JONG H DE (1972) A reserve for meadow birds in Oostelijk Flevoland. LIMOSA 45 (1): 49-57.

With the layout of new areas as the Ysselmeerpolders, attention is paid to aspects of biological conservation. One of the areas which were and are set up as a nature reserve in the polders is the meadow-bird reserve situated on the Veluwe-lake near Harderwijk. This reserve was set up in 1965. It has an area of 98 ha (= 245 acres). The water level in the terrain can be regulated by means of wind-mills and dams (flood control dams) and can be kept high for the birds in winter and early spring. The area is divided into two control-entities. One part (43 hal is used as pasture (with 1-1,5 head of cattle per ha); the other part (55 ha) is exclusively used for making hay. Beside the reserve is a bufferzone of 108 ha used as a meadow, but without the restrictions made for the reserve concerning mowing-date, manurement etc. From 1966 observations of breeding birds in the terrain have been made. The average number of breeding couples of the meadow birds over a period of five years amounted to: Limosa limosa 47, Vanellus vanellus 16. Tringa totanus 6, Philomachus pugnax 3. In 1970 the highest densities were observed. These were: Limosa limosa 105, Vanellus vanellus 28, Tringa totanus 7 and Philomachus pugnax 4 couples. In 1968 and 1969 especially many ducks were found breeding in the reserve. Significantly fewer meadow birds appeared to be breeding in the part of the reserve used as pasture (pasture from 1968) as in the hay field. The density in the hay field was in these years twice as high as in the pasture. A comparison of the number of breeding meadow birds in the reserve in Oostelijk Flevoland (the eastern Flevopolder) with that in a number of other meadow bird areas in the Netherlands makes it clear that the numbers breeding in Flevoland are comparatively high. With the help of the presentday knowledge it appears to be possible to make (with comparatively simple means) a successful breeding area for a number of kinds of meadow birds. ##### Mute Swan Cygnus olor Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Garganey Anas querquedula Gadwall Anas strepera Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata = Spatula clypeata Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Common Redshank Tringa totanus Ruff Philomachus pugnax Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis White Wagtail Motacilla alba Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

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