Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of 'British Birds' Sweden's woodpeckers and Cormorants Europe Newsletter, 85-4; Sveriges Natur June Two of Sweden's rarer breeding species, the 1985). The woodpecker's population fell White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos from 100 to 50 pairs between 1970 and 1982 due leucotos and the Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, to the loss of deciduous woodland. Now it have recently been in the news (Council for is feared that it could follow the path of theMiddle Spotted Woodpecker D. mrdius, which became extinct in Sweden in 1982. The action of Government and private individuals may, however, help the Whitebacked. New broadleaf-woodland legislation may reverse the decline, and 250,000 old hollow trees are to be marked to ensure that they are not felled. The Cormorants, on the other hand, are doing well, so far. They reestablished themselves in Sweden in the 1940s (after an absence of around half a century) and since then the population has risen to 1,500 pairs in two colonies in Kalmarsund. Now, the Swedish National Environment Protection Board has given permission for the birds to be hunted, because they are 'an inconvenience to fishermen'. An inconvenience! It is difficult to believe that the authorities have conclusive proof of damage to fisheries. Such a move cannot be supported, and we hope that pressure to reverse this decision is successful.Keep your Sunday evenings free The fifth series of'Nature', the Natural History Unit's topical magazine programme, will be on the air from the end of February through