FARMBIRD

Northwest Europe (NWE) is among the most important resting and foraging regions for farmland birds within the Atlantic Flyway, but their population has declined dramatically in this region during the last 40 years. Direct habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, intensification of agriculture, predation and reduced landscape quality are all contributing factors to these declining numbers.

To halt the decline and turn it into recovery NWE regions within the Atlantic Flyway – Friesland (NL), Weser-Ems (DE), Normandy & Loire Valley (FR), Flanders (BE) and Cork (IE) – will join forces to work together on bird protection, involving relevant stakeholders to help informed decision-making for policy purposes and strategic management plans. Monitoring the birds plays an essential role in order to achieve this.Therefore, the overall aim of FARMBIRD is to enhance the conservation of farmland bird populations and their habitats by using advanced monitoring technologies, combined with autonomous data processing using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). By integrating these technologies FARMBIRD offers a new system for bird monitoring.

In FARMBIRD 11 partners will test different tools, collect data and monitor farmland birds, survival risk and habitats, and specific land management methods in at least 14 breeding areas. This leads to jointly developed solutions which can be up taken elsewhere.Through transnational collaboration, the FARMBIRD project partners will develop effective and targeted training programmes and tools for conservationists, volunteers, and farmers on how to apply the innovative monitoring technologies. Involving farmers and citizens in monitoring activities will raise awareness of the urgency to protect farmland birds and the great potential of using modern technologies to improve result-based management strategies.