BOELE A (2012) Black-winged Stilt as a breeding bird in the Netherlands in 1990-2011. LIMOSA 85 (2): 68-72.

The Black-winged Stilt is a rare but regular breeding bird in The Netherlands, with the first known breeding attempt in 1931 and 20-40 pairs in peak years (Fig. 1). In 1990-2011 (22 years, 210 breeding pairs in total) the species has bred every year except for 1996 and 2003. In 1931-1989 (59 years, 227 breeding pairs) breeding attempts were found in 'only' 32 years with possible breeding in four other years. This difference most probably also reflects the (growing) number of bird watchers and a more systematic data collection in recent years. The Delta area, more specifically the province of Zeeland, in the SW-Netherlands, normally holds most of the breeding birds (Figs. 1-3; Table 1) but the proportion of pairs breeding in the northern part of the country is growing (Fig. 3). With a provisional total of 24 pairs, 2011 was the best year since 1999-2001. In 2011 a relatively large proportion bred in the North of the country (Fig. 3). There is a negative correlation between the amount of precipitation in January- April in Mediterranean France and Spain and the number of Black-winged Stilts breeding in The Netherlands, with more breeding attempts in drier years (Fig. 4). 84% of the breeding attempts in 1931-2011 took place in years with below-average rainfall in Spain and Southern France.

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