Övervakning av fåglarnas populationsutveckling: Årsrapport för 2022

We present the results of the Swedish Bird Survey, a project run by the Department of Biology, Lund University, as a part of the National Monitoring Programme of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The results for 2022 include data from: 546 winter point counts in 2021/2022 (47th winter), of
which 254 were carried out during the Christmas/New Year count, 209 summer point count routes (48th year) and 375 Fixed routes (27th year). In the programme for covering night-active birds (13 th season), 155 routes were covered on up to three occasions each (March, April and June). In addition, 425
waterbird routes (8th season) and 186 archipelago squares (8th season) were surveyed. In the waterbird counts included in the International Waterbird Census (IWC) 219 sectors were counted in September (49 th year) and 1084 sectors in January (57th year). In total 740 persons were involved in the surveys
reported here.
Population trends were analyzed using TRIM and trends for 224 different bird species are presented, as well as the geographical distributions of the covered routes. Larger mammals are counted on the Night routes and the Fixed routes since 2010 and 2011, respectively, and we present trends for 12 mammal species based on these two systems. We also present trends from the schemes of water- and archipelago birds, through which we can follow yet more species with systematic counts during the breeding period.
The long-term trends show both winners and losers among the Swedish birds. The species with the strongest declines during the breeding season are Eurasian Wigeon, Common Pochard, Common Eider, Common Shelduck, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Ruff, European Herring Gull, Common Swift, Common House and Sand Martin, Hooded Crow, Marsh and Willow Tit, Common Reed Warbler, Common Starling, Yellowhammer and Ortolan Bunting. The strongest increases are found in Great Cormorant, Gadwall, Grey-lag Goose, Whooper Swan, Red Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Crane, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, southern Common Chiffchaff and European Goldfinch.
Based on 187 taxa recorded on the Fixed routes over the last 10 years, there are more species significantly increasing in numbers (29%), than decreasing in numbers (15%). For the remaining species (56%), no statistically significant changes were recorded during the last ten years. Eurasian Skylark and Common Linnet has increased strongly in the last decade following long-term declines.
After a long period of relative stability, Barn Swallow has decreased markedly in numbers in recent years.
Based on the winter point counts, also here there are more positive than negative trends for the last ten years. In total 27% of 114 species have increased significantly, while 19% have decreased. For waterbirds specifically and based on the IWC counts in January, the majority of the surveyed species (70%) have increased in winter during the last ten years and only 7% of the species have decreased significantly.