FINAL REPORT Covering the project activities from 16/04/2012 to 16/04/2014 Preparing the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast (Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey) Data Project Grant agreement reference: 07.020400/2012/617393/SUB/D2 Project start date: 16/04/2012 Project end date: 16/04/2014 Total budget 239.541€ EC contribution: 215.141€ (%) of eligible costs 89,91% Data Beneficiary Name Beneficiary Doğa Derneği Contact person Ms. Ayşe Sargın Postal address Kızılay Mahallesi - Menekşe 2 Sokak - 33\5 Çankaya/Ankara Turkey Telephone +90 312 481 25 45 Fax: +90 312 481 25 09 E-mail [email protected], [email protected]Project Website http://dogadernegi.org/karadeniz-deniz-kuslari.aspx
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FINAL REPORT
Covering the project activities from 16/04/2012 to 16/04/2014
Preparing the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast (Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey)
Data Project
Grant agreement reference: 07.020400/2012/617393/SUB/D2
Project start date: 16/04/2012
Project end date: 16/04/2014
Total budget 239.541€
EC contribution: 215.141€
(%) of eligible costs 89,91%
Data Beneficiary
Name Beneficiary Doğa Derneği
Contact person Ms. Ayşe Sargın
Postal address Kızılay Mahallesi - Menekşe 2 Sokak - 33\5
3.1 Description of Project Management ......................................................................................... 2 3.2 Organigramme of the Project Team and the Project Management Structure ...................... 2
4. RESULTS AND OUTCOMES ................................................................................................................... 11 4.1 Action A.1: Training on Standard boat-based and land-based survey methods ................. 11 4.2 Action A.2: Training on GIS methods and seabird database ............................................... 11 4.3 Action A.3: Training on Marine IBA data analysis-Black Sea Marine IBA Workshop ..... 12 4.4 Action B.1: Standardised boat-based surveys in some sectors of the coast within territorial
waters in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey .................................................................................... 12 4.5 Action B.2: Identification, survey and assessment of colony and sites using land-based
observations .................................................................................................................................... 14 4.6 Action B.3: Collection of supporting data for Marine IBAs/SPAs: Oceanographic,
meteorological, biological and fisheries data ............................................................................... 17 4.7 Action C.1: Creating a GIS database for seabirds in the Black Sea ..................................... 18 4.8 Action C.2: Production of a preliminary Marine IBA inventory for southern Black Sea
coast ................................................................................................................................................ 18 4.9 Action C.3: Production of After-project conservation plan .................................................. 19 4.10 Action D.1: Media Work ....................................................................................................... 20 4.11 Action D.2: Organisation of Project Launch and closing event -DD and BSPB ................ 21 4.12 Action D.3: Project dissemination through New Media ...................................................... 22 4.13 Action D.3: Production of Layman’s Report ....................................................................... 23
5. REMARKS AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 23 6. ANNEXES ................................................................................................................................................... 27
Annex 1: Photo and Picture Gallery of Project Implementation ............................................... 27 Annex 2: Kick Off Meeting Programme ...................................................................................... 30 Annex 3: Kick Off Meeting – List of Participant ........................ Hata! Yer işareti tanımlanmamış. Annex 4: Kick Off Meeting Press Release .................................................................................... 32 Annex 5: Kick Off Meeting Press clippings ................................................................................. 33 Annex 6: The Black Sea Seabirds Project On Internet Media ................................................... 35 Annex 7: Training on Standard boat-based and Land-based Survey Methods Agenda .......... 37 Annex 8: Project Poster designed for MED MPA Forum 2012 .................................................. 38 Annex 9: GIS Methods and Data Management Training Report .............................................. 39 Annex 10: Layman’s Report ......................................................................................................... 44 Annex 11: Technical Report .......................................................................................................... 44
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1. LIST OF KEY-WORDS AND ABBREVIATIONS
1.1 Key-words
Black Sea Basin
Seabirds
Yelkouan Shearwater
European Shag
Puffinus yelkouan
Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii
Marine IBAs
EU Birds Directive
Natura 2000
1.2 Abbreviations
BSBP Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds
ESAS European Seabirds at Sea (boat based survey method)
DD Doğa Derneği (coordinating beneficiary)
GIS Geographical Information System
HOS Hellenic Ornithological Society (associated beneficiary)
Marine IBAs Marine Important Bird Areas
SPA Special Protected Area (Natura 2000)
SOR Romanian Ornithological Society (associated beneficiary)
PMG Project Management Group
SPA Special Protected Area (Natura 2000)
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2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Project « Preparing the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird
Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast » is implemented by the Doğa Derneği (DD) in
collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), Bulgarian Society for the
Protection of Birds (BSPB) and the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR), in the Southern
Black Sea during the period 16/04/2012 to 16/04/2014 with a total duration of 24 months. The
Black Sea Seabirds Project aims to create the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird
Areas (IBAs) focused on two species; Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) and
Mediterranean Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii). The Black Sea project also aims
to train staff and volunteers from Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey on seabird research and
conservation methods. The present final report refers to the period from the 1st up to and
including the 24th
month of project implementation.
A management and coordination mechanism was set up in the form of a Project
Management Group (PMG), established during the initial stage of the project, and that
ensured coordinated, synchronized and effective implementation of the project and its actions
through regular communication and meetings. This PMG is comprised of the Project
Manager, DD Conservation Manager, HOS Conservation Manager, BSPB Conservation
Manager, SOR Conservation Manager and relevant personnel of the associated beneficiaries.
The project was formally launched with a “Kickoff Meeting” (Action D2) which was
held in İstanbul/Turkey on the 5th of July, 2012. 48 participants attended the Kickoff
Meeting, including the Director General of Doğa Derneği, Conservation Managers and staff
of associated beneficiaries, (HOS, BSPB and SOR), a representative of the Commission on
the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, the Country Programme Officer of the
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, representatives from Ministry Of Forestry and
Water Affairs and Ministry of Environment and Urbanism, NGO co-workers and
academicians. On the same day, a press conference gathered 15 journalists from different
media groups, and a press-release was produced by DD and sent to all Turkish press. This
meeting was then subsequently reported in more than 20 newspapers and internet portals –
please find enclosed in the Annex a programme of the meeting, list of participants, press
release as well as some of the press clippings about the meeting.
Parallel to the kickoff meeting, a technical meeting with the steering committee and
project staff was also held on the 5th
of July. A roadmap for the project has been drawn with
the contribution of partners.
Three trainings have been implemented during the project with the participation of 50
people including project staff, NGO representatives and volunteers from Turkey, Bulgaria and
Romania. Trainings have achieved all the foreseen objectives, namely the preparation and
operation of seabird survey tools (protocols, datasheets, and manuals), preparation and
implementation of theoretical and practical training in seabird survey methods.
37 pilot standardized boat-based surveys were conducted within territorial waters of
the three countries from January to November of 2013. Boat based observations were carried
using standardised methods implemented by the European Seabirds At Sea (ESAS). This
methodology was adapted to project needs. Project volunteers and staffs were confident with
ESAS Methodology. Transects were devised based on the most efficient use of resources,
manpower and logistics.
Identification, survey and assessment of the colony and sites using land-based
observations supplemented the data collected from boat-based observations (Action B1). All
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Mediterranean shag colonies along the Black Sea Coast of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria
have been surveyed by the project research team with the assistance of Conservation Directors
of project partners.
In addition, coastal counts were undertaken to record the number of birds and were
particularly important to allow a better understanding of Yelkuans shearwater's behavior,
whose highest number observed in Romania and Bulgaria. All marine bird species have been
recorded, including their time of sighting, direction and distance from the shore and
behaviour. Data collected from this action was stored in the GIS database created for this
purpose.
Standardized data collection sheets were adapted to project needs and distributed to
local ornithologists for use during sea-watching observations. These data sheets included
information such as distance from shore, the behaviour of birds (rafting/flying/feeding)
number of birds, time of day etc.
Supporting data, oceanographic and biological, was collected during 2013 in order to
carry out the analysis data and modelling to identify Marine IBAs. They were downloaded
from specific web sites and converted into a proper format to be used in GIS environment.
Then, they were spatially and statistically analysed along with the seabird data collected to
finally identify optimal marine areas for Mediterranean Shag and Yelkouan Shearwater.
The existing DD website (www.dogadernegi.org), which currently receives over
20,000 visitors/year from 50 countries, is hosting pages for the Black Sea Seabirds Project
(http://dogadernegi.org/karadeniz-deniz-kuslari.aspx) (Action D3). There is an interactive
banner which links to the project’s main web page. The project page has promoted the project
objectives and the expected outcomes, and contains information on the project actions, the
partnership and the seabirds in English and Turkish. Publications, news and social media links
photos are uploaded on the web page.
People who are interested in the project received updates on project news. A Facebook
page, a twitter account and a YouTube channel dedicated to the project has been created and
the press releases, events, videos, photos and news are being posted on a regular basis.
DD Conservation Manager participated at the Meeting of The Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) Working Group on Environmental Protection in İstanbul, on 11-12
October 2012 and presented there the Black Sea Seabirds Project.
Project Manager has delivered a speech about the actions and objectives of the project
on 20th
of October, at the 14th
Bird Conference/Turkey, which was held in Erzurum Province
at the North East Turkey.
A presentation of the project aims, activities and expected results was presented to the
Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) of Bulgaria on 18th
October 2012 in Sofia by
Anna Stenava (Project Administrator-BSPB) mainly from the “Natura 2000” secretariat, ten
representatives of MOEW have been participated.
The same presentation was presented to the BSPB’s members and volunteers in the
regional office of BSPB in Varna. During the meeting, the opportunities for volunteering for
DD has overall responsibility for the Management of the Project. DD has employed a
Project Manager for the project who works closely with DD’s conservation manager, who
also has experience in directing projects. The close working relationship which DD has with
the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, BirdLife in the UK) is beneficial, as the
Project Manager and the project itself receive support from the expertise within the RSPB on
project management and communications related work. The overall Project is overseen by all
beneficiaries represented on a Steering Committee for the Project.
The steering committee, composed of one manager from each partner (DD, BSPB,
SOR and HOS), and the project manager, evaluates the success or otherwise of Actions.
There were only minor changes in the executive project management structure during
the reporting period… However it should be noted that Mr. Matis Attila replaced Ms. Lavinia
Raducescu on the position of the SOR Project Administrator in June, 2012.
In July 2012, Sebastian Bugariu (SOR) was replaced by Emil Todorov at the position
of Asst. Researcher, who has prior experience in field work. Communication officer Alida
Barbu no longer works for the project.
In Romania, Communication officer Teodora Ivanova from BSPB left the project in October
2012 for maternity leave.
Project Administrator and Communication Assistant of DD - respectively Hasan
Gumus and Yucel Sonmez - are replaced with Ayse Sargin and Derya Engin in 2013.
3.2 Organigramme of the Project Team and the Project Management Structure
The current structure of the Project Management Group (PGM) and the project team is
given in the Organigramme on the following page below.
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Steering Group
DD, BSPB, SOR and
HOS, plus project
manager
Project Manager
Hayri Dagli (DD)
Project Administrator P/T
Ayse Sargin
Communications assistant
P/T – Derya Engin
Conservation manager P/T
Sureyya Isfendiyaroglu
DD BSPB
Project Administrator P/T –
Anna Staneva
Communications assistant
P/T – Teodora Ivanova
Conservation manager P/T
Stoycho Stoychev
Asst Researcher P/T
Minko Madzharov
SOR
Project Administrator P/T
Ciobanu Geolea Antoaneta
Communications assistant
P/T – Marin Valentin
Conservation manager P/T
Ciprian Fantana
Asst Researcher P/T
Emil Todorov
HOS
Project Administrator P/T
–Jakob Fric
Communications assistant
P/T – Roula Trigou
Conservation manager P/T
–Thanos Kastritis
GIS trainer P/T –
Aris Manolopoulos
Seabird surveys trainer P/T –
Danae Portolou
Marine IBA trainer P/T –
Jakob Fric
Project Management
Group (PMG)
PROJECT
ORGANIGRAMME
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4. RESULTS AND OUTCOMES
4.1 Action A.1: Training on Standard boat-based and land-based survey methods
Description: The action involves the preparation of standardized protocols surveys of
seabird distribution and abundance at sea by means of European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) and
coastal counts methods as well as protocols for the Mediterranean Shag (Phalacrocorax
aristotelis) colony surveys. The protocols were prepared on the basis of protocols developed
by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) in the framework of a privately funded project
“Survey and Conservation of Seabirds in Greece” and a LIFE project “Concrete conservation
actions for the Mediterranean Shag and Audouin’s Gull in Greece, including the inventory of
relevant marine IBAs”, LIFE07 NAT/GR/000285, and adapted to the needs of the current
project.
The methodologies produced were presented to the 25 participants of project staff and
volunteers from Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania at a training seminar which took place in
Istanbul on the 6th
and 7th
July 2012. The seminar included theoretical training in all
aforementioned methods and their demonstrative implementation on the ferry boat in
Bosporus for ESAS method and for coastal counts and Shag colony surveys methods.
The action was implemented by HOS project staff in cooperation with DD. The action
has achieved all the foreseen objectives, namely the preparation and operation of seabird
survey tools (protocols, datasheets, and manuals), and preparation and implementation of
theoretical and practical training in seabird survey methods.
No difficulties have been encountered during the implementation of the action.
The action has been completed. After the training, the capacity raised in these training
had kept on collecting data in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. Additional volunteers to
participate the surveys were trained by the training participants during the ESAS surveys prior
to and during the data collection process. Technical support in survey methods and data
collection is provided by the HOS in the framework of actions B1, B2 and B3.
4.2 Action A.2: Training on GIS methods and seabird database
Description: A series of lessons on GIS, statistical and GIS data analysis, as well as
on the ESAS database have been prepared and presented at the 2nd
project’s workshop that
took place in Istanbul on the 3rd
-4th
November 2012. The training workshop was attended by
24 participants of the project staff, academicians, NGO Representatives and volunteers from
Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. Additionally, data managers from each project partner were
provided additional training in setting up and operation of the database. The action was
implemented by HOS project staff in cooperation with DD. The action has achieved all the
foreseen objectives, namely the preparation and operation of data management tools
(protocols, database), preparation and implementation of GIS and data management training.
No difficulties have been encountered during the implementation of the action.
Technical support in data management is provided by the HOS in the framework of
action C3.
The implementation of the 2nd
project’s training seminar has been delayed in regard to
the initially foreseen implementation period in order to allow for the first survey data to be
collected in the Black Sea in order to increase the output of the training seminar by using
actual data from the Black Sea.
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The action has been completed.
4.3 Action A.3: Training on Marine IBA data analysis-Black Sea Marine IBA Workshop
Description: The training for Marine IBA data analysis has been implemented on
30th, 31st of October and 1st of November2013 (3 days). The training workshop was attended
by 24 participants of the project staff, academicians, NGO Representatives and volunteers
from Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.
The action has been completed. Technical support on Marine IBA data analysis is
provided by the HOS in the framework of action C3.
4.4 Action B.1: Standardised boat-based surveys in some sectors of the coast within
territorial waters in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey
Description: Pilot standardized boat-based observation transects were conducted
within territorial waters of the three countries during 2013 (Figure 1). Boat based observations
were carried using standardised methods implemented by the European Seabirds at Sea
(ESAS) programme for recording seabirds at sea to allow the data collected to be incorporated
into the wider European database. This methodology has been adapted to project needs.
Project volunteers and staffs were confident with ESAS Methodology. Transects were devised
based on the most efficient use of resources, manpower and logistics. Boat-based transects
recording distribution, behaviour and movements of all seabirds present with special emphasis
on recording sightings of the target Puffinus yelkouan and Phalacrocorax aristotelis.
Figure 1 Boat-based transects carried out during 2013 by each country
Turkey:
ESAS field surveys were carried out during 17 trips from Zonguldak, a city in the
Black Sea region, to Evpatoria and Sevastopol (Ukraine) from March to November of 2013
using the RO RO Ships and covering a distance of 435 Km approximately. Since the duration
of each trip took around 16 to 17 hours, census was stopped at night and restarted at sunrise.
For this reason the map shows discontinued red lines, where gaps indicate sleep time.
7 volunteers joined ESAS surveys, having the opportunity to practice their knowledge that
they gained at trainings.
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Bulgaria:
The surveys were planned twice per month from February to June, and once per month
during the rest of the year, so the valuable and detailed data about the distribution, activity
and behaviour of the two target species could be collected during the whole year, but
especially in the breeding season. As conducting the boat-based surveys depends extremely
on weather conditions in the sea and boat availability, the research initiated in January 2013
with the first sailing along the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast and finished in October. A
total of 22 boat-based trips were conducted between January 2013 and April 2014, within
which 9 along the northern Bulgarian coast and 13 along the southern Bulgarian coast
(including one trip to Istanbul), up to 12 nautical miles from the coast.
In Bulgaria the surveys were divided into two areas: boat-based survey along the
southern coast between Bourgas and Rezovo (around 70 km distance, up to 12 km from the
coast), and boat-based survey along the northern coast between Kavarna and Tiulenovo
(around 40 km distance, up to 8 km from the coast). The two areas were chosen according to
historical data about wintering, nesting, feeding or migrating birds from the two target
species, as well as according to the suitability of the habitat.
Within the most important findings of the boat-based surveys was the confirmation of
nesting Shags on the southern coast, as before these studies the only breeding Shags in
Bulgaria were known from the area of Cape Kaliakra in the north. The first attempts of
nesting birds (1-2 pairs) were observed in March 2013. In the consecutive 2014, during the
International Mid-winter Counts in mid-January, and afterwards through coastal counts and
ESAS surveys, the BSPB team confirmed the presence of nesting Shags on the eastern side of
the small Islands of St. Peter and St. Ivan, situated in front of the bay of Sozopol. The definite
number of 11 nesting pairs was registered in the beginning of April 2014, when the project
team reached the islands through a small boat. These observations confirmed the new and
second for Bulgaria breeding colony of Shags.
The data gathered during the boat-based surveys was used by BSPB during the process
of actualization of Natura 2000 Standard Data Forms, implemented by the Ministry of
Environment and Water of Bulgaria in April 2014.
All data have been collected in the standardized forms and consecutively entered into
the ESAS database. GIS maps were produced based on the collected data.
It was very hard to find available study boats in Bulgaria during the winter season.
There were no line boats/ships, and the fishermen ones were in most cases inappropriate for
the bad weather conditions in winter. This is the reason that it was very difficult to provide
regularity in the boat-based surveys – something that the standardized methodology can
compensate up to certain point.
Romania:
The observations were conducted starting with April and finishing in November 2013,
with 7 boat-based surveys in total.
The area covered by the boat surveys is presented in figure 2 in red. With the boat
surveys SOR covered all the Romanian shore: Constanta-Vama Veche – Constanta (1 day)
and Constanta-Sfantu Gheorghe (Sulina)–Constanta (2 days).
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The data was collected using the methodology described by HOS/BirdLife partner in
Greece – ESAS census method and were included in the GIS database created in Action C1.
Figure 2 Coastal counting points and boat-based transects cover during the monitoring activities by the SOR team
4.5 Action B.2: Identification, survey and assessment of colony and sites using land-
based observations
Description: This action supplements the data collected from boat-based observations
(Action B1) to establish the main colonies and rafting/foraging sites. The majority of the
onshore breeding sites were already known, and these were re-surveying in Bulgaria, with a
single breeding site of shag, and Turkey with several breeding areas for shag along the
Turkish Black Sea coast. In order to know fully the number of pairs of this specie, direct
counts and mapping of apparently occupied nests were performed in Bulgaria and Turkish
Black Sea coast.
At selected study colonies, coastal counts were undertaken from 2012 until 2014
through almost 60 vantage points (Figure 3) along the southern Black Sea coast. All marine
bird species were recorded, including their time of sighting, direction and distance from the
shore and behaviour. Data collected from this action was stored in the GIS database created
for this purpose.
Standardised data collection sheets was adapted to project needs and distributed to
local ornithologists for use during sea-watching observations. These data sheets include
information such as distance from shore, direction and behaviour of birds
(rafting/flying/feeding) number of birds, time of day etc.
15
Figure 3 Vantage points in each country (Romania in black, Bulgaria in yellow and Turkey in red color)
Turkey:
All European shag colonies along the Black Sea coast of Turkey has been surveyed by
DD research team during 2012 and 2013. We have identified 47 key locations and confirmed
the breeding at 45 of them, whereas two of them were used for only wintering. The breeding
range of Shags are wide, covering a large area beginning from Kıyıköy in Thrace extending to
Hopa, which is the eastern most district located at the Georgian border. Our efforts also
focused on identifying possible breeding sites in the range states. However our work in Black
Sea has revealed no new yelkouan shearwater colonies. In Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria
there are no confirmed breeding records of yelkouan shearwater and our efforts have failed to
find any breeding colony in Black Sea.
A further survey was carried out in order to find out the maximum number of
individuals and breeding success of European shags. The colonies with the greatest number of
pairs were in Zonguldak with 152, followed by Haydarpaşa with 88 and Şile with 53 breeding
pairs.
16
Figure 4 European shag colonies surveyed by the DD team
In addition, from March of 2013 until January of 2014 we conducted regular coastal
counts in Kırklareli, Zonguldak, Sinop, Giresun, Trabzon and Artvin provinces of Turkey
(Figure 4), trying to cover the coast from west to east. In 2013, 12 days with many sessions of
coastal counts were carried out and 2 days in 2014. These surveys were carried out by DD
research team and their volunteers using the standardised data collection sheets. Then, data
collected was integrated into the GIS database.
Bulgaria:
The surveys were planned twice or once per month during the whole project period.
The research was initiated in November 2012 and finished in December 2013. In Bulgaria the
surveys were divided into two areas: coastal counts along the northern coast between Kaliakra
and Shabla, and coastal counts along the southern coast between Bourgas and Rezovo making
a total of 41 locations. In 2012, 2 surveys were done and 35 in 2013, from January until
December. The two areas were chosen according to historical data about wintering, nesting,
feeding or migrating birds from the two target species, as well as according to the suitability
of the habitat.
Within the most important findings of the coastal counts in Bulgaria was the
observation of certain displacement to the north of the Kaliakra Shag colony. The number of
the breeding pairs was counted, obtaining 26 pairs… There were also observed congregations
of tens and hundreds of Shags in the south during the winter time, and flocks of tens and
hundreds of Yelkouans were registered feeding and migrating in March and April along the
southern coast (mainly close to the border with Turkey).
Data were collected in the standardized forms and inputted into the GIS database.
Romania:
The land-based counts were conducted in Romania starting with November 2012 and
finishing in November 2013, twice per month in the winter and once per month starting with
spring. The SOR team used the standardized data collection sheets that included information
such as distance from shore, the behaviour of birds, number of birds, time of day etc. Data
collected were included in the GIS database created in Action C1.
17
SOR has conducted 5 coastal counts sessions in 2012, and 30 in 2013 from 12
observation points, shown in figure 2. Most of the sessions were done in the winter season
(November 2012-March 2013) with the main purpose to register the movements of European
Shags. No significant movements were found, except two observations of solitary birds at
Vama Veche, near the border with Bulgaria. The coastal counts done in April 2013 were very
successful for the Yelkouan Shearwater movements within the Romanian Black Sea waters.
At the beginning of May a total of 7527 individuals were registered near Vadu, Constanta
County. The previous two weeks, in the same area, the maximum numbers were around 1000
individuals. Since May of 2013, no Yelkouan was counted during the coastal counts.
4.6 Action B.3: Collection of supporting data for Marine IBAs/SPAs: Oceanographic,
meteorological, biological and fisheries data
Description: From the beginning of the project a series of relevant oceanographic,
biological, meteorological, and fisheries datasets were identified on the basis of conclusions
of the 1st project training. Following that biological and oceanographic data were extracted
from environmental satellite images and related models including sea surface temperature,
chlorophyll-a, and bathymetry. These variables were chosen taking into account previous
works carried out by other partners such as Greece, Portugal and Spain, where this
environmental data has been shown to be useful in predicting seabird distribution at-sea.
Fisheries data could not be used because of the fact that this prey species do not have
commercial value and no published information exists.
Project team has also wanted to benefit from the MISIS Project findings, SOR had a
meeting with MISIS and National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore
Antipa “Constanta (www.rmri.ro) at the beginning of the project, where they evaluated
potential collaboration and data exchange. The supporting data hold by the Institute is from
few sampling points in Black Sea, which were not fitting our large scale research
requirements and needs. SOR seabird experts helped MISIS project several times with bird
expertise.
Satellite data was download from specific websites and converted into appropriate
format for Geographic Information System (GIS) environment (ArcGIS 10) using a free open-
source geoprocessing toolbox named Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools (Roberts et al., 2010)1
and later georeferenced.
This supporting data together with the seabird data collected during the project, were
analysed using different GIS techniques combined with MaxEnt program (Phillips et
al., 20062; Elith et al., 2011
3), a software for species habitat modelling, to identify optimal
marine areas.
We have acquired datasets from accountable open access sources:
1 Roberts JJ et. al (2010). Marine geospatial ecology tools: an integrated framework for ecological geoprocessing
with ArcGIS, Python, R, MATLAB, and C++. Environmental Modelling & Software 25: 1197-1207. 2 Phillips, S. J. et al. (2006). Maximum entropy modeling of species geographic distributions. Ecol. Model. 190:
231-259. 3 Elith, J., et. al. (2011). A statistical explanation of MaxEnt for ecologists. Diversity and Distributions17:43–57.
18
- Sea Surface Temperature: Terra MODIS (http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/). 11µ daytime,
monthly and 4-kilometer of resolution.
- Chlorophyll-a: Aqua MODIS Chlorophyll concentration (http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/).
Monthly and 4-km resolution.
- Bathymetry: GEBCO (www.bodc.ac.uk)
Through the Bathymetry, Distance to the continental slope was calculated and used in the
models along with Distance to the coast derived from coast line data.
4.7 Action C.1: Creating a GIS database for seabirds in the Black Sea
Description: The GIS Database designed for Marine IBA Management which was
developed by the HOS in the framework of afore mentioned projects “Survey and
Conservation of Seabirds in Greece” and “Concrete conservation actions for the
Mediterranean Shag and Audouin’s Gull in Greece, including the inventory of relevant marine
IBAs”, was translated into English, customized and adapted to the need of the Black Sea
Birds Project. This Database is completely compatible with the databases that Birdlife uses
for data provision in the other European Countries. The GIS database has been used for all
seabird data collected during this project. This database has allowed for spatial analysis within
a GIS environment and enabled the data manager to monitor and plan the spatial coverage.
Moreover this database is a strong, user friendly tool to provide instant feedback to volunteers
and to produce reports for increasing the motivation of the volunteers.
The system operates on Microsoft Access and can easily export data to ESRI ArcGIS
and Google Earth. The central database was set up at Doğa Derneği and project beneficiaries
installed and worked on the same system. The data collected in the course of the project were
made available to all parties. The project partners sent the data to DD every month. DD
brought them together and shared with the parties after all the data sets were brought together.
Currently, the database contains all the data collected so far by the three countries and will
continue being managed by DD in order to store more data in future surveys and to be shared
with stakeholders.
4.8 Action C.2: Production of a preliminary Marine IBA inventory for southern Black
Sea coast
Description: Following the BirdLife’s International “Marine IBA Toolkit”, the
seabird hotspots identified during the project were classified under Seaward extensions to
breeding colonies, coastal congregations of nonbreeding seabirds for Mediterranean Shag
and High seas sites and migration bottlenecks for Yelkouan Shearwater.
All the sets of data collected from a range of actions B1, B2 and B3 relating to the
distribution and behaviour of all seabird species were analysed and statistically modelled
considering the environmental layers previously cited. This complex process is explained in
detail in the Technical Report (Annex 11) containing a site description, ornithological
importance, threats to the site and proposed management measures along with the relevant
Annex 7: Training on Standard boat-based and Land-based Survey Methods Agenda
TRAINING AGENDA
(July 6-7, 2012) İstanbul/ Pera Museum
Audience: NGO representatives, Government officials, Academicians and project volunteers
1st Day (06/07/2012)
09:00-12:00 European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) method for recording seabirds at sea + ESAS data entry (theoretical training) (Pera Museum-Oditorium)
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-19:00 Field training on coastal counts and visiting the shag colony (Riva- İstanbul)
2nd Day(7/07/2012)
9:00-12:00 Field training on boat counts
12:30-13:30 Lunch
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Annex 8: Project Poster designed for MED MPA Forum 2012
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Annex 9: GIS Methods and Data Management Training Report
GIS METHODS AND DATA MANAGEMENT TRAINING
TRAINING REPORT
3rd and 4th of November 2012 at Fatih University, İstanbul, Turkey
Trainers:
Jakob Fric
Aris Manolopoulos
Overview of the Project: The Project « Preparing the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas along the southern Black Sea Coast » is implemented by Doğa Derneği in collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR), in the Southern Black Sea during the period 16/04/2012 to 16/04/2014 with a total duration of 24 months. The Black Sea Seabirds Project aims to create the basis for an inventory of Marine Important Bird Areas (IBAs) for two seabird species; Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) and European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii). The Black Sea project also aims to train staff and volunteers from Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey on seabird research and conservation methods.
Objective of the Training: Mapping species can be used as a practical management tool as well as for interpretation and promoting public understanding of nature conservation.
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The training programme is designed to deliver a new and unique training package to participants (prospective and existing) enabling to use ArcGIS software to map, record and manage seabirds data. HOS data management and GIS experts have provided a theoretical and practical training in GIS, statistical and GIS data analysis and spatial management of collected seabirds that will assist in setting up database and GIS tools for effective data management. A specially designed European Seabirds at the Sea (ESAS) database which was developed by the HOS in the framework of afore mentioned project “Survey and Conservation of Seabirds in Greece” and “Concrete conservation actions for the Mediterranean Shag and Audouin’s Gull in Greece, including the inventory of relevant marine IBAs” was translated into English and adapted to the need of the current project. The training workshop was attended by 24 participants of the project staff, academicians and volunteers from Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. Additionally, data managers from each project partner were provided additional training in setting up and operation of the database. The action has achieved all the foreseen objectives, namely the preparation and operation of data management tools (protocols, database), preparation and implementation of GIS and data management training. No difficulties have been encountered during the implementation of the action. The implementation of the training has been delayed in regard to the initially foreseen implementation period in order to allow for the first survey data to be collected in the Black Sea
Conclusion (Learning/Feedback) The training was fruitful as the participants interacted and participated enthusiastically in knowledge & experience sharing. They appreciated all the theoretical information shared with them and were especially eager about the practical sessions that they felt brought clarity to the concepts that had been introduced in the course of this training. They admitted that these two days helped in boosting their confidence to use GIS Methods and to manage data in an effective manner.
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Photos:
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GIS METHODS AND DATA MANAGEMENT TRAINING
AGENDA
(November 4-5, 2012) İstanbul/ Fatih University
Audience: Project Partners, NGO representatives, Academicians and
volunteers
1st Day (04/11/2012)
09:00-12:00 Introduction to GIS and GIS for seabirds
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-18:00 Managing and handling of observation datasets
2nd Day(5/11/2012)
9:00-12:00 General concepts of ESAS data analysis
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-18:00 Interaction of geographic datasets and GIS with ms access databases