Bittern

Species name
Scientific: Botaurus stellaris
UK: Bittern
DK: Rørdrum

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Rare
Europe: (Vulnerable), SPEC 3
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: I

General ecology and habitat requirements
Breeds in extensive reedbeds along lakes and fjords.

Occurrence in Denmark
Resident and breeding visitor, whether the main part of the population is resident or visitor is unknown. Probably also occurs as passage or as winter visitor from the Swedish population.

Trends in Danish population - long-term and 1983-1998
After a period of expansion of breeding area and population growth in the beginning of the century, the Danish population suffered severe setbacks from 1930-1950 mainly caused by drainage of several important breeding localities. The population remained low (10-20 "pairs") until the beginning of the 1970s. During the years 1978-81, the population was estimated at 24-40 "pairs". From the 1980s, the Danish population of the species has increased rapidly and the present (1993-96) population estimate is 150-200 "pairs". The reasons for this dramatic recovery are not clear. Improved water level management at the key site Vejlerne (SPAs no. 13 and 20), which harbour roughly half the Danish population and the total protection of Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) since 1981, thereby limiting accidental killing as a result of misidentification, are probably contributing factors.

Overlaying the long-term trend are year-to-year fluctuations reflecting increased mortality during harsh winters.

Significance of the Danish population
The Danish population is only a small part (probably less than 1%) of the total European population which was recently estimated at 20,044-41,669 "pairs" (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Nevertheless, the situation in Denmark is of considerable interest as it is one of the very few European countries with a positive population trend.

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
The larger part of the Danish population is concentrated within a few areas, all of which are SPAs. The recent substantial increase has mainly taken part within the key sites, though some expansion to new localities has also occurred. The population increase in the most important area Vejlerne (SPAs no. 13 and 20), harbouring nearly half the total Danish population, is partly due to management changes with more favourable water levels. At the only site showing a marked decrease Vidåen, Tøndermarsken and Saltvandssøen (SPA no. 60) the opposite is true, as current lower water levels are less favourable for the species than formerly.

At designation the population was covered almost fully (>90%). With the recent expansion to new breeding areas this coverage has fallen and is presently somewhere in the range 70-90%.

The SPAs still harbour the main part of the Danish population and appropriate management here is of very high importance for the favourable conservation status of the species in Denmark. The larger relative increase outside than inside SPAs probably reflects the spread to more marginal habitats of a rapidly increasing population and the effect of small restoration projects rather than any general management problems within SPAs.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs

White stork

Species name
Scientific: Ciconia ciconia
UK: White Stork
DK: Hvid stork

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Endangered
Europe: Vulnerable, SPEC 2
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: I

General ecology and habitat requirements
White storks nest on buildings and forages in wetland and natural grasslands.

Threats
Main threats are. Also collision with power lines and hunting or poisoning during migration and in winter quarters are important causes of mortality (Tucker and Heath 1994, Grell 1998).

Occurrence in Denmark
The species is a breeding visitor to Denmark.

Trends in Danish population - long-term and 1983-1998
It is estimated that the Danish population numbered 10,000 pairs 200 years ago.

Mainly because of inappropriate water level management (i.e. decreased spring floodings) and general agricultural intensification in river valleys availability of main prey (amphibians) have decreased. This has resulted in an almost steady decline of the Danish population. The decline started mid 19th century and around the year 1900 only 4-500 pairs remained. A short-lived, partial recovery occurred during the 1930s resulting in a population of 1,100 in 1939. Since then, the story is one of continual decline to the 1997 status of 4 pairs (Grell 1998). Only two pairs bred 1999.

Some ongoing restoration efforts, especially the Skjern Å valley project, might provide better opportunities for the species in the future.

Significance of the Danish population
The remnant and possibly doomed Danish population is only of marginal significance in an international context. The European population was recently estimated at 104,154-111,710 pairs (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
None of the 3 remaining pairs (1998) have their nest inside SPAs, but 2 are just on the border of SPAs and are almost totally dependent on the SPAs (no. 13 and 51 respectively) as foraging areas. The third pair nests approximately 3.5 km south of SPA no. 1 and partly forages within this area.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs

Spoonbill

Species name
Scientific: Platalea leucorodia
UK: Spoonbill
DK: Skestork

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Extinct*
Europe: Endangered, SPEC 2
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: I

General ecology and habitat requirements
Nests on islands free of ground predators, dense reed beds and willow thickets. The species feeds on a wide variety of aquatic prey and even some plant material (Snow and Perrins 1998). As the species is a tactile feeder high abundance of prey is required. Foraging takes place up to 25 km from nest site (Tucker and Heath 1994), though breeding success decreases with distance (Grell 1998).

Occurrence in Denmark
The species is a scarce and irregular breeding visitor.

Trends in Danish population - long-term and 1983-1998
The species has bred in Denmark in 1900, 1919 (2-4 pairs), 1928-29, 1942-43 (4-5 pairs), 1962-69 (1-7 pairs) and 1996-1999 (Løppenthin 1967, Olsen 1992 and Grell 1998).

Significance of the Danish population
The Danish population is a marginal extension of the increasing Dutch population (833 pairs in 1996, Snow and Perrins 1998). Breeding failure as a result of low water levels in 1996 at the important Oostervaardersplassen colony resulted in flocks of displaced birds turning up all over northern Europe and re-colonization of Denmark (Grell 1998). The total European population is estimated at 4,931-5,984 pairs (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
The Danish population is wholly dependent on SPAs both for nest sites, foraging and as post-breeding staging area.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs

Mute Swan

Species name
Scientific: Cygnus olor
UK: Mute Swan
DK: Knopsvane

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Yellowlisted as AT
Europe: Secure, non-SPEC
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: II/2

General ecology and habitat requirements
Breeds mostly at freshwater sites with well developed submerse vegetation. Also, sometimes colonially, at brackish fjords. Birds staging during moult and in winter occur mostly in fjords and other shallow waters with beds of eelgrass (Zostera).

Occurrence in Denmark
The species is a breeding resident and a passage and winter visitor (Olsen 1992). Denmark is most important as moulting (July and August) and wintering area for a large part of the Baltic population.

Trends for relevant population(s) overall and in Denmark
There are no information regarding trends in Danish staging population during moult or in winter. In the period 1987-91, the number staging in Denmark during moult was estimated at 34,000-59,000 individuals, with 37,000-73,0000 individuals wintering (Jensen 1993). The total northwest European population is increasing (Scott and Rose 1996).
The breeding Danish population is estimated at 5,000 pairs and is believed to be stable (Grell 1998).

Significance of the Danish population
During moult up to 28% and in winter up to 35% of the total northwest European population of 210,000 birds (Scott and Rose 1996) stage concurrently in Denmark.

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
Numbers of staging birds within individual SPAs are fluctuating but total staging population within SPAs seems reasonably stable. The coverage is high as most but not all areas of high densities (Durinck et al. 1994) are covered by the SPA network.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs

Bewick’s Swan

Species name
Scientific: Cygnus (columbianus) bewickii
UK: Bewick´s Swan
DK: Pibesvane

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Yellow-listed as AT
Europe: Localized, SPEC 3 (winter)
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: I

General ecology and habitat requirements
Formerly staging birds mainly foraged on submerse vegetation in shallow lakes and coastal waters. The reduction or disappearance of submerse vegetation (Characeans, Zostera and Potamogeton) at some sites as a result of eutrophication has, though , led to increased instance of foraging in autumn sown cereals (Grell 1998).

Occurrence in Denmark
The species is a passage and to a lesser extent a winter visitor to Denmark (Grell 1998).

Trends for relevant population(s) overall and in Denmark
The size of population breeding in western Siberia and wintering in northwest Europe is estimated to be 17,000-25,000 birds. The population is thought to be increasing (Scott and Rose 1996).

In Denmark 4,000-6,000 birds occur as passage visitors in autumn and up 1,000 winter in mild winters (Grell 1998).

Significance of the Danish population
The 4,000-6,000 birds occurring at peak of autumn passage equals16-35% of European total.

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
Staging numbers fluctuates markedly as counting timing is not always optimal for getting peak numbers. Overall, the numbers in SPAs are probably roughly stable. The coverage is intermediate; most but not all important areas as shown in Laubek 1995) are SPAs. Notable exceptions are Bolle and Try Enge, Store Vildmose and Øland-Attrup. The management of the SPAs is despite these gaps of high importance for the Danish staging population.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs

Whooper Swan

Species name
Scientific: Cygnus cygnus
UK: Whooper Swan
DK: Sangsvane

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Yellow listed as AT
Europe: Secure, SPEC 4 (winter)
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: I

General ecology and habitat requirements
Staging Whooper Swans forage in winter cereals or oilseed rape, fields with waste grain potatoes or beets, on flooded meadows and in waterbodies with abundant bottom macrophytes.

Occurrence in Denmark
The species is a winter visitor to Denmark.

Trends for relevant population(s) overall and in Denmark
The northwest continental Europe winter population is increasing rapidly and is presently estimated at 40,000 birds (Scott and Rose 1996). The Danish winter population is estimated at nearly 16,000 birds (Grell 1998) and has likewise increased in recent years.

Significance of the Danish population
16,000 birds equal 40% of total northwest continental European population.

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
The numbers counted in individual SPAs fluctuate markedly but the total staging numbers in all SPAs is probably roughly stable. The coverage is intermediate, not all major staging sites are SPAs (see Laubek 1995). As a result of the recent shift in foraging habitat some agricultural areas have become of importance for the species. These areas, which include Bolle and Try Enge, Store Vildmose, Søby Sø and surrounding areas and the reclaimed areas of Lammefjorden are not SPAs. Nevertheless is appropriate management of the SPAs of high significance for the Danish staging population.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs

Taiga Bean Goose

Species name
Scientific: Anser fabalis fabalis
UK: Taiga Bean Goose
DK: Skovsædgås

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Yellow-listed as AT
Europe: Secure, non-SPEC
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: II/1

General ecology and habitat requirements
In southeastern Denmark staging Taiga Bean Geese mainly forage on winter cereals, seed grass and waste sugar beet, while the small group occurring in northern Jutland utilises pastures, stubble fields and winter cereals (Madsen et al. 1999).

Occurrence in Denmark
Occur as a passage and (mainly) winter visitor.

Trends for relevant population(s) overall and in Denmark
The total population of the subspecies has been increasing at least since 1960. In the main staging sites in southern Sweden the numbers have increased from 12,800-16,800 in the late 1950s to 60,000-80, 000 in recent years. The total population is now estimated at 90,000-110,000 individuals and has apparently stabilised (Madsen et al. 1999).

Two sub-populations occur in Denmark. A smaller one on in northern Jutland occurs mainly during passage, some of these birds winter in England. Higher numbers occur in southeastern Denmark. These birds are mainly winter visitors. Highest number during cold winters or spells where high numbers are displaced here from Scania (Sweden) (Jørgensen et al. 1994).

Significance of the Danish population
In mild winters 8,000-10,000 birds winter in southeastern Denmark, while 18,000-32,000 (or up to 35% of total population) occur in cold winters (Madsen et al. 1999).

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
As stated by Madsen et al. (1999) for the total Danish population no trends within the SPAs are discernible apart from large yearly fluctuations at the Southeast Danish sites in relation to weather conditions.

Nearly all main roosting sites are SPAs, but foraging to a large extent takes place outside SPAs mainly in cultivated areas. Hence, coverage for roosting sites is high while it is low or intermediate for foraging areas.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs

Pink-footed goose

Species name
Scientific: Anser brachyrhyncus
UK: Pink-footed Goose
DK: Kortnæbbet gås

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Yellow-listed as AT
Europe: Secure, SPEC 4
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: II/2

General ecology and habitat requirements
Staging Pink-footed Geese in autumn feed mainly on stubble fields and to a lesser extent on winter cereals. Later they switch to pastures and during frost periods to winter cereals. In spring some newly sown areas of spring cereals and peas are also utilised. Earlier saltmarshes and semi-natural grasslands were also utilised, but during the 1990s the geese seem to have abandoned these habitats (Madsen et al. 1999).

Occurrence in Denmark
Occur as passage and winter visitor.

Trends for relevant population(s) overall and in Denmark
The birds occurring in Denmark come from the population breeding in Svalbard, which has been increasing since the 1950s. It is estimated that the population totalled 10,000-12,000 birds in the 1950s while it presently numbers 32,000-37,000 birds (Madsen et al. 1999).

Significance of Danish population
At peak time from late February to late April virtually the whole population is concentrated in Denmark. In spring 14 major sites can be identified, while in autumn the geese in recent years concentrate at only two sites (Madsen et al. 1999) in response to hunting pressure. The present level of hunting has not impeded the growth of the population during 1980s and 1990s (Madsen et al. 1996).

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
As the total population occurs in Denmark at peak time and all major roosts are SPAs the trend for total population, Danish population and population within SPAs are virtually identical. Some foraging, though, takes place outside areas. Nevertheless, coverage is high.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs

Greylag goose

Species name
Scientific: Anser anser
UK: Greylag Goose
DK: Grågås

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Yellow listed as AT
Europe: Secure, non-SPEC
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: II/1

General ecology and habitat requirements
Staging Greylags during August-September forage on waste grain in stubble fields, grass, unharvested peas and waste potatoes. In October the birds in southeast Danish sites mainly forage on waste sugar beets and locally on winter rape and cereals (Madsen et al. 1999).

Occurrence in Denmark
The species occurs in Denmark as breeding visitor, a passage visitor and also (at least in mild winters) in lower numbers as winter visitor.

Trends for relevant population(s) overall and in Denmark
The northwest European population has increased dramatically from around 30,000 birds in the mid 1970s to probably more than 200,000 at present. The most important factors influencing survival and condition are amount of hunting and ecological conditions (especially amount of rainfall) in Spanish winterquarters. The number of birds staging in Denmark at peak time in autumn has likewise increased from around 25,000 birds in 1981 to more than 40,000 birds in the 1990s (Madsen et al. 1999). In 1996, the count went as high as 60,000 (Pihl et al. 1997). As the number of Greylags at the staging sites have only increased moderately in southeastern Denmark and even decreased slightly in the central part of the country the overall large increase in numbers is mostly a result of a rapid increase in the number of birds staging in western Jutland. These birds are mostly from the population breeding in Norway (Jørgensen et al. 1994).

The number of birds breeding in Denmark was recently estimated at 3,500-4,000 pairs or possibly more (Grell 1998).

Significance of the Danish population
Denmark is very important for staging Greylags, mainly in autumn.

20-30% of the northwest European population can occur simultaneously in Denmark.

A considerably larger part of total population passes through Denmark (Clausen et al. 1997).

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
Most of the major staging areas are SPAs, hence the coverage is high and trends within SPAs are almost identical to overall national trends. Foraging, though, to a large extent takes place outside areas. In some instances (notably SPA nos.82 and 101) the SPAs only cover parts of larger continuous staging sites. Nevertheless, adequate management of SPAs is of vital importance for the Danish population of the species.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs

Barnacle Goose

Species name
Scientific: Branta leucopsis
UK: Barnacle Goose
DK: Bramgås

Red-list and SPEC status DK/Europe/World
DK: Rare, i (breeding)
Europe: Secure (breeding), Localized (winter), SPEC 4 (breeding), SPEC 2 (winter)
World: Lower Risk (least concern)
Annexes: I

General ecology and habitat requirements
Staging Barnacle Geese feed on coastal saltmarshes and inland pastures, in recent years increasingly also in winter cereals (Madsen et al. 1999). The newly established breeding population occur on islands free of mammal predators.

Occurrence in Denmark
The species is mainly a passage and in mild winters also a winter visitor to Denmark. Recently the rapidly expanding population breeding on islands and islets in the Baltic Sea has reached Denmark.

Trends for relevant population(s) overall and in Denmark
The birds occurring in Denmark belong to the Russian and Baltic population. This population has increased 25-fold since the 1950s, where the population experienced an all-time low of around 10,000 birds. The mid-winter count of January 1997 gave a result of 267,000 birds. The small Baltic breeding segment has experienced a particularly rapid growth since its foundation in 1971 to presently around 13,000 birds (Madsen et al. 1999).

There are no serious threats towards the staging visitors in Denmark. The small newly established breeding population is vulnerable to disturbance and especially to eventual invasion of mammalian predators (e.g. Fox (Vulpes vulpes) or American Mink (Mustela vison)) on formerly predator free islands.

On flyway level the most important threats are believed to be large scale development of oil and gas industry at the Russian breeding grounds (Madsen et al. 1999).

Significance of the Danish population
Up 20,000 birds or 7,5% of flyway total winter in Denmark in recent years, probably as a result of a string of mild winters (Madsen et al. 1999). Even higher numbers occur during migration periods.

Population trend within Danish SPAs and SPA coverage
Only three sites regularly support numbers of international importance (Madsen et al. 1999) and all are SPAs (nos. 60, 67 and 89). Also most areas occasionally holding large numbers are within the SPA network. The coverage is thus high.

Occurrence in Danish SPAs