POPULATION TRENDS OF THE DOTTEREL CHARADRIUS-MORINELLUS IN FINLAND DURING THE PAST 150 YEARS

The population trends of the Finnish Dotterel were studied for the pas t 150 years. A comprehensive study of Finnish ornithological literatur e was undertaken, the main bird archives were worked through and addit ional data were gathered through personal correspondence. Thus an almo st complete coverage of the published observations was obtained, augme nted by many previously unpublished records. The number of observation s was fairly stable up to the mid-twentieth century, the slight appare nt increase being mostly due to an increase in the numbers of bird-wat chers. In reality the numbers probably decreased. The peak abundance w as most likely in the 1880s. The main reason for the subsequent declin e was obviously overhunting. In the 1950s the Dotterel was still fairl y numerous; a decrease probably started sometimes during the 1950s-196 0s, although little published information is available. At the main Fi nnish study area (Varriotunturi fells) the number of breeding pairs ha s dropped dramatically since the early 1970s. The main reason for the recent decline is probably the use of pesticides in the wintering area . During the Finnish ornithological history the number of Dotterel hav e decreased to 1-10% of the original, perhaps even more. As no exact d ata were available for the Dotterel it was not included in the ''Red D ata Book'' of Finland. The data presented in this report suggests that it would belong at least to the category ''in need of monitoring''. T he Dotterel is Listed in the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (Directive 79/409/EEC).