Today marks a milestone for biodiversity monitoring with launch of the second European Breeding Bird Atlas (“EBBA2”). Mark Eaton, RSPB Principal Conservation Scientist and chair of the European Bird Census Council, explains why this book will be invaluable for supporting conservation across Europe for years to come.
The first European breeding bird atlas was published in 1997, based on data collected in the 1980s; as you can imagine much has changed in the years since then, both in Europe’s birds and our ability to study them and map their distribution. Covering 596 bird species (over 100 more than in the first iteration), EBBA2 is the most up-to-date source of information on distribution, abundance and change of bird populations in Europe.
Published on 3rd December by the European Bird Census Council, and made possible by working with partner organisations across the continent, the atlas is the result of the collection of bird data across 11 million km2 in a systematic and standardised manner, state-of-the-art use of online data portals, and cutting edge analyses.
Every breeding bird species recorded during the 2013-17 fieldwork period is represented in this book, with 556 species being treated with a full species account including maps, text and an illustration. Full species accounts include 50×50 km maps (usually showing abundance data), modelled distribution maps with a resolution of 10×10 km (for 222 of Europe’s commoner species) and change maps (comparing current distribution with that obtained 30 years ago).
All these data document the state of the European breeding avifauna using the most rigorous scientific approaches with the final aim to encourage the effective conservation of birds and their habitats.
Phenomenal fieldwork
EBBA2 is one of the biggest-ever citizen science projects focusing on mapping biodiversity, and has only been made possible due to the incredible efforts of the 120,000 volunteers. From the Canary Isles to the Urals, from high Arctic to southern Turkey, millions of records have been submitted from 49 countries to map birds in unparalleled detail.
In particular, the fieldwork from Russia has been amazing – many hundreds of observers exceeding our wildest expectations in the coverage that could be managed. This has included epic expeditions by car, truck, boat and even helicopter to reach areas in Siberia and right up into the Arctic circle where roads don’t extend. All by volunteers, supported by small grants for travel costs but nothing more.
No roads? No problem!
Selected results
Of the 539 native bird species, 59 are mainly concentrated in Europe and 40 are species which are endemic to Europe. There are few species as widespread as white wagtail Motacilla alba or common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, which were recorded in over 85% of all 50-km squares surveyed in EBBA2.
More than 50% of the species occurred in less than 10% of all surveyed squares, so that all countries and regions have their own specific responsibility towards this common wealth.
Map of occurrence for stock dove Columba oenas which shows the relative importance of the UK for Stock Dove – we have at least a quarter of the European (and global) population
What will this mean for conservation?
Conservation-wise it will enable a new awareness of the big patterns in bird status in Europe. The impact of land management and how bird distributions are responding to climate change are the biggest issues driving change, but there’s also important evidence on how conservation is helping species.
It will inform decisions on conservation priorities across the continent – both on which species most need conservation help as well as the issues those species are facing. In particular, EBBA2 is a game-changer in terms of our awareness of the whereabouts and numbers of birds in the east of the continent, right across to the Ural Mountains in Russia – huge regions for which we had very poor knowledge before.
Beyond what this initial publication will tell us, there will be a huge amount of research using the underlying data to come in future years. This incredible new book, and the database that underpins it, will serve to enable further research and support conservation of birds and other biodiversity across Europe for decades to come
To buy your copy of the book, visit Lynx Edicions.
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