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©
© Lukas Linder

Volunteer ornithologist in a forest

©
© Thomas Sattler

Birdwatching in a hide

©
© Lukas Linder

Volunteer monitors birdlife

©
© Lukas Linder

Data entry using NaturaList

©
© Marcel Burkhardt

Volunteers

Back to the overview
©
© Lukas Linder
©
© Thomas Sattler
©
© Lukas Linder
©
© Lukas Linder
©
© Marcel Burkhardt

Volunteer ornithologist in a forest

Birdwatching in a hide

Volunteer monitors birdlife

Data entry using NaturaList

Volunteers

Projects
Monitoring of rare breeding and visiting birds

Keeping an eye on rare breeding birds and migrants

The monitoring of rare breeding and visiting birds involves processing over two million bird observations per year submitted by volunteer ornithologists throughout Switzerland. These provide a sound overview of the occurrence of numerous bird species in terms of time and location as well as population trends. The project is closely linked to the web portal ornitho.ch, through which observations are reported.

Domain Research
Unit Monitoring
Topic Population Development, Migratory Birds
Habitat farmland, rocky terrain, wetlands, rivers & streams, semi-open farmland, alpine habitats, wasteland, settlements, forest, meadows and pastures
Project start 1960
Project status ongoing
Project management Samuel Wechsler
Project region Switzerland, Liechtenstein

Details

Project objectives

a) Systematic collection of selected bird observations from all over Switzerland
b) Permanent overview of the occurrence of rather rare breeding and visiting birds in terms of both place and season
c) Identification of population trends
d) Early indications of range changes, invasions or other unusual events

Methodology

Detailed observations have been consistently collected since about 1960. In connection with this project, the Swiss Ornithological Institute benefits from the reporting activities of well over two thousand volunteers. These are experts with a sound knowledge of field ornithology and a broad theoretical understanding of Swiss and European bird life. Nowadays they report their observations via the internet platform ornitho.ch. Twice a year they receive our information bulletin. This contains the most notable news of the past months, along with appeals and other information.

Significance

The data collected for the monitoring of rare breeding and visiting birds is used in many different ways: among other things, it goes into national and international breeding bird atlas projects, serves as a basis for European overviews, and for certain species serves as a data basis for calculating breeding population trends. As such, the project also serves the early detection and documentation of changes in our birdlife.

Financial support

Publications

Project team members

Avatar Samuel Wechsler
Head of Monitoring
Samuel Wechsler
+41 41 462 97 79
samuel.wechsler@vogelwarte.ch
Avatar Sylvain Antoniazza
Status of bird species employee
Sylvain Antoniazza
+41 41 462 97 51
sylvain.antoniazza@vogelwarte.ch
Avatar Nicolas Auchli
Monitoring employee
Nicolas Auchli
+41 41 462 99 62
nicolas.auchli@vogelwarte.ch
Avatar Marc Kéry
Population Biology employee
Marc Kéry
+41 41 462 97 93
marc.kery@vogelwarte.ch
Avatar Marvin Moosmann
Status of bird species employee
Marvin Moosmann
+41 41 462 99 35
marvin.moosmann@vogelwarte.ch
Avatar Claudia Müller
Monitoring employee
Claudia Müller
+41 41 462 97 64
claudia.mueller@vogelwarte.ch
Avatar Christian Rogenmoser
Monitoring employee
Christian Rogenmoser
+41 41 462 97 47
christian.rogenmoser@vogelwarte.ch
Avatar Arno Schneider
Coordinator of the regional office Ticino
Arno Schneider
+41 91 840 12 91
arno.schneider@vogelwarte.ch
Avatar Bernard Volet
Monitoring employee
Bernard Volet
+41 41 462 97 55
bernard.volet@vogelwarte.ch
Monitoring link
Unit

Monitoring

We monitor the distribution and populations of birds throughout the country.

Learn more

Additional projects

Monitoring of breeding birds in wetlands
We monitor the inhabitants of waters and moorlands
Swiss Rarities Committee
Recording of sightings of rare birds
Donate
Help the birds of Switzerland.
Your support allows us to monitor stocks, identify problems, develop solutions and provide assistance to endangered species.
Donate Now
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We handle the donations entrusted to us very carefully. For many years, the Swiss Ornithological Institute has carried the ZEWO seal of approval for non-profit institutions.