60th International Waterbird Census (IWC)
The 60th International Waterbird Census (IWC) will take place on January 17 and 18, 2026. The IWC is a global monitoring program in which all waterbird species around the world are counted annually and synchronously. The counts are organized during the non-breeding season, when many bird species gather in wetlands. Tens of thousands of volunteers and professionals then head to their local wetlands – from ice-cold lakes to tropical tidal flats – to count waterbirds.
These monitoring efforts allow the health of waterbird populations to be tracked. In addition, the counts also guide decisions in the field of nature conservation and policy. INBO plays a coordinating role in the counts in Flanders.
>> The most recent figures on the size and trends of waterbird populations
>> More information about the anniversary year 2026 (60 years of counts!)