Prepared by Daniel Piec Natura International Polska

Transcription

1 Report from Study Visit in Romania on 14 to 18 September 2016 under the task F.5, part of the LIFE project Protection of rare zone birds within selected Natura 2000 areas in Lublin Province Prepared by Daniel Piec Natura International Polska

2 Overview On 14 to 18 September 2016 we had our first, of three, planned study visits under the project Protection of rare zone birds within selected Natura 2000 areas in Lublin Province (). The study visit was held under the F.5 task (Establishing networks with other projects). Following persons were present: Janusz Wójciak Scientific Coordinator of the Project (LTO) Tomasz Bajdak Project Coordinator (LTO) Daniel Piec Project Manager (NATURA) Purpose of the trip Purpose of the study visit was to exchange experiences related to protection of birds of prey, especially the lesser spotted eagle. In years Milvus Group ( was the partner of LIFE project Conservation of Aquila pomarina in Romania ( A number of tasks completed under that project was similar in nature to operations are now carried out in Lublin region, in particular monitoring, the use of GPS trackers, analysis of habitat selectivity, protection of nestles and feeding grounds, securing power lines, creating protection plans for Natura 2000 areas, as well as educational and promotional activities. Another goal of the study visit was the exchange of experiences from running the mid-size NGO, especially as regards fund raising and maintaining LIFE projects. Fig. 1 Presenting the project at the seat of the Society

3 Trip plan On 15 September we met with representatives of Milvus Group, and NGO. The meeting was held at the NGO's office in Targu Mures. Tamas Papp Director of the Front Office introduced employees of the organisation. Participants handed over promotional materials and regional food samples from the Lublin region. Telemetry The conversation went on to include the use of telemetry technologies in monitoring of lesser spotted eagle movements. Janusz Wójciak showed the maps of long-distance migrations of lesser spotted eagles in the Lublin region in GPS trackers, used in the Polish project, communicate with the user via GSM network, when the bird is within the range of GSM network. Satellite trackers PTT, used in the Romanian project, were monitored by the Argos system. This solution is much more expensive, but enables uninterrupted monitoring of birds. Trackers attached to birds monitored by the Romanian project keep acquiring data, and their routes may be followed on the website Polish lesser spotted eagles migrate throughout eastern part of Romania, continue alongside the Black Sea coast, crossing Bulgaria and the Bosphorus. Tamas pointed out the potentially high mortality rate of lesser spotted eagles passing the area of wind farms, erected en masse in the Dobruja region. The participants agreed that barriers within the migration route of lesser spotted eagles could be the subject of an international project, but details require further specification. Fig. 2 Erika with the satellite transmitter

4 Studies of habitat selection The use of telemetry technologies enables also determination of habitat selection by lesser spotted eagles. In the Polish project, data from migrations within one hatching season are laid over the map of habitats. Due to high dispersion of sites, complex statistical techniques had to be applied to determine preferred habitats. Tablets are used to map habitats, which enables their mapping directly in the GIS system. In the Romanian project, the method of direct field observation of hunting lesser spotted eagles was chosen. This enables recording only actually hunting lesser spotted eagles, and them mapping them in the GIS system. Habitats were determined on the printed map and then copied into the GIS. This indicates progress in availability of technologies and equipment that occurred within just a few years. Fig. 3 A fragment of the mapped territory of lesser spotted eagle Extensive agriculture in Transylvania region, with multitude of grazing grounds and forests, is the ideal habitat of lesser spotted eagle.

5 Fig. 4 Typical habitat of lesser spotted eagle in Transylvania Monitoring Romania is the country where over 20% of EU's population of lesser spotted eagle nests, but distribution of nests is not uniform. The majority of population nestles in Transylvania and Carpathian Mountains. Milvus Group monitors lesser spotted eagles in Transylvania region, although the scope of monitoring activities depends on available funding. Local populations in Carpathian Mountains are monitored by volunteers with ties to the organisation. The number of occupied territories is determined, as the minimum, based on observations of feeding birds. As opposed to the Lublin region, Romanian ornithologists do not attempt searching for nests, as this is not covered by annual monitoring, unless they want to ring the nestlings. It was determined that under Transylvania conditions, where changes to agricultural landscape are slower than in Eastern Poland, monitoring of demographic parameters at this stage is probably optional. With limited financial and human resources, the priority should be given to identification of the number and distribution of lesser spotted eagles at the largest area possible.

6 Fig. 5 Natura 2000 area subject to the LIFE project Nest protection Romanian legislation does not provide for mandatory establishment of nest zones. In addition, large fragments of forests are in private hands. Establishment of nest zones was covered by LIFE project, although due to the lack of legal grounds and large number of owners, the task mostly consisted in agreement of principles with individual owners. In the consequence, protection of nests was sometimes subject to the consent of owners. Unfortunately, not everyone demonstrated friendly attitude towards the project, including forestry services. Mechanisms to enable verification of observing project-related agreements and commitments by land owners. Also 150 nest platforms were erected under the project. Protection programs and strategies Under the LIFE project information meetings were held with stakeholders from individual Natura 2000 areas. During such meetings matters of ecology, distribution and protection of lesser spotted eagle, mostly in the aspect of nest protection, farming and illegal killings, were discussed. Project partners also prepared the national program for protection of lesser spotted eagle. As in Poland, protection programs aim at summarizing the state of the art and to orient the species protection. The Government of Romania is not obligated to implement the program. Romanian LIFE project also assumed developing a sustainable agriculture plan for lesser spotted eagle. The program had been implemented, but it is not popular among Romanian farmers. Securing HV power line pylons 1500 pylons were secured under the project. As opposed to the Polish project, power companies in Romania require that the service is paid for by the project.

7 The field part Participants explored the landscape and typical habitats in Transylvania, east of Targu Mures. The area is characterized by dense population of lesser spotted eagle. Grazing land dominates, interspersed with corn, alfalfa, hops and cereal crops. Straw is arranged in stacks, which makes the landscape different from Polish, where straw silage is more and more common. Bred animals are mostly sheep. A few farmers pay the shepherd to graze the herd on nearby grazing grounds. Sheep dog and occasional bear pose the highest risk to field ornithologists. Use of fencing there is uncommon. Some fields also seemed uncultivated, with visible succession of shrubs. Due to steepness of the slope, the use of heavy equipment is limited - meadows are often mowed by hand. Later during the trip we approached the nest of lesser eagle. Young lesser eagle was still within his territory, and we spotted an adult bird brining a prey for his outspring. Their food is mostly comprised of small mammals and small amount of amphibians. The young bird was ringed in spring, as the only one this season. Fig. 6 Watching lesser eagles within their hatching territory

8 Later we visited the field station and the health center for injured birds. We were impressed by professional design of aviaries. The centre caters mostly to storks and birds of prey, often injured in collisions with overhead power lines. Each aviary is fitted with surveillance cameras enabling monitoring of birds from Targu Mures office. Birds are taken care of by local famer. The field station is maintained in traditional convention, and is used for educational purposes. Fig. 7 Typical landscape of the Targu Mures area

9 Fig. 8 Milvus Group field base Fig. 9 One of aviaries for injured birds

10 As advised by Tamas, we had also visited the outskirts of Oradea, near the Hungarian border. As opposed to Transylvania, the dominant form of landscape are planes, with more intense agriculture. Despite that we were very much impressed by the number of common buzzards and common kestrels. We also spotted a long-legged buzzard. We had also visited the roosting sites of red-footed falcons, with over 600 birds. Fig. 10 red-footed falcon, male and female

11 Fig. 11 A flock of red-footed falcons coming in for the night