TIMMERMAN A (1970) The kingfisher Alcedo atthis as a breeding bird in the Netherlands. LIMOSA 43 (1): 31-38.

The kingfisher Alcedo atthis never has been numerous as a breeding bird in the Netherlands. It was found breeding however in many places in the eastern and southern provinces along the many streams and brooks of the higher pleistocene soils. It was also found behind the dunes of North and South Holland and in several suitable localities in the lowlands. In the Netherlands it prefers small rivers and streams, but is sometimes found breeding near ponds, in moats, in canals, claypits, gravelpits, fish-ponds and other places with stagnant water, where the water is clear and the vegetation is not dense. In winters with severe frost numbers are decimated. During the last 20-25 years the population has definitely been decreasing. Several factors are responsible for this. The decrease is being investigated. Although this research is not yet finished, it is possible already to mention some factors as the main causes (due to human activities) for the decrease in the Netherlands. They are: 1. The disappearing of the breeding places (steep banks) by regulation of rivers and small streams. 2. The waterpollution by industry and toxic chemicals. 3. Disturbance of the breeding localities by recreation (many formerly quiet places where kingfishers used to breed, are crowded nowadays, especially during weekends). 4. Destination-change of the breeding area (industrializing etc.). 5. The deforesting of the banks of brooks and streams. Through this change the kingfisher has lost its observation-posts. 6. Persecution by man, although the kingfisher is totally protected in the Netherlands all the year round. The kingfisher is tolerated in some fish-ponds. They are not open to the public and are therefore the best places to protect the bird. The kingfisher had a very bad time during the severe winters of 1956/57 and 1962/63. Since 1960 an investigation is being made into the breeding population. It has resulted in the conviction that in the period before 1963 some hundred breeding pairs were present (map I). In 1963 7 breeding pairs were found, but there may have been a few more (map II). From 1964-1968 the breeding population was restoring again locally and according to investigations there may have been at least 50 pairs (map III). It is hoped that Nature Conservation Authorities will succeed in protecting some breeding places. More over the possibility to establish special kingfisher feeding places and new breeding places is being studied and should be set up in the near future.

[free pdf] [dutch summary]