HABITRACK: Habitat tracking for the conservation of huntable bird species | Horizon Europe

Forty-two huntable bird species are declining in numbers, and we crucially miss information on their habitat needs in order to organize habitat management and restoration to secure restoration their status. In HABITRACK, we propose to deploy multiple-sensor tracking tags on migratory species, to tackle fine scale habitat needs of mature individuals for a variety of unsecured huntable migratory bird species, in order to provide appropriate recommendations for ongoing habitat management policies and adaptive management initiatives. The project will consider breeding habitats, first studying links between population trends and habitat use across the European range, and the projected impacts of ongoing climate change on demography, then modelling the response curves of individual use of landscape elements within a home range, to identify potential optimal values. We will also consider integrated migratory connectivity, to further link habitat needs on non-breeding grounds (wintering grounds and stopover site networks) to population trends, tackling potential carry-over effects on breeding performance. We will finally investigate the ways remote tracking data can bring new information on breeding status and performance, and on cryptic mortality, to allow the future remote monitoring of demographic parameters. Proofs of concept will be developed early in the project from species with already available large tracking data sets – a first obvious candidate is the Eurasian Curlew. Developments in the project will make use of already available data then focus on filling knowledge gaps in relation to the amount and quality of habitat. The efficiency of the pathways to impact will be achieved by the mobilization of various organizations and stakeholders in a steering committee, ensuring the dissemination and appropriation of the scientific outcomes and management recommendations.