EURING Newsletter - Volume 1, November 1996

EURING PROJECTS

All new projects co-ordinated by EURING will be presented in this section, which will also offer progress reports and summary results. Being EURING a large community of highly experienced ringers, one of our main features is represented by the possibility to collect data from wide geographical areas, following standard protocols.

Yet, co-ordinated projects need feedback to the participants, and basic information on ongoing activities and results should be published here, to be spread to all schemes; this would allow the different centres to transfer the information to the ringers by means of national ringers’ bulletins, circulars, or during ringers’ meetings.

Setting up new projects is quite difficult, since many different aspects have to be properly planned, organised and financed. It is therefore crucial to get inputs from all EURING members, and all schemes should try and take part in the planning of a new project by advising on issues of particular relevance to both basic and applied science, general needs in terms of contacts with the project co-ordinator(s), people, equipment, etc.

We hope this section of our newsletter will see the active role of all of you!

NEW PROJECTS

1) THE EURING SWALLOW PROJECT

All schemes have already received a first version of a project proposal written by Fernando Spina, on the basis of a draft plan by Arie van Noordwijk, on the Swallow. Some centres have already reacted to the request for comments and suggestions, and it is quite clear that this project could really become a large-scale initiative, given the general positive replies.

In the meantime contacts have been taken with scientists working on the species, as well as international organisations (BirdLife International, WWF International, E.U., ESF) which might be interested in supporting the project.

Finding suitable funds for such a large initiative will not be easy; while applying for funds at the national/international levels, an initial strategy could be trying to start on an experimental basis in a certain number of countries in 1997. We could then use the partial results which would be obtained to put forward an even ‘stronger’ application, offering a practical example of the scientific data which the project would produce, to be used also for monitoring purposes and conservation policies.

At this stage it is essential to have replies from all schemes on the proposal you received; please try to send back your comments as soon as possible.

We will then revise the draft version accordingly, in order to start applying for funds. From this respect, it would be interesting to know whether you think you would be able to get funds at your national level on the basis of the larger EURING project.

2) WATERFOWL MIGRATION ATLAS

There has recently been a lot of interest in different aspects of bird migration at the international level, with reference to proposals for partly revising the EEC Bird Directive N. 409/79. In particular it has again become evident how sound information on seasonal movements, as well as origin and destination of the different geographical populations, would be of great importance to properly evaluate these proposals. Of particular interest in terms of international management plans are waterfowl species.

EURING has got by far the largest data set available on waterfowl movements across Europe, and a proposal has therefore put forward within the EURING Board for a specific waterfowl atlas to be produced as a EURING initiative, and possibly through the involvement of other international organisations which might (or have already) shown interest in the project, such as C.I.C.-O.M.P.O. (Conseille Internationale de la Chasse - Oiseaux Migreateurs du Paleartique Occidental), or Wetlands International.

The proposal is being worked out, and will be circulated to all schemes fairly soon. This could be a very important initiative to promote an active role for EURING at the international level, and we’re confident you all will try and contribute to the proper drafting of this project.

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