VERSTRAEL T & DIJK AJ VAN (1997) Foxes or grasses? Breeding birds of Dutch coastal dunes since 1984. LIMOSA 70 (4): 163-178.

Coastal dunes constitute one of the most valuable nature areas in The Netherlands. Despite their value, human impact on these areas in the last decades has been enormous. As a result, tall grasses are dominating nowadays and shrubs have encroached considerably. Furthermore, the Red Fox reappeared in many coastal dune areas from 1968 onwards.
      The impact of these environmental changes on breeding birds has been analysed using data from the Common Breeding Bird Census (BMP), 1984-1994. By comparing trends of several guilds of species in coastal dunes with their trends in other habitats, the possible impact of tall grass dominance and shrub encroachment was assessed. A regional analysis of trends in coastal dunes suggests that Red Fox predation has not been the cause of some of the dramatic changes found, although fox impact is not negligible. It is concluded that changes in vegetation (increase of tall grasses) have been the most important factor. This calls for appropriate action, since several Red List species are suffering heavy losses in coastal dunes. Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Wood Lark Lullula arborea Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Dunnock Prunella modularis Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Common Blackbird Turdus merula Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Carrion Crow Corvus corone

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