March 5th, 2025
First data collection challenge for complete lists in SE Europe
In the first weekend of February, we started a new data collection challenge "Every bird counts (double!) in SE Europe". This challenge is a part of an ongoing Regional Dynamization Campaign (within the LIFE EBP Reinforcement project) which aims to increase the participation and especially collection of complete lists throughout the region (countries included are: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia): The aim is to have an ongoing campaign year round, but also to have these dedicated weekend challenges, once per each season, simultaneously across the region. Although SE Europe is generally rich in bird species, it is still behind other parts of Europe in the number of volunteers entering bird data as well as the habit of making complete lists.
Phenololgical graph of Siskin as seen in SEE lists
In order to support the challenge, we have launched a new tool SEE lists, which uses the complete lists collected in the region and the reporting rates derived from them to provide daily updated phenological information at the species level. By having these data presented to partners and their network of observers, we hope to increase the interest and raise awareness of the importance of complete lists in the region.
Participants of the data collection challenge organized by AOS in Tirana city park
On the other
hand, each partner is conducting the challenge in a way that corresponds to
their local needs, considering the connections and synergies they might have
with other on-going projects and their existing volunteers. For example, in
Croatia, our local partner BIOM, first introduced the aim of the challenge and importance
of complete lists to bird observers in a lecture, whereas during the challenge weekend
an outing in the city park was organised for wider public. In Albania, one of
the partners, AOS, connected the showcase of how to enter a complete list
together with a bird ringing event, whereas the second partner PPNEA organised
a field excursion to wetlands near Durres. In North Macedonia, MES, used the
weekend challenge also as an opportunity to present their newly established
national on-line bird portal to interested individuals, whereas in Kosovo, the
data collection challenge was tightly connected to the activities and fieldwork
around the International Waterbird Counts. In Serbia, BPSS, organised a few
lectures beforehand and connected the weekend activities to engage with high
school students during fieldwork.
Participants of the data collection challenge organized by BIOM in Croatia
In total, we have managed to collect a bit over 3000 complete lists until the beginning of March, and although we are still behind the previous year, we strongly believe that through the ongoing activities connected with the Regional Dynamization Campaign, and upcoming spring weather, together with our partnership, we will manage to increase these efforts in SE Europe.
Participants of the data collection challenge organized by KOS in Kosovo
