In the middle of last January, the Natural Processes Monitoring Team (ICTS-RBD) carried out the census of wintering birds in the Guadalquivir Marshes (Doñana Natural Area, adjacent non-protected areas and the Brazo del Este Natural Park).

All non-passerine birds that use the wetlands during their wintering are taken into account, and three types of census are carried out: aerial (valid mainly for anatidae, Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and large waders), terrestrial (all species), and roosting areas (some Ciconiiformes and diurnal raptors, Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Common crane (Grus grus)).

The natural marsh of the Doñana Natural Area presented optimal flood conditions, what prompted a great abundance of waterbirds. Thanks to the rains that occurred after the summer (319.1 mm) and the new entrance of water supplies through the Travieso channel, the marsh had water in channels, temporary shallow ponds “lucios”and low marsh, as well as in high marsh of Las Nuevas and Marismillas, although not in much quantity. Saltpans, aquaculture ponds and rice fields also had an extensive surface of water.

The total estimated figure has been 617,380 birds, of a hundred different species, being the second highest in the last 15 years after the one obtained in 2017. It is worth mentioning as a historical record the figures obtained for Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), White-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala), Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia).