Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Verwey J. (1956) De Waddenzee als voedsel-areaal voor vogels bij strenge kou. ARDEA 44 (1-3): 218-224
During the severe cold of February, 1956, the western part of the Dutch Waddenzee was surveyed from the air on the 22nd of the month. Large numbers of ducks were concentrated in the transition areas between the inlets between the islands and the tidal areas off the islands. Among them were several thousands of Common Eiders (estimated at some 6-10 thousand), which are considered to have represented the population of the Dutch Wadden Islands. The birds were apparently in good condition (certainly in much better condition than the smaller ducks except the Common Scoters); the old birds were paired. It is believed that the accumulation of them in these special areas between the deeper creeks (with much open water) and the extensive shallow parts (covered by ice fields) had to do with the fact that food was available to them in the form of bottom animals, especially mussels. The areas in question were characterized by patches of open water between the ice coverings, from where the birds must have been able to reach the bottom in not too deep water. Apparently, the western part of the Waddenzee can support its own population, which now probably embraces some 2,300 pairs of breeding birds and a large number of young, the year round. This is of interest not only from a scientific point of view, but also in connection with the Dutch plans to close the Waddenzee. The extensive tidal flats of the Waddenzee, which normally are such important feeding grounds for Limicolae, were covered with ice and were wholly desolate. The creek borders too were uninhabitable from ice or drift ice. Even Oystercatchers were hardly present in the area.


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