ALTENBURG W, BEEMSTER N, DIJK K VAN, ESSELINK P, PROP D & VISSER H (1985) Development of the breeding bird population in the Lauwersmeer in 1978 - 1983. LIMOSA 58 (4): 149-161.

The Lauwersmeer, a former tidal area of 9100 ha, was reclaimed in 1969 (fig. 1, 2). In the 15 years after the embankment, the new polder became an important breeding area. The most important factor in the development of the breeding bird population has been (and still is) the succession of the vegetation. Under the influence of the desalination process, which started on the higher parts, the area of Salicornia spp. and Puccinellia spp. decreased gradually to be replaced by a low and open vegetation of predominantly Agrostis stalanifera, on the most desalinated parts succeeded by a high, very thin and relatively dry vegetation of predominantly Phragmites australis (fig. 3). Locally, Salix spp. and Hippaphae rhamnoides formed a beginning of a woody vegetation on the latter. The number of breeding bird species rose from 22 in 1969 to 85 in 1983 (fig. 9). On the basis of a comparison with the nearby islands of the Dutch Waddensea, which resemble the Lauwersmeer in a large number of habitats, it is predicted that eventually about 100 species will breed annually in the area, the net result of new, colonizing species and extinction (fig. 10). The decreasing trend in pioneers like Kentish Plover and Little Ringed Plover (fig. 4) is due to the decrease of the open saline vegetation. Species such as Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, and Ruff, which are likewise dependent on low and open breeding habitats, however, have been able to maintain their numbers at approximately the same level because of the constant area of the Agrostis zone (fig. 3). The large increase of the Phragmites vegetations on land has only favoured those species which are typical for this kind of habitat, such as Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, and Reed Bunting. This vegetation is not suitable for the marshy species like Water Rail, Savi's Warbler, and Great Reed Warbler which are all scarce in the Lauwersmeer. With the expected extension of the Phragmites vegetation on land eventually the great majority of little plovers, meadowbirds, Avocet, gulls, and terns will disappear. The area will probably maintain its importance for the Marsh Harrier and a number of duck species. These prospects do only apply to the undisturbed parts of the Lauwersmeer. Recently, cattle has been introduced in a large section of the area (c. 1000 ha). This management causes an inverse succession, namely an increase of Agrostis and Puccinellia and as a consequence an increase of meadowbirds. In other sections of the Lauwersmeer afforestations (c. 600 ha) have brought a large number of new breeding birds into the area (1978-83 c. 20), species which are largely lacking until now in the natural bushes. This means an inverse development in the grazed parts and an accelerated one in the afforestations. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus = Larus minutus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus = Larus ridibundus Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus European Herring Gull Larus argentatus Common Tern Sterna hirundo Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea = Sterna macrura Little Tern Sternula albifrons = Sterna albifrons Black Tern Chlidonias niger Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Mute Swan Cygnus olor Greylag Goose Anser anser Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Gadwall Anas strepera Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Northern Pintail Anas acuta Garganey Anas querquedula Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata = Spatula clypeata Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Common Pochard Aythya ferina Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Common Eider Somateria mollissima Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Dunlin Calidris alpina = Calidris alpina schinzii Ruff Philomachus pugnax Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata Common Redshank Tringa totanus Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Long-eared Owl Asio otus Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Bluethroat Luscinia svecica = Cyalnosylvia svecica Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris European Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Dunnock Prunella modularis European Robin Erithacus rubecula Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Great Tit Parus major Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Unidentified Redpoll Carduelis cabaret/flammea Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Common Blackbird Turdus merula Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Carrion Crow Corvus corone Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Stock Dove Columba oenas Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Sand Martin Riparia riparia Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Common House Martin Delichon urbicum = Delichon urbica White Wagtail Motacilla alba Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris House Sparrow Passer domesticus Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

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