the Brandenburg ostrich - Landesamt für Umwelt, Gesundheit und ...

Species and Biotope ConservationThe Great Bustard –the Brandenburg ostrichLandesamt fürUmwelt,Gesundheit undVerbraucherschutz

The Great Bustard –the Brandenburg ostrich1

2 The Great Bustard – the Brandenburg ostrichContentsThe Great Bustard – has it been saved?Brandenburg’s ostrichOnce a steppe bird ... today on fields and meadowsOnce in the thousands in Brandenburg ... today a rare birdGreat Bustard looking for a wife ... and with successful matingCocks go traveling ... flight from hard wintersHelp in situ ... international responsibilitiesA look beyond the horizonA Bustard-friendly habitatPlease do not disturb!The artificial henFosterlings in needThe Great Bustard in conflictWings in the windWhat individuals can do for the Great BustardA feast for the eyes: observing BustardsBuckow: the cradle of Brandenburg’s Great Bustard conservationHand in HandAdditional informationLiterature, Internet, addressesImprint56681218202224262729313234384042444648

The Great Bustard – the Brandenburg ostrich3Did you know...that a mature male greatbustard can be as heavyas a deer, weighing up to17 kilograms? The greatbustard is among one ofthe heaviest flying birds inthe world. Not only that,but the difference in weightbetween the male andfemale great bustard is greaterthan that of any otherbird species in the world.

4 The Great Bustard – the Brandenburg ostrichDid you know...earlier the Great Bustardwas consideredbig game and couldonly be hunted bythe kaisers, kings, andnobility? The administratorsof the king’scourt hunt recorded820 bustards killed byhunting in Prussia inthe year 1900.Courtship display of a Great Bustard cock

6Habitat and BiologyThe Brandenburg ostrichHistorical representationsof GreatBustards: from“Brehms Tierleben”(“Brehm’sAnimal Life”)1893 (above) aswell as the GreatBustard cock, artistunknown, archiveof H. Litzbarski(below)Once a steppe bird...The original habitats of the Great Bustard werewide-open steppe landscapes. Forest clearing inthe Middle Ages created fields, meadows, andheathlands – so-called “cultured steppes” – thatwere attractive to the bustards and which theyquickly settled. In the 18th and 19th centuries thelarge birds belonged to the typical, widely distributedspecies on the agricultural lands of Europe.They were even present in southern Sweden andin large parts of England.Did you know...earlier the GreatBustard was calledthe Ackertrapp (FieldBustard) or Trappgans(bustard goose)? InUpper Wendish it wascalled “Dudak” andin Lower Wendish“Groupun.”

Habitat and Biology7...today on fields and in meadowsAdditional habitats came about in Central Europewhen large swamps and lowland moors weredrained. Pure agricultural landscapes have sincelost their suitability for Great Bustards. But evengrassland by itself is not an optimal habitat becauseof its cool and moist microclimate and thecorresponding vegetation structure. For decadesnow the coexistence of field and lowland moorshas characterized the habitat of the bustards inGermany.Although the species is able to get through thewinter with just a few stems of rapeseed, itbelongs to the most demanding birds of agriculturallandscapes. For one, it requires large,contiguous, and undisturbed areas over which thebird can keep a good view. For another it needsrichly-structured vegetation with light, sunnyareas. Many insects, spiders, worms, and otherinvertebrate species live in this diverse plant worldthat the bustard requires for the rearing of theiryoung.

8Habitat and BiologyOne in a thousand in Brandenburg...Bustard hunter in theMiddle Ages, afterGEWALT (1959).Distribution of the Great Bustard in Brandenburg in 1934, after GEWALT (1959).Did you know...The Great Bustard isstill considered ananimal that may behunted, although it isout of season for thewhole year?The Mark Brandenburg was always the strongholdof the Great Bustard in Germany. That is whythe bird is also known as the “Märkische Strauß”or Brandenburg ostrich. While the authoritiesvalued the bird for hunting and eating, thefarmers always complained about the damage totheir fields. For this reason one began to controlthe Great Bustards beginning in 1753 with thepermission of Frederick II in order to reduce thedamage to agriculture. At the beginning of the20th century school children still had to collectbustard eggs from the fields.In 1939, in the former Mark Brandenburg, therewere around 3,400 bustards – more than half ofall the birds settled in Germany. The populationthen sank rapidly in the following decades.

Habitat and Biology9...a rare birdThe intensification of agriculture since the middleof the 19th century fundamentally altered theconditions of the farming landscape and therebydestroyed the habitat of numerous plants andanimals – also that of the Great Bustard. First theydisappeared from the pure agricultural landscapes,later also from the marsh areas that increasinglybecame transformed into grassland monocultures.In the 1970s and 80s successful breeding of wildbustards in Brandenburg was already extremelyrare, although there were still a few hundredindividuals. Many clutches of eggs fell victim tothe frequent work processes on the farmland, andwhere chicks did hatch they became trapped andthen starved in the high, dense, and insect-poorvegetation. The long life expectancy of the olderbirds alone was enough to delay the populationreductions. In today’s agricultural conditions inGermany suitable habitats for the Great Bustardscan only be retained in reserve areas with largescale,extensive land use and specially designedcultivation schemes.

10Habitat and BiologyCauses for the decline of the Great Bustard❚❚❚❚❚increase in mowing andother work processesintensive fertilizationpesticidessoil compactionhigher livestock densities❚❚❚❚time between work processesno longer sufficient forbreeding and rearingdense and high vegetationwith unfavorable microclimatespecies-poor plant stocksdecline in invertebrates(number of species andbiomass)❚❚❚❚large losses due to machineuse (clutches, young andadult birds)insufficient sunny areas forthe chickshigh resistance to movementstarvation due to acute lackof invertebrates

Habitat and Biology11100 cm75 cm50 cm25 cm0 cmOnly extensively utilised meadows (right), arable land and fallow ground offer enough food for great bustard chicks; they have no chance ofsurvival in high, thick, intensively used grassland (left). The photo (below) shows an area of arable ground which is particularly rich in insects.

12Habitat and BiologyGreat Bustard seeks a mate...Great bustards do not live in pairs, but in breedingcommunities (internationally know as “leks”).This can consist of up to 130 animals and take ina area of between 30 to 80 square kilometres.Outside the breeding period the adult bustardstend to live in groups split by gender, but theyoung of the last brood remain with the femalegroups. Males and females find one another primarilyin the courting period.The birds return to the same place every year forcourting; as a rule these are spots that have beenused for generations.Cocks skirmishingat the edge of thecourting ground.

Habitat and Biology13The courtship is an incredible sight. The cocktransforms himself into a large, white ball of feathers– to do so, he turns the brown, patterned flight feathersout so that the white underside and the whitefeathers of the elbow face upwards. The tail flipsup to the back and shows only the white down feathers.The long beard feathers stand straight up. Thetransformation is swift and complete. The puffed upneck makes the cock seem even bigger. Easily visiblefrom afar the cocks attract receptive females at agreat distance. In small, isolated groups the hens flyover 10, sometimes even 30 kilometers, to reach thecocks at the next breeding ground. To brood theyreturn to their familiar territory, as the cocks haveno duties during the brooding and upbringingtimes whatsoever. It was previously thought that thehens usually bred within a five kilometre radius ofthe mating ground. According to the latest resultsfrom Spain, the breeding grounds are on average8 kilometres from the mating ground, but can beup to a maximum of 54 kilometres away.The choice of partner is made by the hens. Theychoose one of the strongest cocks for the fertilizationof their eggs. For this reason the older hensare more likely to procreate.Did you know...during the courtshipthe heart rateof the cocks canreach 900 beatsper minute?

14Habitat and BiologyThe clutch consists of one to three (usually two)eggs, for which the hens merely construct a flathollow in the ground of a field of grassland – usuallywithout any nesting material.

Habitat and Biology15Did you know...the adult animalseat herbs, floweringstocks, insects, andsmall mammals, butthe young animalsare initially only fedon insects? In thefirst two weeks of lifeGreat Bustard chicksneed more than10,000 insects –almost a kilogram –in order to survive....and with successful matingAfter a brooding period of about 25 days the eggshatch, and the chicks weigh about 90 grams. Eventhough they immediately leave the nest, they areonly able to follow the hen clumsily and slowly inthe first days of life.The hen continually feeds them small bits of foodwith her beak: initially only insects. From the tenthday on the portion of plant fare increases dramatically.But without a sufficient source of insects thechicks have no chance of survival.

16 Habitat and BiologyEven though the young bustards are beginningto fly at four to five weeks, they still try to avoiddangers for many weeks by squatting down intothe ground vegetation – a fateful strategy! For thenthey can be caught up in and killed by the farmmachines that work the fields and grasslands.Only after 10 to 12 weeks do they try to flyaway – by that time having reached approximatelythe size of the hen. The male chicks quicklygrow larger than this, but even in the autumn themother – now much smaller than they – still feedssome of them.Females usually become sexually mature at theage of 2, whereas males become sexually maturebetween 4 and 5 years old.

Habitat and Biology17Annual Cycle of the Great BustardOct.Sep.Nov.Aug.Dec.WINTERING IN GROUPSJulyCHICKSJan.BROODING TIMEJuneCOURTSHIP PERIODFeb.MayMar.April

18Habitat and BiologyCocks go traveling...The Great Bustards on Russian territory are almostexclusively migratory birds. Even the Spanish bustards,especially the cocks, change their territoryregularly between brood and wintering areas witha distance between them of up to 250 kilometers.In contrast, the Central European Great Bustardsare significantly less mobile. Under normalcircumstances they go no further than 15 to 25kilometers from their brooding ground outside ofthe breeding season.Other migrations are undertaken primarily by thecocks that haven’t yet reached reproductive age– less frequently by hens. These “excursions” cancover hundreds of kilometers in all directions.Earlier the birds would have met other membersof their species who they could join. The fact thatthe migrations often “come to nothing” thesedays reduces the survival chances of the “bachelors.”Migrating great bustards also collide withoverhead powerlines; the risk of collision with windturbines has so far not been estimated.

Habitat and Biology19Severe winters causegreat loss amongthe bustards – afterthe 1978/89 wintermigration as well ashigh losses amongthe remaining birdsreduced the populationin Germany by45 percent....Flight from hard wintersOnly in winters with heavy snows do the localbirds stray far from their brooding grounds, flyingwestward and sometimes even making an appearancein France. Escaping the winter in this way, ashappened in the winters of 2009/10 and 2010/11after almost a twenty-year break, always resultin losses. In the mild winters before 2009 thebustards remained “at home”. During times ofsnow it is possible to help the bird by clearing rapeseed fields, their preferred winter feeding ground.It is possible that great bustards will be among thelong-term winners of global warming, at least inCentral Europe.Models of Great Bustard and climate data predictthat the bustards could benefit from climatechange in East Germany more than in any otherarea in Central Europe. But what is decisive is thetype of land use under these new climate conditions.The international responsibility of Germanyto protect this species is therefore all the greater.Did you know...Great Bustards arepowerful and indefatigablefliers in spiteof their weight? Whilein Central Europethey primarily live assedentary birds, inRussia they are migratorybirds that migratecirca 1,000 kilometersto their winter quartersin Ukraine.

20ConservationHelp in situ...

Conservation21...international responsibilitiesMore than thirty areas in the former GDR weredesignated “bustard sanctuaries.” But effectiveconservation measures were only present in a fewof the areas. In all the places where the designation“bustard sanctuary” was only an emptyphrase the large birds have since disappeared.They survived only in areas where there wereintense efforts to protect the birds and theirhabitat – in the Havelländisches Luch, the BelzigerLandschaftswiesen, and in the Fiener Bruch.Today Brandenburg State Office for Environmentis the supporting agency for the Great Bustardconservation project with significant help of theGreat Bustard Conservation Foundation, which isalso active in Saxony-Anhalt. That is also wherethe state responsibility is located, at the LandkreisJerichower Land, Untere Naturschutzbehörde(Lower Conservation Administration of JerichowCounty).Buckow7003HavelländischesLuchBuckowBrandenburga.d.HavelPotsdamBrandenburga.d.HavelBaitzPotsdamFrankfurt (O.)7022Fiener Bruch7003Belziger BaitzLandschaftswiesenSpecial Protection Areas(SPA) according tothe EC Birds Directive(79/409/EWG)Cottbus

22ConservationDid you know...the Great Bustard hasan enormous distributionreaching fromSpain to Mongolia,but that they nowonly live in isolatedpopulations?A look beyond the horizonThe conservation of the Great Bustard in Germanyis part of an international effort to protectthis species. The basis is formed by European andeven international agreements – especially the ECBirds Directive that are aimed not only at the birdsthemselves but also their habitats. These parts ofthe Europe-wide network NATURA 2000 havebeen designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA).This network consisting of SPAs and “special areasof conservation” pursuant to the FFH Directive,aims to help maintain the plant and animal worldin Europe – very much in the sense of the BiodiversityConvention that is supposed to ensure adiversity of life on Earth beyond just the EU. GreatBustards are a part of this diversity.There is even an agreement that is dedicated solelyto the Great Bustards in Central Europe – theso-called “Memorandum of Understanding.” Thissub-agreement of the Bonn Convention for theConservation of Migratory Animals regulates theinternational efforts in research and protection ofthe Great Bustard. In this context there have beentwo conferences at which the twelve signatorycountries agreed to an international work programand critically inspected the status of theimplementation of the memorandum. The GreatBustard conservationists in Brandenburg workespecially closely with their colleagues in Spain,Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, and Russia. As a strictlyprotected species the Great Bustard also fallsunder the trade restrictions of CITES.According to the Red List of Threatened Birds ofthe World the Great Bustard is considered “vulnerable”– this corresponds to category 3 “endangered”in Germany. Red lists are points of orien-tationfor conservation strategies and political decisions.On the Red List of birds in Germanyand Brandenburg the Great Bustard is ranked incategory 1, “threatened by extinction.”The State of Brandenburg is aware of its responsibilityand has implemented all possible measuresto protect and conserve the Great Bustard,for it was one hundred years ago that the MarkBrandenburg was the area in which the greatestnumber of Great Bustards lived in Germany, by far.

Conservation23The conservation of theGreat Bustard in Brandenburgis achieved by...❚❚❚❚“Bustard-friendly” configurationof habitats and theextensification of agricultureminimizing disturbancesreintroduction of young bustards,as long as there is anacute risk of extinctionefforts to protect the reproductionof bustards from thehigh predation pressure

Conservation25Did you know...bustards are moreclosely relatedto cranes than tochickens?109876543210198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011The progress made by reptiles and amphibians after stopping the use of fertiliser and the discontinuation of ploughing of fieldsis represetativeof many groups of animal and plant species. In the picture the number of species ascertained in the “HavellandLuch” Nature Protection Area in what used to be an area of creeping velvet grassland and after the start of extensive utilisation.

Conservation27The artificial henLarge-scale habitat protection began in the late1980s in the two bustard territories of the HavelländischesLuch and the Belziger Landschaftswiesen.Before then the species could only beprotected by finding clutches during agriculturalwork and then saving them. But the brooded andraised young birds then had to be released backinto the same unsuitable habitat from which theeggs came.Today the artificial incubation of rescued eggs andthe rearing of young birds by humans is still a partof the protection strategy, but only as a complementto the protection of habitats. The goal is a“sustainable” population that requires no more artificialpopulation support. In the HavelländischesLuch this goal is already quite close.The results of the artificial brood and rearingTime frameHatching success ratesof fertilized eggsReleased birds as a percentageof hatched chicksNumber ofreleased birds1980-89 64,7 % 53,6 % 3381990-99 69,6 % 69,9 % 1432000 – 11 70,9 % 76,1 % 338This table shows the results of the brooding and rearing in recent decades. While the results of rearing haveconstantly improved, the brooding success rate has stabilized below 70 percent.

28ConservationThe eggs for the artificial brood are from clutchesinadvertently mown free, but are also sometimesspecifically gathered. But doesn’t it endanger thepopulation when the eggs are just “taken away”from the Great Bustards? Long-term observationshave shown that so-called “predators”, primarilyfoxes, eat a large percentage of the clutches. Notonly Great Bustards, but also many species thatbrood on meadows are increasingly suffering thisfate, and especially in large swaths of CentralEurope. For the Great Bustards it is primarily theearlier clutches that end in the stomachs of predators,at times when the vegetation doesn’t provideenough cover. Since these eggs would be lostin any case and as the hens regularly lay severalsubsequent clutches the responsible parties in theEnvironmental Agency and the Great Bustard ConservationFoundation decided to take a portion ofthese clutches to brood and raise at the hands ofmen. The natural tendency to subsequent clutchesmeans that eggs are found into July and youngbirds into August. The rescued eggs are artificiallybrooded in an incubator and humans then rear thehatched chicks. The bustards are not allowed toget used to being cared for like house pets.To ensure the freed birds behave in a mannerappropriate to the species it is necessary:❚ to reduce contact with humans to a minimum❚ to limit contact to a few, uniformly dressedpersons❚ to begin the process of returning them to thewild at around six weeks.In the HavelländischesLuch the goalof a self-sustainingpopulation has almostbeen reached. Thepopulation, whichhas almost quadrupledsince 1996, wasbuilt largely withoutartificial brooding,but wouldn’t havebeen possible withoutintensive managementof the wild broodsinside a fox-proofprotection fence. Theslump in 2011 was aWinter flight caused.7060504030201001996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Conservation 29Fosterlings in needOver centuries humans have changed the habitatof the Great Bustard and its entire plant andanimal world. Predator-prey relationships and competition between the individual species have tofind a new balance under constantly changingconditions – ecologists speak of “dynamic equilibrium.”Many factors have led to the increasedfrequency in the last decades of animal speciesthat belong to the predators of bustards andtheir eggs, such as foxes and ravens. Additionallythere are invasive species such as the raccoon andraccoon dog that pose potential risks. This shift inthe species structure primarily has negative effectson the reproduction of the Great Bustards, whichwould have reached rock bottom were it not forconservation efforts.This is a problem for many other bird species thatbrood on the ground, not only in Brandenburg,but also in large parts of Central Europe. These includethe lapwing, grey partridge, and the curlew.While foxes can also be a danger to adult bustards, raccoons (middle) and raccoon dogs (right) pose risks primarily to the clutches andyoung animals.

30ConservationWhile the hunt for Fox and other predatorymammals hasn’t improved the reproductionrate of the bustards, the fox-proof fences inthe conservation areas have demonstratedtheir worth. With their sense for safety thefree ranging adult hens now seek out thesefenced-in areas for their broods. Above allin the Havelländisches Luch they prefer the“pens” to the surrounding landscape. Up to15 hens brood here at once on an area of 18hectares and bear up to 11 fledged youngper year – significantly more than outside theprotection fences. One can hope that this aidmeasure will only be temporarily necessaryand that the bustards will one day be able tosuccessfully brood in the wild.20181614121086420Number of fledged youngper year1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011500450400350300250200150100500gefundeneBrutplätzeOpen landProtection fencegeschlüpfteKükenflügge KükenProtecting the birds from ground predators in the fenced-in areas has led toan increasing reproduction rate in the German Great Bustard project.Comparison of the reproduction rate in the wild and in thefenced-in areas in the Havelländisches Luch 1990-2011.

Conservation 31Great Bustard in ConflictThe Great Bustard achieved an ambiguous famein some media outlets in the 1990s as “the mostexpensive bird in the world.” The reason behindthis was the railway line from Berlin to Hannoverthat went right through the Great Bustard territoryin the Havelländisches Luch. What had previouslyonly been used as noise control for human settlementswas now to be used to protect the bustards– walls on either side of the tracks to avoidcollisions between the birds and the trains or theiroverhead wires.The project was a complete success for all involved,including the Deutsche Bahn (GermanRailway). The section of the line was completedon time and the costs came in under budget. Theyamounted to a small portion of what the alternatives– a long bypass or a tunnel – would havecost. The implemented measures are also advantageousfor many other bird species as well asbeavers and European otters, for which a specialpassage beneath the tracks was built. The bustardsthemselves tolerate the train line.Did you know...Great Bustardssleep on theirbelly? They pulltheir headbetween theirshoulders.The “BustardWall” also allowsother birds, such asthe cranes (above)to safely cross thetrain line.

32ConservationWings in the windThe conflict between the wind turbines and theGreat Bustards has found resonance in the media.The large wind turbines change the landscape andcan obstruct habitats and flight paths. To some speciesthey also pose an accident risk. To date no GreatBustards are known to have fallen victim, but studieshave only been conducted in a few wind parks.At present we don’t know how these large birdswill behave toward the wind parks within theirtraditional migration routes. However it has beenshown that the bustards avoid a wind park on theedge of the Fiener Bruch and have thereby lostan important part of their habitat.Whether this will have an effect on the largerpopulation is not yet clear. A gradual acclimatizationof at least some animals – as with otherspecies – is not out of the question, but wouldthereby increase the risk of collision.A recent study has shown that currently onlyaround 10% the environment of the last threeGerman great bustard territories is uninterruptedand undeveloped and therefore of use to the greatbustard.

Conservation 33Compensation and mitigation for the wind parksis meant to ensure that the ability of the potentiallyaffected species to maintain themselves is notdamaged. Thus, for example, the extensificationof agricultural areas with terms of up to 20 yearsare being financed. Parallel to this is a monitoringeffort – that is an investigation into the effectson the animal world, including the Great Bustards.The results will be made available for futureplanning.Recent developments in the agricultural politicshave added to the plight of Brandenburg’s ostrich:the increasing orientation toward regenerativeresources as a source of energy means afurther reduction in the species’ habitat. Areasthat were designated fallow land by the EU until2007 are now being planted with corn, sorghum,and other fast growing cultures. In Brandenburgthe percentage of fallow land was reduced by45 percent within one year. Further habitats forthe Great Bustard are disappearing, for exampletheir “stepping stones” outside the conservationareas.Did you know...the Great Bustardcannot stand onone leg like a storkbecause it doesn’thave a hind toe?Many speciessuffer from thereduction of fallowland, including thecorn bunting (left)and the whinchat(right).

34ConservationWhat individuals can do for the Great BustardFarmers in the nature reserves “HavelländischesLuch” and “Belziger Landschaftswiesen” areincluded in the conservation efforts. They workwithin the guidelines of the Agri-EnvironmentalPrograms and the conservation agreementsand have adapted the farming practices towardbustard-friendly land use. There are similarapproaches for the third remaining Great Bustardterritory: the “Fiener Bruch.” In all three areasbustard conservationists maintain regular contactwith the hunters, who for their part, consider thedemands of the Great Bustards. As the numberof bustards increases one can expect to also findbroods outside of the protected areas. Thereforethe attention and support of the farmersand hunters in the broader surroundings of theprotected areas are also important. Above allwhen there is a brood or suspicion of one theresponsible institutions should be contacted (see“Addresses” on p. 47).

Conservation 35With understanding and consideration visitorsand inhabitants of the surrounding communitieshelp to protect the Great Bustard. Only approvedroutes and paths should be used, and the necessaryprohibitions against entry and closed areasshould be tolerated. Disturbances do not justbother the bustards but also visitors who havetravelled from afar only to find an empty courtingground. Please heed the instructions on the informationboards in the protected areas.Notification of Great Bustard sightings, particularlyoutside the known territories, are alwaysappreciated by the responsible institutions. Theycomplete our picture of the bustards’ room use,fill gaps in the ongoing monitoring, and can aid inintegrating the farmers of the relevant land usedby the birds. Ornithologists with good opticalequipment should, if they discover a Great Bustard,pay attention to the ringing of the birds. Thecolored leg rings can be seen with binoculars upto a point. The reading of the ring codes requiresa good spotting scope with which the necessarydistance can be kept.Whoever would like to do morefor the Great Bustards...is welcome to get in contact with a staffmember at the care centers (see “Addresses”on page 47). Support is also possible throughthe Great Bustard Conservation Foundation.

36ConservationFor more than ten years now Great Bustards areequipped with transmitters to follow their movements;tail and neck transmitter (small photo),backpack transmitter (large photo).

Conservation 3716014012010080rescued eggsfledged youngyoung set freewild populationDid you know...Great Bustards canlive to be 20 to 25years old?60402001990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011The overall conservation measures are currently leading to an increase in the Great Bustard population in Germany– the first time after decades of decreases. The chart shows that setting birds free as well as a stabile number offledged young bustards contribute to the population increases.A striking demonstrationofthe difference insize, between thecock and hen.

38ObservationA feast for the eyes: observing bustards

Observation39For the viewer it is an unforgettable experiencewhen, in the failing light at dusk, the cock birdstransform themselves from dull shapes to brilliantwhite beacons and then almost disappear again.In order to enjoy this spectacle of the bustard’scourtship without disturbing the birds there arethree observation towers in the HavelländischesLuch and the Belziger Landschaftswiesen. They areopen year round and no registration is necessary(see map section on pages 42 and 43). With alittle luck one might also meet a barn owl in thetowers; they leave their traces in the form of whitesplotches.In mild weather the courting of the bustardsbegins as early as February and continues on – ifnot so intensely – until the early summer. The bestbustard observations can generally be made fromthe beginning of April to the end of May. Themorning and evening hours are particularly suitable,although in the fen mires it can be foggy inthe early hours. As summer approaches the bustardsare increasingly “invisible.” It is occasionallypossible to see the birds from the road, for examplein the winter months when they leave thecore areas of the protected area. Sometimes thebustards stand on the side of the road, but quicklyincrease their distance from stopping cars andespecially people getting out of cars by severalhundred meters. Good optics can help you see thebirds well from a greater distance withoutGuests from all over Europe and even from abroadvisit the observation tower in the Brandenburg GreatBustard territories.disturbing them. If you adapt to the bustards, youhave a good chance of experiencing the birds andtheir natural habitat.During the courting period the Great BustardConservation Foundation offers a visitors’ servicein the exhibition of the Bird Conservation Centrein Buckow as well as guided excursions. Detailscan be found on the Internet site of the foundationas well as in the local media. The rangers ofthe Westhavelland Nature Park also offer GreatBustard tours.

40State Bird Conservation CentreBuckow: the cradle of Brandenburg Great Bustard conservation1978 marks the “birth hour” of the Buckow NatureConservation Station in the HavelländischesLuch. Changes in the organization of state natureconservation, greater personal commitment, anda great deal of voluntary support have ensuredthat in 1979 full-time work for the protection ofthe Great Bustard could begin.

State Bird Conservation Centre41From the beginning the Great Bustard has been adominant species – a representative of the manyother animal and plant species on farmlands thatwere afflicted by the intensification of agriculture.The spectrum of tasks ranged from fundamentalwork like research and bird censuses to practicallandscape work, seminars with farmers and volunteerconservationists all the way to coordinatedefforts in conservation.Founding district work groups – for predatorybirds or mammals – helped pool voluntarycommitment. International conferences for theGreat Bustard were a sign of cooperation beyondcountry borders; two of them took place in theregion that is today Brandenburg. The focus wason questions regarding the causes of the speciesretreat and the possible counter measures thatcould be done through conservation. Even duringthe GDR period is was possible in Westhavellandand in the Belziger Landschaftswiesen to removeseveral thousand hectares from intensive cultivationand introduce extensive use. For the first timeit was possible to protect the habitat – going farbeyond the previous possibilities.Protection of species diversity on farmland – from the beginning thishas been the core of the Buckow Nature Conservation Station’s work.Eurasian curlew (above); a field’s edge in bloom (below).

42State Bird Conservation CentreStechowB 188RathenowBammeFriesackL 982L 991GräningenL 98BahnhofNennhausenMützlitzNennhausenBuckow b.NennhausenMarzahne,Brandenburgan der HavelL 991L 982Bus 572/574Rathenow - KieckRathenow - MützlitzGarlitzMarzahne,Brandenburgan der HavelLiepeDammeTurmBuckowTurmGarlitzHand in HandThe political upheaval in 1989 brought new opportunitiesfor the conservation of Great Bustards.Privatization and a new orientation of agriculturewere used to improve the situation for the GreatBustard in the territories of the HavelländischesLuch, Belziger Landschaftswiesen and the FienerBruch in cooperation with farmers. Since 1991this has been carried out under the auspices ofthe Brandenburg State Office for Environment.LIFE projects forged the preconditions for thesubsequent agricultural-environmental measuresand the permanent protection of the areas. Thiswas also aided by the acquisition of land for GreatBustard conservation, supported by sponsorssuch as the Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt(Frankfurt Zoological Society). A foundation forthe protection of the Great Bustard was established.International cooperation in research andconservation also gained tailwind. From Spain toMongolia there is no country with Great Bustardsthat hasn’t in the past or doesn’t now take partin common activities. In 1995 an internationalconference on the Great Bustard took place inBrandenburg from which comprehensive proceedingswere created.The first twenty years of the nature protectionstation are inseparably linked with the names DrHeinz Litzbarski and Dr Bärbel Litzbarski, who werehonoured for their dedication in 2011 with theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.In later decades Heinz Litzbarski was active as thehead of the foundation for Great Bustard conservationfor which he received the Nature ConservationPrize of the State of Brandenburg in 2008.

State Bird Conservation Centre43In 1998 – restructuring and a fresh start. Out ofthe “Bustard Station” comes the BrandenburgState Bird Conservation Centre with the NatureConservation Station in Baitz as satellite station.GolzowFreienthalThe area of responsibility is expanded to includethe entire state and a variety of new tasks areadded – bird conservation even outside xx farmland,conservation projects for other endangeredspecies, the coordination of bird monitoring andbird ringing in Brandenburg, new topics such asclimate change or the interplay between windenergy and bird conservation.Parallel to this was the continuing work on site.The cooperation with the farms had to beconstantly reorganized under changing guidelines,not only to protect the bustards but also thefarmers who are managing the Great Bustard’shabitats.All this also required a reorganization of the divisionof labor with the foundation that took on aportion of the practical work as well as the publicrelations work for the conservation of the GreatBustard. The care of the Great Bustard projectgoes hand in hand today, not least because thefoundation and the bird protection station areboth located in the same place.BaitzB102SchwanebeckBelzigLüsseTurm BelzigerLandschaftswiesenSchutzhütte amRadweg 1Bhf. BaitzB 246PlaneNeschholzTrebitzGrömnigkBrückLeipzigBhf. Brück(Mark)ASTLintheA9A9ASTBeelitzBerlinerRingLintheTreuenbrietzenMap sections and photos of the Brandenburg State BirdConservation Centre in Buckow (left) and its satellitestation in Baitz (right).

44InformationAdditional information...Status of the Great Bustard in EuropeIndividual count for the 2008 breeding seasonMin. Max. Trend since 2004 AccuracySpain 27.500 30.000 + ARussia 6.000 12.000 - BPortugal 1.399 1.399 + AHungary 1.378 1.378 + ATurkey 762 1.250 - BUkraine 520 680 - BAustria 185 198 + AGermany 110 110 + ASerbia 35 38 0 ACzech Republic 0 2 0 ABulgaria 0 6 - CMoldavia 0 0 0 CRumania 0 8 ? CSlovakia 0 3 - AGreat Britain(Reintroduction project) 7 15 + ATotal 37.896 47.087Accuracy: A – very accurate, B – relatively accurate, C – uncertainInternational cooperation in Great Bustard conservation: the Great Bustard Conservation Foundationat work on projects in Russia, Mongolia, and Spain (from left to right).

Information45National and international legal foundationsEuropean Bird Conservation GuidelinesThe EC Birds Directive (79/409/EWG from April 2, 1979) came into effect in 1979. It forms thelegal foundation for the EU-wide protection of all native, wild bird species. It aims to conserve orrestore a sufficient diversity and habitat area for the European bird species in the EU.Bonn Convention for the Conservation of Migratory SpeciesThe agreement for the protection of migratory wild animal species was signed on June 23, 1979.The agreement includes the duties of the signatory countries: measures for the worldwide protectionof migratory animal species. Worldwide it is estimated that there are 8,000 to 10,000 migratoryanimal species. Around 1,200 species, or regionally delimited populations, are included in theagreement that are acutely threatened by extinction or whose population is under great danger.Memorandum of UnderstandingAgreement between several countries in the framework of the Bonn Convention, that aims toresearch and protect specific species or species’ groups.Biodiversity ConventionThe preservation of biological diversity is the object of this internationally binding treaty since theUN Conference for Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro. The most importantgoals are:❚ the protection of biological diversity,❚ sustainable use and,❚ the fair division of benefits from the use of genetic resources. To this end countries must developnational strategies and action plans. In the implementation of the convention the industrializedcountries are required to support the developing countries.Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).International agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade inspecimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

46InformationLiteratureInternationaler Workshop „Conservation and Managementof the Great Bustard in Europe”.Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege in Brandenburg 5, Heft 1/2: 120 S. (1996)BLOCK, B., P. BLOCK, W. JASCHKE, B. LITZBARSKI,H. LITZBARSKI & S. PETRICK (1993):Komplexer Artenschutz durch extensive Landwirtschaft im Rahmen des Schutzprojektes „Großtrappe“.Natur und Landschaft 68: 565-576EISENBERG, A., T. RYSLAVY, M. PUTZE & T. LANGGEMACH (2002):Ergebnisse der Telemetrie bei ausgewilderten Großtrappen (Otis tarda) in Brandenburg 1999-2002.Otis 10: 133-150Eschholz, N. (1996):Großtrappen (Otis t. tarda L., 1758) in den Belziger Landschaftswiesen.Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege in Brandenburg 5, Heft 1/2: 37-40Gewalt, W. (1954):Die großen Trappen. Verlag Dietrich Reimer. Berlin. 178 S.Gewalt, W. (1959):Die Großtrappe. Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei. A. Ziemsen Verlag. Wittenberg Lutherstadt. 124 S.LANGGEMACH, T. & H. LITZBARSKI (2005):Results of Artificial Breeding in the German Great Bustard (Otis tarda) Conservation Project.Aquila 112: 191-202LITZBARSKI, B. & H. LITZBARSKI (1996):Zur Situation der Großtrappen Otis tarda in Deutschland. Vogelwelt 117: 213-224LITZBARSKI, H. & N. ESCHHOLZ (1999):Zur Bestandsentwicklung der Großtrappe (Otis tarda) in Brandenburg. Otis 7: 116-122LITZBARSKI, H. & H. WATZKE (Hrsg.) (2007):Great Bustards in Russia and Ukraine. Bustard Studies 6. 138 S.SCHWANDNER, J. & T. LANGGEMACH (2011): Wie viel Lebensraum bleibt der Großtrappe (Otis tarda)?Infrastruktur und Lebensraumpotenzial im westlichen Brandenburg. Ber. Vogelschutz 47/48: 193-206

Information47Internet ResourcesAddresseswww.mugv.brandenburg.de/info/vogelschutzwartewww.grosstrappe.dewww.grosstrappe.atwww.tuzok.mme.huwww.greatbustard.comwww.proyectoavutarda.comwww.cms.intwww.birdlife.orgState Office of Environment, Health andConsumer Protection of the Federal Stateof BrandenburgStaatliche Vogelschutzwarte(Brandenburg State Bird Conservation Centre)Buckower Dorfstraße 34D-14715 Nennhausen, Ortsteil BuckowTel. 033 878 / 60 257Fax 033 878 / 60 600vogelschutzwarte@lugv.brandenburg.deState Office of Environment, Health and ConsumerProtection of the Federal State of BrandenburgBrandenburg State Bird Conservation Centre,satellite station BaitzIm Winkel 13D-14822 Brück, Ortsteil BaitzTel. / Fax 033 841 / 30 220doris.block@lugv.brandenburg.deFörderverein Großtrappenschutz e. V.(Great Bustard Conservation Foundation)c./o.: Staatliche Vogelschutzwarte (Buckow)Tel. 033 878 / 60 194Fax 033 878 / 60 600bustard@t-online.deFörderverein Großtrappenschutz e. V.(Great Bustard Conservation Foundation)Geschäftsstelle Königsroder HofKönigsrode 1D-39307 TucheimTel. 0174 / 71 41 683Landesamt fürUmwelt,Gesundheit undVerbraucherschutz

48InformationImprintPublisherMinistry of Environment, Health andConsumer Protection State of BrandenburgHeinrich-Mann-Allee 10314473 PotsdamState Office of Environment, Health and ConsumerProtection of the Federal State of BrandenburgEditor: Office for Environmental Information /Public RelationsSeeburger Chaussee 2D-14476 PotsdamTel. 033 201 / 442 (0)-171Fax 033 201 / 436 78infoline@lugv.brandenburg.dewww.lugv.brandenburg.deSpecialist EditingTorsten LanggemachDepartment of Ecology, Conservation, WaterOffice Ö2Staatliche VogelschutzwarteBuckower Dorfstraße 34D-14715 Nennhausen, OT BuckowTel. 033 878 / 60 257Fax 033 878 / 60 600vogelschutzwarte@lugv.brandenburg.dewww.mugv.brandenburg.de/info/vogelschutzwarteWe thank the Great Bustard ConservationFoundation for their supportTranslationSydem Sprachdienstwww.sydem.comFotosTitle page: D. NillB. Block (small photo)U 2 und p. 1: D. NillU 3: F. KovacsArchive of the Great Bustard ConservationFoundation: p. 33 bottom r.S. Bich: p. 28T. Bich: p. 14 topB. Block: pp. 11, 14 background, 15 bottom,17 background, 18, 20, 24 o., 25, 27, 31 o., 33 o.,34 u., 35, 36 bottom, 38 bottom, 39, 40 bottom,41 l. and bottomP. Block: p. 30C. Blumenstein: p. 5J. Chobot: p. 14 bottomN. Eschholz: p. 7N. Kraneis: p. 40 topI. Langgemach: p. 42T. Langgemach: p. 10H. Litzbarski: pp 9, 15 bottom, 19, 22, 31 bottom,32 bottom, 33 bottom l., 37, 41 top r., 44D. Nill: pp 1, 3, 4, 12, 13, 16, 21, 23, 26, 29 top,bottom l., 32 top., 38 top.F. Plücken: p. 24 bottomJ. Teubner: p. 29 bottom center and r.Y. von Gierke: p. 34 top l. and r., 36 topDrawings: Nikolai KraneisDesign: Goscha Nowak, BerlinSecond edition, As of May 2012printed on® FSC-certified paper

Ministry for Environment, Health,and Consumer Protection State of BrandenburgOffice of Press and Public RelationsHeinrich-Mann-Allee 10314473 PotsdamTel.: 0331 / 866 70 17Fax: 0331 / 866 70 18pressestelle@mugv.brandenburg.dewww.mugv.brandenburg.deState Office of Environment, Health and ConsumerProtection of the Federal State of BrandenburgOffice of Environmental Information, Public RelationsSeeburger Chaussee 214476 Potsdam, OT Groß GlienickeTel.: 033 201 / 44 21 71Fax: 033 201 / 43 678infoline@lugv.brandenburg.dewww.mugv.brandenburg.de/info/lugvpublikationen