Podiceps auritus (Linné 1758), Horned grebe (Podicepedidae)

Compiled by: Christof Herrmann, Henrik Skov & Wlodzimierz Meissner

1. Description of the Habitat/Autecology of the species

The Baltic Sea is mainly important during the non-breeding season, when birds from Fennoscandia and Russia visit the region during winter (October–March). Most birds use sub-littoral, sandy and estuarine areas along the mainland coasts between 10 and 25 m water depth (Durinck et al., 1994). The main prey of the species during the non-breeding season is fish and small crustaceans (Cramp, 1985).

2. Distribution, past and present

Non-breeding distribution in the Baltic Sea only surveyed once; in February-March 1992-93 (Durinck et al., 1994). The species range is off the mainland coasts between Fehmarn and Klaipeda, with the main area being Pommeranian Bay (Durinck et al., 2004).

3. Importance (Sub-regional, Baltic-wide, Global)

Only a small proportion of the large Russian population winter in European waters, the majority are believed to winter in the Black and Caspian Seas (Ilicev, 1985). The number of wintering birds in the Baltic Sea constitutes approximately 37 % of European winter population (Durinck et al. 1994). The Pomeranian Bay is of global importance to the species with 30% of the European winter population. 

4. Status of threat/decline

Recent declines in the breeding populations have been noted in Finland and Sweden since 1990 (BirdLife International, 2004). No breeding trends are available from Russia. The trends in the wintering and moulting populations in the Baltic Sea are generally not known, however numbers in Polish waters have been in decline since 1993 (HELCOM HABITAT, 2004; University of Gdansk, Pers. Comm.).

5. Threat/decline factors

By-catch in gill nets is believed to play a role for the current trend in Polish waters (University of Gdansk, Pers. Comm).

6. Options for improvements

Studies on the extent of by-catch in main non-breeding range. These should possibly be followed by implementation of regulations of gill net fisheries in key areas, especially within SPAs to meet requirements for a favourable conservation status of the species.

7. References

BirdLife International 2004. Birds in Europe. Population estimates, trends and conservation status. BirdLife Conservation series 12, Cambridge, UK. 374 pp.

Cramp, C. (Ed.) 1985. The Birds of the Western Palearctic Vol. IV. Oxford University Press. 960 pp.

Durinck, J., Skov, H. Jensen, F.P. & S. Pihl 1994. Important Marine Areas for Wintering Birds in the Baltic Sea. Report to the European Commission.

Ilicev, V.B. 1985. Handbuch der Vögel der Sowjetunion, Vol. 1. Wittenberg Lutherstadt, Ziemsen.