August 22nd, 2024
Setting up the ICP scheme in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The first surveys under the International Census Plots scheme in Bosnia and Herzegovina were organized in spring 2024. Four fieldworkers conducted bird counts twice during the breeding season across seven designated census plots. This marked the beginning of establishing a long-term monitoring program aimed to fill the current gaps in bird population data collection in the area, as new observers are currently being trained in bird identification and methodology courses.
Two of the areas covered by the new International Census Plots in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Over the past two decades, data
on birds in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been gathered as a part of numerous
projects, and have provided insights into the dynamics of breeding bird
populations in the region. However, the implementation of a large-scale
breeding bird monitoring program had been hindered by a lack of support,
particularly financial, from state institutions. The most comprehensive data
collection was done for the preparation of the European Breeding Bird Atlas 2 (EBBA2),
which ensured the country's inclusion in the European ornithological landscape.
The 2024 breeding season was
designated as a pilot phase to assess the program's effectiveness and identify
any necessary adjustments for future implementation. The plots were selected
semi-randomly, focusing on accessible areas for fieldworkers, with each plot
consisting of two 1 km transects within randomly chosen 2×2 km squares. The
data collected not only contributes to the ICP initiative but also supports further
development of a national breeding bird atlas.
Contributed by Nermina Sarajlić
