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Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Indexing European bird population trends using results of national monitoring schemes: a trial of a new method

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2001
Authors:van Strien, AJ, Pannekoek, J, Gibbons, DW
Journal:Bird Study
Volume:48
Issue:2
Date Published:2001
ISBN Number:0006-3657
Keywords:Acanthis, Acanthis cannabina, Alauda, Alauda arvensis, Alaudidae, Carduelis, Carduelis cannabina, Charadriidae, Citrinella, Communis, Communis communis, Curruca, Curruca communis, Denmark, Eastern Europe, Emberiza, Emberiza citrinella, Emberizidae, Estonia, Europe, Finland, Fringillidae, Germany, Latvia, Linaria, Linaria cannabina, Netherlands, Sylvia, Sylvia communis, Sylviidae, Vanellus, Vanellus vanellus, Western Europe
Abstract:Many European countries have annual breeding bird monitoring schemes based on nationwide samples; most are in northern and western Europe. We have developed a method to produce yearly population indices of bird species across countries by combining the results of existing national schemes. The method takes into account the differences in population sizes per country, as well as the differences in field methods, and the numbers of sites and years covered by the national schemes. In order to test the method, we collected raw data from a number of countries and applied an index method to produce scheme results per country. Data were collected for five farmland species (Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Linnet Carduelis cannabina, Skylark Alauda arvensis, Whitethroat Sylvia communis and Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella), from seven countries (UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Latvia and Estonia) for a 20-year period (1978?97). The trial demonstrated that it was possible to combine national indices to provide supra-national yearly totals and their standard errors; the results were similar to those produced when the raw data were used. Thus, yearly European indices can be produced by exchanging only limited amounts of information, that is the national yearly indices of each species or, preferably, the yearly population numbers and their standard errors. At a European scale, the populations of the five species selected have changed considerably. In western Europe (UK, Netherlands, Denmark and former West Germany combined), Linnet, Skylark and Yellowhammer have declined and Whitethroat has increased. Most changes occurred during the first ten-year period (1978?88). The changes in eastern Europe (the remaining countries) were less clear, in part because the statistical power of the national schemes is as yet limited.Many European countries have annual breeding bird monitoring schemes based on nationwide samples; most are in northern and western Europe. We have developed a method to produce yearly population indices of bird species across countries by combining the results of existing national schemes. The method takes into account the differences in population sizes per country, as well as the differences in field methods, and the numbers of sites and years covered by the national schemes. In order to test the method, we collected raw data from a number of countries and applied an index method to produce scheme results per country. Data were collected for five farmland species (Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Linnet Carduelis cannabina, Skylark Alauda arvensis, Whitethroat Sylvia communis and Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella), from seven countries (UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Latvia and Estonia) for a 20-year period (1978?97). The trial demonstrated that it was possible to combine national indices to provide supra-national yearly totals and their standard errors; the results were similar to those produced when the raw data were used. Thus, yearly European indices can be produced by exchanging only limited amounts of information, that is the national yearly indices of each species or, preferably, the yearly population numbers and their standard errors. At a European scale, the populations of the five species selected have changed considerably. In western Europe (UK, Netherlands, Denmark and former West Germany combined), Linnet, Skylark and Yellowhammer have declined and Whitethroat has increased. Most changes occurred during the first ten-year period (1978?88). The changes in eastern Europe (the remaining countries) were less clear, in part because the statistical power of the national schemes is as yet limited.
URL:http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00063650109461219
Short Title:Bird Study
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith