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Trilateral Wadden Sea Plan Eighth Trilateral
Governmental Conference
on the Protection of the
Wadden SeaStade, Germany,
October 22, 1997
9 Birds Birds use different habitat types of the Wadden Sea Area. Therefore, all habitats which are used by one species or population are linked to and depend on each other. For example, feeding areas and appropriate roosting sites on the tidal flats or salt marshes should be available in sufficiently close distance to the breeding site of a species. During various periods, all these habitats are important habitat types for the different species and are essential for the natural development of these species in the Wadden Sea Area and should thus be taken into consideration while designing a management strategy for the protection of birds/different bird species/populations. Therefore, the bird Targets, including their subtargets, are, more or less, relevant for all habitat types in the Wadden Sea Area.
Management measures which have a habitat-crossing character, as well as measures for bird species which have their main distribution in a specific habitat type, will be addressed.
Status The conservation status of birds in the Wadden Sea Area is primarily determined by weather conditions, food availability, disturbance, as a result of various human activities, and by pollution, in particular, by heavy metals, organic micro-pollutants and oil.
High numbers of moulting ducks and geese are present in the Wadden Sea Area every year. These birds are flightless during moult and extremely susceptible to disturbance. The herbivores Widgeon, Barnacle Goose and, to a lesser extent, Brent Goose, use meadows and arable land as feeding areas during certain periods of the year. A shift in habitat use from traditional natural feeding areas, such as eelgrass beds and salt marshes to agricultural land, occurred and resulted in damage of agricultural land and in conflicts with farmers. The breeding populations of particularly threatened species such as Kentish Plover and Little Tern are highly dependent on habitats, like sandy beaches and primary dunes. The offshore-area is an important feeding, roosting and moulting area for divers, Eider and other seaducks, such as Common Scoter.
Targets Favorable conditions for migrating and breeding birds:
a favorable food availability;
a natural breeding success;
sufficiently large undisturbed roosting and moulting areas;
natural flight distances.
Assessment Favorable food availability
A favorable food availability for birds is aimed for. Based on the guiding principle, unnatural food resources for birds should be avoided. However, as long as unnatural food resources are present in the Wadden Sea Area, they should be accepted as part of the system and as a natural component of the particular ecosystem.
A number of human activities interfere with the natural food availability of certain bird species. This interference may have consequences for the food availability in years with low shellfish stock. Activities which increase the food availability for certain species and favor some species with further consequences for the entire community structure should be addressed. This concerns fishery discards, landfill dumps in the vicinity of the Wadden Sea Area, eutrophication, as well as, agricultural practices in island polders and areas behind the dikes.
Natural breeding success
Under the parameter "natural breeding success" also, the importance of natural habitats as a condition for natural distribution and densities of breeding birds and their breeding success should be taken into consideration.
Natural distribution and densities of breeding populations are especially important for endangered bird species highly dependent on sandy beaches and primary dunes (Kentish Plover, Little Tern). The present breeding populations of these species are particularly threatened and severely reduced compared to their former (natural) sizes.In general, the reproduction success of breeding birds in the Wadden Sea Area should not be influenced by human factors (i.e. chemical pollution, disturbance). Hatching and breeding success are, generally, more influenced by disturbance and natural factors, i.e. weather conditions, flooding and predators, than by pollutants. However, also factors like predator density and the frequency and level of flooding may be affected by human activities (building of dikes and dams to islands, causing an increase of ground predators).
Sufficiently large undisturbed roosting and moulting areas
Sufficient numbers of large undisturbed roosting sites in the Wadden Sea Area should be distributed along the whole coastline and they should not lie far apart, and in close proximity, to the feeding area. A criterion for the size of an undisturbed roosting area should be that birds can roost there without being disturbed by human activities outside the area.
Besides food availability, the lack of disturbance is the primary factor favoring high numbers of Shelducks and Eiders to moult in a specific area. These birds are unable to fly during moult and are extremely susceptible to disturbance with escape/flight distances up to some kilometers. Boats, and other sources of disturbance, have a strong influence on the present distribution of moulting ducks in the Wadden Sea Area.
Natural flight distances
"Flight distance" is the distance between a bird and a human disturbing factor to which the bird reacts by fleeing. Though the "natural" flight (escape) distances of birds in the Wadden Sea Area are not known, the present flight distances, which are a reaction to human disturbance, can be regarded as long because the birds have experienced man as an enemy. These unnaturally long flight distances cause other human activities to work as disturbance as well, which would often not cause effects if the flight distances were shorter. On the other hand, the possibilities of habituation of birds in "safe" areas must be taken into account.
Human activities which may disturb are, inter alia, hunting, some military activities, recreation, air traffic and wind turbines. The disturbance by military and civil air traffic has been reduced by the introduction of minimum flight altitudes. The shooting ranges at Den Helder, Noordvaarder and Sylt have been abolished.
How to proceed the conflict between food requirements for birds and the interests of fisheries and agriculture. It is important to avoid food shortage due to disturbance of other human uses (such as recreational activities, aerial traffic, wind turbines and hunting), as well as, human activities which favor certain species of birds by increasing their food supply, e.g. fishery discards, garbage deposits close to the Wadden Sea Area, eutrophication and agricultural practices in island polders and areas behind the dikes. However, it is evident, that this can only be done in close cooperation with the fishery and agricultural sectors.
Measures to protect breeding, roosting and feeding habitats can be achieved by establishing a sufficient number of bird reserves of proper size and through the management of activities. Breeding populations of Kentish Plover and Little Tern, which are highly dependent on sandy beaches and primary dunes, are particularly threatened. The situation of these species should be improved. The same is valid for migrating and moulting birds. Safe moulting and roosting sites which lie close to their feeding areas are necessary for birds to avoid energy loss.
It is important to avoid the construction of wind turbines in the rural area where this may cause a significant impact on birds.
Flyway-Cooperation Agreements have already been established with The Wash and Guinea Bissau. In the framework of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement, international conservation plans will be compiled for long-distance migrating waders and various other species.
8.1 Trilateral policy and management Bird conservation and management, at the general trilateral policy level, is subordinated to the Guiding Principle, i.e. a natural and, as far as possible, dynamic Wadden Sea, even if natural dynamics may lead to less favorable conditions for some bird species or populations. That means, that the Guiding Principle is more important than special conservation measures for certain species.
General points regarding the flyway cooperation and also specific measures for the management of different human activities which have effects on breeding and migratory bird populations in the Wadden Sea Area were already laid down in the Esbjerg and the Leeuwarden Declarations.The general management measures for specific habitats, listed under the headlines of the habitat categories, can be relevant for bird populations in general.
Site protection
9.1.1 The conditions for breeding birds will be improved by appropriate management.
9.1.2 It is the aim to improve the conditions for migratory birds during roosting and feeding, as well as, for seaducks in the offshore area during moulting, through integrated management.
Interference with the food conditions for birds
Mussel and cockle fishery
9.1.3 The negative effects of cockle fishery are being limited by:
- Cockle fishery is not allowed in the German part of the Conservation Area;
- Cockle fishery is not allowed in the Danish part of the Wadden Sea Area, with the exception of some small areas along the Esbjerg shipping lane and in the Ho Bay;
- Cockle fishery is allowed in the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea Area, but has been limited by the permanent closure of considerable areas; there are possibilities for additional restrictions to safeguard food for birds. A co-management scheme with the fishing industry is in operation, in which the protection and enhancement of the growth of wild mussel beds and Zostera fields are central elements. (Identical with 4.1.16).9.1.4 The negative effects of mussel fishery are limited by the permanent closure of considerable areas. In addition, the management of fishery on mussels aims, inter alia, at protecting and enhancing the growth of wild mussel beds and Zostera fields. (Identical with 4.1.17).
9.1.5 Mussel fishery will, in principle, be limited to the subtidal area. Based on national management plans, which are documented in the Progress Report, fishery on the tidal flats may be granted. The fishery sector is called upon to exchange information on the existing practices and to investigate possibilities for minimizing impacts of mussel fishery, in general, and seed mussel fishery, in particular. (Identical with 4.1.18).
Acoustic and visual disturbance
Disturbances due to recreational and other human activities
9.1.6 Disturbance in significant breeding areas will be reduced and access to these areas will be made more predictable for birds, i.e. using only certain footpaths on salt marshes, beaches and dunes (information system for visitors).
9.1.7 It is the aim to reduce the disturbance in significant breeding areas caused by grazing through the reduction of the grazing pressure and through postponing the beginning of the grazing period, except where a certain intensity of grazing is necessary for coastal protection measures
9.1.8 Driving cars in breeding areas on beaches and in dunes is prohibited.
Wind energy
9.1.9 The construction of wind turbines in the Conservation area is prohibited. (Identical with 1.1.4).
9.1.10 The construction of wind turbines, in the Wadden Sea Area outside the Conservation Area, is only allowed, if important ecological and landscape values are not negatively affected. (Identical with 1.1.5).
Hunting
9.1.11 Hunting of migratory species has been, or will be, progressively phased out in the Conservation Area or in an ecologically and quantitatively corresponding area in the Wadden Sea Area.
9.1.12 Lead pellets will not be used in the Wadden Sea Area.
9.1.13 Hunting of non-migratory species is, in principle, only allowed in the Conservation Area, if migratory species are not harmed.
Civil air traffic
9.1.14 The impact of civil air traffic in the Wadden Sea Area will be limited.
9.1.15 New civil airports will not be constructed in the Wadden Sea Area.
9.1.16 The expansion of existing civil airports in the Wadden Sea Area is restricted to cases where this is essential in order to increase the safety of air traffic.
9.1.17 A minimum flight altitude of civil air traffic of 1,500 to 2,000 feet (450 - 600 m) is established in the Wadden Sea Area. Exemptions can be granted for safety reasons and will be confined to designated flight corridors situated in less vulnerable parts of the Wadden Sea Area.
9.1.18 The use of ultra-light aircraft will be prohibited in the Wadden Sea Area pending national legislation, with the exception of scientific and enforcement purposes.
9.1.19 Advertisement flights are, in principle, prohibited in the Wadden Sea Area.
9.1.20 Helicopter flight routes and altitudes are established in such a way that the disturbance to wildlife is minimized in the Wadden Sea Area.
Military activities
9.1.21 Disturbance caused by military activities has been, or will be, reduced and the possibilities for further concentrating and/or phasing out military activities will be regularly examined.
9.1.22 The negative effects of low altitude flight routes of military aircraft have been, or will be, reduced by reducing the number of flights and the maximum speed.
9.1.23 Action to minimize disturbance caused by military air traffic in the Wadden Sea area will be taken on a coordinated basis.
9.1.24 High priority will be given to the assignment of redundant shooting ranges as nature protection areas.
9.2 Trilateral projects and actions 9.2.1 An inventory of all important and potential roosting sites along the coastline of each country, in conjunction with an evaluation of available knowledge on the necessity for undisturbed roosting sites, in order to investigate the possibilities for creating undisturbed roosting sites.
9.2.2 An evaluation of available knowledge on the necessity of undisturbed moulting sites for seaducks in the offshore area, in order to investigate the possibilities for creating such undisturbed moulting sites, aiming at improving the conditions during moulting.
9.2.3 An investigation into the possibilities to come to a coordinated management for herbivorous species (e.g ducks and geese) on inland sites.
9.2.4 The exploration of possibilities for improving the conditions for breeding birds in dunes and on beaches in cooperation with responsible authorities, especially on the local level, and relevant groups, with the aim to discuss the results and to take appropriate measures.
9.2.5 An inventory and assessment of the reduction of disturbance caused by military activities in the three countries.
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