Innovations in Flyway Monitoring

Project Overview: 

Reliable monitoring data are crucial for the early detection of worrying population trends in waterbird species and for making informed decisions on necessary conservation measures. However, there are considerable gaps in existing migration monitoring data, both in terms of coverage and depth, which hampers our understanding of the drivers of population declines.

Within the project called “FLYWAY,” funded by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Structural Reform Support under its Technical Support Instrument, Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative (WSFI) partners explored new technologies to improve the traditional monitoring of bird numbers and expand it to understand the factors driving population declines—a crucial step for finding adequate conservation measures to protect these birds. Over the past two years, this project, led by WSFI and supported by the governments of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, has explored the use of innovative technologies like drones and satellite imagery to enhance the monitoring of bird populations and environmental monitoring of their habitats, while emphasizing the importance of combining traditional methods with modern technology to protect critical habitats such as the Wadden Sea.

The results, including key recommendations and a detailed roadmap, aim to support long-term conservation efforts and contribute to the EU's 2030 biodiversity goals.

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