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TRACKBIRD - Bird migration over the North Sea and Baltic Sea and offshore wind energy

Project title: Bird migration across the open sea: methods, time and space pattern and conflicts with offshore energy utilisation (BIRDMOVE)

Focus

  • Further development of the automatic radio telemetry network (North Sea)
  • Improvement of the temporal-spatial resolution of radio telemetry data
  • Recording of spatio-temporally highly resolved flight paths of large to medium-sized land and water birds (Baltic Sea)
  • Recording of small-scale movement patterns and individual parameters of migrating small birds (German Bight)

Contact

Kiel University
Research and Technology Centre, West Coast (FTZ)
Hafentörn 1, 25761 Büsum

Prof. Dr. Stefan Garthe
Tel.: +49 4834 604-116
garthe(at)avoid-unrequested-mailsftz-west.uni-kiel.de

 

Funding

FKZ 3519 86 1400
Departmental research plan 2019
Term: 07.2019 – 06.2023

The aim of the project is to study the potential effects of offshore wind turbines on migratory birds and passage migrants.

In recent years, knowledge about this has already been significantly increased through several research projects. In relation to individual species, however, knowledge about the circumstances of collisions, possible small-scale evasive movements to avoid collisions or species-specific attraction effects is still insufficient. TRACKBIRD aims to further close this data gap. For this purpose, state-of-the-art techniques are used that enable small-scale tracking of single individuals of various potentially endangered bird species. Based on this data, flight paths and conditions under which bird migration over the sea occurs at an increased rate will be examined more closely, thus enabling a better assessment of the spatial and temporal endangerment situation of these species in relation to offshore wind power.

Research question / project objectives

The aim of the project is to develop the missing knowledge of the spatio-temporal distribution of migratory events over the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, which is necessary for a technically sound assessment of the effects of offshore wind turbines on migratory landbirds and waterbirds (e.g. collision risk). The investigations are to build on the experience, findings and preliminary work of the BIRDMOVE R&D project.

Methods

On the one hand, the flight paths of songbirds of other selected species individually equipped with micro-transmitters to the sea and back to the mainland are to be determined using the network of receiving stations (antenna systems) established in the North Sea within the framework of BIRDMOVE.  Secondly, the flight paths of selected, larger land and water bird species migrating over the sea are to be analysed at the Baltic Sea with high temporal-spatial resolution using modern GPS technologies (GPS data loggers with GSM function).

In addition, the evaluation of already collected data on the flight paths of individual birds will be continued.

Work packages

Work packages

  1. Continuous project coordination
  2. Maintenance, spatial and technical development of the automatic radio telemetry network.
  3. Development of localisation methods to improve the temporal-spatial resolution of radio telemetry data.
  4. Recording small-scale movement patterns and individual parameters of migrating small birds in the German Bight area
  5. Recording of spatio-temporally highly resolved flight paths of large to medium-sized land and water birds with focus on the Baltic Sea
  6. Continuation of the data analysis of individuals already telemetered in the long term.
  7. Analysis of spatio-temporally high-resolution three-dimensional flight paths of landbirds and waterbirds
  8. Continuation of evaluation, population relevance and protection

Project partners

Project partners

Project management

Kiel University
Research and Technology Centre, West Coast (FTZ)
Hafentörn 1, 25761 Büsum

Prof. Dr. Stefan Garthe
Tel.: +49 4834 604-116
garthe(at)avoid-unrequested-mailsftz-west.uni-kiel.de

Project partners

Institute of Avian Research "Ornithological Station Helgoland"
An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven

Dr. Ommo Hüppop
Tel.: +49 4421 9689-46
ommo.hueppop(at)avoid-unrequested-mailsifv-vogelwarte.de

 

Funding authority

Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)
Vilm Office
FG II 5.2 Marine and coastal nature conservation
18581 Putbus/Rügen

Dr. Katrin Prinz
Tel.: +49 38301 86-208
Katrin.Prinz(at)avoid-unrequested-mailsBfN.de

 

Publications

Publications

Brust V, Eikenaar C, Packmor F, Czirják GÁ (2022) Do departure and flight route decisions correlate with immune parameters in migratory songbirds? Funct Ecol,  https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14187

 

Karwinkel T, Winklhofer M, Janner LE, Brust V, Hüppop O, Bairlein F, Schmaljohann H (2022) A magnetic pulse does not affect free-flight navigation behaviour of a medium.distance songbird migrant in spring, J Exp Biol, https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.244473

Bach P, Voight CC, Göttsche M, Bach L, Brust V, Hill R, Lagerveld S, Schmaljohann H, Seebens-Hoyer A (2022) Offshore and coastline migration of radio-tagged Nathusius’ pipistrelles, Conserv Sci Pract, https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12783

Brust V, Schmaljohann H, Hüppop O (2022) Two subspecies of a songbird migrant optimise departure from a coastal stopover with regard to weather and the route lying ahead, J Av Biol, https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.03004

Karwinkel T, Winklhofer M, Christoph P, Allenstein D, Hüppop O, Brust V, Bairlein F, Schmaljohann H (2022) No apparent effect of a magnetic pulse on free-flight behaviour in northern wheatears (Oenanthe Oenanthe) at a stopover site, J Roy Soc Int, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2021.0805

Assessing potential conflicts between offshore wind farms and migration patterns of a threatened shorebird species, P. Schwemmer, R. Pederson, K. Haecker, P. Bocher, J. Fort, M. Mercker, F. Jiguet, J. Elts, R. Marja, M. Piha, P. Rousseau, S. Garthe, Animal Conservation (2022), https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12817

Amélineau F, Delbart N, Schwemmer P, Marja R, Fort J, Garthe S, Elts J, Delaporte P, Rousseau P, Duraffour F, Bocher P (2021): Timing of spring departure of long distance migrants correlates with previous year conditions at their breeding site. Biology Letters 17: 20210331.

Mercker M, Schwemmer P, Enners L, Peschko V, Garthe S (2021): Analysis of local habitat selection and large-scale attraction/avoidance based on animal tracking data: is there a single best method? Movement Ecology 9: 20.

Schwemmer P, Mercker M, Vanselow KH, Bocher P, Garthe S (2021): Migrating curlews on schedule: departure and arrival patterns of a long-distance migrant depend on time and breeding location rather than on wind conditions. Movement Ecology 9: 9

Borrmann RM, Phillips RA, Clay TA, Garthe S (2021): Post-fledging migration and wintering strategies of individual juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus). Ibis 163: 1017-1031
Brust V, Hüppop O (2021) Underestimated scale of songbird offshore migration across the south-eastern North Sea during autumn, Journal of Ornithology, doi.org/10.1007/s10336-021-01934-5

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