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About the project
in Project Southern dunlin
The southern dunlin is listed as Critically Endangered in Sweden today. The reason for the reduction in numbers is primarily because of landscape drainage which has had severely negative effects on waders and other species.
The projects’ main aim is to save the critically endangered southern dunlin from extinction by strengthening and stabilising the wild population and increasing the public’s knowledge of the southern dunlin, waders and coastal meadows.
The project has four main tasks:
- Monitoring
- Breeding, rearing and releasing
- Field conservation activities
- Raising awareness
Important wetlands
Wetlands and coastal meadows play an important part in the ecosystem for groundwater levels and for reducing the release of greenhouse gases. They are also among the most species-rich environments in Sweden.
Your lottery ticket makes a difference
Thanks to the Swedish Postcode Lottery, and to you who buy tickets, we have the chance to save the critically endangered southern dunlin.
A symbol for a vulnerable ecosystem
Alarming numbers show that biodiversity is reducing in Sweden. The number of red listed species has increased by 11% over the past five years. As a result, Sweden no longer meets the global target for biodiversity and more must be done to save our nature. One group of species that stands out is Swedish birds, where the numbers of several wading bird species have reduced drastically. The situation for the southern dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii, found in only a few small, isolated colonies, is especially acute. This modest and beautiful wader species is a flagship speciesstandard bearer for Swedish coastal meadowland environments. By saving Sweden’s last remaining colonies other coastal meadowland species and biodiversity itself, will benefit.
How we work in the project
Monitoring and surveying
On selected sites, nests will be carefully monitored throughout the breeding season. The work involves, among other things, counting eggs, ringing individuals and noting the number of fledglings.
Breeding, rearing and releasing
We are initially working with a conservation technique called "headstarting".
In headstarting, eggs are collected from the nests of wild birds, after which the chicks are hatched and then raised in enclosures. When the chicks have grown up, they are released in suitable locations.
Field conservation activities
The measures need to be adapted to local conditions. This involves, among other things, achieving favourable grazing and establishing or restoring shallow bodies of water by plugging ditches.
För att minska predationstrycket arbetar projektet även med både direkt och indirekt predatorkontroll.
Education and information
In the project, we work in several ways to spread knowledge about the southern dunlin and other waders, as well as their habitats and biological diversity. Some examples are lectures, events and information on site.
Anuual report for 2023
In the annual report for 2023, you can read about what we achieved during the year - from the successful headstarting, where around ten birds were helped to survive the most critical part of their lives, to the autumn's wetland restoration in Segerstad. There you can also find the alarming figures from the spring inventories, which show how dire the situation is with the population and how important it is that we help the southern dunlin now, before it's too late.
Annual report 2023 (in Swedish)
Annual report 2023 (in English)
Surprise visit from the Post Code Lottery
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The last stand for the southern dunlin
With financial support from the Swedish Postcode Lottery
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