Ecology of waterfowl in the region of Lake Neusiedl, Austria, particularly in the World Wildlife Fund Seewinkel Reserve

Abstract

As a first step towards a management plan for the Seewinkel area east of Lake Neusiedl, with a special consideration of the World Wildlife Fund Reserve situated in its center, the most important landscapes of the whole Lake Neusiedl region are described biogeographically. The Anatidae are classified in groups according to their ecology, and Coot grebes, divers and Cormorant have been included. Eighteen species which are ecologically most important for the region have been treated in detail, 10 species occurring in smaller numbers only briefly, and 21 species which are rare are simply listed. Quantitative, phenological and geographical data are given as far as available. The inter-relationships between the various habitats and the 1,200 breeding pairs (12 species) as well as the 50,000 autumn migrants (mainly 5 species) are described. The feeding habits of these birds and the three main habitat management problems (increasing expansion of reed, decrease of short-grass pastures and damage to crops) are discussed.