International Waterbird Census taking place around the world this month

Bonn, 14 January 2010 - The 43rd International Waterbird Census (IWC) - a monitoring initiative to count waterbirds around the world is scheduled to take place in mid-January 2010, with the main recommended dates of the census set for 16 and 17 January 2010.

The IWC scheme, which is coordinated by Wetlands International, is an annual census of waterbirds in more than 100 countries and takes place in mid-January each year. Close to 15,000 voluntary expert observers will be counting between 30 and 40 million waterbirds using a standardized method involving the collection, checking, and importing of national and regional waterbird census data. This makes it easy to compare the gained data of waterbirds from Africa, Asia and Europe.

The IWC is a valuable source of information, making it possible to monitor changes in waterbird numbers and distribution, to improve knowledge of little-known waterbird species and wetland sites, and to identify and monitor sites that qualify as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The census also provides information on the conservation status of waterbird species and helps to increase awareness of the importance of waterbirds and their wetland habitats at local, national and international level.

This year, special attention will be given to the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), a Critically Endangered wader and one of the most threatened waterbird species of the 255 that are covered by AEWA. The species was last definitely recorded in Hungary in 2001 and this year the Working Group under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS) Memorandum of Understanding on the species, will organize a number of targeted surveys to search for the Slender-billed Curlew. The approach is to supplement the standard IWC counts in January 2010 with specialized searches by separate teams. If any birds are sighted, a satellite telemetry team will travel to the site as quickly as possible and try to catch and tag the bird. A special newsletter about the survey was circulated by the Slender-billed Curlew Working Group and can be found, together with search protocols and a host of other material related to this work at: www.slenderbilledcurlew.net

The data collected through the IWC are indispensable for Multilateral Environmental Agreements such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and AEWA; the IWC data is also the basis for the AEWA Conservation Status Report on Migratory Waterbirds (CSR). Unfortunately no sustainable funding has been secured for this important work, which depends on the 15,000 volunteers involved in collecting the data in the coming days. These dedicated bird enthusiasts play an extremely important role and their efforts are, as always, highly appreciated.

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