HUSTINGS F (1991) Explosive increase of breeding Black-necked Grebes in The Netherlands in 1983 - 1989. LIMOSA 64 (1): 16-24.

Black-necked Grebes first bred in The Netherlands in about 1918, at a time when a wave of colonisation was recorded throughout Western and Central Europe. Since then, an increase in the number of breeding sites was reported, but this is mainly a result of an increase in observer effort. The Dutch breeding population was small, problably less than 100 in most years, except for the (mid-) 1940's (fig. 1,2). In 1945, colony-breeding was reported from inundated areas in the western part of the country, and 1944 and 1946 had relatively large numbers as well. A remarkable increase of breeding Black-necked Grebes was noted in 1983 - 1989, most obvious in the Dutch Provinces of Drenthe and Noord-Brabant (fig. 3,4). The number of breeding pairs was estimated at 95-110 (1984) and 230-250 (1989) (fig. 5). In some areas with a long tradition of Black-necked Grebe breeding, recent numbers of breeding pairs equal or exceed numbers in historical top years. However, this is not the case in other areas (fig. 6). Differences among patterns of local population fluctuation are often caused by specific local environmental conditions (drought, changes in water quality), resulting in lack of potential nesting habitat and / or food shortage. A slight increase in breeding numbers is also reported from Belgium and Great Britain. Recent changes may be the result of a new wave of expansion at the western periphery of the Black-necked Grebe's distribution area. Geoorde Futen Podiceps nigricollis

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