SEO/BirdLife has launched citizen science initiatives such as Sacino and Noctua, where NGO volunteers conduct regular bird censuses and contribute data to inform conservation actions. These programs emphasize protective measures during the winter months, with a particular focus on species like the red partridge, the long-tailed warbler, and the barn owl. The goal is to gather reliable observations that help guide practical protection strategies as temperatures drop and habitats change.
In this framework, Sacin stands as a program designed to assess the conservation status of the most common winter birds. The planning phase is set to begin around mid-November, with fieldwork in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, followed by earlier actions in the Canary Islands within the month. These coordinated efforts allow researchers to build a clearer picture of how wintering birds fare across different regions and conditions.
Through ongoing programs, data show that some species, such as the chaffinch, black redstart, wood pigeon, corvids, and the great spotted woodpecker, have shown relatively favorable population trends. In contrast, several species including the red partridge, long-tailed warbler, skylark, and certain mountain birds have exhibited declines. By tracking these patterns, scientists can identify priority species and areas where protective measures should be strengthened, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently to maximize biodiversity outcomes.
Thus, once data on the protection status of winter birds are compiled, researchers can proceed with a study of targeted management actions for individual species. This approach also offers insights into the broader biodiversity of the environments under study, as explained by the Sacin Program coordinator. The emphasis is on turning observations into concrete conservation decisions that support habitat quality and species resilience during the winter season.
Bird movements in winter often respond to climatic variables, so this index can serve as an indicator of broader climate trends and their impact on avifauna. The winter data help illuminate how climate fluctuations influence migration routes, food availability, and habitat use, providing a useful lens for understanding environmental change and its biological consequences.
On another front, the Noctua program is advancing to learn the status of nine night birds in early December, while the Sacre project monitors the trends of bird species commonly seen in Spain during the spring. These additional efforts broaden the annual picture of avian life, from nocturnal species to those that are more conspicuous in the warmer months. Together, these initiatives create a continuous, year-round picture of bird populations, movement patterns, and habitat health across the region.
All information is collected and interpreted by the program coordinators and field teams, with findings contributing to a broader understanding of how wintering birds interact with their ecosystems and respond to changing environmental conditions. The work reinforces the value of citizen science in conservation, illustrating how community participation can complement professional research and support data-driven decisions for biodiversity protection.
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