Waterfowlers Network Webinar Highlighted International Cooperation 19th September 2025
On Tuesday, 9 November, the Waterfowlers Network hosted a webinar focusing on the status of waterfowl populations in Northwest Europe and the importance of cross-border collaboration. The event, held in English, was attended by hunters and waterfowl enthusiasts from across Europe.
Text: Lene Midtgaard
Migratory birds do not recognize national borders, making international cooperation essential for sustainable management. Through the Waterfowlers Network, hunters and experts from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Germany are joining forces to safeguard waterfowl populations and habitats.
The one-hour program provided both scientific updates and practical insights:
Claus Lind Christensen, Chairman, welcomed participants and introduced the aims of the network.
Veli-Matti Pekkarinen, Waterfowl Habitat Specialist with the Finnish Hunters’ Association, presented the latest monitoring results from Finland. Forty years of data reveal long-term declines in several breeding duck species, particularly in nutrient-rich waters.
Lene Midtgaard, Secretary of the Waterfowlers Network, explained how international wing surveys—collecting wings from harvested birds—help determine age, sex, and productivity. Last season, more than 19,000 wings from four countries provided valuable data on Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, and Greylag Geese.
Dr. Cat McNicol, Head of Science & James Green, Head of Wildfowl and Wetlands at BASC, outlined principles from the Sustainable Shooting Code, stressing self-regulation, evidence-based harvest limits, and habitat management. The presentation highlighted how over 90% of UK shooters now follow best practice guidelines for woodcock, and in its first year of its launch 50% of surveyed wildfowling clubs had adopted the sustainable shooting code of practice
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, underscoring the value of international cooperation and knowledge-sharing. Recordings of the presentations are now available, offering members and interested hunters the opportunity to revisit the talks:
Latest Results on Breeding Populations in Finland 2025
What the Latest Wing Survey Results Reveal 2025