The Hunting Confederation of Greece decided to implement the research programme “Phenology of migration in aquatic and coastal birds in Greece” to achieve two aims: (i) To determine the dates of pre-nuptial migration of aquatic and coastal birds from Greek territory toward breeding grounds, so that the authorities concerned could take decisions and administrative measures based on scientific facts relating to hunting activity. (ii) To provide scientifically documented knowledge on the bird population of Greece, as provided for by Hunting Association statutes which state the administration and conservation of the environment as a fundamental aim.

The methodology of the programme was determined based on a wealth of scientific papers, advice from professors of ecology and fauna methodology in Greece, the OMPO organisation (the Institute of Migrating Birds of the Western Palearctic), and IMPCF (the Mediterranean Institute of Hunting Heritage and Fauna) and the significant document “79/409 Directive” (Article 7, paragraph 4, subparagraph 3),

Determining the phenology of migration in aquatic birds requires records of birds in significant habitats for the species. For this reason, particularly significant habitats all over Greece were chosen and this project was entrusted to specialised observers, having ensured that each of them would assume his job with responsibility. The success of this operation was grounded in the best possible choice of observers involved in the programme, who had to complete a required number of training sessions before observations began.

Priority was given to wetlands all over Greece, known for their significance in terms of bird population, but also for the fact that they were representative of the species under study. More specifically, the choice of the 22 wetlands was made based on the following criteria:

i.    Wetlands noteworthy for aquatic bird populations during their migration period.
ii.     Wetlands able to sustain a satisfactory number of the species being studied.
iii.     Easily and safely accessible wetlands for observers at all observation stations for the duration of the period of research.
iv.     Relatively small wetlands (ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand square metres) where records would be considered complete.
v.     Larger wetlands (a few hundred acres to a few thousand acres) where a number of observations could be made from one or more observation posts to be chosen with particular care and distributed throughout the habitat. A necessary prerequisite is that observations be carried out methodically in the same manner each time and in exactly the same position, for the duration of the study so that the results are valid.
The method of observation was determined according to the following strict criteria:
i.     A predetermined list of species to be observed in all habitats where the programme is being carried out.
ii.     A responsible person to be appointed for every habitat and a substitute for him, as well as a number of observers per habitat (1,2,3 or 4).
iii.     Organised training sessioins to acquaint every observer with the work he will be undertaking and to ascertain his ability to identify and record bird species. The sheet for recording numbers of birds and the sheet for describing the birds at each wetland are presented at these training sessions. Following that, demonstrations of the observation procedure are held and each observer is evaluated so that uniform comparison of data in all habitats can be made.
iv.     Observation of pre-breeding migration of the birds under study is carried out during the period 1st January until 30th April every year for the duration of the study.
v.     The observation of post-breeding migration of the birds being studied is carried out during the period from 1st July until 31st December every year for the duration of the study.
vi.     Observation dates are allocated so that one observation can be made during each of the three ten-day periods every month for all the months of the study. Saturday is the chosen day for observation so that if it is impossible to carry out the observation, it can be effected the following day, on Sunday.
vii.     Recording is always carried out in favourable weather conditions, preferably in the morning with the sun behind the observer and when birds are quiet. On the whole, the first hour after sunrise is not ideal for observation as ducks are still in motion.
viii.     Weather forecasts are monitored so that every observation can be scheduled accordingly. For example, if a recording is scheduled for Saturday and the weather forecast predicts rain, the observation can be carried out the day before, on Friday, if the weather for that day is favourable, or, similarly, it could be delayed until Sunday. If all else fails, the observation can be delayed until Monday. In any event, the next scheduled observation is not changed. If the weather forecast predicts bad weather on all these days, the observer should wait at his observation post for a fairly long time so that he can make use of a temporary improvement in the weather during the day. Under no circumstances should a recording be missed during a 15 day period
ix.     If an unexpected event, such as a disturbance amongst the birds, hinders a reading, then the observer should wait for a restoration of normal conditions or come back the next day to make his observation.
x.     The person responsible for each observation post is made fully aware of the characteristics of the habitat before scheduled recordings begin. The aim is for observations to be made as accurately as possible and for them to include all the species under study frequenting the habitat. For this reason, the place or places from which the observer will make recordings are predetermined so that all the species under study are recorded, as mentioned above. It is evident, therefore, that the correct positioning of an observation post is of utmost importance.
xi.     If, for some reason, the observer is unable to make a recording, he notifies the person in charge of the area in good time so that the reading can be made by a substitute.
xii.     The observer uses equipment for visual observation (binoculars, telescope) and records the birds according to the method indicated during the training sessions. He uses the lowest possible telescopic zoom lens in order to observe the largest possible number of birds simultaneously. The surface area of the water is slowly scanned from left to right or from right to left so that all the birds forming the subject of the observer’s study can be identified and counted.
xiii.     All the birds which have been positively identified are recorded. Species not identified are not recorded. All the birds under study and which are present in the habitat are recorded, irrespective of their behaviour (birds on the surface of the water, birds in flight arriving at the observation post, birds leaving the observation post due to disturbance).
xiv.     Birds flying above the observation post without showing interest in the habitat (e.g. a flock at a great height) constitute subject for comment, but are not recorded as their point of origin and destination are unknown.
xv.     The observations and data collected (species, number and other relevant information) in the field, are recorded on the record sheet. It is made clear that a record sheet should be completed for every observation post in each habitat. If there is only one observer in a habitat, there is only one record sheet. If an observer has been assigned to more than one observation post (and, as a result, there is more than one observer) for complete recording of a significant habitat, the result will be as many record sheets per reading as there are observers at the respective observation posts. During the next stage, the data is transferred to an appropriately configured ACCESS data base.

The habitats shown below are the ones chosen for the implementation of the recording programme as they fulfil the requirements analytically referred to above and which meet the criteria according to the needs of the programme. The number and name of the observer responsible for recording data in each habitat are shown in the following chart:

 

Α/Α

Habitat

Wetland where observation carried out

Total number of observations per wetland

1

EVROS

Delta of Evros River

4

2

BISTONIDA & PORTO LAGOS

Lake system Bistonida & Porto Lagos

2

3

KERKINI

Artificial lake of Kerkini

3

4

VOLVI & KORONIA

Connected lakes of Volvi & Koronia

3

5

AXIOS

Delta of the Axios River

3

6

KALAMAKI

Lake region of Karla - Tamieftira Kalamaki

2

7

NAMATA

Lake region of Karla - Tamieftira Niamata

2

8

AMVRAKIKOS

River Estuary of Louros River and Lagoon in Amvrakikos Bay

4

9

KALAMAS

Delta of the Kalama River

1

10

MESOLONGI

Louros & Aitoliko Region Mesolongi Lagoon

2

11

SPERXEIOS

Estuaries of Sperxeios River & Maliakos Bay

1

12

PARALIMNI

Paralimni Lake in Evia

1

13

SCHOINIA

Schoinia Lagoon in Attica

1

14

EVIA

Istiaia Lagoon in Evia

1

15

KALLONI

Kalloni Bay in Lesbos

1

16

ALYKI

Alyki Lagoon in Limnos

1

17

KOTYCHI

Kotychi Lagoon in Achaia

1

18

PALOVA

Dibari Gialova Lagoon in Pylos

1

19

STYMFALIA

Stymfalia Lake in Corinth

1

20

EYROTAS

Delta of Eurota River

1

21

AGIA XANIA

Artificial Lake in Agia Xania

1

22

BRAMIANA

Artificial lakes at river dams – Bramiana Lake and Ierapetra Lake

1

Even though a very large number of migratory shorebirds and waterbirds can be seen in the most significant wetlands in Greece, 27 species were chosen to be recorded for the purposes of the programme “Phenology of migratory birds in Greece”. Of those, 16 are game birds and 11 non-game birds, as is shown in detail in the following chart:

 

HUNTED SPECIES

Class

Family

Greek name

Latin name

English name

ANSERIFORMES

Anatidae

White fronted goose

Anser albifrons

Greater white-fronted goose

Stachtohina

Anser anser

Greylag goose

(European) Sfirichtari

Anas penelope

Eurasian wigeon

(Kapaklis) Fliaropapia

Anas strepera

Gadwall

(European) Kirkiri

Anas crecca

Eurasian teal

Greenheaded duck

Anas platyrhynchos

Mallard

(Northern Scissors) Spit Duck

Anas acuta

Northern pintail

(European) Sarsela

Anas querquedula

Garganey

(Eurasian) Choulariopapia

Anas clypeata

Northern shoveler

(Gisari) Hunting duck

Aythya ferina

Common pochard

(Black headed duck) Tsiknopapia

Aythya fuligula

Tufted duck

GRUIFORMES

Rallidae

Water hen

Gallinula chloropus

Common moorhen

(Common) Falarida

Fulica atra

Eurasian coot

CHARADRIIFORMES

Charadriidae

Kalimana

Vanellus vanellus

Northern lapwing

Scolopacidae

Bekatsini

Gallinago gallinago

Common snipe

SPECIES NOT HUNTED

Class

Family

Greek name

Latin name

English name

CICONIIFORMES

Threskiornithidae

(Eurasian) Chouliaromita

Platalea leucorodia

Eurasian spoonbill

ANSERIFORMES

Anatidae

Horafohina

Anser fabalis

Taiga Bean-goose

Red goose or Red Throat goose

Branta ruficolis

Red-breasted goose

Chestnut duck

Tadorna ferruginea

Ruddy shellduck

Barbara

Tadorna tadorna

Common shellduck

(Eurasian) Ferentini or Ropalopapia

Netta rufina

Red-crested pochard

(European) Marshduck

Aythya nyroca

Ferruginous duck

(European) Kefaloudi

Oxyura leucocephala

White-headed duck

CHARADRIIFORMES

Haematopodidae

(European) Oyster-eater

Haematopus ostralegus

Eurasian oystercatcher

Recurvirostridae

Kalomochanos

Himantopus himantopus

Black-winged stilt

(European) Avoketa

Recurvirostra avosetta

Pied avocet

Charadriidae

Silver bird

Pluvialis squatarola

Grey plover