The Greenfinch is moderately declining in Czechia. Over three thirds of the country´s breeding population was lost since 1982. Photo by Ivan Zagura
Breeding Bird Surveys in Czechia: 2021 overview
January 3, 2022
Population trends for 107 common bird species in Czechia for the period 1982–2021 were published online. Read a short report on the Czech breeding bird survey.
The Greenfinch is moderately declining in Czechia. Over three thirds of the country´s breeding population was lost since 1982. Photo by Ivan Zagura
The goal of the schemes is to document long-term changes in the numbers of common bird species in Czechia. Currently, there are two independent, parallel monitoring schemes, the older BBMP (Breeding Bird Monitoring Programme, Czech abbreviation JPSP) running since 1982, and the new LSD (in Czech Liniové sčítání druhů) – Breeding Bird Survey Czechia running since 2018.
2021 results
Participants and localities:
| BBMP | LSD breeding | LSD winter | |
| people | 56 | 77 | 71 |
| localities | 78 | 139 | 122 |
Only the BBMP data have been used for trend calculations because of the short timescale of the new data. Data have been processed by a semi-automated procedure using BirdStats and Trim. Population trends for 107 species are published on jpsp.birds.cz/vysledky.php and used for further analyses.
The Greenfinch continues to decrease; the year-to-year decline was over 5 %. The link to trichomonosis is evident and why CSO started a systematic collection of information about bird diseases in Czechia (birdlife.cz/choroby).
The European Starling shows traditionally good numbers. Central Europe is a hotspot of its autochthonous population, which is increasing slightly compared to most other European countries.
Two expert studies were carried out in 2021: The Common Bird Indicator for the Ministry of Environment (including two sub-indicators for forest birds and farmland birds) and The Farmland Bird Indicator for the Ministry of Agriculture. Gained income is essential for the management and development of both schemes.
The smoothed Farmland Bird Indicator for the period 1982–2020 based on data on twenty farmland bird species. JPSP 2021
The final evaluation of the year took place at the CSO membership meeting on 6th November 2021. As in previous years, a lottery was organised for those volunteers who counted and sent their data correctly and in time. The paramount price (binocular Meostar B1 10*32) was assigned to only participants counting birds for ten and more years.
Management
The Czech Society for Ornithology manages both the schemes with its steering group consisting of Jiří Reif, Petr Voříšek and Zdeněk Vermouzek.
Contact person: Zdeněk Vermouzek, +420 773 380 285, verm@birdlife.cz.
The European Starling is moderately increasing in Czechia, unlike in many other countries in Europe.
Photo by Michal Lutonský