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EuroBirdwatch 2024
The EuroBirdwatch24 took place on the weekend of 5 - 6 October 2024.
EuroBirdwatch24 - RIA Results, Sunday 6 October 2024, 19/00 CET
A first summarize direct after the events brings the amazing results from 29 BirdLife Partners in following numbers of 984 events, 24 614 participants and more than 3.57 million observed birds. The data of all national partners were collected, evaluated and published by the European Center, which was the Slovak BirdLife Partner.
Here some results:
TOP 1 - most events
- MME/BirdLife Hungary (195)
- Vogelbescherming Nederland (156)
- Natuurpunt / Natagora Belgium (90)
TOP 2 - most participants
- HOS/BirdLife Greece (5 500)
- MME/BirdLife Hungary (4 120)
- SVS/BirdLife Switzerland (2 963)
TOP 3 - most observed birds
- BirdLife Finland (1 400 000)
- BirdLife Sweden (617 808)
- Vogelbescherming Nederland (383 269)
TOP 3 – most abundant bird species
- Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)
- Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
- Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Some ornithological highlights
Many rare species were recorded during events across Europe for example Yellow-browed Warbler in Hungary and Netherlands, Red-necked Phalarope in Poland, Parasitic Jaegers in Romania, Levant sparrowhawk in Serbia, Dusky Warbler in Sweden and Finland, Northern bald Ibis in Turkey, Ruddy Turnstone in Austria, Slavonian Grebes in Belarus, Little Buntings in Belgium, Red-footed Falcons in Bulgaria and Belgium, Pied Wheatear in Cyprus and many other rare species (see table with RIA results).
After RIA results - 17 October 2024
The Story of Success of the Europe & Central Asia Partnership
How It All Began
On 20th June 1922, the ICBP (International Council for Bird Preservation) was founded in London as the first international organisation for the protection of nature. In the 1990s, there was a discussion in the organisation about a reform of its structure. A great step was taken when on 3 March 1993, the organisation started with a new structure and a new name: BirdLife international.
As the first worldwide action, BirdLife partners in more than 100 countries started a common awareness action, the “World Birdwatch” on 9 and 10 October 1993.
In Europe some BirdLife Partners decided to additionally organize a reporting system which would create an overview of the numbers of observed birds, of events and of the participating people. This European action was initiated and organized by Johanna Winkelman (Vogelbescherming Nederland) and Fritz Hirt (BirdLife Switzerland), both members of the European Committee of BirdLife.
The main goal was to raise awareness of the need to save migratory birds, their breeding areas, the stopovers on the migration routes and the wintering places. Furthermore the organisation with the new name should be introduced to the public.
The success was great. As the results of Europe were reported to the European Centre (run by one of the national partners) until Sunday 18:00, the media could get up-to-date information. Thus, the impressive cross-national event received a lot of media attention and coverage. In Europe, BirdLife partners of 17 countries had joined the action. 17,119 people took part in 1,812 events and counted 5 million birds!
A Tradition Was Born
After the public success of this first happening, the European Partnership began to organise the event every year, much to the pleasure of the organisers and the participating people, including a lot of children.
Therefore, in 2018 we celebrate the 25th anniversary of EuroBirdwatch, the awareness-campaign for the migratory birds and their habitats.
25 years EuroBirdwatch: Annually, BirdLife partners in 17 to 41 countries participated in the EuropeanBirdwatch. More than 1,18 million of people joined almost 40'000 events to admire and learn more on the impressive migration of birds to the South.
Page with overview of results 1993-2017.
