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Results
| Field Actions |
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Results |
| Wild prey abundance survey |
A Red-legged partridge census was carried out from February to April 2008, lasting 32 hours in 12 days, along 353 km of transects within the 18 territories studied. In total, 112 partridges were counted with an average of 0.33 (±0.33; 0-1.14) partridges/km. In August and September 2009 a Wild rabbit census was done by latrine counts carried out in 250 m transects. These transects were the same walked during a former census in 1997. In relation to 1997, the situation barely changed in areas of unsuitable habitat where the species kept scarce or almost absent. Conversely, in suitable areas, a strong populational dynamics could be observed, causing a remarkable alteration of the geographical pattern of rabbit abundance. |
| Domestic prey abundance survey |
From June to November 2007 the counting of rural domestic pigeons and pigeon lofts was carried out in order to assess their current abundance and trends between the former 1994 census and the present. We observed a decrease of 65% in the number of active lofts and a decline of 74% in the number of pigeons during the 14 years' period. In the Castro Verde and Vale do Guadiana SPAs, on the contrary, no previous data were available. In the Castro Verde SPA the count yielded 33 active lofts, with a total of 2375 pigeons and an average of 71.97 pigeons per loft. In the Vale do Gaudiana SPA there were 37 lofts with a total of 1645 pigeons and an average of 44.46 pigeons/loft. |
| Building, restoration and maintenance of pigeon lofts |
Six pigeon lofts are being built that will subsequently be installed within game estates. Specific agreements will be established with the managers of those game estates. |
| Tree lease agreements |
A tree lease contract was established within an eagle territory in the Monchique mountain. The contract included the nest tree and several other large trees in its vicinity. |
| Habitat management agreements |
Five habitat mangement agreements were established in several eagle territories of the Monchique mountain covering an area of 144.291 ha altogether. |
| Nest reinforcement and artificial nests |
A nest was reinforced and an artificial platform was built in two eagle territories of the Monchique mountain. |
| Threat surveillance and control |
We detected 23 potential threats from forestry operations, windfarms, powerlines, trekking networks, 4-wheel-drive rallies, firebrake networks, and so on. |
| Population monitoring |
During 2007-2009, the breeding parameters of the 34 pairs of the Southwest Uplands kept analogous to the values from the previous 1992-2006 period. Since 2001 the nestling survival rate increased, possibly linked with a decease in trichomonosis prevalence. The highest productivity occurred in 2007. Thirteen pairs are known so far in the Castro Verde and Vale do Guadiana SPAs and surrounding area. Their productivity keeps being the highest in Portugal, with 1.3 fledglings/pair in 2007-2009. Beyond these pairs systematically monitored, the known 16 pairs of the remaining population that ranges South of the Tejo river were irregularly monitored. In the Estremadura cluster 8 pairs are currently known, 3 of which in the areas bordering the Tejo and Sado estuaries. |
| Adult and juvenile satellite tagging |
Until now 8 adults (5 females and 3 males) of different eagle territories of Monchique were tagged with GPS satellite transmitters (PPT). They were captured in July and December 2008, and in June 2009. These territories were selected in order to assess the impact of large infrastructures such as powerlines (4 eagles) and windfarms (2 eagles), and of a high percentage land cover by eucalyptus plantations (2 eagles). Another PTT was deployed in a fresh juvenile bearing a serious trichomonosis infection, after its treatment and rehabilitation. This juvenile was found dead shortly after the onset of dispersal, c.15 days after tagging. The cause of death could not be established. |
| Regional census |
Despite being still underway, the action cover rate in suitable habitat areas was, by the end of the 2009 breeding season, satisfactory in 79% of the 10x10 km survey grid, insufficient in 18%, and only 3% remain uncovered. |
| Treatment/prophylaxis of trichomonosis |
So far, one fledgling has been treated to trichomonosis. As recommended in the workshop on trichomonosis, the prophylaxis of nestlings against the parasite will not be carried out to avoid the development of resistance to anti-parasitarian medication. |
| Technical support to landowners, forest managers, game managers and others |
Until September 2009 a large number of interventions addressed the following forestry related entities: paper pulp companies; forestry associations such as Viver Serra and Aspaflobal (project partners) and APFSC, as well as other forestry concerned institutions such as In Loco and Imobiente; 9 individual forest landowners and 3 small forestry entreprises. These interventions covered 1933 ha. Furthermore, project interventions also addressed 17 game estates in 15 eagle territories, encompassing an area of 57,795 ha. |
| Habitat management demonstrative actions in Parra Forest Estate |
The Red-legged partridge, Wild rabbit and rural domestic pigeon censuses were already carried out in the area. A juvenile from the local eagle territory was treated to trichomonosis and rehabilitated. The local eagle pair has been annually monitored. The restoration of a small ruin as a pigeon loft was completed in July 2009. In September 2009 small areas of scrub were cleared to be later sowed for enhancing rabbit population. |
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| Institutional Actions |
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Results |
| Involvement of agro-forestry funds management agencies |
We contacted 7 entities responsible for the planning, administration, analysis and approval of projects that have a potential impact on the conservation of the Bonelli's eagle and the management of its habitat. |
| Stakeholder involvement |
Several activities aiming at the involvement of stakeholders were carried out. These included: the visit to the project area by researchers from foreign scientific institutions interested in the unique ecological characteristics of this eagle population; the exchange of information with Spanish technicians from the Andaluzia Wildlife Monitoring Programme; the technical support to Águas do Algarve and ERENA on the compensation measures for the Odelouca dam; the technical support to the Rota da Cortiça ("The Cork Route", a network of awareness activities concerning the cork-oak environment, cork production and manufacture). |
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| Studies and Plans |
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Results |
| Wind energy conciliation Plan |
This plan was completed in September 2009 and will be submitted to consultation by concerned institutions. |
| Powerlines impact baseline study |
This study was completed in September 2009 and will be submitted to consultation by concerned institutions. |
| Tree-nesting Bonelli's eagle conservation Action Plan |
To be completed. |
| After Life Conservation Plan |
Not started |
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| Seminaries and Workshops |
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Results |
| Workshop on Trichomonosis in the Bonelli's eagle: epidemiology, prophylaxis and treatment |
The workshop was held in 27-28 October 2007 and the digital proceedings were published in December 2008 (click here to download). |
| Organization of seminars and congress |
A seminar on "The use of radio and satellite telemetry in the impact assessment of infrastructures on birds" was held in Évora on the 3th and 4th July 2009. |
| Scientific meetings attendance |
The project technicians attended the Raptor Research Foundation 2009 Annual Conference in Pitlochry, Scotland on the 29th September - 4th October 2009, with the following presentations: "An Integrated Conservation Project for Tree-nesting Bonelli’s Eagles (Aquila fasciata)" (poster) e "An Exception to the Rule: The Fast Growing Tree-nesting Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) Population of Southern Portugal" (oral presentation). The abstracts are available from http://raptorresearchfoundation.org/conferences.htm. An oral presentation was presented at the Birds of Prey LIFE Nature Workshop in Arcidosso, Italy on the 22-23th October 2009: Dias, A. & Caldeira, R. LIFE08 NAT/P/000194 – Conservation of tree-nesting Bonelli’s eagle in Portugal. |
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| Dissemination |
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Results |
| Production of dissemination materials |
Two digital annual newsletters were published (click here to download). |
| Webpage |
Action completed. |
| Layman's report |
Action completed. |
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| Public awareness
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Results |
| Production of educational materials |
The project leaflet, sticker, kid's booklet, t-shirt, sweat-shirt and 3 tematic videos were already delivered. |
| Student's environmental awareness |
So far, education activities covered 37 basic education schools, corresponding to 64 classes and 1043 students of 10 counties of the area encompassing the Monchique and Caldeirão SPAs. Two raptor identification courses were organized in Sagres. |
| Awareness actions for associations, companies, local administration and local public |
In 2008 and 2009, through the collaboration of CEAI with project partners, eight awareness sessions were carried out. These conference/debates under the theme “The role of local communities and associations in nature conservation - the case of Bonelli's eagle and its habitat in the South of Portugal” adressed primarily hunters' associations and local colectivities. |
| Formation |
Not started. |
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