Zachodniopomorskie Towarzystwo Przyrodnicze

The Province of Western Pomerania, in particular its northern and western parts, has large areas where wintering waterfowl congregate. It is characterized by variable weather conditions during the wintering period (mid-October – mid-April). Wintry weather and light frosts are usually limited to short periods (from a few days up to several weeks). However, from time to time long periods with severe frosts occur. In such conditions the numbers of wintering birds fluctuate strongly in response to the periodic weather changes and move away over short distances. Thus, to determine the population status of wintering waterbirds in these conditions while neither over- nor underestimating the results requires a special approach. Based on long-term observations, ZTP (the Western Pomeranian Nature Society) has developed an effective methodology that allows a fairly precise determination of the status of wintering waterfowl populations in the region. Since 2002, ZTP has scheduled the counting of waterbirds. Counts are carried out three times per season, i.e. in autumn, winter and spring. The count areas, which host significant numbers of waterfowl during the migration and wintering periods, are the Odra Valley, Lake Dąbie, Lake Miedwie, the Szczecin Lagoon, the Kamień Lagoon, the Świna Delta , the River Dziwna and the ponds at Dzwonowo. The aim is to monitor migratory and wintering waterbird populations, particularly geese and ducks, but also raptors. Our monitoring area includes five IBAs (Important Bird Areas of international importance): the Lower Odra Valley, the Szczecin Lagoon, the Świna Delta, the Kamień Lagoon and River Dziwna, and Lake Miedwie; these sites are also Natura 2000 SPAs.

Data collected during the counts were the basis for establishing some of the most important Natura 2000 SPAs in Poland for the protection of waterbirds, among them, the Szczecin Lagoon, the Kamień Lagoon and River Dziwna, the Lower Odra Valley and the Świna Delta. During each count the number of birds usually exceeds 100 thousand ind. (see below).

Figure 1 Numbers of waterbirds (Anseriformes, Phalacrocoracidae, Gaviiformes, Podicipediformes, Rallidae, Charadriiformes) at the most important wintering sites in Western Pomerania (Szczecin Lagoon, Kamień Lagoon, Świna Delta, Lake Dąbie, Lake Miedwie, Lower Odra Valley); mean, minimum and maximum numbers from the November, January and March counts (2002-2015).

The Szczecin Lagoon is the most important wintering site in Poland and one of the few major such sites in Europe of Greater Scaup Aythya marila; the highest number was recorded in April 2011 – 95 000 individuals.

Below is a video by Zbigniew Kajzer showing concentrations of ducks in the Szczecin Lagoon.

The January census is part of the State Environmental Monitoring Programme carried out by the General Environmental Conservation Inspectorate (GIOŚ) and implemented by OTOP in cooperation with members of ZTP; additional information can be obtained from:

Data from the January counts since 2010 are passed on to the Wetlands International organization, and are the basis for the current updated population assessments. These assessments can be viewed on the website:

Marchowski D. Ławicki Ł. Guentzel S., Kaliciuk J. 2015. Znaczenie Estuarium Odry dla ptaków nurkujących: zagrożenia i ochrona. Poster na czwartą ogólnoeuropejską konferencję kaczkową, Hanko, Finlandia.

Marchowski D. Ławicki Ł. Guentzel S. 2013. Numbers of waterfowl in Western Pomerania in the 2011/2012 season. Ptaki Pomorza 4. Influence, ZTP. Szczecin (in Polish with English summary).

Marchowski D. Ławicki Ł. 2012. Numbers of waterfowl in Western Pomerania in the 2010/2011 season. Ptaki Pomorza 3. Influence, ZTP. Szczecin (in Polish with English summary).

Marchowski D. Ławicki Ł. 2011. Numbers of waterfowl in Western Pomerania in the 2009/2010 season. Ptaki Pomorza 2. Influence, ZTP. Szczecin (in Polish with English summary).

Ławicki Ł., Czeraszkiewicz R., Guentzel S., Jasiński M., Kajzer Z., Kaliciuk J., Oleksiak A. 2008. Wintering of Waterbirds in the Western Pomerania in the years 2002-2008. Not. Orn. 49: 235-244. (in Polish with English summary).

E. Adamowska, J. Artemiuk, M. Barcz, D. Berliński, M. Balcer, P. Bonter, Ł. Borek, P. Czechowski, R. Czeraszkiewicz, W. Dittberner, T. Grabowski, S. Guentzel, M. Górecka, K. Grzegorczyk, H.J. Haferland, A. Jackowski, A. Jakubowska, R. Janowski, K. Jarska, M. Jasiński, Z. Kajzer, J. Kaliciuk, M. Kalisiński, C. Kalkof, Ł. Kałek, M. Kapturkiewicz, M. Kizielewicz, K. Kordowski, R. Kościów, M. Kotowicz, A. Kozłowska, G. Kiljan, J. Kokociński, E. Kratke, U. Kratz, D. Krummholz,K. Kryza, A. Lisicka, Ł. Ławicki, J. Łuczyńska, A. Malecha, M. Małysa, M. Maniakowski, D. Marchowski, Z. Martyniak, W. Meissner, D. Michalonek, I. Młynarczyk, W, Mrugowski, P. Nowacki, A. Oleksiak, M. Pęchorzewska, P. Piliczewski, Z. Prucnal, M. Przybysz, J. Przybyłowski, B. Racławski, T. Rek, P. Sadanowicz, U. Schunmann, M. T. Smoliński, Sowa, A. Staszewski, M. Sołowiej, P. Siuda, J. Stachów, J. Stańczak, P. Stańczak, M. Szymczak, B. Suzin, Z. Śnieguła, K. Tomaszewska, K. Wawryniuk, E. Wendt, M. Wilińska, A. Witka, H. Wojcieszak, C. Worona, D. Wysocki, P. Zawadzka, D. Zyskowski, M. Żarek, G. Żegliński, A. Żywiczka.

All interested in participating in the counts please contact us: dominik@gaja-art.com or tel: 668 139 139