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In the beginning of 2012, two new indicators of breeding birds have been published on Biodiversity.fi pages. Breeding bird indicators can now be found related to altogether seven different primary habitats of Finland. Only shores and rocky habitat do not have bird indicators yet.

The inland water breeding bird indicator has been developed in collaboration with Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute and Finnish Museum of Natural History. The indicator represents the development of water birds (Black-throated Loon, grebes, ducks and Eurasian Coot), gulls and Common Tern since the y1985. Indicators have been divided into oligotrophic and eutrophic groups based on the characteristics of the observation site or the habitat demands of the species.

The indicator indicates that waterfowl populations of oligotrophic inland waters have increased markedly. At the same time, waters waterfowl populations of eutrophic lakes and ponds have declined. Causes behind the decline of eutrophic inland water birds remain unknown. They may include the decline of Black-headed Gull which presence provides protection for nesting ducks as well as predators, hunting and the hypereutrophication of the habitats. Indicator is based on the voluntary counts carried out by hunters and bird-watchers.

Alpine breeding bird indicator is based on the standard route counts of the Finnish Museum of Natural History. It shows that populations of the seven indicator species have declined on average 30 % since the year 1996.

Inland water birds

Alpine breeding birds