périodes etc. c’est ainsi que la richesse
ou fonction des habitats est évaluée.
Elle a été précédée d’une journée de
reconnaissance des sites et de formation sur
les techniques d’identification et de comptages
d’oiseaux au profit des stagiaires arrivés pour le
dénombrement.

2. METHODOLOGIE
1. INTRODUCTION Le PND couvre une superficie de 16.000ha et
Le Parc National du Diawling (PND) est parmi les répartis en 3 bassins ou unités écologiques (Figure
zones humides littorales d’importance interna- 1). Le dénombrement terrestre du 15 janvier
tionale (Site Ramsar) pour l’accueil des oiseaux 2020 a concerné les régions écologiques sui-
d’eau en migration ou hivernage sur le littoral vantes: le Parc National du Diawling, le ChatTboul,
atlantique de l’Afrique de l’ouest. Il accueille l’Aftout et la Zone périphérique du Parc. Les
plusieurs centaines de milliers d’oiseaux d’eau circuits retenus sont les suivants :

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• Circuit 1: Mare d’Aftout.

• Circuit 2: Lac de Mulet, Grand Lac, Dépression
de Chat Boul, Toumbos Nord, Toumbos Sud.
• Circuit 3: Ouvrage de Berbar, Croisement
digue nord et digue rive droite, Ouvrage de
Cheyal, Echelle de Diawling, Mares juste au
nord de l’échelle de Diawling, Digue nord,
côte sud digue nord, Bassin de Diawling
côté nord en face de l’ancien mirador, Site
de nidification colonie.
• Circuit 4: A partir de la Digue de Ziré, longer
la digue internationale (Bell Est) jusqu’au
Carrefour et Ouvrages de Bell2.
• Circuit 5: Pied de la dune de Ziré côté est,
Ouvrage de Berbar, Diawling Tichilitt ancien
mirador), Lac de N’Tock, Ouvrage de Lekser.
• Circuit 6: Lac de N’Ter, Ouvrage de Lekser,
N’Dernaya, Confluent Khouroumbam, Ghahra
au niveau de la plantation des mangroves.
• Circuit 7: 10 km au nord de Chat Boul sur
la plage en face d’Aftout jusqu’ au port,
Face Chat Tboul, Mouly, N’Diago, Mares de
N’Diago – Ghahra.
• Circuit 8 : Mare des échasses, Mare de Birette
Diama, Confluent N’Thiallakh pour comp-
Figure 1: Parc National du Diawling et ses Annexes
ter au niveau du Rhizophora, En face des
épaves, Bras de N’Thiallakh en face d’Ebden,
• La modification des habitats au niveau des
Confluent N’Thiallakh pour compter au niveau
bassins de bell et du Diawling en raison de la
du Rhizophora, les alentours et le Bras de
prolifération des plantes invasives de plus en
N’Thiallakh.
plus abondantes (cypéracées, tamarix, typha)
• Circuit 9: Ouvrage d’Aftout, Mares aux alen-
• L’inaccessibilité des sites d’observation par
tours du canal d’irrigation, site de nidification
l’obstruction des plantes qui ne permettent
de flamants à partir poste de garde, Mare de
une observation même si les oiseaux sont
Keur Macéne en face des périmètres rizicoles,
présents.
Mares qui se trouvent à côté de l’ouvrage de
• Certains circuits tels que celui du khouroum-
l’Aftout.
bam (circuit 6) n’a pas dénombré un effectif
important de Dendrocygne dont l’effectif a
3. RESULTATS toujours été plus important. Or aucun cir-
cuit n’a pu les observé. Une concentration
Le dénombrement International des oiseaux
important a été observé quelques jours après
d’eau du 15 janvier 2020 effectué dans toute
le comptage et dont la voie d’accès n’avait
la RBTDS (PND, Aftout Es Saheli, Chat Tboul et
pas été empruntée auparavant.
Annexes (N’Thiallakh + Lac de N’Ter et le littoral)
• Au niveau d la mare de Birette de grandes
a donné un effectif global de : 102963 individus
concentrations de Dendrocygne n’ont pu être
représentant 115 espèces contre 115632 individus
comptées bien que présentes derrière des
correspondant à 112 espèces en 2019
formations de tamarix de l’autre côté de la
berge du bras du fleuve (absence de pirogue).
4. DISCUSSION Le changement climatique le trafic des véhi-
D’importants moyens ont été déployés pour cules et la gestion de l’eau sont d’autres hy-
assurer une couverture optimale de l’espace de la pothèses avancées par certains. Le comptage des
RBTDS/RIM. La baisse des effectifs est enregistrée oiseaux d’eau s’est effectué globalement dans de
pour la seconde année consécutive. Plusieurs bonnes conditions et les résultats obtenus sont
hypothèses peuvent expliquer la réduction des satisfaisants. Nul doute, que le facteur «EAU» est
effectifs en 2020. déterminant pour la conservation des habitats de
l’avifaune aquatique au Parc National du Diawling.

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Tableau 1: Tableau récapitulatif du dénombrement international des oiseaux d’eau du 15 janvier 2020 dans la RBTDS rive droite.

Scientific name French name Count Scientific name French name Count
2020 2020
Dendrocygna viduata Dendrocygne veuf 15,461 Pluvialis squatarola Pluvier argenté 250
Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygne fauve 2,040 Charadrius hiaticula Pluvier grand-gravelot 1,885
Alopochen aegyptiaca Ouette d’Égypte 1,171 Charadrius dubius Pluvier petit-gravelot 364
Tadorna tadorna Tadorne de Belon 11 Charadrius pecuarius Pluvier pâtre 707
Plectropterus gambensis Oie-armée de Gambie 3,130 Charadrius alexandrinus Pluvier à collier inter- 563
Sarkidiornis melanotos Canard à bosse 24,372 rompu
Nettapus auritus Anserelle naine 87 Vanellus spinosus Vanneau à éperons 1,201
Marmaronetta angu- Marmaronette 2 Vanellus senegallus Vanneau du Sénégal 2
stirostris marbrée Rostratula benghalensis Rhynchée peinte 3
Spatula querquedula Sarcelle d’été 42,438 Actophilornis africanus Jacana à poitrine dorée 258
Spatula clypeata Canard souchet 9,087 Numenius phaeopus Courlis corlieu 1
Anas acuta Canard pilet 4,602 Limosa lapponica Barge rousse 25
Tachybaptus ruficollis Grèbe castagneux 115 Limosa limosa Barge à queue noire 925
Phoenicopterus roseus Flamant rose 14,220 Arenaria interpres Tournepierre à collier 3
Phoeniconaias minor Flamant nain 4,351 Calidris canutus Bécasseau maubèche 118
Zapornia flavirostra Marouette à bec jaune 58 Calidris pugnax Combattant varié 3,015
Porphyrio porphyrio Talève sultane 1,396 Calidris ferruginea Bécasseau cocorli 794
Porphyrio alleni Talève d’Allen 3 Calidris alba Bécasseau sanderling 988
Gallinula chloropus Gallinule poule-d’eau 3,500 Calidris alpina Bécasseau variable 378
Fulica atra Foulque macroule 719 Calidris minuta Bécasseau minute 4,615
Balearica pavonina Grue couronnée 8 Gallinago gallinago Bécassine des marais 290
Mycteria ibis Tantale ibis 85 Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 153
Ciconia nigra Cigogne noire 65 Tringa ochropus Chevalier cul-blanc 93
Ciconia ciconia Cigogne blanche 9 Tringa erythropus Chevalier arlequin 76
Platalea alba Spatule d’Afrique 30 Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 127
Platalea leucorodia Spatule blanche 3,963 Tringa totanus Chevalier gambette 60
Threskiornis aethiopicus Ibis sacré 379 Tringa glareola Chevalier sylvain 518
Plegadis falcinellus Ibis falcinelle 1,109 Tringa stagnatilis Chevalier stagnatile 116
Nycticorax nycticorax Bihoreau gris 16 Glareola pratincola Glaréole à collier 3,987
Butorides striata Héron strié 3 Larus genei Goéland railleur 449
Ardeola ralloides Crabier chevelu 349 Larus ridibundus Mouette rieuse 182
Bubulcus ibis Héron garde-boeufs 1,118 Larus cirrocephalus Mouette à tête grise 227
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 1,150 Larus fuscus Goéland brun 3,857
Ardea melanocephala Héron mélanocéphale 19 Sternula albifrons Sterne naine 39
Ardea purpurea Héron pourpré 44 Gelochelidon nilotica Sterne hansel 528
Ardea alba Grande Aigrette 868 Hydroprogne caspia Sterne caspienne 946
Ardea brachyrhyncha Héron à bec jaune 161 Chlidonias hybrida Guifette moustac 79
Egretta ardesiaca Aigrette ardoisée 29 Chlidonias leucopterus Guifette leucoptère 137
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 2,592 Chlidonias niger Guifette noire 7
Egretta gularis Aigrette à gorge blanche 71 Sterna hirundo Sterne pierregarin 1
Pelecanus rufescens Pélican gris 1 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sterne caugek 2,165
Pelecanus onocrotalus Pélican blanc 7,426 Thalasseus maximus Sterne royale 133
Microcarbo africanus Cormoran africain 569 Pandion haliaetus Balbuzard pêcheur 82
Phalacrocorax carbo Grand Cormoran 6,415 Circus aeruginosus Busard des roseaux 122
Anhinga rufa Anhinga d’Afrique 59 Haliaeetus vocifer Pygargue vocifer 8
Burhinus senegalensis Oedicnème du Sénégal 35 Corythornis cristatus Martin-pêcheur huppé 2
Recurvirostra avosetta Avocette élégante 243 Ceryle rudis Martin-pêcheur pie 68
Himantopus himantopus Échasse blanche 3,226

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Figure 2 : Evolution des effectifs d’oiseaux d’eau 1993-2020

En outre, la prolifération des plantes aquatiques brement à l’intention du personnel de la

dans les bassins du Parc est à prendre en compte société civile et des ministères conviés.
dans le futur plan d’action de lutte contre les
espèces envahissantes. Remerciements
Le Parc National du Diawling (PND) adresse ses
Recommandations vifs remerciements à l’ensemble de ses parte-
• Engager des actions plus efficaces et de naires techniques et financiers ayant participés,
grande envergure dans la lutte contre toutes à titre divers, à la réalisation de cette activité de
les plantes invasives au risque de perdre les dénombrement international des oiseaux d’eau
fonctions essentielles de l’aire protégée. dans la Réserve de Biosphère Transfrontière du
• Accorder plus de temps à la prospection des delta du fleuve Sénégal, rive droite/Mauritanie. Le
sites au moins 3 jours avant le comptage PND adresse particulièrement sa reconnaissance
proprement dit du 15janviereen procédant à à la Direction des Aires Protégées et du Littoral
des comptages préliminaires essentiels afin (DAPLMEDD), la Fondation MAVA, le BACoMaB,
de faire une évaluation fiable des effectifs AMISO, WETLANDS International, Wadden Sea
et des espèces qui évoluent dans l’espace de Flyway Initiative, WTB, NAFORE, Nature Mau-
la RBTDS. ritanie et les volontaires ayant contribués aux
- Couvrir la zone du fleuve avec un circuit opérations de comptage.
pirogue
- Dégager les proposis qui entravent l’accès ANNEXE
à la mare des échasses
Liste des compteurs (observateurs)
- Faire des échanges d’informations avec le
Daf Sehla Daf, Md Moctar, Mohamed Aveloitt,
Djouj avant et après le comptage
Saadana Abdel Wahab, Zein El Abidine Ould
- Mettre un poste de surveillance permanent
Sidatt, El Bekaye Ould Sidi Aly, Moussa Ould Daour,
au niveau du site de nidification du
Saer Kayer Diagne, Boubacar M. El Abass Ba,
Tichilit
Pape Adama Diop, Traoré Fousseynou, Ba Oumar
- Introduire deux jours de formation pra-
Adama, Cheikh Ould Alioune, Mohamed Abdellahi,
tique sur les techniques avant le dénom-
Abdallahi Mouhamdou, Elemine Ould Mohamed,
Md Ould Mbedj, Ismail chrova, Yacoub Diakité,
Dia abdallahi, Yarg Ould Alioune, Ahmed Meynat,
Ahmed Deymoni, Abdallahi Magrega, Cheikh Omar
N’Gaide, Hamidine, Ba Amadou Diam, Mamadou
Bocar BA, Djibril Diallo, Mohamed Ndiaye, Sidi
Diawara, Oumar Awe, Niang

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18. Senegal

RAPPORT DU DENOMBRE- 2. METHODES

MENT DES OISEAUX D’EAU
2020, SENEGAL Sites et secteurs
Pour une meilleure organisation le territoire
national a été divisé en six (06) grandes zones de
Ibrahima Guèye, Aminata Sall comptage subdivisées en 35 sites et 137 secteurs.
Diop, Aissatou Niass,
La zone Nord
Ministere de L’Environnement
La zone Nord regroupe la quasi-totalité des sites
et du Développement Durable, de la Réserve de Biosphère Transfrontière du Delta
Direction des Parcs Nationaux, du Fleuve Sénégal (RBTDFS) qui sont :
Republique du Senegal. • Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj (PNOD),
• Réserve Spéciale de Faune de Gueumbeul
(RSFG),
• Parc National de la Langue de Barbarie
(PNLB),
• Réserve Spéciale d’Avifaune de Ndiael (RSAN),
• Réserve Naturelle Communautaire de Tocc
Tocc,
• Ville de Saint Louis et alentours
• Aire marine protégée de Saint-Louis (AMP SL).
1. INTRODUCTION
Le Sénégal est un pays sahélien qui couvre une La zone des Niayes
superficie d’environ 196.722 km2. Il présente
une côte de près de 700 km et des écosystèmes Pour cette zone, un circuit de décompte allant de
favorables à la fréquentation des oiseaux d’eau. Dakar à Kayar est parcouru avec comme principaux
Le Dénombrement International des Oiseaux sites de décompte :
d’Eau se déroule chaque année au Sénégal sur • Reserve Naturelle Urbaine de la Grande
l’ensemble du territoire avec comme priorités les Niayes de Pikine (RNUGNP) (Technopole),
zones humides les plus importantes du pays. • Lac Mbeubeuss,

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Carte 1:Répartition des zones de dénombrement au Sénégal

• Lac Wouye, La RBDS est une zone estuarienne avec les

• Lac Tanma, vasières, les mangroves, les marais salins, les eaux
• Plage de l’Aire Marine Protégée de Cayar, peu profondes où les oiseaux viennent se nourrir.
• Lac Rose, C’est aussi une zone marine avec des plages où se
• Lac Mbawane, reproduisent les oiseaux. Les herbiers marins sont
• Zone de captage, importants dans la zone.
• Lac zoo de Hann.
La zone Sud
La zone de la Petite Côte Les sites concernés sont les zones humides du Sud
Au niveau de la Petite Côte les sites ci-après ont autour desquelles l’activité de dénombrement va
fait l’objet de décompte : s’organiser. Il s’agit entre autres de :
• Parc National des Îles de la Madeleine (PNIM), • Aire Marine Protégée d’Abéné (AMPA),
• Aire Marine Protégée de Joal (AMPJ), • Réserve Ornithologique de Kalissaye (ROK),
• Réserve Naturelle d’Intérêt Communautaire • Parc National de la Basse Casamance (PNBC),
de la Somone (RNICS), • AMP de Niamone Kalounayes (AMPNK),
• Réserve Naturelle de Popenguine (RNP), • AMP de Cassa Balantacounda (AMPKB),
• Reserve Naturelle Communautaire de Pal- • Projet d’AMP Boucle du Blouf.
marin (RNCP),
• Axe Rufisque – Bargny plage- Sendou C’est une zone de mangroves, de marais salins,
d’eaux peu profondes que les oiseaux fréquentent
Nous avons ici les points d’eau côtiers qui sont pour se nourrir. C’est aussi une zone marine avec
souvent naturels ou artificiels. des plages où se reproduisent les oiseaux.

La Réserve de Biosphère du Delta du La zone sud-est

Saloum (RBDS)
• Mares du Parc National du Niokolo Koba
Dans cette zone, l’ensemble des secteurs qui sont (PNNK) qui sont principalement décomptées
d’un nombre assez important ont été regroupés dans cette zone.
avec les principales aires protégées de la Réserve • Mares de Simenti, Dalafourounté, Impanti,
de Biosphère en plus des secteurs forestiers de Kandi Kandi, Kountadala, Mansadala, de
Fatick et de Kaolack. Nous avons ainsi les sites de Nianaka, Oudassi, Sitendi, Woeni et Woeniri.
décompte ci-dessous : • Mares de la RNC de Boundou,
• Parc National du Delta du Saloum (PNDS), • Zone d’Intérêt Cynégétique (ZIC) de la Falémé.
• Aire Marine Protégée de Bamboung (AMPB), Les lacs et plans d’eau de la zone accueillent
• Aire Marine Protégée de Sangomar(AMPS), des oiseaux d’eau même si leur nombre n’est pas
• Aire Marine Protégée de Gandoule(AMPG), important. Ils jouent un rôle important dans la
• Secteur de Fatick, le Secteur de Kaolack migration Est Atlantique.

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Logistique nementale), après vérification. Elles récapitulent

le nombre total d’espèces observées, le nombre
La réalisation du dénombrement a nécessité, un total d’individus compté par espèce ainsi que
équipement en matériel spécifique de comptage l’effectif cumulé. Elles donnent également des
des espèces d’avifaune. En fonction de la configu- renseignements sur la localisation du site, les
ration des différents sites, divers moyens de dépla- heures de début et de fin de comptage, les condi-
cement ont été mis à contribution. Ainsi, pour tions météorologiques ainsi que l’état du site de
l’ensemble des sites, des véhicules de terrain ont comptage en termes de menaces et de pressions
été mobilisés. Pour des sites avec des plans d’eau anthropiques. Une fois renseignées, les fiches sont
comme le PNOD, la RBDS, le PNLB et le PNIM, envoyées à la DPN où les données sont classées,
nous avons utilisés des moyens supplémentaires, traitées puis analysées.
comme des pirogues motorisées.
Le partenariat actif entre les services du
Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développe- 3. RESULTATS
ment durable impliqués dans le dénombrement
463510 individus répartis en 146 espèces et 39
en l’occurrence la DPN, la DEFCCS et la DAMCP
familles ont été comptés durant le dénombrement
a permis une bonne coordination et une organi-
international des oiseaux d’eau de l’édition 2020
sation correcte de l’activité. Le DIOE a également
au Sénégal (Tableaux 1).
vu la participation active :
Selon les statistiques, la Zone Nord est la plus
• Des populations locales représentées par les fréquentée avec 297162 individus de 96 espèces
éco-gardes et les éco-guides, suivie de la RBDS avec78700 individus de 97
• de l’association Nature-Communauté-Déve- Tableau 1: Répartition par zone des espèces au niveau national
loppement (NCD), ZONE EFFECTIF POUCENTAGE
• des ONG environnementales (Wetlands Inter- NORD 297162 64%
national Afrique, BirdLife, etc.),
RBDS 78700 17%
• des chercheurs et des universitaires,
PETITE COTE 36346 8%
• des personnes de bonne volonté de nationa-
lité sénégalaise ou étrangère. CASAMNACE 35081 8%
NIAYES 11469 2%
Compte tenu de l’étendue des zones à couvrir,
SUD EST 4752 1%
les compteurs ont été répartis en plusieurs équipes
TOTAL 463510 100%
couvrant l’ensemble des secteurs de décompte
au Sénégal.
espèces, de la zone Petite côte avec 36346 indi-
Méthodologie vidus de 73 espèces, de la zone de la Casamance
avec 35081 individus de 81 espèces, de la zone des
Le dénombrement se déroule suivant un dispositif Niayes avec 11469 individus de 63 espèces et de la
conçu habituellement par la DPN. Pour ce faire, zone Sud Est avec 4752 individus de 52 espèces.
une séance de mise à niveau de deux (02) jours (Tableaux 2). L’espèce la plus présente au niveau
est organisée avant le dénombrement proprement national est le canard pilet (22%) contrairement
dit au profit des observateurs. Cette session de à l’année dernière quand la sarcelle d’été consti-
formation a pour objectif de : tuée l’espèce dominante. Les dendrocygnes veuf
• Renforcer les capacités des acteurs sur les viennent en deuxième position avec 8% suivi des
techniques d’identification et de comptage flamants rose et nain avec respectivement 8%
des espèces, et 7%, le grand cormoran, les sarcelles d’été, le
• Appropriation et maîtrise du remplissage des goéland brun, la mouette à tète grise, le goéland
fiches standards de collecte des données. railleur, les sternes caspiennes suivent du point
S’agissant de la collecte, les méthodes adop- de vue effectif. Les effectifs de sarcelles d’été ont
tées sont celles du comptage direct à pied, beaucoup chuté cette année avec 19564 individus
en véhicule et/ou en pirogue et en point fixe. contre 176377 en 2019. Les dendrocygnes ont
également vu leur nombre en baisse car en 2019
Le décompte démarre entre 6 heures et 7 heures le décompte avait donné 91038 individus alors
30 mn et prend fin généralement en fin de matinée que cette année il n’y a eu que 37537 individus.
pour la plupart des sites. Les notes prises sur le
terrain se font au crayon et à la fin de l’opération,
les données sont définitivement reportées sur les
fiches standards (fiches de comptage et environ-

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Tableau 2: Récapitulatif du dénombrement du janvier 2020 au Sénégal

Scientific name French name Total Scientific name French name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna viduata Dendrocygne veuf 37,537 Charadrius pecuarius Pluvier pâtre 233
Dendrocygna bicolor Dendrocygne fauve 422 Charadrius tricollaris Pluvier à triple collier 10
Alopochen aegyptiaca Ouette d’Égypte 393 Charadrius marginatus Pluvier à front blanc 28
Plectropterus gambensis Oie-armée de Gambie 582 Charadrius alexan- Pluvier à collier inter- 1,527
Sarkidiornis melanotos Canard à bosse 387 drinus rompu
Nettapus auritus Anserelle naine 261 Vanellus spinosus Vanneau à éperons 4,541
Spatula querquedula Sarcelle d’été 19,564 Vanellus senegallus Vanneau du Sénégal 143
Spatula clypeata Canard souchet 2,707 Rostratula benghalensis Rhynchée peinte 2
Anas acuta Canard pilet 101,233 Actophilornis africanus Jacana à poitrine dorée 1,729
Anas crecca Sarcelle d’hiver 263 Numenius phaeopus Courlis corlieu 4,079
Tachybaptus ruficollis Grèbe castagneux 216 Numenius arquata Courlis cendré 475
Phoenicopterus roseus Flamant rose 35,082 Limosa lapponica Barge rousse 3,573
Phoeniconaias minor Flamant nain 31,097 Limosa limosa Barge à queue noire 4,033
Rallus aquaticus Râle d’eau 4 Arenaria interpres Tournepierre à collier 1,127
Zapornia flavirostra Marouette à bec jaune 107 Calidris canutus Bécasseau maubèche 491
Porphyrio porphyrio Talève sultane 165 Calidris pugnax Combattant varié 3,073
Gallinula chloropus Gallinule poule-d’eau 140 Calidris ferruginea Bécasseau cocorli 5,044
Balearica pavonina Grue couronnée 114 Calidris alba Bécasseau sanderling 1,967
Leptoptilos crumenifer Marabout d’Afrique 1 Calidris alpina Bécasseau variable 949
Mycteria ibis Tantale ibis 1,524 Calidris minuta Bécasseau minute 7,485
Ciconia nigra Cigogne noire 189 Gallinago gallinago Bécassine des marais 18
Ciconia microscelis Cigogne épiscopale 13 Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 774
Ciconia ciconia Cigogne blanche 101 Tringa ochropus Chevalier cul-blanc 328
Platalea alba Spatule d’Afrique 678 Tringa erythropus Chevalier arlequin 153
Platalea leucorodia Spatule blanche 2,286 Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 1,135
Threskiornis aethiopicus Ibis sacré 744 Tringa totanus Chevalier gambette 1,907
Bostrychia hagedash Ibis hagedash 74 Tringa glareola Chevalier sylvain 162
Plegadis falcinellus Ibis falcinelle 769 Tringa stagnatilis Chevalier stagnatile 94
Nycticorax nycticorax Bihoreau gris 10,355 Glareola pratincola Glaréole à collier 107
Butorides striata Héron strié 38 Larus genei Goéland railleur 12,981
Ardeola ralloides Crabier chevelu 851 Larus ridibundus Mouette rieuse 16
Bubulcus ibis Héron garde-boeufs 4,692 Larus cirrocephalus Mouette à tête grise 17,674
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 2,263 Larus audouinii Goéland d’Audouin 227
Ardea melanocephala Héron mélanocéphale 56 Larus dominicanus Goéland dominicain 38
Ardea goliath Héron goliath 118 Larus fuscus Goéland brun 19,366
Ardea purpurea Héron pourpré 212 Sternula albifrons Sterne naine 639
Ardea alba Grande Aigrette 2,728 Gelochelidon nilotica Sterne hansel 1,121
Ardea brachyrhyncha Héron à bec jaune 149 Hydroprogne caspia Sterne caspienne 11,836
Egretta ardesiaca Aigrette ardoisée 489 Chlidonias hybrida Guifette moustac 706
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 9,935 Chlidonias leucopterus Guifette leucoptère 53
Egretta gularis Aigrette à gorge blanche 4,758 Chlidonias niger Guifette noire 61
Scopus umbretta Ombrette africaine 386 Sterna hirundo Sterne pierregarin 6
Pelecanus rufescens Pélican gris 3,000 Thalasseus bengalensis Sterne voyageuse 3
Pelecanus onocrotalus Pélican blanc 11,496 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sterne caugek 3,909
Microcarbo africanus Cormoran africain 6,576 Thalasseus maximus Sterne royale 4,690
Phalacrocorax carbo Grand Cormoran 21,425 Pandion haliaetus Balbuzard pêcheur 772
Anhinga rufa Anhinga d’Afrique 881 Gypohierax angolensis Palmiste africain 12
Burhinus senegalensis Oedicnème du Sénégal 666 Circus aeruginosus Busard des roseaux 143
Pluvianus aegyptius Pluvian fluviatile 272 Haliaeetus vocifer Pygargue vocifer 33
Haematopus ostralegus Huîtrier pie 2,229 Corythornis cristatus Martin-pêcheur huppé 18
Recurvirostra avosetta Avocette élégante 6,800 Alcedo atthis Martin-pêcheur 22
Himantopus himantopus Échasse blanche 4,176 d’Europe
Pluvialis squatarola Pluvier argenté 1,684 Megaceryle maxima Martin-pêcheur géant 10
Charadrius hiaticula Pluvier grand-gravelot 7,514 Ceryle rudis Martin-pêcheur pie 608
Charadrius dubius Pluvier petit-gravelot 1,591

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4. DISCUSSION ANNEXES
Liste des Observateurs
Le DIOE 2020 a permis de: Lt Colonel Ibrahima GUEYE, Lt Colonel Babacar
• visiter 137 points d’eau fréquentés par les Ngor Youm, Samuel Diémé, Lt Ablaye, Ndiaye, Cdt
oiseaux d’eau à travers le Sénégal et estimer Abdou NDIOGUE, Cne Ndiagua FAYE, Sgt Adama
le nombre qui a fréquenté le pays durant cette DIALLO, Astou NIANG, Waly NGOM, Saliou
campagne de 2020; Fall NDIAYE, Harona SEYDI, Cdt El hadji Samba
• renforcer la formation des acteurs interve- Camara, Cdt Elimane Malick SY, GPN Daouda
nant dans le suivi des oiseaux d’eau; Seydi, Sassy Ndiaye, Mbacké SY, Kadialy DIEDHIOU,
• améliorer la collaboration entre les différents Adama léne, Landing TRAORE, Elhadji Mamadou
acteurs qui interviennent dans la conserva- MARONE, Mamadou NDOUR, Cne Lamine KANTE,
tion des oiseaux d’eau et leurs habitats; Lt Amdy SAMB, Sgt Oumar DIALLO, Sgt Moctar
DIAITE, GPN Abdourahmane THIOMBANE, Amy
SY, Yaya SARR, Sira DOUMBIA, Famara NDONG,
Parmi les recommandations:
Birame SARR, Mamadou NDIAYE, Djibril K.
• le renforcement des équipes de compteurs DIEDHIOU, Babacar NDIAYE, Elhadji M. DIENG,
dans certaines zones pour que les activités Mariama DIOUME, Nogaye SYLLA, Fatou NDIAYE,
puissent se dérouler au même moment afin Mapathe DJIBA, Ibrahima NDIAYE, BOUCAR
d’éviter le double comptage des individus ou NDIAYE, Cheikh Niang, Seydina Issa Sylla, Alioune
d’ignorer d’autres sites fréquentés par les Ndiaye, Barome NDAO, Fatou Ndiaye, Lansana
oiseaux d’eau; Sambou, Adama BADIANE, Jean F A DIOR, Khali-
• la cartographier des plans d’eau qui doivent pha GAYE , Jean-Marie DUPART, Mahoumoudou
faire l’objet de décompte et l’aménagement TALL, Oumar Mody BARRY, Babacar NDIAYE ,
des circuits pour le suivi écologique : Amadou Gueye FALL, ABOU DIOP, Mouhamadine
• un plaidoyer pour le classement des sites SECK, Fallou FALL, Babacar Gueye Sène, Omar
fréquentés par les oiseaux d’eau et sans statut SALL, Ibrahima KH Thiaw, [Link] Niang,
de protection comme Mbeubeuss, lac Rose; Amadou Diop, Lieutenant Ansoumana Sonko, Gpn
• l’augmentation du matériel de terrain (les Tafsir Diop, Demba Dioum, Sergent Kadim Gningue,
jumelles, les télescopes, les guides en quantité Sergent Jean Paul DIOUF, 69. Mamadou Aliou Ba,
et en qualité, les appareils photos …); Francois Sagna, Mamadou FAYE, Joseph MINGOU,
• l’élaboration d’une fiche avec l’ensemble des Valentin MANSALY, Seckou Moussa SAGNA, Ais-
espèces de la zone ce qui permettrait de voir satou BADJI, Yaya Souleymane BODIAN, Papa Mor
si de nouvelles espèces sont apparues ou non; Faye, Alioune Badara Séne, Ousseynou Diatta, LT
• Le développement d’une approche participa- Mamadou L SANE, Paul DIATTA, Ismaila FATY, Lt
Abdoulaye SAGNA, GPN Philippe Ambroise DIEME,
tive associant les acteurs locaux (collectivités
GPN Donato Mbissane SAR, Aissatou DIEDHIOU,
territoriales, OCB et OSC sensibles à l’environ-
Assane NDOYE, Yankhoba MBODJ, Issakha NDIAYE,
nement, occupants du site, privés ayant un
Youssouph DIALLO, Ibrahima Ndao, Maniang DIOP,
intérêt pour le site…) et la sensibilisation sur
Aliou Kane, Pape Yamar Niang, Ndaga Ngane, Pape
l’importance de conserver les oiseaux d’eau
Médoune Gueye, Mbaye Diop, Cdt Aminnata SALL,
et leurs habitats; Cne Fatima BA, Cne MameAissatou NIASSE, Lt
• Le renforcement de la formation des agents Assane Fall, Moussa Séga DIOP, Sgt Meissa SAMB,
et éco-guides qui participent régulièrement Aissatou Yvette Diallo, Youssouph DIEDHIOU, Cne
aux activités de décompte. Basile SAGNA, Lt Saliou SATHIE, Libasse NDOYE,
• Le nettoyage des cours d’eau des plantes Sgt Omar NDAO, Sgt Lansana SAMBOU, Sgt Ibou
envahissantes qui bloquent la navigation. SANE, GPN Daniel DIATTA, Malick NDIAYE, Ous-
mane SECK, Issa KADAM, Moussa SOW, Amadou
Remerciements SECK, Cdt Abdou AZIZ NDIAYE, Lt Khatab DIOP, Lt
La DPN remercie l’ensemble des participants à El hadji Baboucar NDIAYE, Lt Nicolas Benty GOMIS,
cette activité de décompte. Particulièrement les Lt Pape boubou SOW, Coumba gana NIANG, Cdt
collaborateurs comme Wetlands international, Paul Moise Diedhiou, Lt Baboucar Ndiaye, Lt Fatou
Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, Bird Life internatio- Mane, Lt Alioune Badara Sylla, Sgt Farouma Gueye,
nal, NCD, la Fondation MAVA, PRCM, Volontaires Agents du parc national du Niokolo koba, Com-
Ecogardes des Parcs, les agents de la DEFCCS mais mandant Moussa NDOUR, Agents et pisteurs de
la ZIC Falémé, Abdou DIOUF, Benjamin BUREAU,
aussi des Parcs, Réserves et AMP.
Abdoulaye KANTE, Mouhamed KANTE

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19. The Gambia

International Waterbird new and abandonment of old sites. The count

was carried out by 10 participants representing
Census (IWC), Total count Government, NGO and National Park Wadden
2020 in The Gambia Sea Niedersachsen in Germany plus 2 drivers and
also the process was supported by local guides at
different locations/ sites.
AbdoulieSawo, Nuha Jammeh
and Kawsu Jammeh. Department 2. METHODS
of Parks and Wildlife Manage- Since 1998, the Gambia conducted annual water-
ment, The Gambia. birds Census in most protected areas, Important
Bird Areas and Ramsar Sites. Due to insufficient
financing, some years the study is focused only
on coastal wetlands. This year’s census covers 28
sites, amongst which 6 are new sites (Figure 1).
Four of our previous sites were not counted (Bam-
bali, Dankunku, Sambang and Sutukung since the
sites are no longer suitable for waterbird landing
due to over flooding and reed bed colonization of
the sites. This reed bed colonization is attributed
1. INTRODUCTION to sea level rise and excessive use of fertilizer.
Training sessions was organized including
The International Waterbird Census is a national preparatory in two folds; theory and practical
inventory and monitoring of waterbirds and their for a period of two days. The census was carried
habitats. International Waterbird Census 2020 out through travelling across the country with
as usual was carried in January as part of a total two vehicles to various counting sites. The group
count, which covers sites including sub-sites, is divided into two groups making it possible to
comprising both marine and freshwater areas. count two sites or sub-sites concurrently. Each
A total number of 44,764 birds were counted team share the task among them through as-
within 22 previously counted sites and 6 new signing different individuals to recording, citing,
sites. Due to changes in habitats geomorphology, identification, GPS coordinate taking, counting,
waterbirds have change their occurrence and site description etc. Counting method includes
habitat characteristics resulting to discovery of walking and counting and in boat counting.

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Figure 1. Locations counted during January 2020, numbers refer to the site names below.

Others institutions, organizations or associa- • Road construction along Baobolon High

tions involved way affect the hydrology system and cause
• Department of Parks and Wildlife Manage- complete dryness.
ment
• Wadden Sea National Park of Niedersachsen, Conclusion and Recommendations
Germany
• West African Bird Studies Association The counting sites are wide and some part inac-
• Local people cessible. Use of drone would help enable us to
cover sites extensively. The team will engage at
least two protected area staff at their localities to
3. RESULTS join while counting sites under their jurisdiction.
94 species counted in 28 sites including sub-sites Finally, the team discovered a new nesting site for
which amount to 44,764 individual birds (Table 1). the past two years at Tunku\ Kissi bolon in Bao
bolon Wetland Reserve for the Great Cormorants.
Specific threats to sites
Acknowledgements
a) Weed invasion in Central River Region and
Kotu Creek The Department of Parks and Wildlife Manage-
b) Coastal erosion along the seaside in West ment under the auspices of the Ministry of Envi-
Coast Region, North Bank Region and ronment Climate Change and Natural Resources
Greater Banjul particularly for the nesting and our partners West African Bird Study Asso-
sites of Bijol Islands ciation wishes to thank WADDEN SEA Germany
c) Eutrophication in Gunjur. for their financial and technical support, and
Wetland International Africa Office in Dakar for
their valuable contribution towards the success-
4. DISCUSSION ful implementation of the IWC 2020 Count. The
contribution of Wandi Touray, a bird guide working
Difficulties encountered, quality and coverage of for Tendaba Camp for making the count a success.
the count
The main challenges were ANNEX
• Proper access roads List of counters (observers)
• Access to materials such as boat in the case Abdoulie Sawo, Kawsu Jammeh, Sajo NN Manneh,
of Jokadu National Park Nuha Jammeh, Peter Sudbeck, Bernd Oltmanns,
• Prior determination of the situation at count Mansata Kolley, Fagimba Camara, Pa Sanyang,
sites Jerreh Njie
• Access to some sites within the main sites
• Dyke construction in Baobolong Wetland
Reserve leading to saline intrusion in rice
growing areas

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Table 1: Total numbers numbers counted per species.

Scientific name English name Total Scientific name English name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna viduata White-faced Whistling- 156 Vanellus senegallus Wattled Lapwing 418
duck Rostratula benghalensis Greater Painted-snipe 47
Plectropterus gambensis Spur-winged Goose 249 Actophilornis africanus African Jacana 10,891
Nettapus auritus African Pygmy-goose 24 Microparra capensis Lesser Jacana 9
Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe 10 Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 219
Zapornia flavirostra Black Crake 21 Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 22
Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen 6 Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 57
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen 8 Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit 573
Balearica pavonina Black Crowned-crane 4 Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 173
Leptoptilos crumenifer Marabou 20 Calidris pugnax Ruff 337
Mycteria ibis Yellow-billed Stork 55 Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper 314
Ciconia microscelis African Woollyneck 16 Calidris alba Sanderling 279
Ciconia ciconia White Stork 2 Calidris alpina Dunlin 10
Platalea alba African Spoonbill 586 Calidris minuta Little Stint 1,072
Platalea leucorodia Eurasian Spoonbill 56 Gallinago gallinago Common Snipe 41
Threskiornis aethiopicus African Sacred Ibis 186 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 99
Bostrychia hagedash Hadada Ibis 9 Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper 17
Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-heron 6 Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank 16
Butorides striata Green-backed Heron 10 Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 191
Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron 388 Tringa totanus Common Redshank 57
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 1,050 Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper 181
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 259 Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper 13
Ardea melanocephala Black-headed Heron 84 Glareola pratincola Collared Pratincole 1,864
Ardea goliath Goliath Heron 1 Rynchops flavirostris African Skimmer 7
Ardea purpurea Purple Heron 23 Larus genei Slender-billed Gull 729
Ardea alba Great White Egret 313 Larus cirrocephalus Grey-headed Gull 3,801
Ardea brachyrhyncha Yellow-billed Egret 346 Larus audouinii Audouin’s Gull 95
Egretta ardesiaca Black Heron 173 Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull 12
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 99 Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed 755
Egretta gularis Western Reef-egret 388 Gull
Scopus umbretta Hamerkop 113 Sternula albifrons Little Tern 143
Pelecanus rufescens Pink-backed Pelican 392 Gelochelidon nilotica Common Gull-billed 393
Pelecanus onocrotalus Great White Pelican 25 Tern
Microcarbo africanus Long-tailed Cormorant 247 Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern 1,041
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 6,179 Sterna hirundo Common Tern 7
Anhinga rufa African Darter 244 Thalasseus bengalensis Lesser Crested Tern 37
Burhinus senegalensis Senegal Thick-knee 304 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sandwich Tern 3,180
Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher 2 Thalasseus maximus Royal Tern 1,222
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet 1,160 Pandion haliaetus Osprey 53
Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt 503 Circus aeruginosus Western Marsh-harrier 24
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 149 Haliaeetus vocifer African Fish-eagle 3
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover 725 Corythornis cristatus Malachite Kingfisher 6
Charadrius dubius Little Ringed Plover 109 Alcedo atthis Common Kingfisher 136
Charadrius pecuarius Kittlitz’s Plover 50 Halcyon malimbica Blue-breasted King- 11
Charadrius alexandrinus Kentish Plover 52 fisher
Vanellus spinosus Spur-winged Lapwing 1,370

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20. Guinee-Bissau

Denombrement Interna- la Guinée-Bissau au DIOE, un atelier de formation

a été organisé avant le début des décomptes en
tional des Oiseaux D’Eau Janvier pour les membres de réseau de comp-
(DIOE), Comptage Global teurs nationaux. L’objectif de cet atelier est de
2020 en Guinee-Bissau tester le niveau de connaissance des participants
et de renforcer leurs capacités surtout sur la
nouvelle méthode de comptage des limicoles et
Joaozinho SA1, Hamilton B. autres espèces des oiseaux d’eau. C’est dans ce
contexte que la Guinée-Bissau a bénéficié d’appuis
Monteiro2, Aissa Regalla de Barros2. technique et financière auprès des partenaires
1
Gabinete de Planificaçao Cos- bilatéraux et multilatéraux comme: Wetlands
International, BirdLife International, Secrétariat
teira (GPC) de la Mer de Wadden (WSFI) et Fondation MAVA.
2
Instituto da Biodiversidade e Au niveau interne, un appui a permis d’organi-
das Áreas Protegidas (IBAP) ser la campagne dans deux grands sites (Littoral
et Archipel Bijagos) par : la synergie du Bureau
de la Planification Côtière (GPC), l’Institut de
la Biodiversité et des Aires Protégées (IBAP) et
l’Organisation pour la Défense et Développement
des Zones Humides. Le DIOE s’est déroulé du 14
au 22 Janvier 2020 en Guinée-Bissau.
La République de Guinée-Bissau est situé sur
la côte ouest africaine avec une superficie de 36
125 Km². Il est limité au nord par le Sénégal, à l’est
1. INTRODUCTION et au sud par la Guinée-Conakry et à l’ouest par
Le dénombrement international des oiseaux l’Océan Atlantique. Elle est formée d’une partie
d’eau est un exercice reconnu pour estimer les continentale, entaillée par plusieurs fleuves et des
populations des oiseaux d’eau le long de la voie lagunes (ex : Lac Cufada, site RAMSAR) et une
migratoire Est-Atlantique. La Guinée-Bissau a partie insulaire, l’Archipel des Bijagos.
rejoint ce réseau des experts, et participe d’une • Le littoral de la Guinée-Bissau s’étend sur 450
manière active à cet événement. Pour répondre km de côte environ. La structure de la côte
aux attentes internationales sur la contribution de est à la fois sableuse, rocheuse et vaseuse.

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A cette façade maritime, il faut ajouter des -- L’ensemble des zones de couverture en Gui-
centaines de kilomètre de réseau hydrogra- née-Bissau est supervisé, comme indiqué
phique composé de huit grands cours d’eau dans les cartes;
(le Cacheu, le Mansoa, le Quinhamel, le Geba, -- Pour couvrir 108 polygones, les comptages
le Buba, le Tombali, le Cumbijan et le Cacine). sont effectués au même période simultané-
Les îles adjacentes et les plans d’eau (lacs et ment dans les deux grandes zones (Littoral et
lagunes) sont caractérisés par une importante Archipel Bijagos) pendant 8 à 9 jours.
diversité biologique et culturelle -- Dans le littoral, 3 groupes de 12 techniciens
• L’Archipel des Bijagos est constitué de 88 dont 9 nationaux et 3 étrangers ont participé
îles et îlots, dont 22 sont habités et le reste aux décomptes.
inhabité mais cultivé selon les saisons. Cette -- Dans l’Archipel Bijagos, 3 équipes de 13
zone est caractérisée par une profondeur techniciens dont 3 étrangers et 10 natio-
inférieure à 10 m. L’existence des vasières naux ont participé aux décomptes pendant 9
(sableuse et/ou vaseuse), de canaux de jours, plus deux jours de voyages.
faible profondeur, et de différents courants -- Les comptages sont effectués par vedette et
jouent un rôle significatif dans la richesse et à pied, et le repérage des unités de comp-
la biodiversité du milieu. Cet archipel a été tages a été facilité par le logiciel « Locus
Classée réserve de biosphère par l’UNESCO Maps ».
en 1996 dans le cadre du programme MAB -- Le décompte des oiseaux est effectué à
et site Ramsar depuis 2014. marée basse et les zones appropriés pour la
comptage sont: la zone intertidale, la ligne
d’eau, les petits cours d’eau entre les bancs
2. METHODOLOGIE de sables et les vasières.
Les méthodes utilisées dans les deux grandes -- Un seul décomptage par site de comptage
zones humides (zone littorale et Archipel des est effectué durant les marées basses.
Bijagós) sont celles du dénombrement direct des -- Les travaux ne sont pas seulement limités à
oiseaux d’eau : compter les oiseaux, mais aussi à recueillir
des informations sur les sites: autres espèces
-- Les oiseaux sont comptés dans les habitats-
animales, la flore, les ressources halieutiques,
types principaux (habitat) qui peuvent être
les activités anthropiques, les menaces, etc.
identifiés sur les cartes d’habitat (plans de
-- Tous les chefs d’équipes ont rempli les fiches
sol) de la zone de palétuvier, vasières et lacs
décompte et les fiches environnementales,
dans la zone côtière de la Guinée-Bissau, à
par les informations collectés dans chaque
travers des polygones. Dans certains poly-
site.
gones on a les points pour les limicoles et
leur surface exacte sont déterminés;

Figure 1: Les différents sites principaux (IBA’s), les unités de comptage (counting units) et les
numéro des sample des comptage (samples

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Autres institutions, organisations ou associations nationaux sur la méthodologie utilisée pour

impliquées extrapoler les données de la Guinée-Bissau.
• ACMU – Aire Communautaire de Mata (Forêt)
d’Uco.
Conclusions et recommandations
• DGFF – Direction Général des Forêts et Ce rapport sera complété avec les extrapolations
Faune ; qui seront effectuées par les experts partenaires
• DJOTCHETCHENGLAR - Association de la pour déterminer, surtout les effectifs des limicoles
Communauté Locale Dapak, ile de Jeta ; présents dans les sites décomptés. Au regard des
• ODZH – Organisation pour le Défense et résultats et des contraintes, il est important de
Développement des Zones Humides en Gui- rechercher toujours plus de rigueur pour obtenir
née-Bissau ; plus de fiabilité des données. C’est dans cette
• SEAB – Secrétairerie d’Etat d’Environnement préoccupation que la participation des experts
et Biodiversité ; européens joue un rôle très important pour aider
• Université Aveiro Portugal à corriger certaines anomalies liées au dénombre-
ment. Au terme du DIOE, les résultats ont confirmé
l’importance des nouveaux sites, surtout au niveau
3. RESULTATS du littorale, pour les oiseaux migrateurs paléarc-
Les espèces les plus importants en termes de tiques. Connaitre l’occurrence des oiseaux dans les
nombre d’individus sont: Sterna hirundo, Limosa sites sélectionnés est nécessaire pour promouvoir
lapponica , Calidris ferruginea et Chlidonia niger les dénombrements mensuels ; Le renforcement
(tableau 1). des capacités du réseau de compteurs nationaux
est nécessaire ; et pour cela il faut équiper les
membres avec les moyens et instruments pour le
4. DISCUSION dénombrement des oiseaux.
Difficultés rencontrées, qualité de couverture du
dénombrement Remerciements
-- Les plus grandes difficultés étaient liées aux Cette campagne de dénombrement des oiseaux
questions logistiques (problèmes avec les d’eau a été financée par la Fondation MAVA, Wad-
embarcations dans certaines zones). den Sea Flyway Initiative, avec l’appui technique
-- Il est nécessaire de redéfinir certains poly- et logistique du Bureau Wetlands International
gones (unité de comptage), qui sont impos- Africa, du Bureau de la Planification Côtière, de
sibles de couvrir de l’inaccessibilité. l’Institut de la Biodiversité et des Aires Protégées
-- La nouvelle méthodologie de dénombrement (IBAP) et de l’Organisation pour le Défense et
utilisée est encore mal comprise et doit être Développement des Zones Humides, que nous
mieux expliquée, surtout dans le cas de site remercions. Remerciement spécial à IBAP qui a mis
particulier comme les Bijagós. à disposition la logistique et à cofinancé le DIOE.
-- A cause de l’éloignement entre les sites, l’ef-
fet de la marée peut-être un facteur limitant
pour couvrir le maximum de sites avant tom-
ANNEX
bée de la nuit ; Listes de compteurs/observateurs
-- Instruments de dénombrement (jumelles et
Afonso Rocha, Agostinho Infanda, Aissa Regalla
télescopes) de très faible qualité pour les
de Barros - chef d’équipe, Ana Coelho, Antonio
techniciens nationaux.
Pires, Braima S. Vieira, Calustre Mendes, Carlitos
-- Points d’amélioration et d’apprentissage
Francisco Sedja, Fernando Preto, Fernando Tamizo,
-- Améliorer la connaissance du terrain ;
Hamilton Monteiro - chef d’équipe, Joãozinho Sá
-- Systématiser les comptages dans les mêmes
- chef d’équipe, Joost Valkenburg, Joost van Brug-
polygones et les mêmes tracés;
gen, Junior Domingos Alves, Marcelino Fernandes,
-- Renforcer tous les coordonnateurs des sites,
Menno Hornman, Michiel van der Weide, Nelson
avec des interprétations de la cartographie
Gomes, Quintino Tchantchalam - chefe d’équipe,
des polygones à travers des équipements dis-
Santinho Joaquim da Silva, Thijs Valkenburg, Tomé
ponibles (GPS, Tablet, Cellulaire, etc.).
Mereck, William Intipe, Zeca Djú - chefe d’équipe.
-- Revoir les couts liées à la logistique, mise a
disposition des embarcations.
-- Améliorer la connaissance des techniciens

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Scientific name French name Total Scientific name French name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna viduata Dendrocygne veuf 32 Vanellus spinosus Vanneau à éperons 42
Alopochen aegyptiaca Ouette d’Égypte 12 Vanellus senegallus Vanneau du Sénégal 4
Plectropterus gambensis Oie-armée de Gambie 12 Numenius phaeopus Courlis corlieu 7,974
Phoenicopterus roseus Flamant rose 418 Numenius arquata Courlis cendré 1,312
Phoeniconaias minor Flamant nain 2 Limosa lapponica Barge rousse 11,919
Mycteria ibis Tantale ibis 109 Arenaria interpres Tournepierre à collier 607
Ciconia microscelis Cigogne épiscopale 2 Calidris canutus Bécasseau maubèche 3,067
Platalea alba Spatule d’Afrique 1,367 Calidris ferruginea Bécasseau cocorli 11,945
Platalea leucorodia Spatule blanche 3 Calidris alba Bécasseau sanderling 4,802
Threskiornis aethiopicus Ibis sacré 1,651 Calidris alpina Bécasseau variable 10
Bostrychia hagedash Ibis hagedash 36 Calidris minuta Bécasseau minute 51
Plegadis falcinellus Ibis falcinelle 35 Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 1,540
Nycticorax nycticorax Bihoreau gris 41 Tringa erythropus Chevalier arlequin 5
Butorides striata Héron strié 17 Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 563
Ardeola ralloides Crabier chevelu 65 Tringa totanus Chevalier gambette 4,344
Bubulcus ibis Héron garde-boeufs 556 Tringa stagnatilis Chevalier stagnatile 1
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 704 Glareola pratincola Glaréole à collier 5
Ardea melanocephala Héron mélanocéphale 2 Larus genei Goéland railleur 793
Ardea goliath Héron goliath 145 Larus cirrocephalus Mouette à tête grise 646
Ardea alba Grande Aigrette 959 Larus dominicanus Goéland dominicain 13
Ardea brachyrhyncha Héron à bec jaune 33 Larus fuscus Goéland brun 13
Egretta ardesiaca Aigrette ardoisée 1,149 Sternula albifrons Sterne naine 3,165
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 199 Gelochelidon nilotica Sterne hansel 2,201
Egretta gularis Aigrette à gorge 2,870 Hydroprogne caspia Sterne caspienne 6,653
blanche Chlidonias niger Guifette noire 5,659
Scopus umbretta Ombrette africaine 3 Sterna dougallii Sterne de Dougall 2
Pelecanus rufescens Pélican gris 3,541 Sterna hirundo Sterne pierregarin 6,330
Pelecanus onocrotalus Pélican blanc 104 Thalasseus bengalensis Sterne voyageuse 619
Microcarbo africanus Cormoran africain 1,534 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sterne caugek 4,351
Phalacrocorax carbo Grand Cormoran 349 Thalasseus maximus Sterne royale 2,663
Anhinga rufa Anhinga d’Afrique 196 Pandion haliaetus Balbuzard pêcheur 369
Burhinus senegalensis Oedicnème du Sénégal 18 Gypohierax angolensis Palmiste africain 1,221
Haematopus ostralegus Huîtrier pie 913 Circus aeruginosus Busard des roseaux 6
Recurvirostra avosetta Avocette élégante 115 Haliaeetus vocifer Pygargue vocifer 116
Himantopus himan- Échasse blanche 5 Corythornis cristatus Martin-pêcheur huppé 1
topus Megaceryle maxima Martin-pêcheur géant 2
Pluvialis squatarola Pluvier argenté 2,913 Ceryle rudis Martin-pêcheur pie 108
Charadrius hiaticula Pluvier grand-gravelot 4,275 Halcyon malimbica Martin-chasseur à 11
Charadrius marginatus Pluvier à front blanc 99 poitrine bleue
Charadrius alexandrinus Pluvier à collier inter- 286
rompu

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21. Guinee

RAPPORT DU DENOMBRE- long de la voie de migration leur est essentiel pour

poursuivre leur migration. Pour le cas particulier de
MENT DES OISEAUX D’EAU, la Guinée il y a cela plus de 20 ans, il y avait des
REPUBLIQUE DE GUINEE. sites côtiers qui n’avait pas fait l’objet de comp-
Du 27 Janvier au 10 Février tage et cette année ils ont été touché c’est-à-dire
de la frontière de Sierra Leone jusqu’à la frontière
2020 de Guinée Bissau, qu’on appelle communément le
grand comptage.

Mohamed Balla Moussa CONDE, Objectif :

L’objectif principal du DIOE en Janvier 2020 est le
Direction des Eaux et Forets, comptage des oiseaux d’eau dans les principaux
Republique de Guinee sites de dénombrement en République de Guinée
situés le long de la voie de migration Est-Atlan-
tique.

2. METHODE
En République de Guinée compte tenu de l’acces-
sibilité des sites côtiers et les distances qui les
sépares en fonction du programme de la marée.
Nous avons commencé le travail au Sud de la
Guinée Vers la Sierra Leone et remonté vers le Nord
à la frontière de Guinée Bissau et terminé par la
1. INTRODUCTION : zone spéciale de Conakry et environ. Avec l’appui
des personnes Hollandais, ils ont divisé tout le long
La République de Guinée en collaboration avec de la côte guinéenne en des petites cellules (unités
Wetlands International organise chaque année de comptage) avec des coordonnées et des codes
le comptage annuel des oiseaux d’eau. Pendant pour faciliter le travail. Tout ceci à l’aide du logiciel
l’hiver ces oiseaux sont accueilli par des concen- LocusMap, qu’on a introduit dans les tablettes
trations des oiseaux migrateurs sur tout le long et dans les téléphones androïdes des compteurs.
des côtes de l’Afrique ouest. Pour beaucoup de ces Dans la zone de Toguiron, la plaine de Monchon,
oiseaux, un réseau de sites d’importance vitale le la plaine et vasière de Koba les deux équipes ont

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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utilisé les Véhicules comme moyen de transport, majeur. Malgré quelques réglementations, le site
quant aux autres sites restants nous avons utilisé n’est pas protégé et nécessite des mesures de
les embarcations motorisés et à pied au niveau des conservation. Au Delta de Konkouré, les activités
vasières et des plages. Chaque unité de comptage humaines sont moins accentuées qu’à Benty.
avait sa liste de points de comptage par jour et Cependant des activités comme la surpêche ; la
en fonction du nombre de points de comptage coupe et la collecte de bois de feu ; la pollution
visité par l’équipe cela pouvait varier. Les 95% du (eaux usées et déchets plastiques) et le change-
temps de travail s’est passé en camping afin d’avoir ment climatique constituent des menaces. Bien
beaucoup plus information sur les sites ZICO et les que le site soit reconnu au niveau national et
sites qui ne sont pas des ZICO. Pour chaque site international, les mesures de conservation restent
nous avons fait le comptage réel afin de faciliter limitées. A Kapatchez, l’activité humaine est très
l’estimation et la densité par espèce. Nous avons intense et diversifiée. Il y’a beaucoup de zones
effectué pour chaque site le remplissage des fiches agricole, mais l’exploitation est modérée. Aussi
de suivi ZICO afin d’avoir des informations sur les la pêche, le trafic maritime et la pollution (pas de
oiseaux et leur habitat. latrine moderne) sont très accentués et impacte
négativement sur l’environnement. Malgré son
statut de protection, les mesures environnemen-
tales sont rarement respectées. Nunez, Ile Tristao/
Rio Komponi et Rio Pongo sont moins marqués par
les activités anthropiques ; néanmoins ils ont aussi
un problème de pollution urbaine. Si ce n’est pas
corrigé à temps, cela pourrait créer dans l’avenir de
réelles menaces sur l’environnement.A Toguiron,
une partie non négligeable est occupée par des
habitations ou des fermes agricoles. Les autres
activités humaines sont comparables à celles du
Delta de Konkouré.

Recommandation :
Nous recommandons l’obtention de certain équi-
pement auprès des bailleurs de fond tels que :
• Matériel de Camping,
Figure 1: La côte de la Guinée avec les différents sites majeurs • Appareils photo numérique professionnel,
(‘zone’) et les unités de comptage (‘counting areas’) et les • Appareils optiques pour le travail (jumelles,
numéro des sample des comptage (‘samples’). télescopes),
• Guides d’identification des oiseaux,
3. RESULTATS : • Faire la formation sur la technique d’identifi-
Au terme des travaux de comptage allant de la cation et de suivi des agents de conservation
des différents sites de conservation,
période du 27 janvier au 10 février 2020, nous
• Obtention des fonds de l’Etat afin d’appuyer
avons dénombré 72 espèces d’oiseaux d’eau sur
le comptage en Guinée,
un total de nombre d’individus de 51, 701 répartis
• Aide des bailleurs pour l’obtention d’une
sur 55 sample de comptage.
vedette pour la Guinée,
• Autonomisation de la gestion financière pour
4. DISCUSSION éviter la surfacturation par les acteurs quand
il constate la présence d’un expert européen.
Les fiches environnementales nous ont permis
d’évaluer la qualité des sites visités, les menaces
qui s’y pèsent et les mesures de conservation ANNEX
prises. A Benty, la surexploitation des mollusques
Liste des compteurs
et crustacés ; l’exploitation forestière et la collecte
bois de feu ; ainsi que la pollution (problèmes Mohamed Balla Moussa CONDE, Marc van Roo-
par les eaux usées urbaines) sont les activités men, Erik van Winden, Aissatou Yvette DIALLO,
humaines qui menacent le site. Aussi la pression Kadiatou SOUMAH, Ibrahima Sory CONTE, Cecile
de chasse sur les oiseaux d’eau reste un problème GUILAVOGUI

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

 75

Tableau 1: Résultats du décompte sur les effectifs obtenus en comptage direct.

Scientific name French name Total Scientific name French name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna viduata Dendrocygne veuf 565 Numenius arquata Courlis cendré 187
Spatula clypeata Canard souchet 1 Limosa lapponica Barge rousse 3,321
Phoenicopterus roseus Flamant rose 45 Arenaria interpres Tournepierre à collier 116
Phoeniconaias minor Flamant nain 3,201 Calidris canutus Bécasseau maubèche 174
Mycteria ibis Tantale ibis 79 Calidris ferruginea Bécasseau cocorli 4,547
Ciconia microscelis Cigogne épiscopale 6 Calidris alba Bécasseau sanderling 1,583
Platalea alba Spatule d’Afrique 103 Calidris minuta Bécasseau minute 401
Threskiornis aethiopicus Ibis sacré 149 Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 947
Butorides striata Héron strié 46 Tringa ochropus Chevalier cul-blanc 4
Ardeola ralloides Crabier chevelu 24 Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 448
Bubulcus ibis Héron garde-boeufs 302 Tringa totanus Chevalier gambette 3,403
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 657 Tringa glareola Chevalier sylvain 13
Ardea melanocephala Héron mélanocéphale 6 Tringa stagnatilis Chevalier stagnatile 5
Ardea goliath Héron goliath 13 Glareola pratincola Glaréole à collier 3,237
Ardea purpurea Héron pourpré 3 Rynchops flavirostris Bec-en-ciseaux d’Afrique 2
Ardea alba Grande Aigrette 804 Larus genei Goéland railleur 13
Ardea brachyrhyncha Héron à bec jaune 30 Larus cirrocephalus Mouette à tête grise 423
Egretta ardesiaca Aigrette ardoisée 385 Larus fuscus Goéland brun 3
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 764 Sternula albifrons Sterne naine 1,693
Egretta gularis Aigrette à gorge blanche 412 Gelochelidon nilotica Sterne hansel 1,881
Scopus umbretta Ombrette africaine 3 Hydroprogne caspia Sterne caspienne 202
Pelecanus rufescens Pélican gris 342 Chlidonias leucopterus Guifette leucoptère 2
Microcarbo africanus Cormoran africain 208 Chlidonias niger Guifette noire 777
Anhinga rufa Anhinga d’Afrique 2 Sterna hirundo Sterne pierregarin 308
Burhinus senegalensis Oedicnème du Sénégal 30 Thalasseus bengalensis Sterne voyageuse 40
Haematopus ostralegus Huîtrier pie 243 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sterne caugek 1,617
Recurvirostra avosetta Avocette élégante 2,203 Thalasseus maximus Sterne royale 4,256
Himantopus himantopus Échasse blanche 173 Pandion haliaetus Balbuzard pêcheur 46
Pluvialis squatarola Pluvier argenté 1,306 Gypohierax angolensis Palmiste africain 89
Charadrius hiaticula Pluvier grand-gravelot 4,533 Circus aeruginosus Busard des roseaux 5
Charadrius dubius Pluvier petit-gravelot 1 Haliaeetus vocifer Pygargue vocifer 9
Charadrius marginatus Pluvier à front blanc 82 Corythornis cristatus Martin-pêcheur huppé 15
Charadrius alexandrinus Pluvier à collier interrompu 16 Megaceryle maxima Martin-pêcheur géant 2
Vanellus spinosus Vanneau à éperons 26 Ceryle rudis Martin-pêcheur pie 80
Vanellus senegallus Vanneau du Sénégal 15 Halcyon malimbica Martin-chasseur à 9
Actophilornis africanus Jacana à poitrine dorée 38 poitrine bleue
Numenius phaeopus Courlis corlieu 5,027

Hommage à Mohamed Balla Moussa CONDE

Très tristement, Mohamed Balla Moussa CONDE
est décédé quelques mois après le DIOE en Guinée
à cause d’une maladie.
Mohamed Balla Moussa CONDE est une per-
sonne cordiale, dynamique, passionnée par les
oiseaux et la conservation. Il manquera beaucoup
à sa famille, à ses amis et au réseau des conser-
vateurs en Guinée et ailleurs. Nos pensées et nos
prières sont avec lui maintenant.

Balla Moussa Conde Photo: B. van Gemerden

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22. Sierra Leone

International Waterbirds the Western Peninsula (van der Winden et al.

2008). Every year, Conservation Society of Sierra
Census (IWC) total count Leone (CSSL) undertakes monitoring by counting
2020 in Sierra Leone of waterbirds and assessment of environmental
factors. The first comprehensive total count of
waterbirds of the coast of Sierra Leone was carried
Papanie Bai-Sesay, Andrea Haffner, out in 2005 (van der Winden et al. 2008). Since
Charles Showers 2013 yearly counts are taken place in a sample
Conservation Society Sierra Leone of counting units, in 2014 and 2017 larger parts
of the estuaries have been covered.
As coverage was still rather low, Conservation
Society of Sierra Leone with funding from Wad-
den Sea Flyway Initiative (WSFI), Wetlands Inter-
national and Birdlife International and the help
of four extra counters from abroad, conducted a
waterbird census of coastal wetlands in the period
January-February 2020. This chapter gives the
preliminary results from this census.
Objectives
• To count all waterbirds along Sierra Leone’s
1. INTRODUCTION entire coastline as a part of consistent
monitoring of the status of the birds and the
Sierra Leone’s coast is approximately 350 km long wetland ecosystem
and coastal wetlands cover approximately 5-6,000 • To assess the current status of the coastal
km2. There are diverse types of coastal wetland wetlands, taking stock of pressures threats
habitats ranging from estuaries, lakes, shallow and conservation measures.
water, mangroves, lagoons to rivers. The coastal
zone has four main estuary systems, namely: the
Scarcies Estuary, Sierra Leone River Estuary, Yawri 2. METHODS
Bay and Sherbro Islands. Besides these four, also The Republic of Sierra Leone is a relatively small
Turtle Islands is important and to a lesser extent country (73,326 sq. km) located on the West Coast

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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of Africa. The Republic of Guinea is to the north 3. RESULTS

and northeast; Liberia is to the east and southeast,
and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south. Prior A total of 55,906 birds of 60 waterbird species was
to the counts a map with counting units had been counted during the 2020 waterbird survey (table
prepared based on the transects identified in 2005. 1). The five major marine areas in the country
The transects were upgraded into units (polygons) were covered at least for over 50%. Full analysis
and digitalised in GIS in 2019. The counting units of the results would be done later by us and in
had been supplied in a format to be used on smart the framework of flyway reporting.
phones ([Link] or Locus map). Additionally
hardcopies of these units were available as back
up to be used in the field. At each main site, the
teams discussed which counting units should be
the most important to cover (Figure 1). The 2005
results were leading in this as well as fuel and
lodging possibilities.
The estuaries visited were counted by using
small outboard engine boats. All areas were
counted during low tide when waterbirds were
present on mudflats, sandbanks and banks of riv-
ers. Counting ended before high tide as waterbirds
hide in mangroves or gather on inland plains. Most
effective was sailing along mudflat shores and
counting from the boat. Whenever large mudflats
occurred, counts were executed by foot. In some
areas, it was possible to walk stretches, in other
areas regular drop offs by boats to the mudflat
shore were necessary to execute the counts.
Important mudflat areas and large sandbanks
were always visited during low tide periods. The
project focused on marine coastal habitats such
as mudflats, sandbanks, shores and inshore open
waters. Birds of more offshore open waters (terns) Figure 1 Overview of main sites, counting units and count
were counted at coastal day roosts. Terns feeding coverage in 2020
inshore (close to the coast) were included in the
“land” counting unit. Circling storks and raptors
4. DISCUSSION
were included in the specific counting unit. Inland Sierra Leone has a large shorelines with extensive
habitats such as floodplains and rice fields were mudflats, sand banks and beaches that support
only counted if bordering creeks, coasts or rivers. lots of waterbirds, both wintering migratory spe-
During such counts, the team did not leave the cies and resident African species. The vastness,
boat, but counted water birds in open areas up to tiny Island, sand banks, mudflat and rocky shores
200- 300 m from the shore, resulting in a strong makes it difficult to count. Most of the areas
bias towards larger birds such as herons and storks. should be covered by boat and good boats are
Creeks in mangrove forests were counted from expensive to hire and difficult to get. However,
the boat and in such cases only the banks were the team was able to cover important sites and
covered. All traditionally known waterbird species, counting was done in a coordinated manner.
(ducks, pelicans, cormorants, herons, spoonbills,
flamingos, storks, rails, waders, gulls, terns, skuas),
were included in the counts as well as some ad-
ditional groups such as raptors associated with
wetlands (Palm-nut Vulture, Osprey and Yellow-
billed Kite) and Kingfishers. White-faced Whistling
Ducks were included in the counts although they
do not use the counting units as feeding habitat.
The coastal wetlands are partly used by the ducks
as day-time roosts.

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Table 1 Totals counted per species

Scientific name English name Total Scientific name English name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna viduata White-faced Whistling- 758 Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 353
duck Calidris canutus Red Knot 973
Mycteria ibis Yellow-billed Stork 46 Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper 14,688
Ciconia microscelis African Woollyneck 74 Calidris alba Sanderling 686
Platalea alba African Spoonbill 114 Calidris alpina Dunlin 1
Threskiornis aethiopicus African Sacred Ibis 104 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 1,348
Butorides striata Green-backed Heron 141 Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank 1
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 100 Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 917
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 426 Tringa totanus Common Redshank 3,565
Ardea melanocephala Black-headed Heron 10 Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper 3
Ardea goliath Goliath Heron 3 Rynchops flavirostris African Skimmer 1
Ardea purpurea Purple Heron 1 Larus cirrocephalus Grey-headed Gull 49
Ardea alba Great White Egret 566 Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed 6
Ardea brachyrhyncha Yellow-billed Egret 40 Gull
Egretta ardesiaca Black Heron 18 Sternula albifrons Little Tern 1,017
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 376 Gelochelidon nilotica Common Gull-billed 351
Egretta gularis Western Reef-egret 1,074 Tern
Scopus umbretta Hamerkop 15 Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern 30
Pelecanus rufescens Pink-backed Pelican 178 Chlidonias niger Black Tern 143
Pelecanus onocrotalus Great White Pelican 64 Sterna hirundo Common Tern 1,281
Microcarbo africanus Long-tailed Cormorant 400 Thalasseus bengalensis Lesser Crested Tern 92
Burhinus senegalensis Senegal Thick-knee 20 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sandwich Tern 1,733
Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher 63 Thalasseus maximus Royal Tern 5,955
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet 495 Pandion haliaetus Osprey 36
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 4,391 Gypohierax angolensis Palm-nut Vulture 143
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover 3,321 Circus aeruginosus Western Marsh-harrier 3
Charadrius marginatus White-fronted Plover 1 Haliaeetus vocifer African Fish-eagle 4
Vanellus senegallus Wattled Lapwing 10 Corythornis cristatus Malachite Kingfisher 30
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 5,961 Megaceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher 3
Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 222 Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher 134
Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 3,337 Halcyon malimbica Blue-breasted King- 12
Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit 19 fisher

Threats to sites birds in diverse ways. It is reducing the feeding

grounds for the birds.
Climate change and Sea level rise
Hunting
Sea level rise is causing shifts in the distribution
of water birds in some important habitat in the This purses direct threat on the population of
Yawri Bay and the Sierra Leone River Estuary. Some migratory birds, if serious mitigation measures are
banks where lost completely but others expanded. not taken, high profile birds and larger birds popu-
lation would be reduce to very low percentage.
Mangrove deforestation
Cutting of mangroves in most sites (especially Improvements and learning points for
at Scarcies and SLRE) destroys the habitat of the the future
birds, reducing the roosting and foraging sites for -- Exhaustive preparation and alternative plans
bird. It also exposes the site to erosion and human are required, especially regarding vehicle and
interference hence creating food competition boat hire
between human and birds at low tides for the -- We travelled too much costing to much fuel.
collection of shellfishes. It saves fuel to do not return to the same
place to spend the night but move from es-
Deposition of waste into the sea tuary to estuary with the same boat.
Disposal of waste, especially plastic (especially at -- The local team needs more to take the lead
SLRE) in the sea causes pollution which affects the in terms of decision taking.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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-- Start at Sherbro next time and spend more

time here as no good survey of this area is
available yet.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank God almighty for given us
the strength to carry out this wonderful exercise.
We want also to thank Conservation Society of
Sierra Leone for their technical support to us
throughout the exercise, especially the biodiver-
sity team.

ANNEX
List of counters (observers)
Charles Showers, Papanie Bai-Sesay, Andrea
Haffner, Jesse Kanu, Jan van der Winden, Mo-
ses Luseni, Alhaji Siaka, Camilla Dreef, Kenneth
Gbengba, Chas Holt, Richard Hearn

Tribute to Kenneth Gbengba by Charles Showers

It is with dismay that we have to announce the
sudden death of Kenneth Gbengba, a professional
and internationally renowned birder in Sierra
Leone who was an important participant during
the 2020 waterbird count. He passed away in
August. I met Kenneth at the Conservation Society
of Sierra Leone in 2005 when he eagerly wanted
to register the first ever bird watching tour com-
pany in Sierra Leone. After spending some time
in Senegal and the Gambia as a tour guide, he
thought of establishing his own tour company in
his home country, Sierra Leone. He decided to call
it ‘fact finding birding tours’. I will remember him
as a guy who mastered West African birds to his
fingertips. He did mentor young Sierra Leoneans
in birding, took many of us to special birds in
the country and helped during waterbird surveys
in 2005 and 2020. He will be sadly missed both
nationally and internationally. May his soul rest
in perfect peace.

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23. Liberia

INTERNATIONAL WATER- sites; Lake Piso, Marshall Wetlands, Monrovia

Coastal Lagoon, Mesurado Wetlands and Lofa
BIRDS CENSUS (IWC) TOTAL River Mouth (Figure 1).
COUNT 2020 IN LIBERIA
2. METHODOLOGY
Jerry C. Garteh, Over the year SCNL has been collaborating with
Country Coordinator, other institutions in supporting environmental and
biodiversity protection in these above Ramsar sites
Society for the Conservation of in Liberia. SCNL has worked with the Environmen-
Nature in Liberia tal Protection Agency in making sure that sites
that are not under full protection like the Lake
Piso be protected under the Ramsar agreement.
In this year International Waterbirds Census, the
Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the
Piso Conservation Forum (PCF) were involved in
this year count. The census was conducted by four
individual led by the National Coordinator, one Site
Support Group members from Piso Conservation
Forum, a Volunteer from the University of Liberia
and one from the Forestry Developmental Author-
1. INTRODUCTION ity. The purpose of the census was to monitor
the numerical size of waterbird populations and
The Society for the Conservation of Nature of Li-
highlight the threats and environmental condi-
beria in collaboration with Wetlands International
tions of the flyway zone.
conduct census as part of the global information
The methods used to conduct the census are
sharing on biodiversity. This report represents the
based on the 2010 Wetlands International field
2020 waterbirds census conducted from January
protocol for waterbirds counting.
5th to 18th 2020 along three coastal landscapes
in Liberia: Grand Cape Mount, Montserrado and -- Large site was divided into smaller counting
Margibi specifically in Robertsport, Monrovia, and units.
Marshall Cities respectively. Unlike past census, -- Sites were surveyed by foot or use boats
this year census was conducted in five parent based on the minimum accessible means.

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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Figure 1: Map of the sites in white and names in red

-- Each site was visited based on local informa- increased has led to encroachment of sites, pol-
tion on when birds are available. lution plastic waste and the conversion of sites
-- Monitors move in pair to confirm the identity for dwellings.
of species they encountered and recorded
species information and environmental con- Challenges
dition on the spot.
Access to most of these sites seem difficult as
-- IBA forms and count forms were filled im-
routes are closed by people calming personal en-
mediately at the end of count unit.
titlement. Sometimes if there are routes leading
to the site, people don’t want to allow us because
3. RESULTS they fell threatened by our present. Residents
around these wetlands sometimes want us to
A total of 929 individual birds were encountered
ask them in advance before we can access the
(Table 1)
counting sites.

4. DISCUSSION Conclusions and recommendations

The unique to all sites was fishing, though, en- Except for Lake Piso which is a protected area and
croachment, hunting, garbage disposal and urban has some formal and legal protection, the rest of
development were all threats recorded. Threats the sites depend on the Ramsar Convention for
in these sites are anthropogenic. Population protection. In most of these sites you will see

Table 1: List of waterbird species and their numbers recorded

Scientific name English name Total Scientific name English name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna viduata White-faced Whistling- 65 Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 1
duck Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 13
Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe 5 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 59
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen 8 Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 15
Ciconia microscelis African Woollyneck 1 Sternula albifrons Little Tern 129
Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron 1 Chlidonias niger Black Tern 8
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 82 Sterna dougallii Roseate Tern 1
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 15 Sterna hirundo Common Tern 105
Ardea melanocephala Black-headed Heron 12 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sandwich Tern 61
Ardea brachyrhyncha Yellow-billed Egret 21 Thalasseus maximus Royal Tern 14
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 26 Pandion haliaetus Osprey 5
Egretta gularis Western Reef-egret 89 Gypohierax angolensis Palm-nut Vulture 26
Microcarbo africanus Long-tailed Cormorant 73 Corythornis cristatus Malachite Kingfisher 7
Burhinus vermiculatus Water Thick-knee 1 Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher 25
Himantopus himan- Black-winged Stilt 4 Halcyon malimbica Blue-breasted King- 9
topus fisher

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visible sign post warning people not to encroach

on the wetlands and that wetlands are not waste
land. However, there is no sign of enforcement.
The International Waterbirds Count is the only
scientific activity that is taking place in these
Ramsar sites. The count is just week’s activity
with a long coastline. Increasing the time and
funding will provide opportunity to assess other
potential sea bird areas like Upper Buchanan that
is said to host more population of sea and wetland
birds in Liberia. SCNL will want to recommend
the following:
-- Funding and census duration be increased to
a least a month to assess many places that
are earmarked.
-- Wetland International support partners ex-
change visit to see how others are conduct-
ing the count.
-- Wetland International holds responsible
Government institutions accountable to
make annual report on their Ramsar sites.
-- That additional support be provided for
awareness education for these sites

Acknowledgement
The waterbirds census would not have been possi-
ble without funding from Wetlands International,
BirdLife International and the Wadden Sea Flyway
Initiative. We also recognized the collaboration
role played by the Society for the Conservation of
Nature of Liberia (SCNL) in making sure that the
census is possible in time and the fund is used for
its intended purpose. We appreciate the dedicated
efforts by the National Coordinator and his able
staff for providing all of the necessary information
from the sites.

ANNEX
List of Participants
Jerry Garteh, Hussan Pussah, Derick Paye, John
Konie

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24. Cote d’Ivoire

Rapport National du comp- voie de migration. Le Dénombrement International

d’Oiseaux d’Eau (DIOE), qui est un programme de
tage des oiseaux d’eau suivi sur site des effectifs d’oiseaux d’eau, coor-
2020, Cote D’Ivoire donné par Wetlands International et ses parte-
naires notamment, Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative
(WSFI) et BirdLife International (BLI), se déroule
Lt KOUAME Kouassi Firmin chaque année avec la participation de plusieurs
pays dont la Côte d’Ivoire.
Direction de la Faune et des Depuis les années 1990, la Côte d’Ivoire parti-
Ressources Cynegetiques, Minis- cipe au DIOE. Cette activité est coordonnée dans le
tere des Eaux et Forêts, Repu- pays par la Direction de la Faune et des Ressources
Cynégétiques (DFRC) du Ministère des Eaux et
blique de Cote d’Ivoire Forêts (MINEF). Cette année 2020, le DIOE a porté
sur 15 sites et s’est déroulé, du 17 au 19 janvier
2020, grâce à la généreuse contribution financière
de Wetlands International et de ses partenaires.
Le comptage a mobilisé 10 équipes composées de
46 personnes dont des ornithologues, des agents
techniques des Eaux et Forêts, des membres d’ONG
et des volontaires. Les données collectées sur le
terrain pendant le DIOE 2020, ont été traitées,
compilées et analysées dans le présent rapport.

1. INTRODUCTION 2. METHODOLOGIE
Située en Afrique de l’Ouest, la Côte-d’Ivoire Le DIOE 2020 a couvert 15 sites parmi lesquels 07
s’étend que 322 462 km². Le pays dispose de sont côtiers, et s’est déroulé en deux (02) phases,
quatre grands bassins fluviaux (Comoé, Bandama, une phase préparatoire et une phase pratique. La
Sassandra et Cavally) qui couvrent 265 000 Km² phase préparatoire a réuni les différents chefs
et est doté d’environ 500 km de littoral avec de d’équipes du DIOE janvier 2020, à la DFRC, le 14
nombreuses zones humides et plan d’eau indis- janvier 2020. A cette réunion, le Point focal natio-
pensables pour les oiseaux d’eau le long de la nal de l’Accord sur la Conservation des Oiseaux

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

84

Figure 1: Carte de localisation des sites de comptage

d’Eau Migrateurs d’Afrique-Eurasie (AEWA) a choisissent un point de départ offrant une meil-
présenté les objectifs du DIOE et a expliqué les leure vue sur le plan d’eau. A partir de ce point
méthodes et techniques de comptage des oiseaux. de départ, les équipes parcourent le site à pied
Concernant la phase pratique, les équipes ont été ou le plan d’eau en bateau motorisé. En plus du
mises en mission du 17 au 19 janvier 2020 dans les matériel d’observation habituel, les observateurs
sites concernés par le DIOE. Les observations sur ont utilisé un drone. Ce qui a permis de compter et
certains sites ont été faites à bord de hors-bords identifier les espèces d’oiseaux dans des endroits
et sur d’autres sites par des parcours pédestres. inaccessibles à l’homme.
Le dénombrement est effectué tôt le matin quand
la visibilité est bonne et l’après-midi à partir de
16 heures. Une fois sur le terrain, les équipes

Figure 2: Carte d’observation des oiseaux d’eau

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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3. RESULTATS Tableau 1: Liste des espèces observées pendant le DIOE janvier

2020
A l’issue du comptage sur l’ensemble des sites
Scientific name French name Total
retenus, 15 038 individus d’oiseaux d’eau de 60
2020
espèces et 19 familles ont été observés, avec plus Dendrocygna viduata Dendrocygne veuf 6,077
de 6000 individus de Dendrocygna viduata soit Nettapus auritus Anserelle naine 211
40% par rapport à l’effectif total. Le plus grand Tachybaptus ruficollis Grèbe castagneux 5
effectif d’oiseaux d’eau a été observé dans le bar- Zapornia flavirostra Marouette à bec jaune 47
rage de Soubré avec 4457 oiseaux d’eau. Quant au Porphyrio alleni Talève d’Allen 13
plus petit effectif, il a été observé dans le barrage Gallinula chloropus Gallinule poule-d’eau 8
de Napié avec 46 oiseaux d’eau. Les données ont Ciconia microscelis Cigogne épiscopale 22
montré que les sites non côtiers ont fourni un Bostrychia hagedash Ibis hagedash 5
effectif de 8048 individus d’oiseaux, soit 54% Nycticorax nycticorax Bihoreau gris 100
d’oiseaux par rapport à l’effectif total contre 6990 Butorides striata Héron strié 98
oiseaux dans les sites côtiers, soit 46% d’oiseaux Ardeola ralloides Crabier chevelu 214
Bubulcus ibis Héron garde-boeufs 1,918
par l’effectif total (Tableau 1).
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 60
Ardea melanocephala Héron mélanocéphale 2
4. DISCUSSION Ardea goliath Héron goliath 3
Ardea purpurea Héron pourpré 42
Le DIOE a révélé des menaces qui pèsent sur cer- Ardea alba Grande Aigrette 158
tains sites visités. Entre autre, la pollution due aux Ardea brachyrhyncha Héron à bec jaune 337
déchets, le braconnage, l’urbanisation. Egretta ardesiaca Aigrette ardoisée 159
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 214
• Pollution : Le site d’Abidjan (la baie du Banco
Egretta gularis Aigrette à gorge 121
et Bingerville), la zone humide de N’ganda- blanche
N’ganda et de Grand-Bassam sont générale- Scopus umbretta Ombrette africaine 11
ment pollués par des déchets industriels et Microcarbo africanus Cormoran africain 625
des déchets plastiques. Les espèces d’oiseaux Anhinga rufa Anhinga d’Afrique 13
d’eau vivant dans ces sites peuvent ingérer Burhinus senegalensis Oedicnème du Sénégal 21
directement ou indirectement des morceaux Burhinus capensis Oedicnème tachard 1
de plastique, parce qu’ils les confondent avec Himantopus himan- Échasse blanche 19
de la nourriture ou parce qu’ils en avalent topus
accidentellement, sous forme de morceaux Charadrius hiaticula Pluvier grand-gravelot 4
plus petits, collés sur des algues ou déjà ingé- Charadrius alexandrinus Pluvier à collier inter- 3
rés par leurs proies. Ces objets peuvent être rompu
dangereux pour ces oiseaux en provoquant Vanellus spinosus Vanneau à éperons 328
un étouffement ou une intoxication. Vanellus albiceps Vanneau à tête blanche 12
• Braconnage : Dans la zone humide de N’gan- Vanellus senegallus Vanneau du Sénégal 13
da-N’ganda et Grand-Bassam les oiseaux Rostratula benghalensis Rhynchée peinte 6
d’eau sont sujets au braconnage utilisant Actophilornis africanus Jacana à poitrine dorée 783
soit des filets de pêche ou des fusils. Malgré Microparra capensis Jacana nain 74
la fermeture de la chasse et des mesures de Numenius phaeopus Courlis corlieu 5
Numenius arquata Courlis cendré 6
protection de la faune prises en Côte-d’Ivoire,
Arenaria interpres Tournepierre à collier 8
certaines personnes continuent de braconner
Calidris alba Bécasseau sanderling 40
les oiseaux d’eau sur ces sites.
Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 341
• L’urbanisation : Le décapage dans le site
Tringa ochropus Chevalier cul-blanc 58
d’Abidjan à un effet destructeur sur les
Tringa erythropus Chevalier arlequin 4
espèces de faune qui s’y trouvent, notamment
Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 33
les oiseaux d’eau. Les nichoirs, reposoirs sont
Tringa glareola Chevalier sylvain 57
détruits mettant en péril la survie des oisillons Tringa stagnatilis Chevalier stagnatile 11
et la réduction de la surface du site. Glareola nuchalis Glaréole auréolée 24
Sternula albifrons Sterne naine 184
Le DIOE 2020 a permis de: Sterna hirundo Sterne pierregarin 205
Thalasseus sandvicensis Sterne caugek 893
• Renforcer la collaboration entre les acteurs
Thalasseus maximus Sterne royale 1,393
intervenant dans le suivi des oiseaux d’eau;
Pandion haliaetus Balbuzard pêcheur 12
• Améliorer le réseau national de suivi des
Circus aeruginosus Busard des roseaux 4
populations d’oiseaux d’eau ; Haliaeetus vocifer Pygargue vocifer 2

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020

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• ensibiliser les populations riveraines des sites et amateurs, tous les volontaires, qui ont bien
à oiseaux d’eau sur l’importance de conserver voulu participer à ce comptage.
les oiseaux d’eau et leurs habitats ;
• Améliorer la collaboration avec des ONGs ANNEXE
intervenant dans le secteur de la protection
Liste des compteurs (observateurs)
de l’environnement ;
• Visiter des sites à oiseaux qui ne sont pas Tia Loua Samo Michel, Kouadio Damo Edmond,
régulièrement visités ; Sergent Dehi Dekado Prudence, Azia Djolokome
• Accroître la capacité des participants en Guy Ange, Kouame Kouassi Firmin , Gueye Mon-
matière d’identification et de comptage noin Frederic, Youhouin Jean Frederic Oberlin,
d’oiseaux d’eau. Touali Debaud Jocelin, Saraka Paulin, Nado Nar-
cisse Gnegba Blaise, Yaokokore Beibro Hilaire,
Recommandations N’dri Yao Salomon, Mamadou Beno, Amededzi
Kouakou Serge, Zrehon Weblegnon Michel, Nian-
• Elaborer des modules de formation sur la
goran Fernand Andre, Awa Gbocho Nicaise, Konan
conservation des oiseaux d’eau et de leurs
Yao Remy, Zausa Diorne, Abou Coulibaly, Assa
habitats (zones humides) à l’endroit des
Esse Savorgnan, Kouame Simeon Pierre, Yaouly
élèves ;
Zou Bi Noel, Bamba Bakaranoko, Mahan Oliver,
• Poursuivre la sensibilisation des populations
Ahon Dibie Bernard , Kouassi N’goran Yao Medard,
à la conservation des oiseaux d’eau et à la
Yapi Yapi Vanes, Sarambe Bogue Leontine, Zean
restauration des habitats dégradés à travers
Gnininte Maxime, Kouakou Kan Dieudonne, Die
des ONGs, d’autres structures ou associations
Nahin Philippe, Zago Hugues Martial, Koffi Yves
communautaires ;
Constant, Kadja Kacou Hilaire, Volker Salewski,
• Accroître la collaboration entre les acteurs
Tiedoue Mahounin Roland, Amankou Kouao
intervenant dans le domaine de la conserva-
Francois, Sigui Abraham, Adoubi AchoJerome,
tion de l’environnement (structures étatiques,
Coulibaly, Toure Yacouba, Niamien Coffi Magloire,
structures privées, ONG…), plus particulière-
Konan Ekoun Michael, Konan Kouassi Paul,
ment sur les axes prioritaires pour le suivi des
Lapka Frederic.
oiseaux d’eau et des zones humides.

REMERCIEMENTS
La réalisation du DIOE 2020, a été rendu possible
grâce à l’aide financière de Wetlands International
et ses partenaires notamment Wadden Sea Flyway
Initiative (WSFI), BirdLife International et l’appui
technique de plusieurs structures et personnes
physiques que nous tenons à remercier. Il s’agit des
structures suivantes : les Directions Régionales des
Eaux et Forêts de Korhogo, Soubré, Daloa et Guiglo
; l’Office Ivoirien des Parcs et Réserves (OIPR) ; la
Société de Développement des Forêts (SODEFOR) ;
l’Unité de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences
de l’Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny d’Abidjan
(UFR-Biosciences) ; les Universités Jean Lorougnon
Guédé et Péléforo Gon Coulibaly ; les ONG Impac-
tum, Green tide africa et SOS Forêt.
Notre gratitude va à l’endroit du Colonel Major
TONDOSSAMA Adama, du Colonel Major SANGARE
Mamadou, du Professeur YAOKOKORE Beibro, du
Docteur AHON Dibié Bernard, du Docteur NIAMIEN
Coffi Magloire. Pour avoir impliqué activement
leur service, personnel, étudiants et moyens logis-
tiques dans cette opération de dénombrement de
janvier 2020. Nous tenons enfin à féliciter tous les
ornithologues experts et apprentis, professionnels

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25. Ghana

Report on waterbirds and has shown that peak numbers of waterbirds along
Ghana’s coast are observed between September
wetlands count in January and November during the autumn migration.
2020, Ghana However, in some years, another peak may be
observed between January and March during the
northern spring migration. There are relatively low
Jones Quartey1, Dickson Agye- numbers of waterbirds observed on all monitored
sites between May and July, the period when
man2, Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu1 & most species of waterbirds have migrated to their
Bernard Asamoah Boateng breeding grounds.
1
Centre for African Wetlands, Under a contractual agreement between Wet-
lands International (WI) and the Wildlife Division
University of Accra (WD) of the Forestry Commission of Ghana, the
2
Wildlife Division of the For- later was tasked to undertake a ‘Total count of
coastal waterbirds – January 2020’ in the frame-
estry Commission of Ghana work of the International Waterbirds Census in the
East-Atlantic Flyway. The WD sought assistance
from the CAW to deliver this assignment. This
chapter provides an overview on the counts car-
ried out by the Wildlife Division of the Forestry
Commission of Ghana and its partner institution,
the Centre for African Wetlands.
1. INTRODUCTION
A number of key wetland sites on the Ghana 2. METHODOLOGY
coast have been regularly monitored since 1985,
first by the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS) and
Site description
subsequently by the Centre for African Wetlands
(CAW). Thus providing long-term data on water- The field survey was done between 23rd - 29th
bird populations within the West African sub- January, 2020 and it involved 11 sites visited in a
region. The sites monitored include five coastal chronological order from the western to eastern
Ramsar Sites: Keta, Songor, Sakumo, Densu Delta coast of Ghana. Five of these sites have been
designated as Ramsar sites: Muni-Pomadze, Densu
and Muni-Pomadze. Analysis of the long term data

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Figure 1: Sites surveyed during the 2020 International Waterbird Counts

delta, Sakumo, Songor and Keta lagoons. The belonging to 6 groups of waterbirds (Cormorants,
other sites include a 13 kilometre sandy beach Ducks, Gulls and Terns, Herons, Rails and Waders),
between the Ankobra and Amanzuri estuaries 14 families and 56 species. The Ramsar sites sup-
(Esiama beach), commercial salt pans (Laloi and ported 79.96% of the total number of observed
Elmina salt pans), and open and closed brackish waterbirds with species richness between 24
water lagoons (Whin mouth, Amissah and Narkwa and 45 (Table 1). The most important unprotec-
lagoons). Locations of the visited sites are docu-
ted site was the Elmina saltpans supporting 31
mented in Figure 1.
waterbird species with a total of 4,494 individuals
accounting for 8.29% of the total number of
Field personnel
waterbirds encountered during the survey. The 5
Each site was visited in the morning between most abundant species observed during the survey
07:00 and 11:00 GMT by at least 4 field personnel were Charadrius hiaticula (13.28%), Himantopus
with varying degrees of experiences in waterbird himantopus (10.74%), Microcarbo africanus (Pha-
monitoring, and a driver. Survey of waterbirds on lacrocorax africanus) (9.40%), Tringa nebularia
larger sites (for example Keta/Songor Ramsar sites)
(9.31%) and Calidris ferruginea (9.05%) (Table 2).
lasted for longer periods.

Counting Protocol
4 DISCUSSION
The Densu delta supported 40.80%, 50.64%
The counting of waterbirds followed the protocol
that has been used over the years by the Centre for and 100% of all C. hiaticula, H. himantopus and
African Wetlands in order to allow for comparison Sterna dougallii individuals, respectively, observed
of data with that of previous years. Larger sites during the survey. The Keta lagoon complex also
have been divided into smaller count units. For supported 53.35%, 53.54%, 98.62% and 99.0%
example, Songor Ramsar site and Elmina saltpans of all T. nebularia, M. africanus, Dendrocygna
have 4 different count units each: Pute, Totope, viduata and Hydroprogus caspia individuals, re-
Kablevu, Lolonya and Bronyibima, Elmina Panbros,
Mr. Mensah saltpans and Tetelem for Songor Table 1 Number of species and individual waterbirds observed
along Ghana’s coast during the 2020 waterbird census
Ramsar site and Elmina saltpans respectively. Keta
has 10 count units, namely: Adina, Afiadenyigba, Sites Status No. of No. of
Anlogo, Anyako, Denu, Dudu Island, Fiahor, Keta, Waterbird Water-
Srogbe-Fiahor and Tegbi. Within each count unit/ Species birds
site, pre-existing transects were used by field per- Amissah lagoon Unprotected 8 114
sonnel on foot. Some of the sites had observation Densu Delta Protected 44 15672
post or hilly areas which presented counters a Elmina Saltpans Unprotected 31 4494
broader view to count large flocks of roosting or Esiama Beach Unprotected 22 1089
foraging birds. Data on bird count were collated Keta Lagoon Protected 45 23498
later and entered into the standard excel format Lalui lagoon Unprotected 27 1511
provided for the IWC count. Muni -Pomadze Protected 32 2255
Narkwa Unprotected 17 511
3. RESULTS Sakumo Lagoon Protected 26 725
Songor Lagoon Protected 24 1190
A total of 54,200 individual waterbirds were Whinmouth Unprotected 17 3141
observed on all sites during the survey period Total 54200

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Table 2 Species abundance and distribution on all 11 sites along the coast of Ghana

Scientific name English name Total Scientific name English name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna viduata White-faced Whistling-duck 3,560 Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 380
Spatula querquedula Garganey 1 Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 48
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen 54 Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 47
Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-heron 3 Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit 58
Butorides striata Green-backed Heron 31 Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 75
Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron 57 Calidris pugnax Ruff 5
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 543 Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper 4,907
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 888 Calidris alba Sanderling 528
Ardea melanocephala Black-headed Heron 1 Calidris minuta Little Stint 1,637
Ardea purpurea Purple Heron 26 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 332
Ardea alba Great White Egret 1,343 Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank 57
Ardea brachyrhyncha Yellow-billed Egret 168 Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 5,044
Egretta ardesiaca Black Heron 388 Tringa totanus Common Redshank 69
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 3,693 Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper 249
Egretta gularis Western Reef-egret 1,199 Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper 105
Microcarbo africanus Long-tailed Cormorant 5,097 Glareola pratincola Collared Pratincole 573
Burhinus senegalensis Senegal Thick-knee 28 Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull 105
Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher 5 Sternula albifrons Little Tern 789
Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt 5,820 Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern 200
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 876 Chlidonias niger Black Tern 125
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover 7,199 Sterna dougallii Roseate Tern 32
Charadrius pecuarius Kittlitz’s Plover 63 Sterna hirundo Common Tern 523
Charadrius marginatus White-fronted Plover 27 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sandwich Tern 2,163
Vanellus spinosus Spur-winged Lapwing 538 Thalasseus maximus Royal Tern 3,874
Vanellus senegallus Wattled Lapwing 14 Corythornis cristatus Malachite Kingfisher 10
Actophilornis africanus African Jacana 87 Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher 406

spectively. The Sakumo and Muni lagoons sup- Conclusion

ported 28.62% of Vanellua spinosus and 24.40%
of Actitis hypoleucos individuals, respectively. The The Ghana coast continues to be important for
Esiama beach, an unprotected site, continue to be some species of waterbirds of the East Atlantic
the most important site for Sanderlings support- Flyway population using the different wetlands
ing 31.06% of the total number of Sanderlings either as staging or ‘wintering’ sites. It is important
observed along the Ghana coast. All Haematopus to note that, peak counts of waterbirds in Ghana
ostralegus individuals encountered during the are observed between September and November.
survey were observed along the Esiama beach. Therefore, the low numbers of waterbirds observed
Similarly, all Tringa erythropus individuals en- on all sites but the Keta Lagoon complex during
countered were observed at the Laloi lagoon. The the 2020 IWC, does not devalue the importance
Elmina salt pans supported 30.37%, 34.21% and of these sites, especially the Ramsar sites. But
71.33% of the total number of Pluvialis squatarola, the January count which involves concerted ef-
Numenius phaeopus and Milvus migrans parasi- forts from West African and European countries
tus individuals, respectively. More than 50% of enables appreciation of the population dynamics
all Thalasseus maximus individuals encountered of total population at the East Atlantic Flyway,
during the survey were observed at Whinmouth. while frequent counts of individual sites concern-
Only Keta lagoon complex supported more than ing longer periods, although expensive, are more
20,000 individual waterbirds (Table 1). important for assessing changes in bird popula-
tions at the sites.
Environmental assessment
APPENDIX
Assessment of environmental pressures (either
natural or anthropogenic) was done for each site List of participants
over the past year (from the last assessment in Alfred Ali Nuoh, Jones Quartey, Emmanuel Taye,
2019 to date) following the different categories Frank Tandoh, James Selormey, Emmanuel Agu-
on the IWC environmental assessment document. detse, Desree Guoluguuh Nakaar, Hope Avuletey,
For each category, the sources and quality of data
for assessment was done either through evidence
based or by expert opinion and reported as such.

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26. Benin

zones humides dont les quatre plus importantes

Rapport du dénombrement sont classées sites RAMSAR (Sites Ramsar 1668,
international des oiseaux 1669, 1017 et 1018). Ces écosystèmes abritent une
d’eau (DIOE) 2020 au Benin remarquable diversité biologique en particulier
l’avifaune qui est très important. On y rencontre
des oiseaux autochtones et migrateurs d’origine
Daouda M. Aliou, Arnaud Adik- paléarctique et intra-africaine (Cybelle Planète,
2020), qui sont depuis quelques années suivis
peto, Sylvestre Chaffra & Joie D. à travers le Dénombrement International des
E. Sossoukpe. Oiseaux d’Eau (DIOE). A cet effet, du 15 Janvier
au 10 Février 2020, les professionnels du Bénin
Benin Environment and Edu- ont procédé à l’identification, au comptage et à
cation Society (BEES NGO) et la caractérisation des habitats des oiseaux d’eau
Direction Générale des Eaux-Fo- des sites RAMSAR du Bénin (Sites Ramsar 1668,
1669, 1017 et 1018). L’édition 2020 du DIOE a été
rêts et Chasse (DGEFC) co-organisée par «Benin Environment and Educa-
tion Society (BEES ONG)» et la Direction Générale
des Eaux, Forêts et Chasse (DGEFC). Cette colla-
boration entre l’Etat central et les Organisations
de la Société Civile (OSC) a permis d’associer les
ONG (ADDBIO, CREDI, CEROE, Eco Bénin, ODDB,
Nature Tropicale), l’Université d’Abomey Calavi
et l’Université National d’Agriculture ainsi que
l’Agence Béninoise pour l’Environnement (Point
1. INTRODUCTION Focal RAMSAR).
Pays côtier d’Afrique de l’Ouest, la République du
Bénin est situé entièrement dans la zone intertro-
picale. La combinaison des différentes saisons a 2. METHODOLOGIE
donné naissance à trois zones climatiques étalées La méthode utilisée a été caractérisée par trois
du Sud au Nord : la zone guinéo-congolaise, la étapes clés qui ont permis d’atteindre les objectifs
zone soudano-guinéenne et la zone soudanienne du DIOE 2020.
(Sinsin et al., 2004) (Figure 1) . Ces différentes -- Primo, les rencontres de préparation ont per-
zones climatiques nourrissent une succession de mis de mettre à niveau les connaissances des

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Figure 2 : La répartition spatiale des itinéraires suivis dans les

deux sites Ramsar 1017 et 1018 au Sud du Bénin

Figure 1: Situation géographique et hydrologique du Bénin

acteurs, de définir les itinéraires et les équi-

pes associées ainsi que la planification de la
phase de collecte. Figure 3 : La répartition spatiale des itinéraires suivis dans les
deux sites Ramsar 1668 et 1669 au Nord du Bénin
-- Secundo, du 18 Janvier au 10 Février 2020,
les sept équipes déployées dans les zones
humides du Sud et du Nord ont procédé à
l’identification, au comptage et à la carac-
térisation des habitats des oiseaux d’eau
migrateurs et locaux (Figure 2 et 3). Des
barques à moteurs hors bords ont été utili-
sées pour le déplacement.
-- A la fin, les données collectées ont enfin été
traitées et organisées dans une base de col-
lecte avec un comité restreint qui a été mis
en place pour la rédaction du rapport.
Figure 4 : Abondance des oiseaux sur les sites du Sud Bénin
3. RESULTATS solides et ménagers ;
Au total, 68 espèces d’oiseaux d’eau appartenant à -- Prolifération des plantes aquatiques enva-
51 genres et 25 familles ont été recensées sur les hissantes ;
principaux plans et cours d’eau des zones humides -- Installation non réglementée des pêcheries
d’importance internationale du Nord et Sud-Bénin sédentaires ;
(Sites Ramsar 1668, 1669, 1017 et 1018). -- Petite chasse des oiseaux d’eau
-- Extraction non contrôlée de sédiments dans
les lacs et lagunes ;
4. DISCUSSION -- Destruction de la mangrove etc.
Les principales menaces notées sur les différents
sites sont : Difficultés rencontrées
-- Développement incontrôlé des habitations Quelques difficultés ont marquées le déroulement
humaines sur les berges des zones humides ; de l’édition 2020 DIOE au Bénin dont les plus
-- Comblement du plan d’eau par les déchets importantes sont :

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Tableau 1:Effectifs des oiseaux dénombrés

Scientific name French name Total Scientific name French name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna viduata Dendrocygne veuf 7,841 Burhinus senegalensis Oedicnème du Sénégal 2
Plectropterus gambensis Oie-armée de Gambie 26 Pluvianus aegyptius Pluvian fluviatile 10
Sarkidiornis melanotos Canard à bosse 4 Himantopus himantopus Échasse blanche 143
Nettapus auritus Anserelle naine 10 Charadrius dubius Pluvier petit-gravelot 7
Zapornia flavirostra Marouette à bec jaune 43 Vanellus spinosus Vanneau à éperons 58
Gallinula chloropus Gallinule poule-d’eau 11 Vanellus senegallus Vanneau du Sénégal 42
Balearica pavonina Grue couronnée 40 Actophilornis africanus Jacana à poitrine dorée 286
Leptoptilos crumenifer Marabout d’Afrique 23 Numenius phaeopus Courlis corlieu 36
Anastomus lamelligerus Bec-ouvert africain 46 Limosa limosa Barge à queue noire 1
Ciconia microscelis Cigogne épiscopale 24 Calidris ferruginea Bécasseau cocorli 4
Bostrychia hagedash Ibis hagedash 15 Gallinago gallinago Bécassine des marais 1
Nycticorax nycticorax Bihoreau gris 114 Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 50
Butorides striata Héron strié 55 Tringa erythropus Chevalier arlequin 1
Ardeola ralloides Crabier chevelu 85 Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 18
Bubulcus ibis Héron garde-boeufs 793 Tringa glareola Chevalier sylvain 6
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 102 Tringa stagnatilis Chevalier stagnatile 42
Ardea melanocephala Héron mélanocéphale 15 Glareola pratincola Glaréole à collier 8
Ardea goliath Héron goliath 2 Sternula balaenarum Sterne des baleiniers 31
Ardea purpurea Héron pourpré 61 Chlidonias niger Guifette noire 1
Ardea alba Grande Aigrette 98 Thalasseus sandvicensis Sterne caugek 31
Ardea brachyrhyncha Héron à bec jaune 93 Thalasseus maximus Sterne royale 42
Egretta ardesiaca Aigrette ardoisée 347 Pandion haliaetus Balbuzard pêcheur 4
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 286 Circus aeruginosus Busard des roseaux 12
Egretta gularis Aigrette à gorge blanche 29 Haliaeetus vocifer Pygargue vocifer 1
Scopus umbretta Ombrette africaine 30 Corythornis cristatus Martin-pêcheur huppé 55
Microcarbo africanus Cormoran africain 1,869 Ceryle rudis Martin-pêcheur pie 201

n’ont pas été couverts pour plusieurs raisons de

même que les sites du centre. Un dénombre-
ment exhaustif des oiseaux d’eau de toutes les
zones humides du Sud, du Centre et du Nord est
désormais une nécessité afin d’avoir des données
complètes sur l’état de l’avifaune au Bénin.
Remerciements
La collaboration entre la Direction Générale des
Eaux, Forêts et Chasse (DGEFC), BEES ONG et les
structures impliquées dans les DIOE au Bénin a
permis d’obtenir ces résultats. Nous remercions
ainsi tout particulièrement Wetlands International
et AEWA pour leurs divers soutiens; l’Université
Figure 5 : Abondance des oiseaux sur les sites du Nord Bénin Nationale d’Agriculture, la Direction de la Pro-
-- Nombre limité de spécialistes en dénombre- duction Halieutique pour leurs appuis et les dif-
ment des oiseaux d’eau pour un comptage férentes structures et ONG pour leur participation
simultané ; et leur soutien à cette activité.
-- Insuffisance de matériels (jumelles, guides, ANNEXE
appareil photo, télescope etc.) pour
l’efficacité des observations et du comptage ; Liste des compteurs (observateurs)
-- Présence des pêcheries sédentaires, des fi-
ADIKPETO Arnaud Wilfrid, AKAMBI Is Deen,
lets et des pièges de pêche sur les itinéraires
de dénombrement des plans et cours d’eau AMADOU BAHLEMAN Farid, ZONNIGBO Wilfried,
prospectés. BRISSO Nassirou, CHABI Hermann G., CHAFFRA A.
Sylvestre, DANSI Mathias, DEGLA Hugues Marius,
Recommandations DOSSOU Etienne, DOSSOU Essin Florent, HOUIN-
Les activités de dénombrement d’oiseaux d’eau DOTE Elodiade, HOUNDELO Laeticia, HOUNGBEDJI
des zones humides du Nord et du Sud-Bénin 2020 Mariano, KOUMASSA Moise, MADOGOTCHA
se sont bien déroulées. Cette année, l’équipe de Josias, MAMA Sadam, OLATOUNDJI Yves A.,
dénombrement a essayé de collecter les données SOSSOUKPE Joie D.E., SOUROU Arnaud, TOVIESSI
sur quelques sites du Nord en plus des tradition- Mathieu, TCHANKPAN Camille B., YANGUENON
nels sites du sud. Toutefois, tous les sites du Nord Bonaventure

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27. Nigeria

International Waterbird Objectives

Census 2020 (IWC) in • To determine abundance of waterbirds in
Nigeria •
coastal Nigeria
To identify threats at wetlands and for water
birds
Joseph Onoja
Nigerian Conservation 2. METHODOLOGY
Foundation (NCF) A line transect using a boat was adopted for this
surveys due the thick vegetation of Nipa Palm
(Nypa fruticans), mangrove and lack of trails. This
method was adopted to sight and record bird spe-
cies seen and heard.

Institutions, organizations or associa-

tions involved
Nigeria Conservation foundation
Eko Bird Club (EBC)
University of Uyo

3. RESULTS
A total of 2,477 individual water birds of 30 spe-
1. INTRODUCTION cies were recorded during the survey in Nigeria
In Nigeria, increasing human population coupled (table 1) out of which, 2,328 individual water birds
with anthropogenic activities mainly dredging and of 23 species were recorded in Lagos while 149
over-fishing are severely degrading the natural individual of 17 species were recorded in Cross
habitats of water bird species. The waterbird River. Of the 23 water bird species in Lagos, 7 are
monitoring will help to characterize the water- migrants while 16 are resident water birds and
bird communities and empower the community only 1 is a migrant while 16 are resident water
to take action towards reducing identified threats. bird species of the total 17 species in Cross River.

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Figure 1. Overview of locations (red dots) at Cross River and position in Southeast Nigeria (in green).

Figure 2. Covered route and observation locations at site Lagos

The migratory water birds consisted of Palaearctic- bird species which in turn had impact on the spe-
Afrotropical migrants (such as the Whimbrel cies and number of individuals encountered during
Numenius phaeopus, Eurasian Curlew Numenius the survey when compared to previous years.
arquata, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glaeola, Common In Lagos, a total of 606 African Jacana and
Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos) and Intra-African 1,105 White-faced Whistling Duck were recorded
migrants like the Afican Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx during this survey, but over 3,000 African Jacana
pictus, sighted only in Cross River. and about 50 White-faced Whistling Duck were
encountered in 2016 and also in 2017. Perhaps,
this is caused by the difference in the habitat use
4.´DISCUSSION between the African Jacana (using local habitat)
From the observations made and data obtained and the White-faced Whistling Duck (going to
during this survey, it is concluded that water birds agriculture fields in the night). This decline of lo-
recorded constitute migrants and residents which cal water birds could be due to frequent dredging
were sighted in Lagos and Cross River States, Ni- which has reduced the mudflat habitat. The rise
geria. Increasing human population coupled with in number of roosting birds on open water could
anthropogenic activities mainly dredging, sand be ascribed to the dredging as well which had
mining, fishing, logging, Tavy of mangrove, land created more open water.
reclaiming for jetties and tourism facilities have Observations in Cross River State in 2019 showed
severely degraded the natural habitats of water that the population of water birds were seriously

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Table 1: Species and numbers counted in Nigeria Improvements and learning points for
Scientific name English name Total the future
2020
Dendrocygna viduata White-faced Whistling- 1,118
An application similar as a phone should be
duck created to record bird observations; obtain co-
Anastomus lamelligerus African Openbill 23 ordinates; measure distance of travel; climatic
Butorides striata Green-backed Heron 2 condition during survey, all of which should be
Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron 3 retrieved for analysis.
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 38
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 16 Conclusion and Recommendations
Ardea melanocephala Black-headed Heron 7
In conclusion, water bird species are susceptible
Ardea purpurea Purple Heron 12
to pressure/threats on wetlands. To control and
Ardea brachyrhyncha Yellow-billed Egret 117
Egretta ardesiaca Black Heron 27
circumvent habitat loss, the communities should
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 106 be empowered to take action toward reducing
Egretta gularis Western Reef-egret 47 identified threats and constant surveillance of
Scopus umbretta Hamerkop 1 the wetlands which are used by water birds for
Microcarbo africanus Long-tailed Cormorant 89 feeding, nesting and roosting should be employed
Burhinus senegalensis Senegal Thick-knee 63 as tracking strategies of the habitat loss. Survey
Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt 17 should be conducted whenever tide is low as it
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 5 will create an avenue for small shorebirds to be
Vanellus spinosus Spur-winged Lapwing 20 sighted on mudflats.
Actophilornis africanus African Jacana 608
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 32 ANNEX
Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 19
Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 47 List of counters (observers)
Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 12 Omo Emmanuel Osagiede Titilope Badmus Damola,
Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper 2 Owan Emmanuel, Eyos Kevin, Elvis Anyim, Edem
Megaceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher 1
Eniang, AniekanAbasi Uwatt, Esther Assam, Ime
Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher 30
Utit, Daniel Jacob
Halcyon malimbica Blue-breasted King- 3
fisher

affected as a result of anthropogenic activities

and also mining of Calabar chalk, drilling and
uplifting of oil and gas, thereby influencing the
bird activities within the area. The situation has
not changed as there is increase in the observed
number of boat and industrial activities within
the study area.
Counting was disrupted at the Oku Iboku/ Ikot
Offiong Communities war zone near Itu bridge
head (Cross River) and was left for safety reasons.
However the team was taken hostage by pirates at
the Creek of Inua Abasi very close to Parrots Island
until the security operatives from the Nigeria Im-
migration service came to rescue us.
Specific threats to sites
Dredging,
-- Logging and cutting of mangrove fuel wood
and commercial purposes,
-- High level of operation of engine boat,
-- Increase industries,
-- Left over fishing nets,
-- Over exploitation of fish product,
-- Industrial and domestic waste such as plastic,
-- Human presence and disturbance.

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28. Cameroun

JANUARY 2020 INTERNA- tem and periodicity of counts have been heavily
TIONAL WATERBIRD CEN- limited by accessibility and cost factors. Certain
sites have been regularly counted, some counted
SUS (IWC) IN CENTRAL annually while others are irregularly counted. Sites
COASTAL CAMEROON regularly counted by CWCS are especially those
within the lower Sanaga Delta within the new
Douala-Edea National Park with monthly census
Gordon Ajonina1, Martin Timba1 since February 1999 – 2007 (Ajonina et al. 2009)
then periodically thereafter. Annually counted
and Nji Francis2 sites are in the coastal areas of Cameroon from
1
Cameroon Wildlife Conservation Sanaga estuary to Rio Del Rey border with Nigeria
Society, Coastal Forests & Mangrove excluding the southern coast from Sanaga estu-
ary down to the Guinea Equatorial border having
Conservation Programme, Mangrove & been very poor in waterbird numbers just less
Coastal Wetlands Research Centre, BP than 5% of total counts following the 2004 and
2007 counts (Van der Waarde J. J. (ed) 2007) this
54 Mouanko, Littoral Region continued till 2017 (Ajonina, et al. 2017) then
2
Freelance Ornithologist, Limbe - thereafter subsequently limited to the Cameroon
Cameroon estuary comprising the areas from the Moungo
bridge to the Wouri, Douala-Edea National park
and upper Sanaga Delta River (Dizangue to At-
lantic coast) for a total of 30 regular count sites.
Periodically or irregularly counted sites are located
within the inland areas especially in around the
Lake Chad, lagoon and Shari basins, Noun basins
and Dschang artificial lake.
It is worthy of note that thanks to the regular
1. INTRODUCTION counts and accumulated data base and reports
Cameroon has regularly participated in annual since 1999 of the potentials and threats to the
global water bird counts through its network of count areas and following recommendations from
national volunteers from the government, NGOs, CWCS and partners that the old Douala-Edea
private sector and local communities. The sys- wildlife Reserve was raised in October 2018 by

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Cameroon Government to Douala-Edea National due to the socio-political stability due to ongoing
Park with extension to some 50% of the marine Anglophone crises sparking up into armed conflict
space including intact mangrove forests around since October 2016 that involve the north west
the Wouri estuary. This makes it the first coun- and south west regions of Cameroon all west of
try’s national park with marine components. The the Moungo Bridge.
national assemble last year (in July 2019) ratified During a period of 2 weeks between early and
Cameroon accession to AEWA convention. The late January, 2020, the team surveyed sites within
government has recently requested CWCS and the Sanaga and Wouri basins located within Doua-
partners to enlist more coastal and other inland la-Edea National Park and Douala city including
sites as Ramsar Sites. the inland Dschang Municipal artificial lake for
a total of 30 updated sites. In surveying the sites,
Objectives we used standard bird census techniques (Bibby
et al, 1992) (see map Figure 1). As usual, different
In line with the global objective and the draft
habitats were counted as completely as possible.
national waterbird and wetlands management
Many of the main creeks in the mangroves were
plan, the January 2020 in Cameroon (a month
visited by boat, birds were present at the mud-
earlier from the counts last year often between
flats bordering the mangroves but few birds were
ending January -February) precipitated by antici-
visible among the mangroves while the interior
pated by often violent legislative elections was to
of these forests was inaccessible. Only the main
undertake complete counts in regularly counted
channels were included in the count. Counts were
coastal sites within the Douala-Edea National
performed during low tide (mudflats) and high
Marine and Terrestrial Park and Wouri Estuary
tide (roosts on sandbars and islands). Counts and
with an addition of an inland lake at Dschang
sites description information was collated and
western region of Cameroon. Assess pressure and
entered in the required format set by Wetlands
environmental characteristics of count sites with
International for subsequent analysis.
special reference to count areas.

3. RESULTS
In total, 7,160 waterbirds were counted during
this survey, belonging to 54 Palaearctic and afro-
tropical species with about half (3,474 birds)
belonging to 30 species within the Douala-Edea
National park alone (table 1).

4. DISCUSSION
As noted in previous large coverage counts, for
seven bird species, the 1% Ramsar criterion for
wetland of international importance, is surpassed
in 2 locations making these areas important for
conservation. The African Skimmer, the Near
Threatened (IUCN red list) bird species observed
in the Ndian basin are largely the same population
that breeds on the Sanaga River from March to
June. Therefore these two areas are essential for
the survival of this species. A large resident breed-
ing population of Grey Pratincole is found on the
Sanaga River, with 5% of the global population
Figure 1: Map of the distribution of count sites exceeding the 1% criterion. The lower Sanaga
river therefore is highly important for both Af-
2. METHODOLOGY rican Skimmer and Grey pratincole. Terns, Royal
The January 2020 counts were limited started from Tern, Little Tern and Black Tern, are found in large
the Moungo Bridge to Wouri estuary and areas numbers at the Sanaga estuary. The coast is also
within the Douala-Edea National terrestrial and of importance for Great White and Pink-backed
Marine Park and Dschang artificial lake (see Table Pelicans, Great White and Little Egrets and wad-
1 and Figure 1) constituting francophone sites ers like Common Greenshank, Grey Plover and

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Table 1, species and numbers counted at the sites covered

Scientific name English name French name Total Scientific name English name French name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna White-faced Dendrocygne 10 Anhinga rufa African Darter Anhinga 14
viduata Whistling-duck veuf d’Afrique
Tachybaptus Little Grebe Grèbe castagneux 28 Burhinus senega- Senegal Thick- Oedicnème du 7
ruficollis lensis knee Sénégal
Zapornia flavi- Black Crake Marouette à bec 10 Himantopus Black-winged Échasse blanche 1
rostra jaune himantopus Stilt
Porphyrio por- Purple Swam- Talève sultane 11 Pluvialis squa- Grey Plover Pluvier argenté 250
phyrio phen tarola
Gallinula chlo- Common Moor- Gallinule poule- 23 Charadrius Common Ringed Pluvier grand- 224
ropus hen d’eau hiaticula Plover gravelot
Mycteria ibis Yellow-billed Tantale ibis 15 Charadrius White-fronted Pluvier à front 33
Stork marginatus Plover blanc
Anastomus African Openbill Bec-ouvert 153 Vanellus spinosus Spur-winged Vanneau à 1
lamelligerus africain Lapwing éperons
Ciconia micro- African Wool- Cigogne épis- 23 Vanellus albiceps White-headed Vanneau à tête 40
scelis lyneck copale Lapwing blanche
Threskiornis African Sacred Ibis sacré 7 Actophilornis African Jacana Jacana à poitrine 84
aethiopicus Ibis africanus dorée
Bostrychia Hadada Ibis Ibis hagedash 7 Numenius Whimbrel Courlis corlieu 49
hagedash phaeopus
Nycticorax Black-crowned Bihoreau gris 3 Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew Courlis cendré 22
nycticorax Night-heron Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone Tournepierre à 11
Butorides striata Green-backed Héron strié 18 collier
Heron Calidris pugnax Ruff Combattant varié 4
Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron Crabier chevelu 19 Calidris alba Sanderling Bécasseau sand- 24
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret Héron garde- 286 erling
boeufs Calidris minuta Little Stint Bécasseau 32
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron Héron cendré 56 minute
Ardea melano- Black-headed Héron mélanocé- 2 Actitis hypoleu- Common Sand- Chevalier guig- 132
cephala Heron phale cos piper nette
Ardea goliath Goliath Heron Héron goliath 5 Tringa nebularia Common Green- Chevalier aboyeur 210
Ardea purpurea Purple Heron Héron pourpré 2 shank
Ardea alba Great White Grande Aigrette 50 Tringa totanus Common Red- Chevalier gam- 151
Egret shank bette
Ardea brachy- Yellow-billed Héron à bec 1 Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper Chevalier sylvain 165
rhyncha Egret jaune Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper Chevalier stag- 6
Egretta garzetta Little Egret Aigrette garzette 298 natile
Egretta gularis Western Reef- Aigrette à gorge 59 Glareola cinerea Grey Pratincole Glaréole grise 971
egret blanche Rynchops flavi- African Skimmer Bec-en-ciseaux 1,385
Scopus umbretta Hamerkop Ombrette 13 rostris d’Afrique
africaine Larus fuscus Lesser Black- Goéland brun 1
Pelecanus rufe- Pink-backed Pélican gris 2 backed Gull
scens Pelican Sternula albifrons Little Tern Sterne naine 309
Pelecanus ono- Great White Pélican blanc 10 Hydroprogne Caspian Tern Sterne caspienne 318
crotalus Pelican caspia
Microcarbo Long-tailed Cormoran 58 Thalasseus Royal Tern Sterne royale 1,543
africanus Cormorant africain maximus

Ringed Plover. The Wouri estuary and Sanaga River Douala harbour area and unsustainable use
and surrounding wetlands are home to the West of natural resources by the population in the
African Manatee. The Sanaga and Wouri estuar- region. Birds’ numbers in the areas dropped
ies still contain large areas of pristine mangrove significantly.
forests which form important breeding grounds • The lower Sanaga River is already evidencing
for fish, invertebrates and other components of the risk of habitat destruction due to ongo-
the food web. ing hydropower construction upstream (Lom
Pangar dam) on the Sanaga, large ecotour-
Specific threats to sites ism complex near the Sanaga Estuary and
unsustainable use of natural resources by the
• The Wouri estuary is still at greater risk of population in the region. notwithstanding the
habitat destruction due to present and future laudable recent government effort of the up-
industrial activities and other infrastructural liftment of the Douala-Edea wildlife reserve
development including settlement in the into a national park status that include about

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50% marine extension including pristine sustainable use of these wetlands. The gov-
mangrove forests and the country ascen- ernment has just requested that more sites
sion to WEWA convention will greatly shape being added.
future environmental management agenda. -- Promotion of (bird) touristic sites together
• In the Dschang artificial lake, siltation from with incentives for private sector investment
small holders’ farms and poor municipal is needed to increase the potential of this
wastes may further threaten species. It is sustainable alternative source of income.
expected that the development of ongoing -- Monitoring of biodiversity values of coastal
assisted Municipal plans will take on board wetlands is to be continued and expanded to
environmental management component. provide information for management plans.
-- Develop a species action plan for important
Difficulties encountered species notably: African Skimmer, Grey Prat-
incole.
Thanks to the equipment provided from the
-- Make public studies of Environmental Im-
Rainforest Trust Foundation to CWCS, Birdlife
pacts Assessments of economic develop-
International (CWCS, WTG and other individual
ments in the lower Sanaga and Wouri estu-
birders) and Manuals widely distributed from
aries.
Wetlands International, the quality and scope of
-- Consistent waterbird monitoring of this
the counts continued to be boosted. However,
mapped sites.
there are still transportation cost with costly site
accessibility on rough roads and high boat renting
costs. It is worth mentioning the unstable socio-
References
political situation of the country with Anglophone Ajonina, G.N., Amougou, J.A., Ayissi, I., Ajonina ,P.U,
arm conflict and violent political elections that Dongmo, M.M. and Ntabe, E.N. (2009). Waterbirds
precipitated the counts in January earlier than as bio-indicators of seasonal - climatic changes
the usual count period. in river basin properties from eight years monthly
monitoring in lower Sanaga, Cameroon. 2009. IOP
Conclusions Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 6 292021 ( [Link]
[Link]/1755-1315/6/29/292021 )
The coast of Cameroon is important for Palaearctic
waders and Afrotropical waterbirds. Numbers of Ajonina, G., Chi, N., Timba, M., Hornman, M.M.,
African Skimmer, Grey Pratincole, Royal tern and and Van der Waarde, J.J. (2017). January 2017
Little Tern exceed the 1% population threshold. International waterbirds census (IWC) in Cam-
As noted from previous counts, the Wouri or eroon. Cameroon Wildlife Conservation Society
Douala estuary and the lower beaches of the (CWCS). 16pp.
Sanaga pass several criteria for the Ramsar con-
Bibby, C.J., Burgess, N.D. and Hill, D.A. 1992.
vention and qualify as wetland of international
Bird census techniques. Academic Press, London.
importance. These areas currently face threats of
257pp.
habitat destruction due to human interventions
including hydropower dam construction, heavy Van der Waarde J. J. (ed) 2007. Waterbird census
sand extractions, industrial developments, clear- of coastal Cameroon and Sanaga river, January
ing of mangroves and overfishing. Conservation March 2007. WIWO-report nr. 83. Beek-Ubbergen,
actions are recommended, including accelerating The Netherlands. And make reference to the 2017
the designation of three areas under the Ramsar report
Convention and poverty alleviation programs for
the population that inhabit these areas. These also Annexes List of participants
present opportunities for birding tourism along the
coast of Cameroon. Gordon Ajonina, Eboule Emmanuel, Diyouke Mi-
bog Eugene, Timba Martin, Laisin Bruno, Ndele
Lizette, Petga Emile Laue, Etame Prince, Atem
Recommendations
Edwin, Chi Napoleon, Njie Francis, Talla Cecile,
Based on this survey, the following recommenda- Bufa Collins, Kuete Michel, Mzoyem Ngnintedem
tions are still done: Joyceline, Mandoo Chemiere, Lokili Carlly Ngrime,
-- The ongoing process of designation of Tatang Tafopi Maurice, Ngueagni Yvette, Kwemi
Nkam-Wouri and lake Ossa and lower San- Ndjeudja Nicole Brel, Nkwemi Ngieyep Laurelle P.,
aga Ramsar sites be accelerated to protect Epoh Ndi Martinien, Paga Paga Benoît G., Same
The Wouri Estuary and lower Sanaga River Nzoko Martial, Dongmo Nguepi Phalone, Pegue
as a first step towards the conservation and Yemtsa Kevine, Edith Asaijang Agharih, Takwi Ako
Sampson, Jaap van de Waarde.

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29. São Tomé and Príncipe

INTERNATIONAL WATER- -- Define standard census techniques to be

used across predefined coastal locations on
BIRD CENSUS SÃO TOMÉ both islands;
AND PRÍNCIPE – 2020 -- Assess the presence, abundance and trends
of waterbird species occurring in São Tomé
and Príncipe in January;
Ricardo Faustino de Lima & -- Train, engage, and raise awareness of San-
tomeans about biodiversity science and con-
Marquinha Martins servation, using birdwatching as a tool.

2. METHODS
The 2020 census took place in Príncipe on January
16th, 17th and 18th, in São Tomé on 22nd, 25th
and 26th, and in Tinhosas on 29th, covering a
1. INTRODUCTION diversity of aquatic habitats, including beaches,
coastal lagoons, estuary zones, rivers and islets
The importance of the endemic-rich forest avi- (Fig. 1). Easily accessible areas were sampled us-
fauna of São Tomé and Príncipe is internationally ing 10-minute point counts, while islets and less
recognized. However, the diversity of aquatic birds accessible coastal areas were sampled using boat
in the country is not well known. It has relevant transects. In Tinhosas, estimates were applied
seabird colonies at regional level, namely Sooty based on a methodology previously developed for
tern Onychoprion fuscatus and Brown booby Sula the site that focuses mainly on breeding couples.
leucogaster, and is visited by some coastal bird The census was accompanied by more than 20
species following the Eastern Atlantic migratory people, representing various institutions, which
route. provided an opportunity to build capacities and
train these participants in bird identification,
Objectives familiarization with ecology and threats to vari-
The main objective of this census, framed in ous aquatic habitats, as well as training in bird
the 2020 International Waterbird Census, is to census techniques.
improve knowledge about the country’s aquatic
avifauna. This census will also:

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Figure 1: São Tomé and Príncipe sites sampled during the 2020 waterbird census, including 10 minutes point counts (grey circles)
and boat transects (black lines).

3. RESULTS In terms of strict seabirds, Black Noddy Anous

minutus, Brown Noddy A. stolidus, Bridled Tern
Onychoprion anaethetus, Sooty Tern O. fuscatus
216 209 individuals were counted and are divided and Brown Booby Sula leucogaster were observed.
into 23 species (table 1). This work confirmed the Nesting was confirmed only in Jockey Cap (Brown
presence of regularly occurring coastal species on Booby) and Tinhosas (Black Noddy, Brown Noddy,
both islands, such as Common Sandpiper Actitis Bridled Tern and Brown Booby. In São Tomé there
hypoleucus, Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis, Striated were unexpected numbers of Black Noddy, where
Heron Butorides striatus, Western Reef Heron the species is supposed to be scarce.
Egretta gularis, Waterhen Gallinula chloropus,
Black Kite Milvus migrans, Whimbrel Numenius
phaeopus, White-tailed Tropicbird Phaeton lep- 4. Discussion
turus, and Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia.
The presence of Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax Specific threats to sites
africanus is confirmed to be regular in São Tomé,
but rare in Príncipe. In both islands the most fre- The presence of Alien species (plants, fish, inver-
quent species were the reef heron and the kite. It tebrates) is the most blatant threat to Príncipe.
has been confirmed the nesting of Cattle Egrets
in several places (Roque and Lapa in Príncipe, In São Tomé:
Praia Plano in São Tomé), as well as nesting of -- All sorts of farming for the island as a whole.
reef heron (Roque). The Blue-breasted Kingfisher Oil palm monoculture and small-scale farm-
Halcyon malimbica dryas is an endemic subspe- ing (coconut, horticulture and livestock)
cies of Príncipe, while each island has its own are probably the most relevant. Small-scale
Kingfisher species (also considered as subspecies farming is probably the one having the most
from Malachite Kingfisher): Corythornis nais in direct impact, since this is how most wet-
Príncipe and C. thomensis in São Tomé. During lands are converted to other uses or explored
the census some less frequent coastal birds were in the island. However, other types of agri-
recorded, such as Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (4th cultures might also have a significant impact
record for São Tomé and 5th for the country), in the surroundings, with indirect impact on
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres (frequent the wetlands, namely in terms of soil erosion,
in Tinhosas, but with few records at national nutrient cycling and pollutant runoff.
level), Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola (relatively -- The island is very densely populated and
frequent on the north coast, but with no record over half of the population lives on the coast
in other parts of the country) and an unidentified areas with very poor sanitation. Therefore,
Rallidae in Bombom, Príncipe. many wetlands are being swallowed by near-

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Table 1: Number of waterbirds recorded per species during the 2020 census.

Scientific name English name Total which waterbirds depend.

2020 -- The use of grenades for fishing is widely
Cairina moschata Muscovy Duck 1 blamed for having destroyed marine and
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen 8 coastal habitats (e.g. mangrove).
Butorides striata Green-backed Heron 24 -- Not much is known about which species
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 33 are invasive, but tilapia, probably several
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 1 invertebrates and certainly many plant spe-
Egretta gularis Western Reef-egret 207 cies. Coastal habitats have been the most
Microcarbo africanus Long-tailed Cormorant 47 changed in the island, currently being widely
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 27 covered by coconut, oil palm, indian almond
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 9 and other invasive species. Since the island
Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 52 is oceanic, all these introductions have the
Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 14 potential to cause severe damage to the eco-
Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper 2 systems.
Anous stolidus Brown Noddy 70,908 -- There are very few industries, but the poten-
Anous minutus Black Noddy 1,635 tial to cause serious harm is high, moreover
Onychoprion fuscatus Sooty Tern 142,361
when there are no means to control those
Onychoprion ana- Bridled Tern 5
impacts. There have been several incidents
ethetus
Corythornis cristatus Malachite Kingfisher 36
with oil spills, probably resulting from large
Halcyon malimbica Blue-breasted King- 7
vessels cleaning tanks in high water. The is-
fisher land has no means to control that type of
activity.
by populations, especially around the capi- -- Overall, there is little capacity to acquire
tal and in some smaller fishing villages. The chemicals to use in agriculture, but when
situation is very distinct on both islands, but these are obtained there is also little knowl-
in both the expansion of shanty towns/ poor edge and sensitivity on how to use them.
fishermen villages, and by tourism/luxury de- Moreover, in recent years, oil palm mono-
velopments are considerable threats. cultures, some of which located near coastal
-- The habitat is affected by drainage/ destruc- wetlands, have used huge quantities of ag-
tion of wetland habitat in some cases, while ricultural chemicals that are draining to the
in other cases more indirectly by increase soil and water.
presence of people, joint with sewage dis-
charge, pollution and activities such as fish- Difficulties encountered
ing and tourism.
-- There are several roads crossing the IBA, It is difficult to compare with results from previous
namely inside the Obô Natural Park, and years, especially because of the differences in the
these are likely to have strong impacts in sites sampled and the techniques used. Therefore,
the ecosystem dynamic, since they are con- it is imperative that in subsequent years the same
straining the flow between fresh and salt- sites (or at least a subsample of them, depending
water. on resource availability) are always sampled using
-- Mostly small fishing boats, but these are the same techniques. During field work, it was
many times left in the beaches near the es- possible to observe some threats to waterbirds as
tuarine areas. well as some barriers that prevented sampling of
-- Sand extraction. It does not involve pollu- points visited in previous censuses.
tion, as other extractive activities, but ma-
rine sand extraction is destroying the coast- ANNEX
line and promoting the advance of sea level.
List of Participants
-- Wetland species are usually not targeted, ex-
cept for the marine species, most of which Ricardo F. de Lima, Frazer Sinclair, Meyer António,
breed in offshore islets. Marquinha Martins, Yodiney Santos, Ayres Pe-
-- There is nevertheless hunting in coastal wet- dronho, Ibizaltino Quaresma, Manuel de Souza,
lands of the main island, targeting other Ana Besugo, João Leite, João Francisco, Kasia
groups, such as pigeons and monkeys. This Mikolajczak, Mariana Cravo, Ângela Lima, Rute da
causes disturbance to waterbirds, as does Cruz, Dilson Madre Deus, Leonel Viegas, Seduney
fishing, which is not very intensive in wet- “Dulay” Samba, Aristides “Nity” Santana, Gabriel
lands, but widespread. Besides disturbance, Oquiongo, Gabriel “Yeli” Cabinda, Marion Tafani,
fishing might also affect the food web on António Camuenha, Roger Pires, Márcio Gonçalves

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30. Gabon

Rapport technique du Dé- distance avec de nombreuses zones humides et

plan d’eau indispensables pour les oiseaux d’eau
nombrement International le long de la voie de migration.
des Oiseau d’Eau en 2020 Il partage ses frontières au nord-ouest avec la
au Gabon Guinée équatoriale et le Cameroun, à l’est et au
sud avec le Congo. Le Gabon a participé comme
chaque année, au Dénombrement International
Alphosine Koummba Mfoubou des Oiseaux d’Eau (DIOE) qui a eu lieu à la période
allant du 1er au 17 Février 2020, dans les provinces
Ministere Eaux et Forests, In- de l’Estuaire et de la Nyanga, plus précisément à
ventaires et de la Protection de l’ouest et au sud-ouest du Pays. Le DIOE a porté
sur trois sites au total, situés sur le littoral, le long
la Faune, Libreville /Gabon la voie de migration de l’Atlantique Est.

1. INTRODUCTION 2. METHODOLOGIE
Le Gabon, situé en Afrique centrale, est traversé L’équipe du Réseau National chargée du Dénom-
par l’équateur et couvre un territoire de 267 670 brement International des Oiseaux d’Eau du Gabon
km2. Environ 800 km de littoral lui donnent , s’efforce à appliquer la même méthodologie au
accès à l’océan Atlantique au sud du golfe du fil des ans, et revient dans les mêmes sites, afin
Biafra, dans le golfe de Guinée. Le climat y est de mettre en place un monitoring des oiseaux
tropical, chaud et humide. Le relief du Gabon est d’eau migrateurs; ce qui permettra de : comparer
constitué d’une plaine côtière basse, de collines à des résultats, déceler les fluctuations au sein des
l’intérieur du pays et de savanes à l’est et au sud. populations d’oiseaux, détecter le changement
Le système hydrographique dense est composé dans l’abondance des oiseaux ou de leur com-
d’un abondant réseau de cours d’eau perma- position spécifique, et réagir par des mesures de
nents. Le grand bassin versant de l’Ogooué domine conservation si nécessaires. Les travaux de dénom-
ceux, plus modestes, des fleuves côtiers Nyanga et brement ont été conduits de différentes manières
Komo. Seuls les cours inférieurs des plus grands selon l’accessibilité, l’étendu et la nature du site.
fleuves sont navigables toute l’année: le Komo, de Les zones côtières, les bancs de sable, les mares
Kango à Libreville et l’Ogooué se jetant directe- résiduelles, et les mangroves ont été visitées à pied
ment dans l’océan atlantique sur une plus grande après un voyage en pirogues motorisées. Le travail

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Figure 1 : Positions visitées à Akanda (au nord de Libreville) et Figure 2 Positions visitées à la Lagune de Banio
à Poganda (au sud de Libreville)

sur le terrain s’est fait en équipe et chaque équipe Provinciale des Eaux et Forêts de la Nyanga à
est composée de 8 personnes : 3 observateurs, 2 Mayumba; l’Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Forêts du
chargés de prendre les notes, 1 photographe, 1 Cap Estérias (ENEF); l’Agence Nationale des Parcs
chargé du GPS, et 1 chargé de récolter les données nationaux du Gabon (ANPN); les ONG Aventure
environnementaux (ZICO). Les équipes sont dispo- Sans Frontière (ASF) et Gabon Vert (GV) ; certains
sées dans les unités de comptage et commencent spécialistes et volontaires à la conservation et au
les travaux au même moment. Il importe de noter développement.
ici que lorsque l’unité de comptage est grande, on
procède au comptage par découpage c’est-à-dire
nous délimitons l’unité en allant d’un point à un
3. RESULTATS
point jusqu’à balayer tout le site. Les institutions Au Gabon, 3115 oiseaux d’eau répartis sur 50
qui ont participé ou contribué à la réalisation des espèces ont été compté mors du DIOE de 2020
travaux de 2020 sont : la Direction Générale de la
Faune et des Aires protégées (DGFAP) ; la Direction

Tableau 1: Récapitulatif des Espèces dénombrés en 2020

Scientific name French name Total Scientific name French name Total
2020 2020
Nettapus auritus Anserelle naine 4 Charadrius hiaticula Pluvier grand-gravelot 7
Pteronetta hartlaubii Ptéronette de Hartlaub 1 Charadrius dubius Pluvier petit-gravelot 1
Zapornia flavirostra Marouette à bec jaune 6 Charadrius marginatus Pluvier à front blanc 67
Gallinula chloropus Gallinule poule-d’eau 9 Charadrius alexandrinus Pluvier à collier inter- 1
rompu
Mycteria ibis Tantale ibis 33
Actophilornis africanus Jacana à poitrine dorée 5
Ciconia microscelis Cigogne épiscopale 3
Numenius phaeopus Courlis corlieu 962
Platalea alba Spatule d’Afrique 1
Numenius arquata Courlis cendré 11
Threskiornis aethiopicus Ibis sacré 1
Limosa lapponica Barge rousse 4
Bostrychia hagedash Ibis hagedash 10
Calidris canutus Bécasseau maubèche 15
Nycticorax nycticorax Bihoreau gris 36
Calidris pugnax Combattant varié 64
Butorides striata Héron strié 9
Calidris ferruginea Bécasseau cocorli 10
Bubulcus ibis Héron garde-boeufs 82
Calidris alba Bécasseau sanderling 60
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 74
Gallinago gallinago Bécassine des marais 3
Ardea melanocephala Héron mélanocéphale 1
Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 144
Ardea purpurea Héron pourpré 4
Tringa ochropus Chevalier cul-blanc 2
Ardea alba Grande Aigrette 57
Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 2
Ardea brachyrhyncha Héron à bec jaune 3
Tringa stagnatilis Chevalier stagnatile 10
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 220
Glareola cinerea Glaréole grise 2
Egretta gularis Aigrette à gorge 2
blanche Rynchops flavirostris Bec-en-ciseaux 3
d’Afrique
Scopus umbretta Ombrette africaine 6
Sternula albifrons Sterne naine 117
Pelecanus rufescens Pélican gris 206
Sterna hirundo Sterne pierregarin 35
Pelecanus onocrotalus Pélican blanc 139
Thalasseus sandvicensis Sterne caugek 4
Microcarbo africanus Cormoran africain 16
Thalasseus maximus Sterne royale 199
Anhinga rufa Anhinga d’Afrique 2

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4. DISCUSION dans les zones de conservation. le Gabon a reçu

encore un appui de la part des bailleurs dans le
Le DIOE 2020 a permis de: cadre de la coopération tripartite avec l’Initiative
• Renforcer la collaboration entre les acteurs Voie de Migration de la Mer de Wadden (WSFI)
intervenant dans le suivi des oiseaux d’eau ; et BirdLife International (BLI), coordonné par
• Améliorer le réseau national de suivi des Wetlands International.
populations d’oiseaux d’eau ;
• Sensibiliser les populations riveraines des ANNEXE
sites à oiseaux d’eau sur l’importance de Liste des Observateurs (compteurs)
conserver les oiseaux d’eau et leurs habitats ;
• Améliorer la collaboration avec des ONGs Alphonsine KOUMBA MFOUBOU, Solange
intervenant dans le secteur de la protection NGOUESSONO, Clément MBADINGA MBOUMBA,
de l’environnement ; Joachim DIBAKOU – DIBAKOU, François BOUS-
• Visiter des sites à oiseaux qui ont été long- SAMBA, Dieu – Donné KOUMBAT, Dallia Arielle
temps visités tel que la Banio; AZIZET, Evelyne OGANDAGA NGOUWA, Granny
• Accroître la capacité des participants en Darly ITOUMBA ITOUMBA, NZE Mathurin, Karl-
matière d’identification et de comptage Heinz BUNDE-BU-MAVIOGHE, Liliana Gwladis
d’oiseaux d’eau par une formation avant les BOURA, Cyril MOUELE, François Xavier MBA ONDO,
travaux. Cryss MAMBOUNDOU MOUIRY, Pamphile EBO,
Brice Ulriche MAGANGA MABIKA, Fabrice ONDO
Une réelle synergie s’est créée autour de la EVOUI, BAKITA Alain, Boris, IBINGA JEAN REMY,
conservation des oiseaux ; par des missions de SOUAMI NZASSI. MOUSSOUAMI MAX Aurélien,
lutte contre le braconnage, des campagnes de
sensibilisations menées auprès des populations
et autres, ce qui a fait que depuis 2013, ces sites
ont repris leur quiétude d’antan. Nous assistons
au retour de certaines espèces disparues du Gabon
depuis 30 ans telles que le Flamand rose, le Pélican
blanc et autres grâce au déguerpissement des
sujets étrangers installés à l’intérieur de ces parcs
nationaux (Akanda et Pongara), depuis 1958.

Recommandations
A l’issu de ce DIOE nous recommandons :
-- Elaborer des modules de formation sur la
conservation des oiseaux d’eau et de leurs
habitats (zones humides) à l’endroit des
élèves ;
-- Poursuivre la sensibilisation des populations
à la conservation des oiseaux d’eau et à la
restauration des habitats dégradés à travers
des ONGs,
-- Accroître la collaboration entre les acteurs
intervenant dans le domaine de la conser-
vation de l’environnement (structures éta-
tiques, structures privées, ONG…), plus par-
ticulièrement sur les axes prioritaires pour le
suivi des oiseaux d’eau et des zones humides.
Notons que depuis la création des 13 Parcs
Nationaux du Gabon et la présence des neufs
zones humides érigées en Sites Ramsar, la créa-
tion d’une unité mobile nautique mixte entre
Gendarmerie, Eaux et forêts et Agence Nationale
des Parcs Nationaux ainsi que certaines ONG
nationales œuvre pour une surveillance continue

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31. Congo Brazzaville

DENOMBREMENT INTER- dance des espèces d’oiseaux d’eau en général

en mettant l’accent sur les oiseaux d’eau
NATIONAL DES OISEAUX migrateurs du pays en particulier.
D’EAU (DIOE) COMPTAGE • Identifier les principales menaces actuelles
GLOBAL 2020 AU CONGO pour la conservation des habitats des zones
humides qui sont les sites de reproduction,
BRAZZAVILLE d’alimentation et d’arrêt migratoire des
oiseaux aquatiques, à présenter aux décideurs
politiques pour examen en vue d’un processus
Jérôme Mokoko Ikonga décisionnel approprié

1. INTRODUCTION 2. MÉTHODOLOGIE
Les données de base concernant l’avifaune furent
La République du Congo est un pays dont la struc- collectées lors des déplacements en pirogue
ture et le relief sont variés, car il est situé à la fois motorisée le long des rivières. Pour les nichoirs
dans le bassin sédimentaire du fleuve Congo et sur qui sont éloignés des rivières, les déplacements
les roches anciennes qui constituent le vieux socle ont été faits à pied.
africain, et qui ont subi des déformations impor- Deux types de comptages ont été utilisés pour le
tantes et une très longue érosion. L’altitude n’est dénombrement des oiseaux d’eau à savoir
jamais vraiment élevée, et pourtant les paysages
offrent des contrastes assez marqués. -- Le comptage à bord d’une embarcation mo-
De par son réseau hydrographique, le Congo torisée navigant le long des rivières,
constitue dans son entièreté une zone humide -- Le comptage en poste fixe au niveau des dor-
de prédilection. toirs et nichoirs et sur les bancs de sable.
Comptage le long de la rivière par embarcation
Objectifs motorisée:
Les objectifs du DIOE à la République du Congo Il s’agit ici de naviguer en identifiant et en enre-
sont : gistrant tous les oiseaux d’eau rencontrés de part
et d’autre de la rivière (en vol, sur l’eau et dans
• Recueillir et collecter les données de dénom- la végétation).
brements annuels sur la diversité et l’abon-

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shore reste la menace principale d’une grande

partie de la cote congolaise et dont le site du
Bas-Kouilou paye le lourd tribut. Chaque année on
observe sur les berges, des dépôts d’hydrocarbures.
Un autre constat est celui des végétations qui
envahissent la zone de nourrissages des oiseaux.
A quelques encablures du Bas-Kouilou, au
sud, une usine de farine de poisson dont l’étude
d’impact n’a probablement pas été réalisée a vu
le jour et est déjà mis en exploitation. La réserve
du Lac-Télé est sous l’emprise saisonnière des feux
de brousse qui détruisent les dortoirs et nichoirs
des oiseaux. On constate aussi une disparition
Site du Lac-Tele
progressive des forêts des berges tout le long de
la rivière Likouala aux Herbes.
Difficultés rencontrées, qualité et couverture
du dénombrement
Si les résultats des dénombrements de l’année
2019 sur le site du Bas-Kouilou ont été perturbés
par l’envahissement des plages par la végétation
Site du Bas-Kouilou composée de bois morts et de jacinthe d’eau,
par contre 2020 a subi les effets du changement
climatique caractérisés par la disparition de la
Comptage en poste fixe : longue plage de 2 km, pour cause de pluies dilu-
Il consiste à se positionner sur un site et effectuer viennes. En effet, cette année, le Congo a connu
le comptage de tous les individus se trouvant sur une pluviométrie exceptionnelle jamais vécue
l’arbre dortoir ou nichoir. Pour ce qui concerne les depuis plus de vingt ans, causant des dégâts dans
dortoirs, l’équipe de comptage arrive sur le site presque tout le pays. Le fleuve Kouilou a vu son
au moins à une heure avant l’arrivée des oiseaux débit fortement augmenté balayant ainsi sur son
(aux environs de 16 heures), pour effectuer un passage, au niveau de l’embouchure, le grand banc
comptage systématique de tous les oiseaux à leur de sable qui l’empêchait de se jeter directement
entrée sur le site. dans la mer, nous poussons ainsi, à bord d’une
Autres institutions, organisations ou associa- embarcation à rechercher quelques bancs de sable
tions impliquées plus en aval. Sur le site du Lac-Télé par contre, les
Nous avons été accompagnés sur le terrain par opérations de dénombrements dans l’ensemble ont
l’ONG RENATURA, c’est une ONG qui travaille pour été bonnes, favorisées par un bon étiage malgré les
la protection des tortues marines le long de la grandes inondations que ce landscape a connues.
zone côtière congolaise. Le littoral du Congo (170 En dehors des problèmes environnementaux (dis-
kilomètres de long) est fréquenté par cinq espèces parition des plages, pollution et feux de brousse),
de tortue marine. ZeroKilled est une agence de aucune difficulté majeure n’a été rencontrée lors
production audio-visuelle indépendante qui a tenu des dénombrements.
à faire un reportage de terrain sur notre travail de Points d’améliorations et d’apprentissage pour
dénombrements. Sur le site du Lac Télé, Wildlife le futur
Conservation Society (WCS) a été impliqué. Le grand problème de dénombrements se pose
actuellement au Congo par le manque de spé-
3. RÉSULTATS cialistes en la matière. On parlera beaucoup plus
d’un désintéressement de l’administration de la
Le nombre total d’individus décomptés en Répu- faune. La formation des nouveaux Compteurs
blique du Congo concerne le site du Bas-Kouilou reste la grande préoccupation. Un appui dans
avec 843 individus et du site du Lac-Télé avec ce sens de la part de Wetlands International est
5790. vivement souhaité.

4. DISCUSSION
L’exploitation pétrolière en off-shore et en on-

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Tableau 1: Récapitulatif des effectifs décomptés Conclusion et recommandations

Scientific name French name Total L’année 2020 a été caractérisée par la baisse des
2020 populations d’oiseaux au niveau du Bas-Kouilou,
Plectropterus gam- Oie-armée de Gambie 10 scénario qui s’est répété ces trois dernières années.
bensis On espère pour la saison prochaine une stabilisa-
Sarkidiornis melanotos Canard à bosse 1 tion des bacs de sable du site.
Pteronetta hartlaubii Ptéronette de Hartlaub 17 Notre grand souci reste celui des compteurs
Zapornia flavirostra Marouette à bec jaune 1 d’oiseaux qu’il faut former en priorité surtout que
Leptoptilos crumenifer Marabout d’Afrique 38 2021 risque d’être ma dernière année au service
des dénombrements. D’d’oiseaux.
Mycteria ibis Tantale ibis 3
Ciconia abdimii Cigogne d’Abdim 163
Remerciements
Ciconia microscelis Cigogne épiscopale 86
Bostrychia hagedash Ibis hagedash 4
Nos remerciements vont droit à SFI/Wetlands
International, BirdLife International Afrique and
Nycticorax nycticorax Bihoreau gris 76
WSFI, à l’équipe de WCS Lac Télé et à RENATURA.
Butorides striata Héron strié 13
Bubulcus ibis Héron garde-boeufs 591 ANNEXE
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 8
Liste des compteurs (observateurs)
Ardea purpurea Héron pourpré 2,166
Ardea alba Grande Aigrette 199 Jérôme Mokoko Ikonga, Jean Claude BATCHY,
Ardea brachyrhyncha Héron à bec jaune 135 Dylan Deffaux, Mabaya Séba, Mombongo Roger,
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 56
Malouania Lydia, Elyon Vivien Marlus
Scopus umbretta Ombrette africaine 32
Microcarbo africanus Cormoran africain 694
Anhinga rufa Anhinga d’Afrique 179
Charadrius alexan- Pluvier à collier inter- 17
drinus rompu
Vanellus albiceps Vanneau à tête blanche 19
Actophilornis africanus Jacana à poitrine dorée 186
Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 9
Tringa ochropus Chevalier cul-blanc 1
Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 12
Tringa glareola Chevalier sylvain 32
Glareola pratincola Glaréole à collier 29
Rynchops flavirostris Bec-en-ciseaux 308
d’Afrique
Thalasseus maximus Sterne royale 500
Pandion haliaetus Balbuzard pêcheur 5
Gypohierax angolensis Palmiste africain 48
Circus aeruginosus Busard des roseaux 11
Haliaeetus vocifer Pygargue vocifer 19
Megaceryle maxima Martin-pêcheur géant 34
Ceryle rudis Martin-pêcheur pie 241

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32. Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC)

Rapport de synthèse du Dé- sur près de 35 km et les zones humides avoisi-

nombrement International nantes, au mois de Février 2020. Le comptage n’a
pas pu se faire au mois de Janvier comme prévu
des Oiseaux d’Eau (DIOE) annuellement, à cause de fortes précipitations qu’a
2020, sur la côte atlantique connues la côte atlantique de la RDC, en cette
de la RDC période, généralement de petite saison sèche.

Objectifs
Pierre Mavuemba Tuvi, Elisabeth • Comptage visuel et réel des oiseaux d’eau du
Muila Yalusila et Zacharie Lelo Parc Marin des Mangroves et ses environs.
• Relevé de l’état environnemental des sites
Sambiandi parcourus.
Enseignement supérieur et uni- • Relevés des coordonnées géographiques.
• Compilation et présentation des résultats
versitaire, Institut Supérieur de du comptage.
Navigation et de Pêche (I.S.N.P.) • Elaboration du rapport synthèse.

2. METHODOLOGIE
Un atelier de pré-comptage a été organisé pour
former des compteurs ; les exercer sur le comptage
des oiseaux et sensibiliser les riverains sur l’impor-
tance du DIOE. Les sites retenus pour le comptage
ont été parcourus par équipes. 2 véhicules «
tout-terrain », 2 bateaux (canots hors-bord) et 4
pirogues ont été utilisés pour le déplacement dans
1. INTRODUCTION les sites de comptage. Ensuite, les données ont été
compilées afin de rédiger un rapport.
Le présent dénombrement concerne les oiseaux
d’eau ayant fréquenté les différents sites du Parc
Marin des Mangroves, qui borde toute la côte at-
lantique de la République Démocratique du Congo

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Figure 1: Localisation du Parc Marin des Mangroves en RDC.

Autres institutions, organisations ou associa- Site Espèce Total

tions impliquées dans le dénombrement :
Lagunes de NGOYO et de TONDE 38 729
-- Parc Marin des Mangroves (PMM/ ICCN), Presqu’ile de BANANA KM 5, KM 4, KM 3 15 437
-- Institut Supérieur de Navigation et de Iles de TOMPO ET de BULAMBEMBO, îlots 24 1052
Pêche (ISNP/MUANDA), et bancs de sable
-- Association « Sauvons Nos Côtes » (SA- Lagunes de TSHIENDE et plaines inon- 15 621
NOCO – ONGD), dées de MALONGO
-- Compteurs indépendants. Marécages de LUKUNGA et île de MATEBA 24 1284

Menaces spécifiques pesant sur les sites

3. RESULTATS DES COMPTAGES -- Fréquentation de l’homme,
Le total des oiseaux d’eaux dénombrés au cours -- Surpêche et pêche massacre,
du comptage de cette année 2020 est de 4.123 -- Déboisement et feux de brousses,
pour 53 espèces contre 3.978 oiseaux pour 47 -- Pollutions diverses : hydrocarbures, plastics,
espèces en 2019. Soit 145 oiseaux de plus. Cette déchets d’élevage,
légère augmentation n’est pas du tout significative -- Constructions anarchiques.
par rapport à l’année 2019 où les compteurs ont Difficultés rencontrées
parcouru moins d’étendues. -- Accessibilité difficile à cause de larges dis-
tances entre les îlots et lagunes,
4. DISCUSSION -- Insuffisance de moyens matériels et financi-
ers,
Des habitats détruits dans certains sites comme -- Intempéries,
TOMPO, BULAMBEMBO et NGOYO auraient pu -- Absence d’intérêt par les autorités et les
contenir encore plus d’oiseux que nous n’en communautés,
avons dénombrés, s’ils étaient intacts. Les pluies -- Eparpillement des habitats (pas de grands
diluviennes qui ont caractérisé cette période, regroupements d’oiseaux en un seul lieu).
habituellement de petite saison sèche, peuvent
aussi être incriminées pour ces résultats que nous Conclusion et recommandations
considérons faibles par rapport au travail abattu
sur terrain. A cela il faut ajouter la présence De manière générale, le DIOE 2020 s’est bien
humaine et l’urbanisation sans cesse croissante. déroulé. Bien que prévu pour le mois de Janvier,
Quant à l’augmentation du nombre d’espèces (6 de il n’a pu se dérouler qu’au mois de février à cause
plus), il s’agit pour la plupart d’oiseaux endémiques des pluies diluviennes qui ont caractérisé cette
et habituels qui n’ont simplement pas été croisés période habituellement de petite saison sèche. Et
en 2019. Nous notons toutefois que cette année, à cause des grosses crues du fleuve Congo durant
nous n’avons pas pu observer le Héron goliath cette saison des pluies, le site de reproduction
Ardea goliath, presque toujours présent à tous des Becs-en- ciseaux d’Afrique a totalement
les comptages, bien qu’en solitaire. Le comptage coulé sous les eaux. La petite île de KASADI a
de cette année aurait donc pu être plus fructueux disparu. Les oiseaux se sont reportés sur l’île de
si nous avions été mis dans les conditions clima- NKAMANSOKI, en face. L’absence de moyen de
tiques naturelles de 2019. Toutefois, ce travail locomotion propre (sur mer et sur terre : canot
nous aiguise d’année en année et nous espérons de hors-bord de dix places et véhicule tout-terrain
meilleurs résultats aux prochains dénombrements. de dix places) limite le parcours des lagunes et

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Tableau2 : Listes et effectifs des oiseaux d’eau dénombrés, par espèce

Scientific name French name Total Scientific name French name Total
2020 2020
Dendrocygna Dendrocygne veuf 261 Pluvialis squa- Pluvier argenté 10
viduata tarola
Nettapus auritus Anserelle naine 118 Charadrius Pluvier grand-gravelot 5
Tachybaptus Grèbe castagneux 157 hiaticula
ruficollis Charadrius mar- Pluvier à front blanc 7
Zapornia flavi- Marouette à bec jaune 15 ginatus
rostra Vanellus albiceps Vanneau à tête blanche 6
Porphyrio alleni Talève d’Allen 54 Actophilornis Jacana à poitrine dorée 257
Ciconia micro- Cigogne épiscopale 3 africanus
scelis Numenius phaeo- Courlis corlieu 299
Platalea alba Spatule d’Afrique 5 pus
Nycticorax nycti- Bihoreau gris 16 Calidris alba Bécasseau sanderling 7
corax Actitis hypoleucos Chevalier guignette 12
Butorides striata Héron strié 106 Tringa nebularia Chevalier aboyeur 39
Ardeola ralloides Crabier chevelu 92 Glareola pratin- Glaréole à collier 19
Bubulcus ibis Héron garde-boeufs 805 cola
Ardea cinerea Héron cendré 1 Glareola nuchalis Glaréole auréolée 116
Ardea melano- Héron mélanocéphale 2 Glareola cinerea Glaréole grise 141
cephala Rynchops flavi- Bec-en-ciseaux d’Afrique 132
Ardea purpurea Héron pourpré 43 rostris
Ardea alba Grande Aigrette 119 Larus cirrocepha- Mouette à tête grise 1
Ardea brachy- Héron à bec jaune 14 lus
rhyncha Sternula albifrons Sterne naine 8
Egretta garzetta Aigrette garzette 239 Chlidonias niger Guifette noire 110
Egretta gularis Aigrette à gorge blanche 1 Sterna hirundo Sterne pierregarin 124
Scopus umbretta Ombrette africaine 23 Thalasseus Sterne royale 10
Microcarbo Cormoran africain 194 maximus
africanus Pandion haliaetus Balbuzard pêcheur 7
Anhinga rufa Anhinga d’Afrique 73 Gypohierax ango- Palmiste africain 148
Burhinus vermicu- Oedicnème vermiculé 75 lensis
latus Ceryle rudis Martin-pêcheur pie 39

des lacs qui regorgent pourtant de beaucoup de efforts dans l’accompagnement à la réalisation
Grèbes, Anserelles, Jacanas, Râles, Dendrocygnes, annuelle des activités de comptage ; tous les
etc.. Nous espérons toujours acquérir un appareil riverains du parc, pour leur disponibilité.
photographique plus performant pour les images.
Une fois encore nous soulignons la grande diffi- ANNEXE
culté de couvrir tous les sites de ce grand parc
Liste des compteurs et observateurs
quasi-inondé. Il faut une prise de conscience des
autorités nationales pour endiguer la destruction Pierre Mavuemba Tuvi, Elisabeth Muila-Ya-Lusila,
des sites et mettre les moyens nécessaires pour Pierrette Basolo Ngoma, Zacharie Lelo Sambiandi,
protéger les habitats. Aussi, faudra-t-il amener Ngeli Payi, Jacques Diela Vanga, Celestin Buanga
les responsables du PMM et du pays à s’impliquer Maduka, Rodrigue Mandembo, Jacques Ngoyi
dans les opérations de dénombrement des oiseaux Niati, Mbelembi Nzanga, David Angenda Mbuli,
d’eau en RDC. Mbuyi Mushignanyi, Guélor Konde Konde, César
Lenda Eyombe, 7 étudiants
Remerciements
Nous remercions Wetlands International et ses
partenaires pour leur contribution financière
et matérielle ; le Directeur du Parc Marin des
Mangroves pour sa contribution matérielle et en
personnel de terrain, et tous les gardes de parc ;
SANOCO-ONGD, pour sa participation humaine,
matérielle et financière ; tous les compteurs et
les collègues de l’ISNP/MUANDA pour tous leurs

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33. Angola

International Waterbird by an international volunteer, Martin Poot, an

ornithologist from the Netherlands. Angola has an
Census (iwc) total count extensive coastline of 1650 km, from the region
2020 in Angola of Cabinda (northern Angola) up to the mouth of
the Cunene River (southern Angola). In 2020 the
counts took place in the provinces of Luanda, Zaíre
Filipe Kodo, José Dala, Miguel Xavier, and Namibe (figure 1).
& Maria Eugênia
NGO Bioconserv Objectives
Conservation Areas (INBAC) • Proceed the monitoring of water birds along
the Angolan coast;
• Increase the coverage of coastal wetlands,
including the locations of Soyo and Nzeto;
• Record human threats to birds and their
habitats in the selected areas.

1. INTRODUCTION 2. METHODOLOGY
Since 2016, waterfowl counting activities have
The counting activities were concentrated in
become a regular activity in Angola. Water bird
previously selected locations. Groups of observ-
counts are an important tool and constitute an
ers were distributed to the counting sites. Each
important action in the implementation of the
constituted group had the responsibility to carry
national biodiversity strategy, with regard to
out the counting in determined fixed areas, cov-
strengthening knowledge and monitoring of An-
ering the areas by using cars, motor boats and
golan coastal and marine biodiversity within the
on foot covering in this way up to many tens of
framework of the conventions and multilateral
kilometers.
agreements signed by Angola on species of migra-
Others institutions, organizations or associa-
tory birds and their habitats.
tions involved:
This year’s 2020 water bird count was coordi-
nated by the NGO BIOCONSERV with institutional -- National Institute for Biodiversity and Con-
support from the National Institute of Biodiversity servation Areas (INBAC),
and Conservation Areas (INBAC), and was attended -- National Museum of Natural History.

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Figure 1: Map with the locations of the surveyed areas.

3. RESULTS 4. DISCUSSION
In total, including the provinces of Luanda, Namibe Specific threats to sites
and Zaíre, 122,706 bird individuals were counted, Luanda is the place where the greatest degrada-
classified into 60 species, of which Phalacrocorax tion of the environment takes place due to human
capensis was the species that registered the larg- pressure. The biggest concern was in the Integral
est number of individuals with a total of 109,300 Nature Reserve of Ilhéu dos Pássaros, which, in
individuals, of which 109,275 were registered in addition to the pressures already known as the
Foz do Rio Cunene, province of Namibe. presence of some families of Mabangas and fish-
In the 2020 counts, 12 species were recorded that erman, shellfish collectors and solid waste, acts
were not included in the previous 2017 surveys, of infrastructure vandalism was notified, such as
some such as Glareola nordmanni, Thalasseus the birds, the Reserve’s sign and remains of dead
albididorsalis, Pelecanus rufescens, Larus fuscus, birds were found, the causes of which have not
Halcyon leucocephala, etc. been identified, but everything indicates that it is
The greatest diversity of species was recorded in related to human activities. In Saco dos flamingos,
the Integral Nature Reserve of Ilhéu dos Pássaros, threats of land occupation for buildings tend to
with 28 species. In Luanda, the species Phoenicop- increase every year. In other parts of Luanda Bay
terus roseus (Common Flamingo) had the largest more developments take place, especially the
number of individuals, with a total of 670 and development of large touristic resorts and land
in second place was the species Calidris minuta reclamation for the same purpose. These develop-
(Little stint) with 642 individuals. ments take place in areas which are not monitored
During the 3 days of counting in the province on biodiversity including waterbirds.
of Luanda, 46 species of water birds were identi-
Difficulties encountered, quality and coverage
fied, in a total of 3,790 individuals. Compared
of the count
to previous counts, in 2017 Luanda had a record
According to the project prepared for the counting
of 3,854 individuals. However, it is important to
of waterfowl this year, it was planned to cover 7
note that the province of Luanda has undergone
coastal provinces, namely Luanda, Bengo, Cabinda,
a new administrative division in recent years, an
Zaíre, Cabinda, Benguela and Namibe. The counts
important part of the northern coastal area, such
only took place in the provinces of Luanda, Zaíre
as the Santiago beach that was once attached to
and Namibe. In the last two provinces, the counts
Luanda, currently part of the neighbouring Bengo
were incomplete due to the tragic accident that
province, i.e. in 2017, Santiago beach and Panguila
occurred with the counting team in Namibe, who
surroundings were counted as areas belonging to
in an attempt to cross the Curoca River were
Luanda. The largest number of individuals was
dragged by the currents of water. The incident
registered in the Saco dos Flamingos wetland,
victimized the drowning death of one of the team
1,955 individuals.
members, Dra Maria Eugênia Lopes and there was
also the loss of a Land Cruiser 4x4 vehicle and field
materials to count, laptops, telescope, binoculars

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Table 1: Results of the counts

Scientific name English name Total Scientific name English name Total
2020 2020
Alopochen aegyptiaca Egyptian Goose 11 Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 18
Anas capensis Cape Teal 3 Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 46
Anas erythrorhyncha Red-billed Teal 1 Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 10
Phoenicopterus roseus Greater Flamingo 2,629 Calidris canutus Red Knot 2
Phoeniconaias minor Lesser Flamingo 80 Calidris pugnax Ruff 1
Mycteria ibis Yellow-billed Stork 1 Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper 138
Anastomus lamel- African Openbill 6 Calidris alba Sanderling 2,004
ligerus Calidris minuta Little Stint 657
Platalea alba African Spoonbill 14 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 3
Threskiornis aethiopicus
African Sacred Ibis 17 Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 184
Butorides striata Green-backed Heron 2 Tringa totanus Common Redshank 3
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 78 Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper 55
Ardea alba Great White Egret 1 Larus cirrocephalus Grey-headed Gull 2
Egretta ardesiaca Black Heron 25 Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull 31
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 313 Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed 36
Pelecanus rufescens Pink-backed Pelican 1 Gull
Pelecanus onocrotalus Great White Pelican 227 Sternula balaenarum Damara Tern 236
Microcarbo africanus Long-tailed Cormorant 121 Gelochelidon nilotica Common Gull-billed 27
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 248 Tern
Phalacrocorax capensisCape Cormorant 109,300 Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern 30
Burhinus vermiculatus Water Thick-knee 1 Sterna hirundo Common Tern 55
Recurvirostra avosettaPied Avocet 3 Thalasseus sandvi- Sandwich Tern 249
Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt 2 censis
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 45 Thalasseus maximus Royal Tern 704
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed 337 Thalasseus bergii Greater Crested Tern 600
Plover Pandion haliaetus Osprey 7
Charadrius pecuarius Kittlitz’s Plover 12 Gypohierax angolensis Palm-nut Vulture 19
Charadrius marginatus White-fronted Plover 28 Megaceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher 2
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 62 Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher 1

and other materials for personal use. After the a dozen species that had not been seen in counts
incident both teams stopped the counting activi- before and it also allowed the reinforcement of
ties for other priorities. a network of observers made up mostly of young
students from the Universities. In 2017 for Luanda,
Improvements and learning points for the a total of 44 species were counted, while in the
future 2020 counts, 60 species were identified in Luanda.
It is expected in the next counts to reach the area Preliminary counts were carried out for the first
of Baia dos Tigres in Namibe. Baia dos Tigres is time in the province of Zaíre, specifically in the
one of the very important places considering its municipality of Nzeto. That in the next counts
avifaunistic wealth in exceptional large numbers the Soyo region in the province of Zaíre and the
of birds, and also hosting endangered species. It Baia dos Tigres in Namibe are priority and work-
is an area classified as an IBA under the Benguela ing conditions on the ground are reinforced to
Current Convention. In the last two counts, it was avoid incidents.
not possible to have access to this location due to
the lack of a vessel. For future missions, we will Acknowledgements
investigate the posibilities e.g. on collaborating
We would like to start by thanking Wetlands
with the Academy of Fisheries and Sea Sciences International, Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative
based in Namibe, which with its means and vessel and BirdLife International for the financial and
can be an asset to carry out counts in this area. material support that allowed us to count the
waterfowl count of 2020 that covered 3 provinces
Conclusion and Recommendations along the Angolan coast, the National Institute of
Despite the constraints, the results of the counts Biodiversity and Conservation Areas for the logisti-
carried out this year are very encouraging, both cal support. We would like also to thank the orni-
in Luanda and in the other provinces where pre- thologist Martin Poot, international volunteer who
liminary counts were made. There were more than participated in the counts in Luanda and Namibe,

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his knowledge was valuable for BIOCONSERV.

Our sincere thanks go to all the members of
the BIOCONSERV Association who, in a spirit of
volunteering and with hands on conservation, gave
their support in these counts and to Mr. Inhala
Domingos from the Environment Department of
the Province of Zaíre.

ANNEX
List of counters (observers)
José Dala, Maria Eugênia, Filipe Kodo, Miguel
Xavier, Martin Poot, Elizângela António, José
Dianguessa, Petra de Andrade, Nádia Madeira,
Luisa Ester, Isilda Cavaleca, Ticiane Rocha, Isabel
Catumbela, Estefania Manuel, Claúdio Agostinho,
Sango de Sá, Vânia Fernandes, Marinela Malu
Inhala Domingos

Tribute to Dr Maria Eugenia Lopes

We especially want to acknowledge the presence
of Dr. Maria Eugenia Lopes (in memory) who died
in an accident while participating in the 2020
countings. She was volunteer, vice president, co-
founder of BIOCONSERV and researcher at the Na-
tional Museum of Natural History. Unfortunately
we will no longer be able to count on the physical
presence of Dr Maria Eugênia Lopes (Mana Geny)
in future counts, but her legacy and passion for
the protection of resident and migratory water
birds and their habitats will continue to be present
in our lives and will serve as motivation for the
future missions.

Maria Eugênia Lopes, Tômbwa, 31 January 2020.

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34. Namibia

International Waterbird 2. METHODS

Census (IWC) total count Counts were conducted at 38 sites (see table 1).
2020 in Namibia. These can be divided into three broad areas: coast,
inland man-made wetlands and inland north-
eastern wetlands.
Holger Kolberg • The coastal sites include two wetlands
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and of international importance, Sandwich Harbour
and Walvis Bay. The Lüderitz peninsula comprises
Tourism nine sites, each counted separately.
• A number of man-made wetlands in or
near Windhoek are counted and the other ones
covered are medium to large impoundments built
mainly for water supply to nearby towns.
• The areas counted in the North East are
all on perennial rivers, viz. the Okavango, Zambezi,
Chobe and Kwando, except for the Tsumkwe “pan-
netjiesveld”, a series of pans that only fill up if
sufficient rain has fallen.
All sites are counted on foot or, in the case
of the large rivers in the North East, by boat.
The only exception is Sandwich Harbour where
1. INTRODUCTION a quadbike is used to count the vast mudflats on
the southern end of the site. Wherever possible,
Namibia is the driest country south of the Sahara total counts are made, large flocks are estimated
and is probably better known for the Namib De- to the nearest hundred.
sert, part of which is a world heritage site, than
its wetlands. Not surprisingly, any habitat that 3. RESULTS
includes water thus takes on a significant role,
providing water and food in an otherwise hostile 264 387 birds of 98 species were counted (Table 2).
environment. As usual, the two big coastal sites, Walvis Bay and
Sandwich Harbour, dominated in terms of numbers

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Table 1: Counting sites

Coast Inland Man- North East

made
Cape cross Hardap Dam Hakusembe
Walvis bay ram- Naute Dam Caprivi House
sar site Boat Safaris
(CHBS)
Walvis bay sew- Van Rhyn Dam Mubala
age works
Sandwich Otjivero Dam Chobe River
harbour
Swakop river Avis Dam Namushasha
mouth
Swakop sewage Daan Viljoen GP Baraka Pan
works
Grosse bucht Goreangab Dam Gautscha Pan
Guano bay Hoffnung Dam Groot Dobe
Shearwater bay Monte Christo Khabi Pan
Griffith bay Windhoek Water Klein Dobe
Care Works
Second lagoon Makuri Vlei Figure 1 Total numbers of waterbirds at counted sites
Radford bay Nyae Nyae Pan
Aeroplane bay Tjokwe Pan
Lüderitz sewage
works
Agate beach

(Figure 1) and Walvis Bay also takes the honours in

the number of species recorded. Nineteen (out of
33) red data species were recorded with the two
flamingo species taking top spot in that category.
Very few Black-necked Grebes, Lesser Flamingos
and Chestnut-banded Plovers were counted; this
is probably due to some rain having fallen inland, Figure 2: Numbers of three main groups counted from 2010
attracting the birds away from the coast. Figure 2 to 2020
gives the yearly fluctuations in counted numbers
of Flamingo’s, Waders and Gulls, Terns and Skim-
mers. The counting effort between 2010 and 2020 [Link]). The Coastal Environment Trust
is comparable. of Namibia (CETN) makes all the arrangements for,
and coordinates the count at Walvis Bay.
4. DISCUSSION
The effect of the worst drought in recorded history
(no significant rainfall in eight years!) is evident in
the number of zero counts as many places were
completely dry at the time of the counts. Funding
and man-power remain the two main constraints
to achieve comprehensive coverage of the country.
Many important areas e.g. the Etosha Pan and
areas to the north thereof are not counted.

Acknowledgements
The author is indebted to many sponsors whose
support (financial and in kind) makes these counts
possible. The counts would not be possible with-
out the participation of volunteers; many of them
are members of the Namibia Bird Club ([Link]-

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Table 2: Totals per species counted in 2020

Scientific name English name Total Scientific name English name Total
2020 2020
Tadorna cana South African Shelduck 20 Charadrius marginatus White-fronted Plover 3,669
Spatula smithii Cape Shoveler 4 Charadrius pallidus Chestnut-banded 388
Anas capensis Cape Teal 701 Plover
Anas erythrorhyncha Red-billed Teal 2 Vanellus armatus Blacksmith Lapwing 13
Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe 13 Vanellus senegallus Wattled Lapwing 1
Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe 896 Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 248
Phoenicopterus roseus Greater Flamingo 85,306 Numenius arquata Eurasian Curlew 73
Phoeniconaias minor Lesser Flamingo 14,113 Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 1,509
Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen 2 Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 521
Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen 27 Calidris pugnax Ruff 148
Fulica cristata Red-knobbed Coot 44 Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper 40,467
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 3 Calidris alba Sanderling 3,199
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron 75 Calidris minuta Little Stint 1,974
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 128 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 2
Pelecanus onocrotalus Great White Pelican 1,551 Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank 341
Microcarbo coronatus Crowned Cormorant 20 Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper 1
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 244 Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper 4
Phalacrocorax capensis Cape Cormorant 8,370 Larus hartlaubii Hartlaub’s Gull 1,158
Phalacrocorax ne- Bank Cormorant 2 Larus cirrocephalus Grey-headed Gull 3
glectus
Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull 2,787
Haematopus moquini African Oystercatcher 117
Sternula balaenarum Damara Tern 265
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet 2,394
Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern 139
Himantopus himan- Black-winged Stilt 635
Chlidonias leucopterus White-winged Tern 167
topus
Chlidonias niger Black Tern 259
Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover 1,646
Sterna hirundo Common Tern 40,676
Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover 455
Thalasseus sandvicensis Sandwich Tern 2,783
Charadrius pecuarius Kittlitz’s Plover 7
Thalasseus bergii Greater Crested Tern 705
Charadrius tricollaris African Three-banded 37
Plover

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35. Discussion

This report summarizes the national results of the populations this will also include more inland
simultaneous ‘coastal’ waterbird and wetlands countries. Some countries, especially in Africa, are
census of January 2020 from the countries along concentrating on their coastal wetlands as part of
the East Atlantic Flyway. In this final chapter this East Atlantic Flyway cooperation. These have
we will briefly discuss and summarize some of however also far inland wetlands and flood plains
the results in respect of numbers counted, the in the Sahelian region, that contain substantial
environmental data collected and the quality and waterbird numers in midwinter, and which could
completeness of the surveys. We would like to be covered if additional resources could be found
stress that this report is mainly meant as a basic (for instance in Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon).
description of the work carried out and results This was already achieved over the past years in
obtained. It will function as preliminary feed-back Benin and Senegal.
to organisations and observers involved, to the Each country is represented by a national coordi-
funders of the activities, both national and inter- nator for the International Waterbird Census and
national and will be the basis for further analyses these persons were also involved as the principal
and reporting. The counted numbers mentioned organizers for this flyway count, as they are posi-
in this report can therefore not be considered as tioned at crucial positions in national monitoring
the final estimates for total numbers or trends at and research organisations, governmental insti-
site or regional level. In the course of 2021 a full tutes or BirdLife partners. In total, these national
analysis of the results will be carried out, resulting organizers coordinated the efforts of more than
in a new flyway assessment report with updated 12,000 observers, unevenly distributed over Europe
estimates, as was prepared for the simultaneous (11,000) and Africa (1,000). This striking difference
count of 2017 (van Roomen et al. 2018). reflects the availability of human resources rather
than the size of waterbird populations. The limited
number of observers in Africa is largely compen-
Participation and coverage sated by their longer involvement in the count:
The East Atlantic Flyway does not have strictly most of them are contributing for 7-10 days in a
defined boundaries. We are especially focussing row, to cover all sites needed. This requires another
on coastal populations during the non-breeding form of organization in Africa than in Europe.
season in all countries along the flyway border-
ing the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and Baltic Sea.
Mind that for some species these populations
Waterbird monitoring
can cover large areas of inland habitat during the Within the entire East-Atlantic Flyway more than
breeding season. However, in the non-breeding 250 waterbird species have been encountered in
period many of them concentrate on coastal total, belonging to the (sub)families of Swans,
sites. In the northern and northeastern parts of Geese, Ducks, Grebes, Flamingo’s, Rails, Cranes,
the Flyway winter distribution, boundaries are Storks, Spoonbills, Ibises, Herons, Pelicans, Cor-
defined by the edge of ice cover. This range is morants, Waders, Gulls and Terns. Many of the
moving northward because of global warming. species do not occur primarily along the cost, but
In the south the focus is especially on the (tidal) are more inland oriented or more pelagic, although
wetlands up to Cape Good Hope in South Africa. good numbers also occur at the coastal sites. Of
Also several inland sites are included. This geo- the 95 coastal East Atlantic Flyway focal species,
graphical region consists of 40 countries, of which over 14 million birds have been counted in total.
32 present their national results in this report. In Including all 250 waterbird species this number
another five countries count data have also been reaches almost 20 million. The real number of
collected (Poland, Ireland, Spain, South Africa and birds present is actually higher, since in several
Iceland), but due to various reasons no description countries counts are incomplete. This is especially
is included in this report. In the three countries the case in countries with extensive mangroves
without data (Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinee and along the coast, which are generally not accessible
Togo) important numbers of waterbirds do not (for instance in Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinee,
occur, although we would welcome future partici- Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Gabon). Here, extrapola-
pation. For most countries data from 2020 is used, tion from counts at sample sites need to be made
although for a few the most recent data currently in order to estimate the total numbers present.
available is from 2019. We would like to stress that Also, in most countries not all coastal wetlands
in the final trend analyses all count data will be could be visited due to lack of man power. In
analysed up to 2020. For some East Atlantic flyway some northern countries transect counts at sea

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from planes or boats need to be extrapolated to of human pressures. These include overfishing,
generate total estimates. These extrapolations and overhunting, disturbance by tourism, water quality
imputations for sites that were not (fully) covered issues through all forms of pollution, extraction of
have not been carried out yet, and are therefore sand or other materials, habitat change through
not included in the totals reported here. Based expansion of harbours, human settlements and
on counted numbers only, the results include 1,3 agriculture, environmental risks coming from oil/
million European Wigeons, 250,000 European gas mining and wind farms. In many sites formal
Shelducks, 500,000 Common Teals, 23,000 Greater protection and adaptive management to safeguard
Flamingos, 23,000 European Spoonbills, 25,000 ecosystem functions, including biodiversity, are
Great White Pelicans, 280,000 Great Cormorants, still lacking or far from optimal.
91,000 Pied Avocets, 475,000 Red Knots, more
than 2 million Dunlins, 1800 African Skimmers,
8500 Little Terns and 57,000 Common Terns. Also,
Quality and completeness of the
1,600 Ospreys and 2,800 Kingfishers, belonging to surveys
five different species, were counted.
The January 2020 count was the third simultane-
ous survey of all waterbirds along the coastal East
Environmental monitoring Atlantic Flyway. It was organized as a cooperation
between national governments, national NGO’s
During the 2020 survey along the East Atlantic and the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, Wetlands
Flyway, standardized registration of environmental International and BirdLife International. Earlier
factors, human disturbance and resulting pres- surveys were organized in 2014 and 2017. These
sures on the coastal wetlands and waterbirds total counts are an important part of the overall
were included in the monitoring protocol as well. monitoring strategy of the East Atlantic Flyway,
This was done by filling in standard forms based which otherwise consists of annual sample counts
on observations during the count and expert in Africa. During January 2020 we had a good
knowledge of the sites for the most important mixture of less and more experienced observers
wetlands visited. At present this information has in the most important countries in Africa, which
been received for 110 sites along the flyway, more generally resulted in high quality results. In Europe
than the 73 sites for which we received informa- the largest remaining challenge is to speed up the
tion in 2017. So, the response to collect these data availability of results. Nevertheless, with the help
is increasing, both in Africa and Europe. However, of many committed people, we have achieved a
the response rate in Europe is still much lower more complete, robust and reliable overall result
than in Africa. This information needs to be ana- than ever before, which will be used for further
lysed first before we can give an useful overview, trend analyses of waterbird populations along the
although for several countries the main pressures East Atlantic Flyway.
observed are described in the texts. The effects
of global warming are increasingly mentioned,
mainly regarding sea level rise which causes
coast erosion and decreased availability of both
foraging and breeding habitat. Also, the effects of
temperature increases on the functioning of the
food web through a wide range of mechanisms is
mentioned. In northern Europe however, climate
change is making new habitat available at the mo-
ment, in areas that were completely frozen during
winter before. Analysing which populations are
able to cope with this pressure by changing their
distribution and/or other behavioural responses,
and which are not, will be important for future
study. For particularly the second group it is neces-
sary to formulate effective conservation options to
increase their resilience. One option is to reduce
the other pressures operating at site level. The
environmental monitoring can help to achieve
this, since it gives information on a wide range

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Simultaneous January 2020 waterbird and

wetland census along the East Atlantic Flyway:
National Reports

East Atlantic Flyway Census Africa 2020