2024/07/24 by Jacob, Jean-Paul, Alvarez, Marie-Charlotte, Danhaive, Bernard +7
#FOS: Natural sciences #Natural sciences
paper · doi:10.60768/aves.2022071
The 2021-2022 counts of waterbirds took place during another mild and rainy winter. As in 2020-2021, the result of these conditions was that the local populations of waterbirds were widely dispersed, while birds from nordic countries were few in number. Despite a good coverage of observations in Wallonia and Brussels Capital, the total number of native waterfowl in January was one of the lowest recorded in more than thirty years. The numbers of fish-eaters (Grebes, Great Cormo - rant Phalacrocorax carbo, Herons and Bitterns Ardeidae and Common Merganser Mergus merganser) were slightly above average while the numbers of non-local Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae) were closer to average. Among the waders, the number of observations of Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago was again quite high, the result of adequate re - search in their habitats. Finally, this report summarises the exploratory work devoted to the Water Rail Rallus aquaticus. This winter’s count exceeded 300 individuals; the most ever seen in Wallonia