ARCHIVED - Number of water birds spending the winter in Andalusia increased to almost 820,000
A study was carried out in mid-January 2021, revealing a considerable increase in the number of birds present in the 233 wetlands of the Andalucía region, possibly due to a wetter than usual autumn last year.
Andalucía offers a wealth of opportunities for lovers of nature, its wetlands rich and varied with a constantly changing variety of flora and fauna.A total of 819,218 water birds spent the winter in wetlands throughout the Andalusia region this year, a census by the regional government has shown. The figure, which continues the upward trend that has been registered since 2004, was considerably higher than usual, probably because the autumn was wetter than usual in 2020. The average number of birds for the last 17 years was 739,326.
The birds spotted were from 101 breeds of waterfowl, 75 of which are protected and nine of which are included in the Andalusian Catalogue of Threatened Species. Just one of the 101 breeds, the Egyptian goose, is considered to be exotic.
The marbled teal, which is ‘critically endangered’, and the coot, which is in danger of extinction, were of particular note among the most endangered species present in Andalusia this winter. There have been considerable increases in the numbers of both species as a result of programmes carried out in recent years. In just one year, the number of marbled teals has grown from 79 to 374 and the number of coots, seen exclusively in the Guadalquivir marshes, from eight to 117 thanks to ex-situ breeding programmes.
Next to the Doñana park and very close to the National Park, the Cañada de los Pájaros (Seville) houses a large percentage of the specimens of threatened aquatic bird species spotted this winter.
Altogether 1,932 birds have been spotted in 52 wetlands that belong to six species included in the Recovery and Conservation of Wetland Birds Plan, the highest number in 17 years. The White-headed duck was the most prolific with 1,200 birds spread across 18 wetlands.
About 80 per cent of the total number of birds gathered in four wetlands across Andalusia. The Doñana National Park was the favourite winter destination, registering 527,000 birds from 74 species. The Bahia de Cádiz was next with 74,169 birds from 63 species, followed by the Odiel marshes with 36,928 birds from 68 species and Brazo del Este with 21,743 birds from 41 species.
The monitoring work has been carried out by technicians and agents of the Ministry of Agriculture, with the participation of the Doñana Biological Station, staff of Motril City Council and volunteers.
Photograph: Héctor Garrido (EBD-CSIC) Junta de Andalucía