Starling was the most common bird of the EuroBirdwatch, which took place on the first weekend of October. Only in Poland 53 thousand birds of this species were recorded. In total, Polish nature lovers spotted almost 200 thousand birds.
This year\'s EuroBirdwatch, organized in 40 countries - from Portugal and Malta, to Kazakhstan and Norway - attracted over 23 thousand people. On the first weekend of October, nature lovers counted birds, enjoyed walks and ornithological trips.
"Across Europe, after summarizing the results from all countries, the most frequently observed species was common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), followed by Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)" – reported the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds on its website.
Also in Poland starling was unrivalled. More than 53 thousand birds of this species were counted. It won by a hair with finch (more than 52 thousand counted). In third place was the great tit, which was observed nearly 29 thousand times.
In total, throughout Poland nearly 200 thousand birds of over 100 species were recorded during ornithological walks. Most birds - over one million - were observed in the Netherlands.
"Ornithological sensations were: terek sandpiper and broad-billed sandpiper in Italy; yellow-browed warbler in Latvia and in the centre of Budapest; greenish warbler in Poland, 68 bustards in Slovakia, Wilson\'s phalarope and never-before recorded cattle egret in Sweden, four white-headed ducks, Pallas\'s fish eagle and two houbara bustards in Uzbekistan, surf scoter and isabelline wheatear in Norway " - according to the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds.
Participants also observed impressive migrations of large flocks of cranes, starlings, pigeons, gulls, finches and thrushes in many European countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands and Slovakia. "There was also a sad event. In Estonia young mute swan did not survive a collision with a high energy line" - reported the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds.
EuroBirdwatch is organized since 1993 by BirdLife International - worldwide federation of bird protection societies. On the basis of information collected in all countries participating in the campaign, a list of the most common birds in the autumn is prepared. Nearly 900 ornithological events were organized as part of this year\'s campaign.
PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland
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