PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In Germany, many grassland birds are included in the national Red List of threatened species. The 'LIFE LIMOSA' project focuses on the black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), a wading bird that has suffered a serious decline in Schleswig-Holstein over the last two decades. Other grassland species, the Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) and the ruff (Philomachus pugnax), whose breeding populations in Germany are probably on the brink of extinction, are also targeted. In Schleswig-Holstein, these species occur almost entirely in coastal areas along the North Sea. Because of their similar habitat requirements, management efforts for all 3 species are combined in a single project.
The counties of Nordfriesland and Dithmarschen are home to most of the last remaining dunlins and ruffs in Germany. Much of Schleswig-Holstein´s population of breeding black-tailed godwits is also found there. The reasons for the decline of grassland birds are not fully understood. It is widely acknowledged that the reproduction rates of the species targeted by this project are currently not high enough to guarantee their future survival in the area. Regarding the black-tailed godwit, there is concern that many of the still stable populations are threatened because of the very low quality of the habitat (i.e., they are considered ‘sink populations’). For this reason, the project aims to measure the reproduction success of the species, to understand the meta-population biology and optimise conditions for the species in its core areas based on this information. It is expected that an annual surplus of offspring will enable the species to re-colonise former areas at the end of the project. Various conservation measures implemented over the course of the project aimed at converting the ‘sink-(breeding)’ populations into source-(breeding) populations.
OBJECTIVES
The project’s primary objective was to improve the reproduction success of the black-tailed godwit at core breeding sites in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The conservation actions focused on controlling the factors influencing the decline of the local populations of the species, i.e., habitat deterioration and predator pressure. A complex monitoring programme was also carried out in parallel to the conservation efforts and adjusted throughout the project according to findings. The project actions also benefitted the remaining breeding pairs of dunlin and ruff in the region.
RESULTS
The project activities consisted of 4 work packages, encompassing:
- hydrological optimisation (including ditch closure, weirs, pumping scheme);
- improvement of grassland (removal of fences, mowing, removal Epilobium, hay introduction);
- predation control, extended during the lifetime of the project (mobile fences, electric fences, traps, artificial fox burrows);
- bird collision control and monitoring (reproduction godwits; population ruff and dunlin, predators, hydrology, vegetation; socio-economic).
Over the course of 11 years, the project restored grassland on 4 026 ha, improved the hydrological conditions of grasslands on 1 348 ha, and successfully reduced the impacts of predation on meadow birds on 4 026 ha grasslands.
Some of the main findings of the project are that godwits need absolutely free and open landscapes without any vertical structures like bushes or reeds. Moreover, the availability of sufficient food (like flower rich meadows) is essential, especially during the first weeks of godwit offspring. Lastly, successful meadow bird protection, like godwits and ruffs, can only work in play with a rigorous predation control (with removal and bird breeding enclosures).
