STRUCKER RCW, PREESMAN LC & VERKERK J (1994) Waterbirds of the fresh tidal river Gude Maas. LIMOSA 67 (2): 45-52.

The construction of the Haringvliet-barrage in 1970 has had profound consequences for the waterbird population wintering in the river Oude Maas, one of the last fresh tidal rivers in The Netherlauds. A considerable loss of mudflats was due to a reduction of tidal amplitude from 2 to 1 m. Consequently, populations of a number of species characteristic for a fresh tidal river, such as Teal aud Pintail, have decreased remarkably. On the other haud, numbers of benthivorous ducks like Tufted Duck aud Pochard increased, probably due to the reduction of tides. Numbers of piscivorous birds, mainly Cormoraut aud Great Crested Grebe, also increased. Importaut factors are the improvement of water quality, the increasing trausparancy of the water after 1970, the construction of a water basin and the enormous increase of the NW-Europeau population of the Cormoraut. The recent construction of mudflats behind dams, built to prevent erosion of banks, has had a positive effect on the numbers of Teal, Pintail aud some waders. However, a considerable recovery of the numbers of these birds cau only be expected when tidal amplitude in the river Oude Maas will be increased. In view of the far advanced discussions on the management of the Haringvlietbarrage when used as a storm surge barrier, this will probably be realised in the near future ##### Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Mute Swan Cygnus olor Bewick's Swan Cygnus bewickii Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Greylag Goose Anser anser Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Gadwall Anas strepera Common Teal Anas crecca Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Northern Pintail Anas acuta Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata = Spatula clypeata Common Pochard Aythya ferina Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Smew Mergellus albellus Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Goosander Mergus merganser Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Dunlin Calidris alpina = Calidris alpina schinzii Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata

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