How many bird species breed in Austria? New Austrian breeding bird atlas published

2.1 million data records, 2,300 volunteer mappers (citizen scientists) and 235 native breeding bird species: The Austrian Breeding Bird Atlas 2013-2018 is the most up-to-date and comprehensive source of information on the occurrence of breeding birds in Austria and changes in their distribution over the last few decades. With detailed maps, illustrations, photos and texts, a new standard work of ornithology has been created after 30 years.

From the rock ptarmigan to the black-headed gull to the scops owl: The breeding bird atlas presents the distribution of all 235 bird species that bred in Austria in the period 2013-2018 on 680 pages and compares these results with the first Austrian breeding bird atlas (1981-1985).

The bird species are very unevenly distributed across Germany: The far east is particularly species-rich, where up to 129 bird species were found breeding per 100 km2 in some places. The number of species decreases significantly with increasing altitude, and in the mountains above the tree line only a handful of specialists such as Alpine choughs and snow sparrows breed.

The data was collected in the form of citizen science, mainly via the online reporting platform ornitho.at: more than 2,300 volunteer mappers collected more than 2.1 million data records over six years.

Editor Norbert Teufelbauer from BirdLife Austria: "The breeding bird atlas brings together findings on the current distribution of our breeding birds. It provides a scientifically sound basis for efficient nature conservation work in Austria and also shows interested people everything they need to know about Austria's breeding birds in an appealing format."

Leonore Gewessler, Minister for Climate Protection: "Austria's many and valuable bird species are an extremely important part of a complex and delicate balance and contribute significantly to the colorful uniqueness of our nature. I am delighted that the Austrian breeding bird atlas now provides a standard work for further research. This makes it clear what an important contribution science and research are making in the fight against the climate crisis."

Andreas Gruber, Chief Forestry and Nature Conservation Officer of the Austrian Federal Forests: "We are meeting the challenges of climate change with near-natural and sustainable forest management, climate-friendly forests and intact forest ecosystems. This requires sound basic research, innovative solutions and constructive cooperation across sector boundaries. The partnership between BirdLife and the Federal Forests has existed for more than 20 years: Together, we have derived practical bird protection measures from scientific findings in ornithology, which are implemented in our districts. This standard work will support our employees in the ecological management of the forests."

The Austrian Breeding Bird Atlas 2013-2018 is published by Verlag Naturhistorisches Museum Wien and costs EUR 95.- (978-3-903096-72-1). Orders can be placed at: verlag@nhm.at

The project was supported by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management and the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection as part of the Rural Development 2014-2020 program.