Monitoring Forsmark-Bird monitoring in Forsmark 2012

This report summarizes the monitoring of selected listed (Swedish Red List and/or the EU Birds directive) breeding birds in Forsmark 2002 - 2012. Monitoring of eleven listed species was conducted in the regional model area, including the candidate area in 2012 in the same way as in earlier years. The results from 2012 generally follow patterns recorded in earlier years. 2012 was in general a better bird year compared to 2010 and 2011 and most species (82%) showed increasing or stable numbers from 2011 to 2012. Only two species (18%) decreased in numbers between the last two years. All in all, six species (55 %, black-throated diver, honey buzzard, black grouse, ural owl, wryneck and red-backed shrike) show no significant trends since the start of the bird monitoring (2002/2003/2004 depending on species). During this period three species (27 %, white-tailed eagle, osprey and lesser spotted woodpecker) have increased in numbers while just two (18 %, capercaillie and hazelhen) have decreased. A new pair of black-throated divers was discovered in 2012 and seven resident pairs were registered. Breeding success was very good, the second best during the study period. Population development follows the national pattern, but breeding success seems to be better in Forsmark than in the country as a whole. Honey buzzards and ospreys occurred in good numbers, and breeding success for ospreys was good. No signs of successful breedings of honey buzzards were recorded, but this may mean little as no detailed monitoring of breeding success is made for this species. The white-tailed eagles had their best breeding year since the start of the SKB bird monitoring, meaning that during the last two years local breeding success has been back at the level recorded before the site investigations started. The three grouse species (black grouse, capercaillie and hazelhen) again showed somewhat varying patterns between the last two years as well as in the long run. The black grouse increased from the low level recorded in 2011. Capercaillie numbers in the parts of the area covered decreased slightly. Hazelhens increased in the candidate area, but did not change in the remaining parts of the regional model area. Overall, both capercaillie and hazelhen show negative trends in the area at large, but not in the candidate area. Numbers of black grouse has not changed in general, but instead has varied in what seems to be a cyclic pattern. Black grouse have however disappeared from the candidate area during the study years. The ural owl territory being closest to, but still outside, the candidate area that has been vacant for the last two years was occupied again in 2012. Five pairs were found in the whole Forsmark area. No significant change in numbers has been recorded during 2002-2012. Breeding success in 2012 was very poor. The wrynecks decreased somewhat from 2011, but the overall trend shows no change in numbers. Lesser spotted woodpeckers increased in numbers up to the record level of 21 territories. Red-backed shrikes finally increased slightly between 2011 and 2012 and there is no significant trend in shrike numbers around Forsmark during the study period