NIJLAND F (2002) Breeding populations of meadowbirds in the province of Friesland in 1999. LIMOSA 75 (4): 169-172.

The province of Friesland, in the northern part of the Netherlands, is rich in meadowbirds. In a previous contribution (Nijland et al. 1996) population sizes were estimated for six species in 1991, for the greater part based on data collected by the 'Bond van Friese Vogelbeschermingswachten' (BFVW). For the year 1999 the estimates for five species were updated: Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Redshank Tringa totanus and Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago (tab. 1). Densities are presented for grassland reserves and for farmland (tab. 2). Compared to the 1991 estimates, the populations of three species have shown a major decline. Oystercatcher (27 000 pairs in 1999) and Black-tailed Godwit (20 500) lost one third of their population and Common Snipe (500) lost half of the population. Lapwing (43 000) and Redshank (10 700) show a much smaller decline. The decline of the Black-tailed Godwit occurs all over the Frisian agricultural land. The species has maintained its numbers in grassland reserves with exception of the clay on peat region.

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