PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Austria and Hungary have undertaken efforts to protect and enlarge the habitat of great bustards, a bird species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive. They have focused on active habitat management and on the maintenance of large areas dedicated to non-intensive farming. But the problem of overhead power lines remains great, causing fatal collisions – the main cause of bustard mortality in Austria – and jeopardising conservation measures. The Austrian LIFE great bustard project (LIFE05 NAT/A/000077) was set up to tackle this threat, but despite its success, several kilometres of power lines, which should be placed underground, still pose a danger to the species.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the LIFE Great Bustard project are to reduce the threat of collision with power lines, to continue intensive habitat management efforts and to reduce predation. Specific project aims are to:
Support and maximise the effectiveness of the cross-border protection in Austria and Hungary through the coordination of conservation measures and optimal communication; Increase publicity about the bustards, through short films and media coverage to spread knowledge of the special value of the traditional, cultivated landscape; and Highlight the necessity of an integrated approach to nature conservation in the targeted Natura 2000 sites. Expected results:
Transfer below ground of 16 km in Austria and 25.5 km in Hungary of medium voltage power lines, with the support of the energy supplying companies concerned and monitoring of the effectiveness; In Austria: the sub-population of great bustards in the ‘Westliches Weinviertel’ area will increase from 54-56 individuals in the breeding period 2014 to at least 75 individuals in autumn 2023; the sub-population in the ‘Sandboden-Praterterasse’ area will increase from 5-7 in the breeding period 2014 to at least 15 individuals in autumn 2023; the sub-population in ‘Parndorfer Platte-Heideboden’ will increase from 202-285 individuals in the breeding period 2014 to at least 350-400 individuals in autumn 2023; and the sub-population in the Hansag area will increase from 14-16 individuals in the breeding period 2014 to at least 30 individuals in autumn 2023; In Hungary: the sub-population of great bustards in the ‘Kiskunsági’ project site will increase from 410 individuals in spring 2014 to at least 500 individuals in autumn 2023; the sub-population in ‘Borsodi-sík‘ will increase from 13 individuals in spring 2014 to at least 15 individuals in autumn 2023; the sub-population in ‘Hevesi-sík’ will increase from 11 individuals in spring 2014 to at least 15 individuals in autumn 2023; the sub-population in ‘Dévaványai-sík‘ will rise from 425 individuals in spring 2012 to at least 475 individuals in autumn 2023; and the sub-population in the ‘Vásárhelyi- és Csanádi-puszták’ area will increase from 32 individuals in the spring 2014 to at least 36 individuals in autumn 2023; Establishment of a great bustard visitor centre in Kunszentmiklós (Hungary); and 24 adult female great bustards fixed with GPS transmitters to monitor their movements and gather new information on habitat preference, population dynamics and the use of peripheral habitats.
