Annex 2-5

This wader inhabits the boreal, temperate and steppe regions of Eurasia. The Icelandic population amounts to about 5000-15000 breeding pairs. It is wintering in the British Isles and seems to be slightly increasing. The continental population of Europe is wintering in West Africa, mainly Senegal and Mali. The birds of the Netherlands and Denmark migrate through the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. Those of Central Europe migrate through Tunisia and Algeria. A small population is passing through the Balkan Peninsula in order to reach East Africa. Despite the fact that the species has extended its breeding area and increased in some regions, it is overall rather declining. This is largely due to agricultural intensification in Europe and problems in the wintering quarters (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------End-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This large wader inhabits the temperate and boreal regions of Eurasia. European birds winter in Western Europe, the Mediterranean regions and Africa. Their total population is totalling 135000 breeding pairs, Russia not included. In many regions, especially in the south-western part of its range, this species is declining and its distribution is contracting following loss of breeding habitat (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------End-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This wader is breeding in temperate, boreal and steppe regions of Eurasia, from the Iberian Peninsula to northern Norway and from the British Isles to China. The birds of southern Europe are largely sedentary. Those of the north are wintering from the North Sea to northern and north-western Africa, and those of Iceland winter mainly in the British Isles. Those of the British Isles are largely sedentary but some individuals disperse between Denmark and Portugal. In Greece birds from Eastern Europe are seen on their migration to north-eastern Africa. The total European population is estimated at 346000 breeding pairs, Russia not included. In most of the south-western part of its range this species seems to be declining, especially the inland populations (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------End-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This gull inhabits the major part of the temperate and boreal regions of Eurasia, from the Atlantic coast to Kamchatka. Since the beginning of the century it has considerably extended its distribution and increased its numbers. It has colonised Italy and Spain. The population of the European Union (12 Members States) is estimated at 900000 breeding pairs. During winter it is strongly augmented by birds from Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea region, the total European population being estimated at 1.9-2.2 millions of breeding pairs, Russia not included (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------End-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This species inhabits boreal, temperate and steppe regions of Eurasia and North America. Locally it also occurs in arctic region. Most of the birds of Europe are wintering from the Baltic Sea to the British Isles, but small numbers reach the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean. The population of the European Union (12 Members States) amounts to about 120000 breeding pairs, the total European population to about 524000 pairs (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------End-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This gull inhabits the coasts of northern and western Europe, from Iberia and the British Isles to northern Russia. Western European birds are wintering in the Iberian Peninsula and north-western Africa, but increasing numbers remain in the North Sea. This population has considerably increased since the beginning of the century. The birds of the north of the continent (Larus f. fuscus) move to the eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and East Africa. This population has strongly decreased since the mid-1960's. The total population of the European Union (12 Members States) amounts to about 135000-140000 breeding pairs, the total European population being estimated at 219000 pairs (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------End-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Herring Gull senso stricto (Larus argentatus) inhabits North America, north-eastern Asia and north-western Europe, from south-western France and the British Isles to north-western Russia. Most of these birds breed in coastal habitats, but in some regions the species also breeds far inland. Only the northern populations move to the south-west in winter. The population of the European Union is estimated at 450000 breeding pairs and the total European population at 800000 pairs. The species has strongly increased since the beginning of the century, so much that in many regions control programmes have been designed (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds). Four races of the Yellow-legged Gull inhabit the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, the Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula and south-western France, the Azores and Madeira. Inside the continent it is breeding in Switzerland and Austria. Most of the populations are sedentary, but many birds from the Mediterranean move outside the breeding season northwards to Central Europe and the coasts of the Channel and southern North Sea. The population of those races in the European Union is estimated at 140000 breeding pairs. They have strongly increased in recent decades (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------End-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This gull inhabits marine coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. In Europe it is breeding in France and from the British Isles to Norway. The birds of the southern part of this distribution area are largely sedentary. Those of the north move to the south in winter. The population of the European Union amounts to 30000 breeding pairs, the total European population to 120000 pairs. In many regions this species has increased during the last decades, and it has colonised some new regions, e. g. in Germany and the Netherlands. Currently its populations seems stable (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- End ------------------------------------------------------------------------