Conservation of populations of endangered bird species in natural habitats of the inland Danube Delta

Goals:

In the past, the inland Danube Delta represented one of the largest and most diverse wetland complexes in Central Europe. Its largest parts have been destroyed during the last decades; nowadays, habitat loss and destruction continues because of past regulatory interventions in the river flow and poor management of the area. Declining habitat quality and several other factors (e.g., unregulated human interference) have led to large declines in populations of typical grassland bird species (Cicconia nigra, Nycticorax nycticorax, Egretta garzetta, Riparia riparia, etc.). Today, the pressure of negative impacts continues, therefore urgent interventions are needed to save and/or maintain the quality and quantity of the meadow avifauna.Cicconia nigra, Nycticorax nycticorax, Egretta garzetta, Riparia riparia atď.) Dnes tlak negatívnych vplyvov pokračuje, preto sú potrebné neodkladné zásahy na záchranu a /alebo udržanie kvality a kvantity lúčnej avifauny.

The general objective of the project is to improve the conservation status of the grassland bird species that are protected in the Danube Meadows SPA and the SPA SzigetközAlcedo atthis, Anas querquedula, A. strepera, Ardea purpurea, Asio flammeus, Aythya nyroca, Ciconia nigra, Circus aeruginosus, C. pygargus, Dryocopus martius, Egretta garzetta, Haliaeetus albicilla, Ixobrychus minutus, Milvus migrans, Nycticorax nycticorax, Porzana parva, Riparia riparia, Sterna hirundo and Tringa totanusTo this end, it will be necessary to restore the most threatened habitats of the target species; to implement acceptable management of the area; to create conditions for a long-term sustainable conservation status of the target species; and to raise the awareness of key stakeholders and the public about the conservation of floodplain habitats.

Specific project objectives

1. Restoration of selected wetlands, dry river branches and dead branches, including restoration of water supply.

2. Restoration of river reach connectivity, water regime and flow conditions.

3. Lease or purchase of land and subsequent implementation of acceptable habitat management.

4. Elimination of migration barriers for fish at two strategic locations and restoration of the bird foraging base.

5. Restoration of abandoned meadows as foraging and nesting habitat for birds.

6. Restoration of bird refugia and nesting sites by planting native tree species.

7. implementation of measures to prevent unintentional and/or illegal interference with target bird populations.

8. Obtaining relevant scientific information on target species and their habitats.

9. Increase the awareness of key stakeholders and the public.

10. Implementation of additional measures that will increase the attractiveness of habitats for target species (creation of suitable nesting opportunities).

MAP OF THE PROJECT AREA

Activities and resources: 

A. Preparatory activitiesare necessary for later implementation of specific conservation activities. They include: a mathematical hydrological model of the left-bank river branch system between Dobrohošť and Sap, the preparation of technical documentation for the restoration of the river branches, a technical study for the revitalisation of the river branch system of the Medveďovo and Veľkoléla branches, technical studies on the restoration of meadows, the planting of native trees and specific conservation measures for the target bird species.

B. Land purchase and leasewe will lease or purchase strategic land within the project area to establish appropriate management practices and/or implement subsequent specific conservation measures.

C. Specific conservation measures:

1. Revitalisation of selected dry river branches and dead river branches, including restoration of water supply: restoration of the Istragov marsh, the Dunajské kriviny river branch system, the Szárazerdei river branch and revitalisation of selected dry river branches.

2. Restoration of river branch connectivity, water regime and flow conditions: restoration of selected isolated river branches, revitalisation of the Medveďovo Branch, the Veľkoléla Branch, the Szárazerdei Branch, restoration of the Ásványi wetlands.

3. Removal of migration barriers for fish at two strategic locations: construction of a fish ladder at two strategic locations of the left bank system of the river branches between Dobrohošť and Sap.

4. Restoration of abandoned meadows at three sites: restoration of lowland meadows as foraging and nesting habitats and bird habitats.

5. Increasing the proportion of native trees within the project area: revitalisation of natural bird refugia and nesting sites through the planting of native trees.

7. Implementation of measures to prevent unintentional and/or illegal interference with populations of target bird species: nests of Ciconia nigra, Haliaeetus albicilla and Milvus migrans located and protected from disturbance, breeding colonies of Ardea cinerea, Egretta garzetta and Nycticorax nycticorax protected from disturbance, daily patrols by nature guards in the project area, new ramps placed and maintained at the beginnings of forest paths in the project area. Ciconia nigra, Haliaeetus albicilla and Milvus migrans lokalizované a chránené pred vyrušovaním, hniezdne kolónie Ardea cinerea, Egretta garzetta and Nycticorax nycticorax protected from disturbance, daily patrols by nature guards in the project area, new ramps placed and maintained at the beginnings of forest paths in the project area.

8. implementation of additional measures that will increase the attractiveness of habitats for target species (creation of suitable nesting opportunities): restoration of perpendicular riverbanks as nesting habitats for Riparia ripariainstallation of nesting pads for Ciconia nigra a orliaka morského Haliaeetus albicillaimprovement of nesting opportunities for Alcedo atthis. Alcedo atthis.

D. D. Public awareness and dissemination of results::

Creation and maintenance of a website; publication of information, educational and promotional materials; installation of information panels; installation of bird observation towers; communication and regular meetings with stakeholders; exchange of experience, education and training of project staff, key stakeholders and decision makers; presentations and field trips for students and the public; interactive mobile exhibition - The Life of Birds in the Danube Meadows; promotion of the project at conferences and in the media.

E. Overall project management and monitoring:

Project management; hydrological monitoring; monitoring of the impact of project activities on bird populations; monitoring of the impact of project activities on other biota; project accounting; networking with other projects; project audit.

Expected results:

Improved conservation status of the target species of Annex I and II/1 birds Alcedo atthis, Anas querquedula, A. strepera, Ardea purpurea, Asio flammeus, Aythya nyroca, Ciconia nigra, Circus aeruginosus, C. pygargus, Dryocopus martius, Egretta garzetta, Haliaeetus albicilla, Ixobrychus minutus, Milvus migrans, Nycticorax nycticorax, Porzana parva, Riparia riparia, Sterna hirundo and Tringa totanus in the SPA Danube Meadows and SPA Szigetköz.

Nesting habitats of target bird species will be restored or improved on 270 ha and 4.1 km of river branches; foraging habitats will be improved on 319 ha and 16.4 km of river branches.

Currently dry and dead river branches will be restored (water supply restored): the Istragov marsh (77 ha), the Dunajské kriviny river branch system (2 ha and 1.4 km), the Szárazerdei river branch (1.5 ha) and selected small dry river branches (1.5 km).

Restored river branch connectivity, water regime and flow conditions: Medveďovo river branch system (4 km), Veľkolélsky river branch system (5.5 km), Szárazerdei river branch (1.5 ha, 1.5 km), wetlands in the Ásványi river branch system (70 ha), selected small, isolated river branches (18 ha, 4 km).

Built two fishways at strategic locations in the left bank river system between Dobrohošt' and Sap.

At least 150 ha of lowland meadows restored with regular management established in three locations.

Reforestation of at least 35 ha of land with native tree species, with a total of at least 15 000 young trees planted.

At least 10 new ramps installed, illegal car access restricted on five sites.

Restored perpendicular riverbanks of minimum length 25 m at 4 sites - creation of nesting habitat for the Riparia riparia.

Significant reduction of human disturbance to sensitive species to a minimum of 2 014 ha.

Increased awareness of target bird species, river revitalisation and conservation issues, information and publicity materials published and distributed (brochure/3 500 copies, leaflets/7 000, stickers/15 000, postcards/5 000, posters/3 000, calendars/8 000, public report/1 000, etc.). ), 20 information panels installed, a representative publication (800 copies), a website set up, maintained and visited, the project promoted in local, regional, national and international media.

Species targeted by the project and problems and threats from the point of view of bird species protected in the project area:

The project targets eighteen species:

(Alcedo atthis)

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Anas querquedula):

Atlas vtákov Slovensk www.vtaky.sk

( (Anas strepera):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Ardea purpurea):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Ciconia nigra):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Circus aeruginosus):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Dryocopus martius):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Egretta garzetta):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Haliaeetus albicilla):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Ixobrychus minutus):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Milvus migrans):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Nycticorax nycticorax):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

1(Riparia riparia):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Sterna hirundo):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

(Tringa totanus):

Atlas of Birds of Slovakia www.vtaky.sk

Slovak Ornithological Society / BirdLife Slovakia

Biotopes affected by the project:

The project does not directly target habitats.

 

The project objectives include the implementation of measures at four different levels:

Specific project objectives

1. Restoration of selected dry river reaches and dead channels, including restoration of water supply. The selection of the sites followed the priorities of the target species; therefore the following sites were selected: the Istragov wetland, the Szárazerdei river arm, the Danube Curves river arm system. Other sites (river arms and dead branches) will be selected after the completion of the mathematical model of the hydrological conditions on the left bank river arm system between Dobrohošť and Sap for the implementation of small hydrological interventions.

2. The restoration of the river arm connectivity, water regime and flow conditions will be implemented in the Medvedov river arm system, the Veľköll river arm system, the Ásványi river arm system and the Szárazerdei river arm system. Other sites (river arms and dead branches) will be selected after finalisation of the mathematical model of the hydrological conditions on the left bank river arm system between Dobrohošťou and Sap for the implementation of small hydrological interventions.

3. Lease or purchase of land by the nature conservation organisation in the project area and subsequent implementation of appropriate habitat management. In general, change of private land management is only possible after the land has been leased or bought. Possible activities planned on these areas: planting of native trees and woodland instead of arable land or hybrid poplar plantations, restoration of meadows instead of arable land or unused areas, restoration of flood regimes, degraded wetlands and perpendicular riverbanks, etc. The conservation status of several target bird species is not favourable in the project area and needs urgent conservation interventions. In the long term, leasing and buying land for conservation purposes is the quickest and cheapest way of conservation.

4. Removal of migration barriers for fish at two strategic locations by building special fishways at the headwaters, which represent a migration barrier but cannot be completely removed.

5. Restoration of abandoned meadows at three sites - grazing will be initiated at selected sites.

6. Increase the proportion of native tree species and biodiversity in hybrid poplar plantations in the project area.

7. Implementation of measures to prevent disturbance to populations of target bird species in the project area.

8. Acquisition of relevant scientific data on target species and their habitats. An important approach of this project is that the research will be carried out in two different SPAs separated by a state border. Populations of all species live in both SPAs and only combined monitoring can provide sufficient information on populations and threatening factors.

9. Increase the awareness of key stakeholders and the public.

10. Implementation of additional measures will make habitats more attractive for target species (creation of suitable breeding opportunities). As large-scale revitalization of natural habitats and their dynamics in the project area is not currently possible, we have proposed a series of measures that will lead to the creation of missing nesting habitats for the target bird species, such as the creation of short riverbank sections without bank fortification (nesting opportunities for Riparia riparia), leaving several forest areas without intervention (nesting habitats for Dryocpus martius, Milvus migrans, Haliaeetus albicilla, Ciconia nigra... ), planting groups of trees of native species in strategic locations (future nesting sites of Haliaeetus albicilla, Ciconia nigra...), etc.

The objectives of the project and subsequent conservation activities were selected according to the draft care programme for the Danube Meadows Bird Protected Area. All existing information from the draft conservation programme was used to identify threats and design the most effective activities to improve the conservation status of the target species and ensure the long-term stability of their populations.

All planned activities will be implemented in the most fuel-efficient way possible. Where possible, preference will be given to non-motorised activities - bicycles and canoes for shorter and medium distances during monitoring, surveillance, and control of the project area. Fuel consumption will be one of the important criteria for the selection of the vehicle to be purchased. Planting trees and leaving dead wood in the forest on leased or purchased land will promote carbon fixation in the biomass. The project will revitalize several important wetlands. Wetlands are widely known as effective carbon sinks.

Selected areas will be closed to motor vehicle access (which also means zero CO2 production).₂).