Dominik Marchowski, Jacek Kaliciuk, Łukasz Ławicki
Ornis Polonica 2019, 60: 85–102
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2019.2.1
Abstract: The inventories compiled in 2012 and 2015 showed that the SPA Natura 2000 the Kamień Lagoon and the Dziwna River is a significant breeding site in Poland (> 1% of the national population) for 7 species of birds: the Mute Swan Cygnus olor (42–52 pairs; 1%), Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna (4–5 pairs; 3.5%), Gadwall Mareca strepera (39–65 pairs; 1.5%), Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus (202–259 pairs; 1.2%), Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (95–237 pairs; 1.8%), Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (2,541–2,963 pairs; 9.2%) and Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus (47–80 pairs; 3.0%). Changes in numbers across 1979–2015 were determined for 53 species. The increase in population size was found for 18 species, the decrease for 17, while populations of 14 species were assessed as stable or fluctuating. The temporal trend was not determined for 4 species. Monitoring in 2002–2018 confirmed the importance of the SPA for waterbirds during migration and wintering. The mean number (± SE) of recorded birds between November and March was 11,463 ± 977 ind. (including 14,294 ± 2,047 ind. observed in autumn, 8,654 ± 1,721 ind. in winter, and 11,440 ± 721 ind. in spring). The highest number of birds (33,597 ind.) was recorded in November 2011. The most numerous species were: the Eurasian Coot Fulica atra (mean 2,214 ± 447 ind.), Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula (1,549 ± 301 ind.), Bean Goose Anser fabalis sensu lato (1,529 ± 280 ind.), Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (1,491 ± 209 ind.), Great Cormorant (709 ± 124 ind.), Goosander Mergus merganser (603 ± 157 ind.) and Greylag Goose A. anser (516 ± 121 ind.). Six species met the criteria for the Important Bird Areas, which should concentrate at least 1% of their flyway population: the Whooper Swan C. cygnus (580 ind.; 1%), Bean Goose sensu lato (7,700 ind.; 1.4%), Smew Mergellus albellus (1,000 ind.; 2.5%), Goosander (5,000 ind.; 1.8%), Great Cormorant (10,000 ind.; 2.6%) and Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus (6,400 ind.; 6.4%). The number of Eurasian Coots (15,600 ind.; 0.9%) was close to the threshold of this criterion. The uncontrolled built-up of the shoreline, water sports in the areas of bird concentrations and the bird mortality in fishing nets have been recognized as the most important threats to the avifauna of the SPA. The management plan prepared in 2013 has not been implemented so far, which prevents the effective management of the SPA and may result in the low conservation effectiveness of the key bird species.
Keywords: Kamień Lagoon, monitoring, Natura 2000 network, Odra estuary, threats, trends, waterbirds
