Participants during an outreach birdwatching walk along the Coll d’Ordino transect at around 2,000 m.a.s.l, where characteristic forest species such as Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), Common Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) can be observed among others. Photo by Andorra Recerca + Innovació
Fifteen Years of the Andorran Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (SOCA)
March 8, 2026
In 2026, Andorra marks the 15th anniversary of SOCA, the country’s long‑term Common Bird Monitoring Scheme, launched in 2011. Since its inception, SOCA has provided essential insight into population trends of common bird species across the Andorran territory.
Participants during an outreach birdwatching walk along the Coll d’Ordino transect at around 2,000 m.a.s.l, where characteristic forest species such as Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), Common Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) can be observed among others. Photo by Andorra Recerca + Innovació
Coordinated by Andorra Recerca + Innovació, the programme is built upon the work of trained volunteer ornithologists who survey standardised transects representing Andorra’s main habitat types. By 2025, 25 active transects were surveyed, 72% of which were considered priority routes, ensuring comprehensive territorial coverage and protection of Natural Protected areas.
The small size of the country (468 km²), combined with its pronounced environmental heterogeneity, gives Andorra a high diversity of species and habitats. This, together with the relatively short duration of the monitoring programme, means that only a limited number of species have yet shown statistically significant trends. However, SOCA contributes data annually to the Pan‑European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS), strengthening Andorra’s role within Europe’s coordinated bird‑monitoring community. Its indicators will help assess the state of local ecosystems, track long‑term habitat changes, and support environmental management policies.
Over its first 15 years, SOCA has become a cornerstone of biodiversity monitoring in Andorra, engaging both professional researchers and an active network of volunteers. The programme continues to grow in scientific value, providing robust data to guide conservation efforts today and in the years ahead.
We extend our warmest thanks to all the volunteers whose dedication and fieldwork make the SOCA programme possible year after year.
Clara Pladevall
SOCA coordinator
Investigadora de Ciències Biològiques