PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Great bustards (Otis tarda) are protected by the Birds Directive and the Austrian breeding population of this bird forms part of the West Pannonian great bustard population. A significant proportion of the West Pannonian great bustards spends the winter in Austria, where power lines have caused high mortality levels. Collision with power lines was noted as the main cause of premature death of great bustards in Austria. In one of the country’s sub-populations, nearly 20% of the 45 adult birds died following power line collision within one year (2003). Additional threats to the long-term survival of great bustards in Austria included predation, intensive farming, habitat fragmentation and human disturbance. By means of habitat improvement, the population of great bustards in Austria is now stable and even slightly increasing but work was needed to help sustain these positive trends.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE project was to reduce the risk of great bustards colliding with overhead power lines. Results intended to secure a long-term increase not only of the Austrian great bustard population, but also of the entire cross-border West-Pannonian population of great bustard. Networking and collaboration with partners in neighbouring countries (Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic) therefore formed an important objective for the project.
Project goals were to be achieved by a coordinated set of actions in Austria involving removing overhead power lines and burying them underground in key breeding sites. Other power lines in Austria would be marked to reduce risks of collisions. Habitat improvement work was also planned which focused on facilitating agri-environment commitments from land owners to cultivate bustard-friendly crops and integrate habitat management considerations into their farming practices.
RESULTS
The project achieved its results and monitoring indicates that the Austrian great bustard population increased by more than 70 % during the project period (from around 150 individuals in 2005, to as many as 260 individuals that were recorded in 2010).
Some 47.4 km of aerial (medium-voltage) power lines (and pylons) were removed and laid underground. This exceeded the original target of 42 km. Additionally, some 153 km of aerial high-voltage lines in six locations were provided with bird protection markings. This also exceeded the original target and results greatly reduce mortality risks for Europe’s largest land bird in Austria.
Workshops between stakeholders and habitat monitoring carried out by the project helped to improve understanding of the birds’ behaviour and identify new methods to prevent great bustards from colliding with the lines. LIFE also helped explore ways to forge further commitments from land managers to support the conservation status of great bustard populations. Outcomes of LIFE’s catalytic role in this process led to farmers taking advantage of ‘ÖPUL’ funds from Austria’s Rural Development Programme to implement agri-environment schemes.
The project achieved its results and monitoring indicates that the Austrian great bustard population increased by more than 70 % during the project period (from around 150 individuals in 2005, to as many as 260 individuals that were recorded in 2010).Some 47.4 km of aerial (medium-voltage) power lines (and pylons) were removed and laid underground. This exceeded the original target of 42 km. Additionally, some 153 km of aerial high-voltage lines in six locations were provided with bird protection markings. This also exceeded the original target and results greatly reduce mortality risks for Europe’s largest land bird in Austria.
Workshops between stakeholders and habitat monitoring carried out by the project helped to improve understanding of the birds’ behaviour and identify new methods to prevent great bustards from colliding with the lines. LIFE also helped explore ways to forge further commitments from land managers to support the conservation status of great bustard populations. Outcomes of LIFE’s catalytic role in this process led to farmers taking advantage of ‘ÖPUL’ funds from Austria’s Rural Development Programme to implement agri-environment schemes.
