Övervakning av fåglarnas populationsutveckling: Årsrapport för 2017

We present the results of the Swedish Bird Survey, run by the Department of Biology, Lund University, as a part of the National Monitoring Programme of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The results for 2017 include data from: 575 winter point counts in 2016/2017 (42nd winter), of which 284 were carried out during the Christmas/New Year count, 223 summer point count routes (43rd year) and 542 Fixed routes (22nd year). In the programme for covering night-active birds (8th season), 147 routes were covered on up to three occasions each (March, April and June). The monitoring systems for wetland birds and archipelago birds that were launched in 2015 continued in 2017. As many as 329 wetland routes and 197 archipelago squares of 2 x 2 km2 were surveyed. Population trends were analyzed using TRIM and trends for 208 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 short-term trends for 12 mammal species based on these two systems. In the Christmas/New Year count 2016/2017, 144,000 individuals of 129 species were counted by 225 observers. On the point count routes in summer 2017, 84,000 birds of 213 species were counted by 136 observers. From the Fixed routes 152,000 birds of 221 species were reported by 246 persons. The Night routes yielded a little more than 12,000 birds of 44 species, counted by 126 observers. Trend graphs for a large number of species are presented in Figs. 24–26. More graphs and indices can be found on the homepage (address below). More than 8900 mammals were counted (all surveys together), the most common being Roe Deer, Fallow Deer, European Hare, Wild Boar, Red Fox and Moose. Almost 65,000 birds of 99 selected species were counted in different forms of wet habitats. Within the system for archipelago birds, a little less than 95 000 birds of 72 selected species were registered in 2017. Over the last 10 years, the most pronounced declines are found in Ortolan Bunting, Greenfinch, Hazel Grouse, Lesser Whitethroat, Great Black-backed Gull, Whimbrel, Black Grouse, Pheasant, Yellowhammer and Willow Tit. The strongest increases during the same period are found in Common redpoll (spp. cabaret), Ptarmigan, Chiffchaff (spp. collybita), Nutcracker, Kestrel, Goldfinch, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow Wagtail (spp. flava) and Hawfinch. For the first time we present trends from the new schemes on wetlands and archipelago birds. Based on these schemes we can now follow yet more species with systematic counts.