This guideline is not included in the "Common Package of TMAP parameters” as defined in Annex 2 of the Stade Declaration. A two-year pilot project "Breeding success” was carried out in 1996/97 to develop a harmonized trilateral program and test the already designed methods (Thyen et al. 1998). Preliminary guidelines for breeding success in the framework of the TMAP were developed by an expert group under the JMBB and published in 1996 (Exo et al. 1996).
The proposed parameters “breeding success” is a suitable parameter and should be included in the TMAP. It is the most important indicator to assess the state of a bird population, acts as an “early warning signal” and complements the other bird monitoring parameters. The additional costs depend on the number of monitoring sites and species; in 2001 it was estimated to about 6350 Euro per site (TMAP Evaluation Report 2001), this figure, however, has to be updated to the recent situation. The financial implications have to be assessed at a later stage.
The monitoring of breeding success is carried out to detect and assess
Targets on “Birds”
Favorable conditions for migratory and breeding birds
BD
Article 2: Measure to maintain the bird populatio
Article 3: Measure to preserve, maintain or reestablish a sufficient diversity and area of habitats
Article 4: Special conservation measures for Annex I species and for regularly occurring migratory species not listed in Annex I.
Article 10: Research as basis for protection, management
Annex I List of species
Annex V: List of endangered species, important areas, data on population level, taking of wild birds, species as indicators of pollution, effects of chemical pollution.
HD
Birds are characteristic species of marine habitat types and are part of HD monitoring and reporting scheme
WFD
Not relevant.
Biological Diversity and Ecosystems Strategy, Annex V and Appendix 3
Ecological Quality Objectives (EcoQO) Issue 3:
3.1 Proportion of oiled guillemots among those found dead or dying on beaches.
3.2 Mercury concentrations in seabird eggs.
3.3 Organohalogen concentrations in seabird eggs
3.4 Plastic particle in stomachs of seabirds
3.5 Local sand eel availability to black-legged kittiwakes (breeding success in various UK regions)
3.6 Seabird population trends as an index of seabird community health.
EcoQO Issue 7:
“threatened and/or declining species”: presence and extent of species in the North Sea as shown on the Initial OSPAR List.
Ramsar
„Monitoring and analysis of the ecological character of the site and for assessing the status and trends of wetlands … of […], flora and fauna, […], conservation measures and potential threats.”
AEWA
Regional Agreement under the Bonn Convention.
Annex 3 Action Plan:
Article 5:
“endeavour to monitor the populations listed in Table 1. The results … shall be published or sent to appropriate international organizations, to enable reviews of population status and trends.
The first draft of the guideline has been presented and discussed at the extra JMBB meeting in Wilhelmshaven on August 29, 2007. Different options of implementation (scientific validity versus different budgets) including a baseline scenario with a minimum of sample sites, parameters and species has been discussed and agreed at the JMBB 07/2 meeting on October 31, 2007.
(Table 5.1) Parameters with monitoring locations and frequencies and the relation to the other monitoring requirements.
| Parameters | Description | Location | Frequency | Method | WFD | BD/HD | OSPAR | OTHER | Remark |
| Mandatory TMAP parameters | |||||||||
| Hatching success (birds) | 2-4 sites per region | Annually (between April - July) | According TMAP pilot project | - | X | - | X | 15 regions in total | |
| Reproductive success (birds) | 2-4 sites per region | Annually (between April - July) | According TMAP pilot project | - | X | - | X | 15 regions in total |
Remarks:
5.1 Parameters
For the monitoring of breeding success, a well-established set of parameters is available (Exo et al. 1996, Thyen et al. 1998, Willems et al. 2005):
For practical reasons, not all parameters are relevant for all species. Some species can only be monitored during the nest-period, others only during the chick-rearing period (also with respect to disturbance, e.g. no visits to spoonbill-colonies during incubation because this species is easily disturbed). Table 5.2 lists all potential species ('high priority species', see Tab. 1.2.10) and relevant parameters for each species.
(Table 5.2) Species and parameters to be monitored in a TMAP monitoring scheme for breeding success in the Wadden Sea. x possible, - not possible or not recommended because of disturbance.
| Species | hatching success | clutch size | onset laying | reproductive success | growth chicks | survival chicks |
| Eurasian Spoonbill | - | - | - | x | - | - |
| Common Eider | - | - | - | x | - | - |
| Oystercatcher | x | x | x | x | - | x |
| Avocet | x | x | x | x | - | x |
| Black-headed Gull | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| L. Black-backed Gull | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Herring Gull | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Sandwich Tern | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Common Tern | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Arctic Tern | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Priority | high | high | high | high | medium | medium |
5.2 Monitoring locations
According to Final Report of the Pilot Study 1996 - 1997 (Thyen et al. 1998). A methodical guideline has to be written for using on a national level in respect to different bird species and monitoring sites.
Annually monitoring during breeding season between April and July.
For details see [Table 5.1].
The aims of a monitoring scheme for breeding success in the trilateral Wadden Sea have already been listed by Exo et al. (1996) and Thyen et al. (1998) and are still valid. Moreover, assessment of the conservation status of birds, as requested by the EU-Bird Directive, has been added since a favourable conservation status has become the guiding principle for management of bird populations in the Wadden Sea.
In addition, a monitoring scheme for breeding success is beneficial to the assessment of the existing parameter 'contaminants in bird eggs' (there is a more direct link between contaminants and breeding performance than between contaminants and trends, Becker et al. 1998). Besides, it provides the necessary input for an Integrated Population Monitoring of breeding birds in the Wadden Sea.
An annual report on breeding success will be included in the regular 'highlight' reports in the Wadden Sea Newsletter and annual presentation of monitoring results on the internet (as is done for trends in migratory and breeding birds at the website of CWSS). Comprehensive data analyses will be included in the report on the total count (with 6 year-interval, next on the total count in 2012).
All data obtained from aerial and field surveys should be transferred to a geographical information system (GIS) for the analysis and assessment of the data (spatial and temporal development) and in combination with other GIS based information.
Appropriate monitoring protocols should be developed on national level. Intercalibration exercises should be carried out nationally and in the framework of the TMAP.
[to be included: reference to existing QA procedures and SOP]
Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz (LKN)
Nationalparkverwaltung Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer (NLPV)
Niedersächsischer Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz (NLWKN)
Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (DMU, NERI)
SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland
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Beintema, A.J. 1992.: Mayfield moet: oefeningen in het berekenen van uitkomstsucces. Limosa 65: 155-162.
Essink, K., C. Dettmann, H. Farke, K. Laursen, G. Lüerßen, H. Marencic & W. Wiersinga (Eds.) 2005.: Wadden Sea Quality Status Report 2004 Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 19.
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Fleet, D. M., J. Frikke, P. Südbeck & R.L. Vogel. 1994.: Breeding Birds in the Wadden Sea 1991. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No.1.
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Hötker, H. & A. Segebade. 2000.: Effects of predation and weather on the breeding success of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta. Bird Study 47: 91-101.
Jong, F. de, J.F. Bakker, C.J.M. van Berkel, N.M.J.A. Dankers, K. Dahl, C. Gätje, H. Marencic & P. Potel. 1999.: Wadden Sea Quality status report. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 9, Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Group, Quality Status Report Group. Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
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Koffijberg, K., L. Dijksen, B. Hälterlein, K. Laursen, P. Potel & P. Südbeck. 2005.: Breeding birds in the Wadden Sea in 2001. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 22. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Group, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
Melter, J., P. Südbeck, D. M. Fleet, L. M. Rasmussen & R. L. Vogel. 1997.: Changes in breeding bird numbers in census areas in the Wadden Sea 1990 until 1994. Wadden Sea Eco-system No. 4. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven.
Rasmussen, L.-M., D.M. Fleet, B. Hälterlein, B.J. Koks, P. Potel & P. Südbeck. 2000.: Breeding birds in the Wadden Sea in 1996. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 10. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven.
Reneerkens, J., T. Piersma & B. Spaans. 2005.: De Waddenzee als kruispunt van vogeltrekwegen. NIOZ-rapport 2005-4. NIOZ, Den Burg.
Thomas, L., S.T. Buckland, K.B. Newman & J. Harwood. 2005.: A unified framework for modelling wildlife population dynamics. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics 47: 19-34.
Thyen, S., P.H. Becker, K-M. Exo, B. Hälterlein, H. Hötker & P. Südbeck. 1998.: Monitoring breeding success of coastal birds. Final report of the pilot studies 1996-1997. Wadden Sea Ecosystem Ecosystem No. 8. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven.
Willems, F., R. Oosterhuis, L. Dijksen, R.K.H. Kats & B. J. Ens. 2005.: Broedsucces van kustbroedvogels in de Waddenzee 2005. Sovon-onderzoeksrapport 2005/07. SOVON, Beek-Ubbergen.