ZIJLSTRA M (1990) Meadow birds in the Kievitslanden in Oostelijk Flevoland, 1966-1987. LIMOSA 63 (1): 16-24.

In 1965 the reserve de Kievitslanden was established for meadow birds such as Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Blacktailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Ruff Philomachuspugnax, Redshank Tringa totanus, and Snipe Gallinago gallinago. A description of the reserve is given together with its management regime. After establishment the development of the breeding population was studied. The total numbers of breeding pairs in the first three years after establishment were comparable to that in agricultural areas. Thereafter, numbers increased considerably (fig. I, appendix) until a peak was reached in 1975. Ever since 1976, numbers decreased gradually. In the hayfields and the grazed areas the pattern was the same (fig. 3) as in the reserve as a whole. Uncommon species such as Ruff, Snipe, and Redshank increased earlier in numbers than Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit (fig. 2). In the first years Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff showed a preference for the hayfields, Lapwing and Redshank for the grazed areas. After 1979 the Blacktailed Godwit also preferred breeding in the grazed areas with a more tussocky vegetation. Ruff and Snipe showed no clear preferences (fig. 4). It appears from counts of birds in the breeding season and the numbers of nests that the latter can be estimated from the former accurately for Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit (fig. 5). For each nest one bird is counted. It is argued, using data on survival, age of first breeding, and recruitment (tab. 1), that the meadow bird population in the reserve not only has originated from local recruitment. The decline ofthe population after 1975 is thought to be a result of a decrease of available food, leading to an exodus of part of the population. ##### Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Common Redshank Tringa totanus Ruff Philomachus pugnax

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