EuroBirdwatch 2023

The EuroBirdwatch23 took place on the weekend of 30 September and 1 October 2023. 

Over the weekend of 30Sept and 1 Oct 2023, more than 15 thousand people attended the EuroBirdwatch 2023, the biggest European birdwaching event. 34 national partners of BirdLife International across Europe and Central Asia invited people to more than 770 different events to observe the fascinating bird migration and see more than 3.5 million birds on their way southwards to their wintering places.

A first summarize direct after the events brings the amazing results from 28 BirdLife Partners in following numbers of 777 events, 15.125 participants and more than 3.52 million observed birds. The data of all national partners were collected, evaluated and published by the European Center, which was the Slovak BirdLife Partner.

Here some results:

TOP 1 - most events

1. MME/BirdLife Hungary (161)

2. Vogelbescherming Nederland (140)

3. Natuurpunt / Natagora Belgium (81)

TOP 2 - most participants

1. HOS/BirdLife Greece (3,000)

2. MME/BirdLife Hungary (2,445)

3. BirdLife Sweden (2,000)

TOP 3 - most observed birds

1. BirdLife Finland (1,496,000)

2. BirdLife Sweden (944,045)

3. Vogelbescherming Nederland (340,500)

TOP 3 – most abundant bird species

1. Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

2. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

3. Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Some ornithological highlights

Many rare species like were recorded during events across Europe: Richard´s Pipits in Austria and Belgium, 122 Lesser White-fronted Geese in Lake Kerkini in Greece, Pacific Golden Plover in Hungary, Radde´s Warbler in Sweden, 834 individuals of Sociable Lapwing in Uzbekistam, 2 Little Buntings in Netherlands and many other rare species (see table with RIA results).

Wide media and awareness actions have been implemented across Partnership. For example: EuroBirdwatch23 was the head-line of the program in a live-production in Swedish radio together with BirdLife Sweden. Most of the program was sent from a hotspot on South-eastern Öland but there was also a live interview made from Batumi Raptor Count, the BirdLife-partner in Georgia. Many others press and awareness action were performed for increase knowledge on birds in general public across Europe and Central Asia.

For more details click here. 

The Story of Success of the Europe & Central Asia Partnership

How It All Began

On 20th June 1922, the ICBP (International Council for Bird Preservation) was founded in London as the first international organisation for the protection of nature. In the 1990s, there was a discussion in the organisation about a reform of its structure. A great step was taken when on 3 March 1993, the organisation started with a new structure and a new name: BirdLife international.

As the first worldwide action, BirdLife partners in more than 100 countries started a common awareness action, the “World Birdwatch” on 9 and 10 October 1993.

In Europe some BirdLife Partners decided to additionally organize a reporting system which would create an overview of the numbers of observed birds, of events and of the participating people. This European action was initiated and organized by Johanna Winkelman (Vogelbescherming Nederland) and Fritz Hirt (BirdLife Switzerland), both members of the European Committee of BirdLife.

The main goal was to raise awareness of the need to save migratory birds, their breeding areas, the stopovers on the migration routes and the wintering places. Furthermore the organisation with the new name should be introduced to the public.

The success was great. As the results of Europe were reported to the European Centre (run by one of the national partners) until Sunday 18:00, the media could get up-to-date information. Thus, the impressive cross-national event received a lot of media attention and coverage. In Europe, BirdLife partners of 17 countries had joined the action. 17,119 people took part in 1,812 events and counted 5 million birds!

A Tradition Was Born

After the public success of this first happening, the European Partnership began to organise the event every year, much to the pleasure of the organisers and the participating people, including a lot of children.
Therefore, in 2018 we celebrate the 25th anniversary of EuroBirdwatch, the awareness-campaign for the migratory birds and their habitats.

25 years EuroBirdwatch: Annually, BirdLife partners in 17 to 41 countries participated in the EuropeanBirdwatch. More than 1,18 million of people joined almost  40'000 events to admire and learn more on the impressive migration of birds to the South.

Page with overview of results 1993-2017.