On 25.05.2010 and 16.06.2010 the Polish Avifaunistic Commission published reports on records of rare birds in Poland, including a few alien species.

Among alien birds that are regularly recorded are Wood duck Aix sponsa (4 records) and Bar-headed goose Anser indicus (1 record). Particularly worth noticing is the record of Sacred ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus. This African bird is listed among 100 of the Worst alien species in Europe. Wild populations were established by birds that had escaped from zoos. The Sacred ibis is a severe predator, particularly in heron and tern colonies in France, where its population exceeded 5000 individuals and is still increasing despite efforts to control it.

Another alien species is Demoiselle crane Grus virgo. On 4-8.05.2009 2 birds were recorded (1 was filmed) near Olsztyn (NE Poland). This is the 4th documented record of the species in Poland, after almost a 100-year break (the 3rd record was in 1912). While the origin of the birds recorded in the past was not clear, the birds recorded in 2009 are undoubtedly escapees from a private collection.

Other interesting records include 2 species of unclear origin. Their presence in Poland was either a result of natural migration, or escape from a zoo or a private aviary. One of them is American Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis recorded on 20.04.2010 near the city of Police (NW Poland). It was probably another record of the individual that on 22.03.2010 had been observed near Gryfica (c.a. 80 km away) – see the news from 22.04.2010 for details. The other species is north American Ross's Goose Anser rossii. Until 2010 there were no confirmed records of this species in Poland, while in March and April 2010 there were 4 records. The Commission classified the 2 records from western Poland as natural occurrence, while the origin of birds recored in eastern part of the country is uncertain.

On 7-9.06.2010 the Roztocze National Park hosted a plenary meeting of the State Council for Nature Conservation. Among most widely discussed topics were biological invasions. The Council adopted 3 resolutions related to alien species.

Resolution 1/VI/2010 dealt with the problem of alien turtles, sliders and terrapins, commonly kept as companion animals (this refers particularly to Red-eared terrapin Trachemys scripta). The Council stressed the urgent need to remove individuals released into natural environment. Another priority is developing a network of asylums where unwanted animals could be returned by their owners.

In resolution 2/VI/2010 the Council recommended restricting trade of subspecies of the Large earth bumblebee other than the native Bombus terrestis terrestris. This would reduce risks posed by alien subspecies imported for horticulture. The imported individuals carry alien parasites and hybridise with native bumblebees, thus “polluting” their gene pools.

In resolution 5/VI/2010 the Council supported prompt adoption of the decree on alien species that pose risks for native species and habitats. At the same time the Council recommended several amendments in this legal act, including changes in the list of alien species to be covered.

The project of a new regulation on invasive alien species that can threaten native species and habitats is available (in Polish) on the server of the Ministry of Environment. Import, keeping, breeding and selling of species included in this regulation will require obtaining a permission from the General Director for Environmental Protection.

Comments regarding this project can be sent to karolina.mazurska@gdos.gov.pl and magdalena.ciesielska@mos.gov.pl (closing date is 31.05.2010).

New report of the Polish Avifaunistic Commission from 16.04.2010 confirms 3 records of Wood duck Aix sponsa and 1 record of Bar-headed goose Anser indicus. There is also the first confirmed record of North-American Green-winged teal Anas carolinensis in Poland. The origin of the male observed on 22.03.2010 in NW Poland is not certain. As this species is not very common in captivity throughout Europe, natural occurrence of this individual cannot be ruled out. Approximately 1 month later, on 20.04.2010, 1 male was seen again, about 80 km from the previous place (this record has not been confirmed by the Avifaunistic Commission yet).

Polish version of the „Code of conduct on horticulture and invasive alien plants” is available on the portal of the General Directorate for Environmental Protection. The original Code was prepared in 2009 by Vernon Heywood and Sarah Brunel as a joint collaboration of the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO).

The Code is addressed to Governments and the horticultural industry and trade – plant importers, commercial nurseries, municipal nurseries, garden centres, aquarists – and to those who play a role in deciding what species are grown in particular areas such as landscape architects, municipal Parks and Gardens Departments, Recreation and Leisure Departments.

Its aim is to enlist the cooperation of the horticultural trade and industry and associated professionals to adopt good practices in raising awareness on this topic among professionals, preventing the spread of alien invasive species already present in Europe, and preventing the introduction of possible new plant invaders into Europe. The Code is voluntary and its effective implementation will depend on its wide distribution among the stakehloders and on there being a high level of self-regulation by the horticultural industry.

The latest report of the Polish Avifaunistic Commission was published on 18.03.2010. The report verifies records of rare birds in Poland, including alien species that escaped from captivity or were deliberately introduced by their owners.

The most alarming is a another record of breeding Egyptian geese Alopochen aegyptiaca: on 13.06.09, a female with 3 goslings and a pair with 6 goslings were seen on a polder near Racibórz, S Poland. This was the third year in a row when breeding of this species was recorded in Poland, which confirms that there is urgent need to include it into hunting species list.

Other records of alien birds verified by the Commission include Wood duck Aix sponsa and Ring-necked parakeet Psittacula krameri. A pair of the parakeets was observed over 2 weeks in December, which suggests that the species can survive winter in Poland (between 1992-1996 one bird was regularly seen in a city park in Łódź; Tomiałojć i Stawarczyk 2003).

Egyptian goose, Wood duck and Ring-necked parakeet became constant elements of the Avifaunistic Commission reports, which is a good illustration of the scale of their escapes or deliberate illegal introductions.

On 4.02.2010 the Polish Avifaunistic Commission verified a new batch of records of rare birds in Poland. Among rare alien birds, particularly interesting is the first Polish record of Reeves's Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii. One male was recorded on 11.10.2009 near the town of Chodzież in W Poland (the picture of the observed bird was taken by Bogdan Rudzionek). Other records of alien birds verified by the Commission include Wood duck Aix sponsa, Bar-headed goose Anser indicus, Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis (information on this record was reported on 26.10.2009) and a parakeet – probably Ring-necked parakeet Psittacula krameri.

Among birds of uncertain origin (most likely escapees), there is a new verified record of Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea. It is worth to notice than the Commission decided to exclude Ruddy shelduck from the list of species whose observations made after 1.01.2010 should be verified. This is a consequence of the increasing number of records of non-breeding Ruddy shelduck (records of breeding will still be verified). The same procedure was introduced over the last few years for records of Canada goose Branta canadensis, Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiacus and Mandarin duck Aix galericulata). Observations of non-breeding individuals of these three species became so frequent that there is no need to verify them any longer.

There is no doubt that one of the main factors behind the increase in the number of these birds are escapes from captivity. According to the Polish Nature Conservation Act, a person whose negligence results in an escape of an invasive alien species (Canada goose and Egyptian goose will be among species included in 2010 in the Decree defining the list of such species), can be fined or detained. Rendering captive-bred birds able to fly is an example of this kind of negligence.

The latest issue of Herpentology Notes includes an article reporting occurrence of a stable population of a Dice snake Natrix tesselata in the Czech and Polish Silesia. In 2009 around 80 individuals were recorded on the Czech side and 1 juvenile snake on the Polish side (about 9 km from the Czech population).

This area is approximately 150 km north-east from the nearest known locality of this species near Brno in the Czech Republic. The origin of the Silesian population is therefore unclear, as such a distance is considerably long for a snake to naturally expand. It is possible that the occurrence of Dice snake in this area is a consequence of intentional or unintentional introduction by man.

There is a similar uncertainty about the origin of some French populations of this species. In Switzerland introductions of Dice snake are documented. Snakes were translocated for short distances from the native range in Ticino region to areas north of the Alps, outside of their known natural range (Wittenberg 2005). As the alien species definition does not refer to administrative boundaries, Dice snakes are considered to be alien species in these parts of Switzerland despite the fact that the species is rare within its native range in the country.

A report discussing options for developing a European policy on invasive species has been just posted on the European Commission webpage. The report also includes an estimate of the costs caused by invasives to the European economy. This cost is roughly estimated at 12 billion € per year.

According to the new decree of the Minister of Environment issued on 22 September 2009, hunting American mink, Raccoon dog and Raccoon is possible throughout the year. Previously these invasive alien species enjoyed closed season allowing them to breed. The new regulation will hopefully help to reduce population numbers of these species.

One specimen of Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicenis was recorded between 25.10.-8.11.2009, in the complex of fishponds in Łężczok (S Poland; BirdWatching.pl). Due to hybridisation, this species is the main threat to the long-term survival of the globally threatened European White-headed duck O. leucocephala.

In order to protect the native species, a pan-European project of Ruddy duck eradication was launched a few years ago. In Great Britain alone this programme, fully supported by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), resulted in shooting more than 6,100 Ruddy ducks since 1995. Also Recommendations 124 (2007) and 61 (1997) by the Bern Convention urge Parties to control that species. Apart from Great Britain, shooting is also carried out in Spain and France, and is considered in the Netherlands. Poland, as a Party to the Bern Convention, should also join these efforts, even though the Ruddy duck is not invasive here: it has been recorded only exceptionally and it does not affect the White-headed duck here, as there is no breeding population of this species in Poland. This makes the Ruddy duck an attractive rarity for many birdwatchers.

In addition, control of the species in Poland could be difficult, as its legal status is not clear (it is not on the hunting species list).

On 20.09.2009, in the complex of fishponds Stawy Milickie in the Barycz river valley (SW Poland) a pair of Muscovy ducks Cairina moschata with 14 ducklings were recorded (BirdWatching.pl). This duck is one of the most common poultry species in Poland but its breeding in the wild had not been previously recorded. The reported records suggests that Poland may join several other European states where wild populations of this species are found (DAISIE, NOBANIS).

The NOBANIS group will meet in Krakow between 24-25 September. NOBANIS (European Network on Invasive Alien Species) has developed a network of common databases on alien and invasive species in 18 countries of central and northern Europe. Polish data are provided by the „Alien Species in Poland” database.

In order to raise awareness of biological invasions, the Convention on Biological Diversity chose Invasive Alien Species as the main theme of the International Biodiversity Day. On May 22, conferences, lectures, exhibitions and other activities will be organised worldwide to inform on threats from biological invasions and on ways to solve this problems.

After the long period of preparation, we are launching a new portal Alien Species in Poland. The database remains its main element. The database structure was significalny changed to comply with guidelines developed by GISIN (Global Invasive Species Information Network; www.gisinetwork.org).

The level of detail in species accounts in the database ranges from mere speciesname, to comprehensive datasheets. Some information is only available in Polish at the moment - it will be translated into English soon. In future, new alien species will be added to the database and data concerning the species already recorded will be updated. We have made every effort to check the accuracy of the data. However, we are aware that there are mistakes and inconsistencies that were not avoided. Therefore please send any questions you might have and any comments concerning the database.