'It's enough to go to the Sopot pier to see wintering waterfowl,' encourages prof. dr hab. Włodzimierz Meissner, Head of the Department of Ecology and Zoology of Vertebrates, UG. - 'We can see ducks, swans, cormorants, tufted ducks and goldeneyes,' - he adds. The annual counting of wintering waterfowl in the Gulf of Gdańsk is coming to an end, with the participation of scientists and students from our University.

Prof. Włodzimierz Meissner also encourages amateur observers, reminding them that the annual count of wintering waterfowl is just finishing. The University of Gdańsk has been monitoring these species in the Gulf of Gdańsk almost since the beginning of the University. In the 1980s, a methodology for observation was developed, which is still used today, not only in Poland. It is also widespread around the world and allows for comprehensive reports on the population size and distribution of individual species in the studied waters. - 'Our monitoring is one of the longest conducted in the world,' - adds prof. Włodzimierz Meissner.

The whole birdwatching period falls between September and April, covering their migration and wintering periods. In January, however, waterbird counts are conducted worldwide. In Poland, birds are monitored within the framework of the State Environmental Monitoring. The observations are organised by the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds (OTOP) on behalf of the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, and Professor Włodzimierz Meissner coordinates them in Poland.

Every winter season is slightly different. Compared to last year, this winter is distinctly colder, which affects the number of birds. - 'In winter, it is much easier to count birds in large groups in open spaces,' explains prof. Włodzimierz Meissner.

The observations are attended by hundreds of ornithologists and bird enthusiasts equipped with binoculars and spotting scopes. As every year, the monitoring is done with the help of volunteers. Professionals alone would not be able to conduct observations on such a large scale. The participants are also students of the University of Gdańsk from the 'Kos' Student Scientific Ornithological Circle.

For professionals as well as for amateurs, a convenient place for observation is, for example, the pier in Sopot. Here you can easily observe ducks, swans, cormorants, tufted duck and common goldeneyes. When you look through binoculars from the pier further into the Gulf of Gdansk, you can also spot sea ducks, including long-tailed ducks, common eiders, velvet scoters and common scoters.

It is worth mentioning that four species of gulls are also found here, and the largest concentrations of wintering swans can be observed in the waters of Puck Bay, between Kuźnica, Chałupy and Jurata. - 'This is the biggest wintering site for swans in Poland,' adds prof. Włodzimierz Meissner.

Thanks to the commitment of many people, periodic observation reports and scientific publications are produced. The passion for birds does not only concern biologists, who are professionally connected with science. As prof. Włodzimierz Meissner emphasizes, thanks to observations we can follow changes in bird populations wintering in our country and relate them to the results of counts conducted in neighbouring countries.

Recent observations suggest that waterbirds from north-eastern Europe or north-western Asia are choosing wintering grounds increasingly closer to their breeding sites. - 'This is influenced by climate change. This trend started with climate warming. We do not know what will happen next,' says prof. Włodzimierz Meisner.

The results of the observations from this winter will be used to determine the numbers of individual species. They will complement the previous results published in the study 'Trends in bird numbers in Poland', published by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, summarizing 17 years of bird monitoring studies in Poland.