Since August 2022, the protocols for sightings of rare birds can be entered directly on ornitho.ch. Since then, the Swiss Rarities Committee (SRC) has already been able to process 251 observations submitted via the online protocols. A big thank you for your contributions!

To facilitate the administrative work, the SRC asks observers to fill in the forms as soon as possible. It is not necessary that all persons submit a completed form.  What is most important is that the person who discovered the bird fills in a record. Documentation of the last sighting is also important, so it is essential that a form is filled in by the person who was able to observe the bird for the last time. Complete documentation of additional individuals or observations of a known bird at a new location is also necessary.

A description of the circumstances of discovery and observation is important for documentation. Several photos showing all relevant identification features, if possible, are very helpful. If there are neither photos nor sound recordings that allow a clear species identification, a detailed description is essential. A good description should enable the members of the SAK to verify the identification beyond doubt. It should therefore focus on differential characteristics, i.e. justify why it is the reported species and why other similar species could be excluded. If necessary, a justification of the sex and/or age determination is also required.

The SRC thanks you for your valuable cooperation and wishes you fascinating observations!

Photo: Pygmy Cormorant (C. Vannier)

Switzerland has a new breeding bird: for the first time, the Cattle Egret has bred in our country. This is the culmination of a longer development. For several years now, more and more of the small white herons have been observed in our country.

This press release can be downloaded at www.vogelwarte.ch/mediennews.

On 22 March we informed you for the first time that after many, many years ornitho.ch is available in a new appearance. Since then, it has been possible to use the new, responsive design. So far 2119 ornitho.ch users have tested the new design. 1597 (75%) have not returned to the old design and are now using the new version.

If you have not yet changed, try it out! To do so, click on the yellow button "Try the new version of the site" at the top of the website. You can also use this button to return to the old design at any time.

We will continue to develop the new design in the coming years and in the medium term we will simplify the use of ornitho.ch, make it clearer and adapt it to today's technical standards. The old design will no longer be available as soon as all international ornitho portals (e.g. ornitho.it) have switched to the new design.

On behalf of the ornitho team, we wish you a wonderful summer !

 

The Swiss Rarities Committee (SRC) has published the minutes of its last meetings, held on 26 June and 3 July 2023, on the SRC website (www.vogelwarte.ch/src). Among the reports accepted during that meeting are the 1st record of Moltoni's Warbler, the 1st record of Common Yellowthroat, the 3rd record of Pacific Golden Plover, the 3rd record of Saker Falcon in category A, the 7th record of Bonelli's Eagle in category A, the 7th record of Pallas’s Leaf-Warbler, the 15th record of Spectacled Warbler and the 16th and 17th records of Audouin’s Gull. The new colonies of Pallid Swift in Brig and Geneva were also accepted.

Forms for the Swiss Rarities Committee can now be submitted directly to ornitho.ch. The online form appears automatically when a sighting needs to be documented. Please note that a detailed description of the bird and/or the voice and the circumstances of the observation are particularly important. Any complements (e.g. field sketch, photographs) are welcome. In the normal case, the person who discovered the bird is responsible for the sighting documentation.

The SRC thanks you for your collaboration and wishes you many interesting summer observations!

 

Depending on the breeding bird species, the atlas code is no longer automatically requested by the system since July 1 or August 1. However, we would be grateful if you would continue to attach it in case of justified breeding indications (Atlas code 7 or more). This applies in particular to duck families with still dependent young.

Many thanks for your help!

Your ornitho.ch team

On Sunday 25 June, three of our known male Ospreys - including a particularly mobile one - were located. Two others escaped everyone's attention, reminding us how easy it is to miss the species. Read more at www.balbuzards.ch.

Observations made above the forest line are extremely valuable due to the fact that the density of birdwatchers in the Alps and the Jura is rather low. We are also interested in observations of migrating and wintering birds at high altitudes. When submitting your observations, do not forget to check the altitude suggested by the system and correct it if necessary.

In order to get the best possible information, we ask you to locate your sightings as precisely as possible (zoom into the map until the blue and yellow dots appear, then click on the observation site; in the drop-down menu displayed, select "Add observation with exact localization"; the tip of the red pointer should point to the observation site). By doing so the altitude of the observation is automatically and precisely determined by the system. You can also add exact localizations to observation lists if you wish to (see Tipnews from 6.5.2022). If you use the NaturaList app, each of your sightings is automatically localized exactly.

We thank you in advance for your commitment and wish you fruitful hikes!

This year's first "Osprey Morning" confirmed the presence of at least 5 and possibly 6 birds, including one female, in the Trois-Lacs region. For more information, see www.balbuzards.ch.