THE DECLINE OF WET-MEADOW BIRDS IN SCHLES WIG-HOLSTEIN GERMANY FROM 1950 TO 1992

In Schleswig-Holstein, most wet meadows have been transformed into cul tivated grassland (1446 km2). The populations of 12 selected bird spec ies have changed correspondingly: Corncrake and Ruff now are almost ex tinct in the lowlands; the Snipe drastically declined (from 13 000 pai rs in 1970 to 1500 pairs in 1992). Due to a broader habitat choice and an increase in embanked areas a decline is less noticeable at least f or the whole country in Lapwing (in 1992 63 % of 1970), Black-tailed G odwit (in 1970 1500-2000, in 1992 1250 pairs), Ruff (150 breeding fema les), Skylark (in 1992 20 % of 1975), Blue-headed Wagtail (in 1950 180 00, in 1992 2100 pairs), Whinchat (in 1950 13000, in 1992 2200 pairs). Species for which the decline in lowlands does not seriously affect t he total of Schleswig-Holstein are Oystercatcher > 15300, Redshank > 6 000, Meadow-pipit 10000-13000 (all figures for 1992). In the Curlew th e situation is not fully known (in 1985 260-310 pairs.