Priority species

Swiss species recovery programme for birds Help for the most endangered bird species. The Swiss species recovery programme for birds aims to set up recovery projects for endangered species. It is a collaboration between the Swiss Ornithological Institute and the Swiss Association for the Protection of Birds SVS/BirdLife Switzerland, in close cooperation with the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN.

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	Recovery programme for the capercaillie The capercaillie, the largest of all grouse species, lives in conifer-dominated, open mountain forests with well-developed bilberry shrub layers and little disturbance by humans. Three nationwide censuses carried out in 1968/71, 1985 and 2001 have shown a clear negative trend in both population numbers and geographical range in Switzerland.
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	Recovery programme for the whinchat The whinchat is a ground-nesting passerine of traditionally cultivated grasslands and hay-meadows. Its future depends on the existence of grasslands cultivated at low intensity, that is, with restrictions for fertilization (no liquid manure), irrigation and silage.
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	Recovery project for the jackdaw The population of the jackdaw has declined in Switzerland. The preservation of the traditional as well as the creation of new breeding sites in towns did not lead to a population recovery. The negative population trend is probably due to a generally low reproductive success.
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	Recovery programme for the whitethroat The whitethroat is a characteristic bird species of the open farmland with herbaceous field boundary strips and low hedges and bushes for nesting. Due to habitat loss, the once widespread species is now missing in large parts of the Swiss plateau. Therefore, specific habitat improvements aim at promoting populations of the whitethroat.
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	Recovery programme for the woodlark Nowadays, the distribution of the woodlark in Switzerland is confined to the western Jura mountains and the sun-exposed slopes of the central and upper Valais. Conservation measures are urgently needed to make the long-term survival of the woodlark in Switzerland possible.
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	Recovery programme for the lapwing Within a century, marshlands, the original habitat of the lapwing, were converted to farmland. As a result of habitat loss, lapwings declined to low numbers by the 1930s. This trend reversed, as they turned to breed in farmland. Numbers increased to 1´000 pairs by 1975. However, this short-lived peak crashed to 100-120 pairs actually breeding in Switzerland.
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	Recovery programme for the black-headed gull In this recovery programme, the causes of the drastic population decline of the black-headed gull are investigated and appropriate conservation measures worked out.
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	Recovery programme for the middle spotted woodpecker In Switzerland, the middle spotted woodpecker is restricted to mature oak forests. To maintain viable populations of this habitat specialist, specific measures in terms of habitat management are needed.
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	Recovery programme for the ortolan bunting The rescue of the ortolan bunting is urgent! The rare passerine persists in only few sites in the canton Valais.
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	Recovery programme for the kestrel and the barn owl Compared to the 1960ies, populations of the barn owl and the kestrel have substantially declined in the Swiss lowlands. The declines are thought to be primarily due to reduced supply and accessibility of food as a consequence of agricultural intensification and to a lack of suitable breeding sites.
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	Species recovery programme for the woodcock The woodcock, a very secretive forest species, has almost completely disappeared from Swiss lowland forests. The causes for the range contraction and the negative trend in population numbers are unknown.
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	Recovery programme for the hoopoe Coming to the aid of the hoopoe is an ambitious undertaking, which can succeed owing to the extensive knowledge accumulated during previous studies.
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	Recovery programme for the nightjar In the Valais, the endangered nightjar is promoted by thinning out pine forests.
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	Recovery programme for the scops owl The Swiss Ornithological Institute enhances food availability for scops owls by implementing herbaceous strips along meadows.
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	Reintroduction of the grey partridge Up until a few decades ago, the grey partridge inhabited climatically favourable arable regions in Switzerland. In the second half of the 20th century, the population has decreased from 10´000 to only a few individuals. The future of the grey partridge in Switzerland remains uncertain.
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