Short description of our projects:

White stork protection in Mazovian Lowland (coordinator Ireneusz Kaługa – irek@bocian.org.pl)


White storks are protected in the European Union by the Birds Directive, in Europe by the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) and globally by the Bonn Convention and the Ramsar Convention. Poland is considered as the stronghold of this species. In 2004, there were 50 000 breeding couples in Poland.
This project covers the following tasks:
  • Emergency help to endangered nests – cutting tree branches, installation of nesting plaforms on electric utility poles and trees, installation of free-standing poles with nesting platforms. We have helped 2065 nests so far.
  • Protection of feeding grounds – promotion of extensive farming, cutting shrubs to prevent plant succession on valuable areas of the Bug valley.
  • Emergency help to injured storks – we run a small rehabilitation center for injured animals in cooperation with local veterinary doctor. We have rescued and released to the wild around 50 white storks so far.
  • Education of the society connected with white stork – we conduct annually several dozen lectures for children and adolescents in schools, we also organise bicycle rallies and trainings.
  • Gathering research data – we collect data about stork population in Poland and hand it over to research institutes and local conservation services.
Website: www.bocian.org.pl/projekty/bocian-bialy

 

Active protection of black stork and its habitats (since 1995, coordinator Jarosław Paciorek – mirek@bocian.org.pl)

Actions implemented by the Society help to improve breeding conditions of black Stork in Mazovia. We carry out following tasks:
  • Monitoring of breeding sites in oder to check the breeding sukcess and check if legal regulations on protection are observed. Monitoring covers about 150 breeding sites.
  • Nest restoration – reinforcement of nests, mounting platforms and cutting branches in order to provide easier access to nests. 20 nests required such interventions during 2004-2005.
  •  Improving nesting and feeding conditions by enhancing water retention in forests. In 2005, 2 concrete water dams and 3 wooden water dams were built in Siedlce Forest District and 32 wooden dams - in Sokołów Forest District.

 

Protection of the Barn Owl in Poland (since 2002, coordinator Marek Kowalski – marek@bocian.org.pl)

We coordinate this project with 6 other conservation organizations: PTOP „Salamandra”, PTPP „ pro Natura”, Lubelskie Towarzystwo Ornitologiczne, Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Nietoperzy, Towarzystwo Badań i Ochrony Przyrody. Within this project we implemented the following tasks:
  • We surveyed ca. 3000 churches and over 100 other buildings.
  • We placed over 1300 nestboxes inside churches and monitor them for nesting of barn owl.
  • Education. We launched a poster and a brochure about the project.

 

 

Protection of the Dormice in Central Poland (since 2002, coordinator Marek Kowalski – marek@bocian.org.pl)
  • We hanged 700 nestboxes in forests and we monitor them.
  • Education – We launched a poster, 11 lectures for employees were delivered in forest districts.
  • We co-organized the 6th International Conference on Dormice.
 

Protection of bats in Central Poland (since 2000, coordintor Marek Kowalski – marek@bocian.org.pl)

  • We conducted research on distribution of bats.
  •  With the Polish Society for Bat Protection, we implement winter monitoring of bats in Central Poland. Every winter we carry out counting bats twice: in Nov/Dec and in Jan/Feb.
  • We carry out surveys of Brown bat in the Mazovian Lowland, counting of females in breeding colonies.
  •  We hang nestboxes for bats and check them.
  • Education. We organize research camps for people interested in bats and their protection.
 
Protection of Montagu’s Harrier in Agricultural Landscape (since 2005, coordinator Dominik Krupiński – dominik@bocian.org.pl)
  • We find nests located in cereal crops and prevent them from damage.
  • We indicate the importance of preserving Montagu’s Harrier in the media (press, radio, TV)
  •  We raise awareness of the problem amongst farmers.
  • Bird ringing.
  •  We cooperate with organizations in Holand, Germany, Denmark which carry out similar projects
 
 
Protection of Open Grasslands in Podlaski Przełom Bugu Landscape Park
 
(since 2004, coordinator Dominik Krupiński – dominik@bocian.org.pl)

Implemented in collaboration with authorities of Podlaski Przełom Bugu Landscape Park.

  • We encourage farmers to participate in agri-environmental programmes. We carried out trainings in 13 villages for 190 farmers. We also offer professional training to agricultural extension agents.
  • We implement active protection of dry sandy grasslands. Cutting shrubs and tree saplings helps to preserve extensively-managed meadows. In 2 years we cleared 70 ha of grasslands.
  • We restore mowing meadows in proposed nature reserve „Trojan”. Meadows are purchased from those owners who do not want to manage them.
  • We launched a brochure which promotes our project, agri-environmental programmes as well as Natura 2000 amongst farmers.

Website: www.bocian.org.pl/bocian/tereny_otwarte

 

Preservation of Kestrel (since 2004, coordinator Mirosław Rzępała -mirek@bocian.org.pl)
The main goal of the project is increasing population of the Kestrel in agricultural landscape.
  • During 2003-2006, over 500 nestboxes were placed in agricultural landscape in north-eastern Poland, mainly in Mazovian voivodship.
  • In 2005-2006, we hanged 50 boxes in cooperation with the Siedlce Electric Utility division.
  • Some nestboxes were placed on high-rise buildings in Warszawa, Siedlce, Radom, and Sokołów Podlaski.
In 2003, only one pair of kestrels was breeding in one of 20 available nestboxes (5%). In 2004, 21 of 229 available nestboxes were inhabited (9,2%). In 2005, of 278 monitored nestboxes, 42 were inhabited (15,1%)., 70 young kestrels left nestboxes in 2004 and about 160 in 2005. We also ringed 80 young kestrels in 19 nests.