In Europe hunting has contributed to the disappearance of many rare bird species (Mitrus & Zbyryt, 2015, Ornis Polonica, 56, 309–327). In Poland even formerly widely distributed and common species such as the Least Concern coot Fulica atra, tufted duck Aythya fuligula and Eurasian teal Anas crecca, and the Vulnerable common pochard Aythya ferina, have declined dramatically (Wylegala & Lawicki, 2019, Common Pochard, Tufted ducks, Eurasian Teal, Coot—State of Population and Impact of Hunting, Salamandra, Poznan, Poland).
In July 2019 the Polish National IUCN Committee appealed to the Ministry of the Environment, requesting the removal of these four species from the list of game species and the granting of strict protection. In addition, changes have been proposed to the Hunting Law that would support these species, including: (1) delaying of hunting dates for water birds, to avoid the breeding season, (2) prohibiting hunting of water birds after sunset, when it is difficult to distinguish species, (3) introducing the obligation to base hunting plans for migratory water birds on results from monitoring, (4) obliging hunters to help eradicate invasive species from wetlands, and (5) prohibiting the use of lead shot for hunting within 500 m of wetlands (Wylegala & Lawicki, 2019, op cit).
The proposal related to lead shot deserves special attention. Poland is one of the few EU countries where the use of lead ammunition is allowed in all habitats (Kitowski, 2018, Oryx, 52, 611–611). This is despite Poland's ratification of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and that the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention in Quito in 2014 adopted a resolution on preventing poisoning of migratory birds and recommended introduction of a ban on lead ammunition (Lamare, 2015, Proceedings of the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species, Bonn, Germany). However, to date, this resolution has been ignored in Poland despite evidence of the accumulation of high levels of lead in water birds (Kitowski et al., 2017, Ambio, 46, 825–841).
Unfortunately, in August 2019 the Ministry of Environment, in response to the IUCN appeal, indicated there would be no changes to the list of game birds or to the Hunting Law (Redakcja, 10 October 2019, zycierolnika.pl/index.php/aktualnosci/item/4374-resort-rolnictwa-przeciwny-wstrzymaniu-polowan-na-ptaki-lowne).
