Going to the beach during the autumn break? Help birdwatchers count dead birds
Registering and counting dead seabirds can help us understand why they die.
Whether you are a beginner or experienced, you can sign up to count dead seabirds with the Danish Ornithological Society. (© Skagen Bird Station) 20 minutes ago
On a walk along the beach, it is typically the small, golden pieces of amber that your eyes are looking for.
But you can also use your autumn break walks to keep an eye out for dead seabirds – and thereby help the country's bird enthusiasts register them.
That is the call from the Danish Ornithological Society (DOF).
The count is intended to provide insight into how the birds are doing and how we can take better care of them, says Simon S. Christiansen, who is director and nature guide at Skagen Bird Station.
- It is sad if we lose them over time because we do not investigate what is happening to them. Counts are made of birds that have been washed ashore, so we get insight into which species typically die and what they die from.
In some parts of the country, volunteers also collect the dead birds so they can be autopsied.
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> Several of them become entangled in ghost nets or eat plastic. Others die of hunger. So it is not just one thing they are challenged by, but many.
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Several threats pressure seabirds
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In autumn, more seabirds are present in the waters around Denmark.
But a number of circumstances are putting pressure on the birds. These include lack of food, pollution, and changes in the marine environment.
- Several of them become entangled in ghost nets or eat plastic. Others die of hunger. So it is not just one thing they are challenged by, but many, says Simon S. Christiansen.
According to DOF, there have been cases in recent years of outright mass mortality among gannets, kittiwakes, fulmars, and auks.
For example, around 200 dead seabirds washed up at Fanø in a week in 2022.
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Both beginners and experienced can take part
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It is not difficult to take part in the counts, says Simon S. Christiansen. But you should have some knowledge of species.
- It requires that you can recognise the birds, but you can also take pictures in our app, and we can help with species identification.
- If you are completely new and green, though, it is a good idea to go with someone at first, he says.
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How to get started counting seabirds
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You need to know a little about bird species or go with someone who does.
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You need to have the DOFbasen entry app downloaded on your phone.
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You also need to send an email to [email protected] to sign up. After that, you will receive information and guidance on how the count is carried out.
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All registrations can be used. So you decide for yourself whether you walk a single kilometre along the beach or hike for a whole day.
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You can also sign up as a volunteer to collect and store the birds, which will subsequently be autopsied. You can also sign up for that task via [email protected].
Source: DOF
Counts can be carried out on all of the country's coasts. But dead seabirds often wash ashore along the west coast, the east coast of North Jutland and Djursland, and the coast of North Zealand.
You decide for yourself how far you walk and how much time you spend on it, says Simon S. Christiansen.
- And the great thing about taking such a walk is, of course, that you might be lucky enough to see some living birds.
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