The call for the BNIP pilot projects in 2017 was a success and resulted in eight small-scale inspiring projects. In almost 2 years’ time these projects achieved great things.
Read here what the regional landscape Zuid–Hageland has realised.
Fly along with the Montagu’s harrier creates extra support for the harrier
The project Vlieg mee met de grauwe kiekendief (Fly along with the Montagu’s harrier) maps out the landscape use of Montagu’s harriers in the Flemish loam region and increases support for this beautiful species!
With this project the regional landscape Zuid–Hageland creates extra support for the European target harrier. By bringing the harrier under the attention of farmers, nature conservationists, hunters and (local) authorities regional landscape Zuid–Hageland wishes to engage more farmers to take species protection measures in their fields. The project also wants to enthuse the local residents and municipal authorities about the harrier as an umbrella species for endangered field birds. To achieve this, a wonderful awareness-raising film was developed, highlighting the relevance of area-based measures. The film was widely distributed through all kinds of communication channels and was well–received by viewers. The visual material is also widely used in all kinds of publications.
The icing on the cake was the behaviour and environmental use of a marsh harrier called ‘Anna’. Anna was equipped with a GPS transmitter in Hoegaarden in August 2019. Anna first stayed in the neighbourhood, went hunting during the day in one of the Flemish areas, demarcated for marsh harrier, and slept just across the language border. Then she left for France where she explored a part of northern France. After some time in the Walloon Brabant Genappe, she started her southern journey to the Aveyron. Anna returned and stayed in a small-scale agricultural area in Belgian Luxembourg.
Anna’s transmitter data provides a basis for more research into behaviour and subtleties in the field. This way the area improvement can be further developed for harrier species and other bird species that are characteristic of temporary situations in field areas. The first facebook message of the marsh harrier Anna scores best of all since the foundation of the facebook page Plan Harrier, which also shows the communicative advantages of transmitters.
Well done, Anna!
Visit the website of the regional landscape Zuid–Hageland for more information!
Copyright of the header image: Yves Adams
