Why do we count water birds?
With internationally coordinated census we obtain data on abundance, distribution, important communal roosts, and population trends of water birds in the winter period. The obtained data enable the assessment of individual wetlands at the national and international level and form the basis for defining protected areas.
The importance of regular recording of water birds
With regular monitoring of water bird populations we record their population trends on individual areas and across Slovenia as a whole, and we also contribute data for calculating regional trends and assessing the size of biogeographical populations. On the basis of IWC data, DOPPS defined Important Bird Areas (IBA) and expert recommendations for Special Protection Areas (SPA) for overwintering species of water birds in Slovenia.
The census also took place at Lake Cerknica during the mentioned weekend. At the ephemeral lake, volunteers counted:
| Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) | 6 |
| Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) | 23 |
| Great egret (Ardea alba) | 23 |
| Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) | 8 |
| Greylag goose (Anser anser) | 5 |
| Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) | 9 |
| Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope) | 13 |
| Nine-leaved bittercress (Cardamine enneaphyllos) | 82 |
| Teal (Anas crecca) | 2 |
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 1186 |
| Northern pintail (Anas acuta) | 39 |
| Shoveler (Anas clypeata) | 21 |
| Common pochard (Aythya ferina) | 7 |
| Crested tit (Parus cristatus) | 31 |
| Greater scaup (Aythya marila) | 1 |
| Smew (Mergellus albellus) | 1 |
| White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) | 2 |
| Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) | 11 |
| Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) | 1 |
| Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) | 283 |
| Common gull (Larus canus) | 3 |
| Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) | 2 |
| Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) | 1 |
January census of water birds 2025. Photo: NRP archive
You too can observe the birds of our very special piece of the world!
When is the best time to observe birds?
Birds can be observed throughout the year, and in every season we can see something interesting. We can classify species according to their appearance over the year for easier identification into a few basic groups:
- Most nesting birds in our country nest from March to July. At that time they mark their territories vigorously with song, breed and later catch food for their youngest. If birds stay in a certain narrow area even outside the breeding season, i.e., year-round, we call them permanent residents.
- Species that do not nest here and can be observed only in a certain time of year (for example during wintering) are called visitors. Depending on when they are here, we divide them into summer, winter and migratory (these can be observed during migration) visitors.
- Vagrants are species that do not migrate in a directed way, but outside the breeding period abandon their territories and disperse over a wider area.
- Migrants are birds that after the end of breeding, usually in autumn between August and November, depart along migratory routes to areas where they overwinter. Migrant birds appear in Slovenia in spring and autumn, when they stop here in larger or smaller flocks to rest and replenish their energy reserves. Many interesting and rarer bird species can be observed especially in rainy and cloudy weather, when bad weather stops the flocks during migration.
Time of day is also important when observing birds. Most birds are most active in the morning, in the first three hours after sunrise, and in the evening. In this time they also vocalize most intensively. In the afternoon heat they are less active, so they are harder to observe then.
Nocturnally active birds, such as nightjar, podhujka and various owls, at daytime visits we usually do not notice. These birds can be observed and listened to mainly at night, most often in the late evening or early morning hours.
Birds will be easier to observe and identify if we are as calm and quiet as possible, our movements calm and slow.
For successful bird watching, follow the tips. Photo: NRP archive
What equipment is recommended for bird watching?
Binoculars are the most important tool for birdwatchers, with which we significantly ease the identification of birds. We can observe their behavior much more clearly without disturbing them too much.
For observing water birds, waders and birds that fly at greater distances or heights, and in field research in open country, the use of a spotting scope (magnifications typically between 20x and 60x) and a tripod is often necessary.
Photography of birds is not strictly part of bird watching, but from the perspective of documenting observations and interactions with nature, it can be very important.
An important aid in bird watching is also an illustrated field guide for identifying species. In a field notebook we record data about observations. We also always note the place, date, time, weather and, where possible, the number, age and sex of the birds.
When observing birds, it is advisable to wear clothing in unobtrusive colors so as not to disturb or startle the animals. To this end, we also ensure that in nature we create as little noise as possible from walking and talking.
Source: https://ptice.si/
