Thorsten Krüger

Lower Saxon State Department for Water Management, Coastal Protection and Nature Conservation (NLWKN) · State Agency for Bird Conservation

During systematic sea watches carried out between 1 September and 15 November 1999 on the East Friesian island of Wangerooge, observations were recorded of the flight altitude of coastal birds in relation to wind direction and speed. In Red- throated Diver Gavia stellata, Common Eider Somateria mollissima and Common Scoter Melanitta nigra the propo...

Breeding attempts of European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) pairs have occasionally been documented far north of the species’ normal range, exceptionally as far as the 17 °C July isotherm. These attempts often failed—in many cases in association with adverse and fluctuating weather conditions, which are thought to lead to, amongst other effects, star...

Kitesurfing is a relatively new recreational activity that emerged internationally at the end of the 1990s and was introduced at many European locations for the first time in the early 2000s. Very soon it became obvious that for birds kitesurfing could create a disturbance stimulus as severe as or even more severe than windsurfing. Yet to date ther...

In 1898, the first complete survey of breeding Rooks Corvus frugilegus in all state and municipal forests under the administration of the state of Lower Saxony, NW-Germany, revealed a population of 26,444 pairs. The population in its entirety may be estimated at approx. 30,000–35,000 pairs. With the help of eclectic data corrected according to obse...

The Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago was once a widespread, common breeding bird in the north-west German lowlands, with its population peak around 1800 to 1850. As such, it was well known, especially to the rural population, who gave it regionally different names in the language they spoke, Low German. For the area of the federal states Lower Saxo...

Since the 1950s Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus decreased dramatically all over the wide-spread breeding area (MIKANDER 2015). Nowadays Lesser Whitefronts are one of the most endangered waterbird species in Europe (BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL 2015). KRÜGER & KRUCKENBERG (2011) could show that the species has been frequently observed in Lower...

In 2021 European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) population was surveyed state-wide in Lower Saxony and Bremen. Reports from 200 ornithologists showed 138 confirmed or probable breeding attempts and 193 possible broods, meaning one single observation indicating breeding activity within the breeding period. All of these were limited to Lower Saxon...

The northern hawk owl is a real irruptive species that respond to irregular changes in the food supply. When prey levels are adequate, it breeds and winters within northern forests. Decreased prey availability can start winter invasions, the timing and magnitude of which are the subject of this study. Mainly the citizen data were extracted from the...

In Lower Saxony and Bremen, a state-wide survey of the two meadow bird species Northern Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit was carried out in 2020. A total of 18,289 territories of Northern Lapwing and 1,789 territories of Black-tailed Godwit were recorded. Taking gaps in coverage into account, a total population of 19,000-22,000 breedings pairs of No...

Presented here is the Red List of threatened breeding birds of Lower Saxony and Bremen. For classification, the criteria proposed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and approved both by the Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation) and the Red List working group of the De...

The first record of a Snowy Owl in Germany goes back to the year 1758, in which a bird was shot near Dresden, Saxony, and delivered to the Royal Natural History Collection. Including this record, a total of 304 records of 326 Snowy Owls have been made in Germany up to and including winter 2019/20. Between 1800/01 and today, 137 Snowy Owls were shot...

This article presents updated quantitative criteria to assess the importance of specific sites as habitats for migratory waterbirds in Lower Saxony. The criteria refer to different regional levels and factor in the distribution patterns of the different species in Lower Saxony. The assessment of a particular site is based on the number of occurring...

Based on 528 species of the categories A, B and C listed in the current check-list of the birds of Germany, it was checked whether and how their German vernacular names have changed since 1900. For this the standard references of Anton Reichenow, Ernst Hartert, Oskar Heinroth, Günther Niethammer and Hans Edmund Wolters as well as the names used in...

In the course of influxes Short-eared Owls breed in comparatively large numbers in mainland meadow grasslands of northern Central Europe. Depending on the intensity of agricultural use of meadows, clutches are threatened with destruction by mowing and breeding females can fall victim to mowing. Replacement clutches also have little chance of surviv...

Checklist of the Birds of Germany, Version 3.2. Booklet, 32 pp.. Includes official German names and status of all the 527 bird species recorded in Gemany. Systematics and taxonomy follow v. 9.2 of the IOC world bird list.

From 28 August to 6 November 2010, an adult White-crowned Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga stayed at the camping ground Wremen at the German North Sea coast (municipal district of Cuxhaven). It was confirmed that the same bird had previously been observed from 30 June to 3 July at Saltbæk Vig, Sjælland, Denmark. This paper attempts to summarize the obse...

Based on an overview of the recent breeding distribution of the Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, the species’ population numbers, its migratory movements and overwintering areas, as well as an outline of the historical and current distribution in husbandry in Germany and other European countries, a catalogue comprising ten criteria is presented with th...

Checklist of the birds of Germany 2018: updates and changes. This article comments on the changes in the new reference list on German birds. Criteria for allocation of species to the various status and distributional categories are explained in detail and comments are given on some individual species. Species newly recorded since the publication of...

The birds of Germany are presented in a current checklist as of 30th June 2018. Each species is assigned to one of three categories. For the first time, this checklist also includes all recorded subspecies. In addition, concise information on the distribution and abundance of breeding birds and the status outside the breeding season is provided. Th...

This article comments on the changes in the new reference list on German birds. Criteria for allocation of species to the various status and distributional categories are explained in detail and comments are given on some individual species. Species newly recorded since the publication of the previous list (2005) are listed. A few changes of German...

The birds of Germany are presented in a current checklist as of 30th June 2018. Each species is assigned to one of three catego-ries. For the first time, this checklist also includes all recorded subspecies. In addition, concise information on the distribution and abundance of breeding birds and the status outside the breeding season is provided. T...

Der Nationalpark Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer hat nicht nur für eine Vielzahl von Wasser- und Watvögeln eine hervorragende, internationale Bedeutung als Gastvogellebensraum, sondern auch für einige Singvogelarten. Seit Ende der 1990er Jahre ist bekannt, dass das Gebiet großen Anteilen der Populationen fennoskandischer Ohrenlerchen Eremophila alpest...

In the course of a strong influx of European Bee-eaters in northern West, Central and East Europe on 11 June 2015 a flock of 18-20 individuals was discovered at the East Frisian-Frisian North Sea coast (midpoint at about 53°40 N, 7°33 E; Lower Saxony). Thus, the birds stayed in the sea marsh, a landscape which naturally does not provide sandy walls...

Red List of Breeding Birds of Lower Saxony and Bremen. 8th edition, 2015. Presented here is the red list of threatened breeding birds of Lower Saxony and Bremen. For classification, the criteria proposed by the IUCN and approved both by the Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation) and the red list working group of th...

The Atlas of German Breeding Birds (Atlas Deutscher Brutvogelarten: ADEBAR) represents the first systematic and uniform approach to the recording of Germany’s breeding birds. There are 280 breeding bird species in Germany. Of these, 248 native and 20 non-native species occurred as regular breeding birds in the majority of the mapping years. For a f...

At the end of April 2014 a mixed brood of Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) and Eurasian Treecreeper (C. familiaris) was discovered in a beech-oak forest within the city of Oldenburg, NW Lower Saxony, Germany. Observations revealed that the Short-toed Treecreeper was the male and the Eurasian Treecreeper of the race C. f. macrodactyla...

In the period from 1907/08 to 2006/07, i.e. 100 winters, 156 records of 261 Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus were reported in Lower Saxony. The first records were from 9 December 1907. For the period before 1970, only accidental occurrences were reported. A large increase in the number of records occurred in the 1990s and continued in th...

The first reports on the occurrence of Northern Hawk-Owls in Germany were published by J. M. BECHSTEIN, A. C. SIEMSSEN and M. B. BORKHAUSEN in the last decade of the 18th Century. The descriptions of the collected birds are unique and in addition BECHSTEIN delivered a copper engraving of a mounted individual which confirm one of these records. The...

The first documented record of an Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa l. islandica) for Germany goes back to 30th March 1972, and it took a long time before the next bird was recorded on 11th May 1981. Another 16 years later, in April 1997, the next records followed, marking the beginning of the regular occurrence of islandica in Germany. By 2009...

On the basis of current data, we try to point out in this paper which breeding bird species should get main attention, especially from the administration of Lower Saxony, responsible for the protection of nature. For drawing up a priority list only breeding-bird species which belong to the regular breeding birds in the study area have been consider...

In spring 2006, Germany saw an influx of Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) in a strength never recorded before. The beginning of the influx can be dated as May 23rd, when at two places far distant from each other flocks of 30 resp. 56 individuals were discovered. After the beginning in pentad 29 (May 21st - 25th) additional birds dropped in during pen...

The first record of Leach's Storm-petrel for Germany dates back to 1583, when on 24 th September two were caught far away from the coast near Heidelberg. Until 2004, a total of 2,679 birds was recorded in Germany, 26 of these were recorded before 1900. Between 1901 and 1913, the species was seen nearly annually. Until 1947 the annual total was 1–3...

Aufbauend auf den in diesem Themenheft vorgelegten Arbeiten sollen hier die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse zu Situation, Habitatwahl und Gefährdung von Wiesenlimikolen in Niedersachsen bilanziert werden. Hierbei geht es weniger um die Wiederholung konkreter Daten und Fakten als vielmehr um eine möglichst prägnante Synopse mit thesenartiger Pointierung. H...

The occurrence of selected seabirds and coastal birds off Wangerooge in autumn: the influence of wind direction and wind force.Between 1995 and 1999 a study was made of the autumn migration of seabirds and coastal birds on the seaward side of Wangerooge Island (SE German Bight, East Frisian Islands; 53°47′N 07°54′E). Analyses are based on a total o...

Between 1995 and 1999 a study was made of the autumn migration of seabirds and coastal birds on the seaward side of Wangerooge Island (SE German Bight, East Frisian Islands; 53degrees47'N 07degrees54'E). Analyses are based on a total of 418 h on 118 days from I September to 15 November, Migration patterns in relation to wind direction and wind forc...

Summary Between 1995 and 1999 a study was made of the autumn migration of seabirds and coastal birds on the seaward side of Wangerooge Island (SE German Bight, East Frisian Islands; 53°47′N 07°54′E). Analyses are based on a total of 418 h on 118 days from 1 September to 15 November. Migration patterns in relation to wind direction and wind force ar...

Im Oktober 1999 wurden an zwölf Tagen die Wanderungsbewegungen von See-und Küsten-vögeln über einen die gesamte Tageslichtperiode abdeckenden Zeitraum mit der Methode der Seevogelplanbeobachtung erfaßt (Beginn: 30 min nach Sonnenaufgang). Die Zugintensität war allgemein in den frühen Morgenstunden am stärksten mit einem Gipfel gleich zu Beginn der...