Towards a new European Breeding Bird Atlas Ruud Foppen, Verena Keller Hans-Günther Bauer, Lluis Brotons, Ian Burfield, Mark Eaton, Mikhail Kalyakin, David Noble
Squares, grids and points Bird atlas on the go Jouke Altenburg & Hans Schekkerman Foto s: Harvey van Diek Peter Eekelder Hans Schekkerman Jouke Altenburg
1973-1977 1983-1987 1998-2000 2012-2015? 1950 s 1972-1976 1993-1996 2013-2016?
General methods - Breeding and wintering birds - 3 field seasons - 5x5 and 1x1 km - Repeated point coints (2x5 minutes) golden grid Dichtheid p/km 2 40 30 20 Marc Kéry 10 0
Have a look at www.vogelatlas.nl
What is the EBCC?
What are our aims? We want to: 1. Study To study the distribution, numbers and demography of European birds 2. Monitor To monitor distribution, numbers and demography so that changes may be both detected and if possible understood 3. Promote To promote the organisation and development of bird atlases, census work, population studies and monitoring in all European countries. 4. Encourage 5. Collaborate To encourage communication, contacts and collaboration between organisations, institutions and individuals interested and involved in bird atlases, census work, population studies and monitoring, primarily in and across Europe. To work closely with other international organisations for the study and conservation of birds; to collaborate with them when its expertise in atlas, census, demographic and monitoring work can be used, particularly for conservation.
EBCC is a key partner in PECBMS
Population Index (1980=100) PECBMS outputs Pan-European trends and indicators 140 Other common birds (25) 120 100 Common forest birds (33) 80 60 Common farmland birds (19) 40 EBCC/RSPB/BirdLife/Statistics Netherlands 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Year
The first European Breeding Bird Atlas Published in 1997 Spatial coverage: all of Europe except parts of European Russia and Turkey Species coverage: comprehensive Grid size: 50x50 km Data sampling period Intention: 1985-88 Reality: (70)/80-90/(95) General method: field work for atlas Estimates of breeding numbers
Maps also available on web: www.ebcc.info
Uses of previous European Bird Atlas data Targeting conservation measures Basis for Red-Listing and EU Nature Directives reporting Basis for priority setting in species conservation Research into impacts of climate change Evaluating impacts of land use change in Europe Modelling the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases Many other projects from scientists around the world
Uses of previous European Bird Atlas data Targeting conservation measures How well are European wetland species covered by the NATURA 2000 network? (Jantke et al. 2011)
Uses of previous European Bird Atlas data Research into impacts of climate change
Uses of previous European Bird Atlas data Research into impacts of climate change Maggini et al. (in prep.)
Uses of previous European Bird Atlas data Basis for priority setting in species conservation Determining responsibility of countries CH: 40 000-60 000 BP EU: 280 000 BP CH: 18 % (Keller & Bollmann 2001)
Why a new atlas? Knowing where birds occur, and how this has changed, is a crucial part in targeting conservation action Over the last 30 years, many environmental changes have impacted on populations of birds across Europe. We need up-to-date information New opportunities have arisen, improving our ability to incorporate even the most remote parts of Europe New baseline for future monitoring across the whole continent. It also provides valuable data for scientific analyses
What will the new Atlas achieve? Up-to-date distribution maps for birds across the whole of Europe. Changes in distribution since the 1980s One of the most comprehensive biodiversity data sets in the world New analytical approaches will allow better maps of range and relative abundance than ever before Capacity building for conservation and monitoring in areas where this is most needed
How will the Atlas be produced? Data collection by volunteer citizen scientists and professional ornithologists National Atlas coordinators responsible for compiling the data EBCC: overall coordination Use of existing data where possible, but new data will have to be collected from many areas Analysis and production of maps in collaboration with specialists of EBCC member organisations
EBBA2 Steering Committee Working group within the EBCC board Verena Keller (Chair) Ruud Foppen David Noble Hans-Günther Bauer Lluis Brotons Mark Eaton Ian Burfield Mikhail Kalyakin Daniel Hayhow, RSPB verena.keller@vogelwarte.ch ruud.foppen@sovon.nl david.noble@bto.org bauer@orn.mpg.de lluis.brotons@ctfc.es mark.eaton@rspb.org.uk ian.burfield@birdlife.org kalyakin@zmmu.msu.ru daniel.hayhow@rspb.org.uk
What outputs are planned? Results presented in a book Publication by 2020 Interactive maps available online Summaries to highlight the most crucial findings Atlas database available for further scientific work
Recent National Bird Atlases Online Recording Schemes in Europe National Common Bird Monitoring Schemes New Field Data Collection Validation procedures / scaling / standardisation Combining and Modelling Data to Produce Smoothed Maps European Breeding Bird Atlas
Questionnaires Sent out end of October 2011 to EBCC delegates Sent out to 46 countries Answers received : 42 countries All countries answering want to collaborate!
Planned Atlases yes, fieldwork 2013ff no, but atlas just finished uncertain no
Support from outside country needed no uncertain funding funding plus advice, material, observers etc.
Next steps Promote the Atlas and highlight its value across Europe Engage prospective national and international data holders (Atlases, common bird monitoring programmes, online portals) Obtain funding to start and for subsequent modules Establish European Coordinator Start plans for field work in known gaps Support national atlases where needed Develop guidelines for data collection, define standards;
Latest developments Promising: positive responses from Croatia, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, but in need of support Funding from ICO: ornitologia@ornitologia.org Funding for a workshop in Barcelona March 2013 Support from RSPB in project building and funding opportunities Support from Schweizerische Vogelwarte for Russian atlas Start with one year contract for a part time coordinator beginning next year
More information: www.ebcc.info
So, For all the Swiss bird watchers that have finished fieldwork for the Swiss Atlas.. Please JOIN an atlas projects in a nice country somewhere on the edges of Europe Thank you for your attention!