The impact of the Upper Pripyat river deepening works on the hydrological regime of Aquatic Warbler breeding habitats.

07.08.2008: More than 80 % of Ukrainian Aquatic Warblers breeds in Pripyat valley. Most of the territory is strictly protected by national and international legislation. Nevertheless, there is a serious threat for AW habitats in the Pripyat valley. The approved flood abatement program "Ecology-2010" in fact is a hidden draining of Pripyat floodplain and has already caused severe ecological damage. More>>

Two steps closer to the identification of the Aquatic Warbler wintering sites.

06.08.2008: As it was reported earlier, the first important wintering site of the Aquatic Warbler, Europe’s most threatened migratory songbird, had been discovered in and around the Djoudj National Park in north-western Senegal. Estimates of BirdLife International’s Aquatic Warbler Conservation Team (AWCT) show that from 5,000 to 15,000 birds winter in Djoudj, therefore this site could hold up to 60 % of the global population. Of prime importance is now the question: Are there other important wintering sites, and where to search for them? If there are more sites, we have to find these sites quickly in order to be able to protect them. Otherwise, all the conservation work carried out at the breeding and stopover sites might stay without effect, if the birds starve during winter. More>>

Extremely early mowing in Nemunas Delta leads to nearly zero breeding success.

09.07.2008: At the beginning of June while monitoring of Aquatic Warbler in Nemunas delta (Lithuania) intensive moving was registered. Such early mowing took place at the AW breeding site - Sausgalviai meadows, which are SPA (Natura2000), established for protection of AW and Great snipe (in the area also present Spotted crake, Corncrake). It is illegal according to the EU Birds Directive, because the maintenance status of an SPA and a priority species is affected. The intensification of farming practices takes place not only in mentioned Sausgalviai meadows, but in all AW breeding sites in Nemunas delta. More>>

А reliable extremely late AW record was obtained from North Africa: 27th May in Libya!

09.07.2008: An extremely late singing aquatic warbler male was registered in atypical stopover habitat that was situated considerably far east! The record fits to the very late arrival this year at the breeding sites. More>>

Short Report from the Senegal/Mauritania Expedition 2008 (12th – 27th January) to search for Aquatic Warbler wintering grouds.

09.07.2008: The participants of the expedition (BirdLife International, Aquatic Warbler Conservation Team)arrived safely and healthy at home. The planned schedule of the expedition could be successfully performed. The outstanding importance of the Djoudj area for wintering AW was confirmed. For instance, the team caught two AW that were ringed there one year before at the same place (site fidelity). Nevertheless, the situation of suitable grass marshes in the western Sahel is alarming! Obviously there have been tremendous losses of this habitat type during the past 2-3 decades.. More>>

AWCT expedition discovers the wintering grounds of the Aquatic Warbler!

25.02.2007: One of Europe’s last remaining ornithological mysteries has been solved finally, thanks to five years of detective work by an international team of researchers. An expedition team has pinpointed the wintering grounds of Europe’s most threatened migratory songbird – the aquatic warbler – in western Africa. This robin-sized bird nests in summer in the marshes of eastern central Europe - principally Poland, Belarus and the Ukraine - and some pass through southern England on migration to its previously unidentified wintering grounds. More>>

River works at Upper Pripiat threaten over 60 % of Ukrainian population of the Aquatic Warbler

23.10.2006: Upper Pripiat floodplain is one of the key Aquatic Warbler breeding sites in Europe. According to Aquatic Warbler survey, which is implemented every year by USPB, the BirdLife partner in the Ukraine, it supports about 3,5 thousand vocalizing males, or c. 85% of Ukrainian and up to 20 % of European population of the Aquatic Warbler. Implementation of Volyn regional programme “Ecology 2010”, approved by the State Regional Department on Ecology and Natural Resources of Volyn district, poses a real threat to wetlands of upper Pripiat in Volyn region. More>>

New colour-ringing scheme for the Aquatic Warbler in operation

01.08.2006: Starting from summer 2006 colour-ringing scheme for the Aquatic Warbler was launched in Belarus. The main aim of the study is to study breeding biology of the Aquatic Warbler. More>>

Summit meeting to protect one of the World’s  rarest songbird - 1st meeting of the Range States of the Aquatic Warbler Memorandum of Understanding

10.07.2006: Nations from across Europe and Africa have come together this week in the Lower Oder Valley National Park near Berlin in Germany, under the auspices of a United Nations Memorandum of Understanding, to discuss the future of mainland Europe’s rarest songbird, the aquatic warbler. More »