of Mértola A community conservation project Area: 1 292,87km2 Population: 6 681 Population Density : 5,2 Inhabitants/km2 35% of the population over 65 years MÉRTOLA | A PLACE OF HISTORY AND CULTURE MÉRTOLA | A PLACE OF NATURE MÉRTOLA | PROTECTED AREAS

• Vale do Guadiana Natural Park

• 2 Special Protections Areas for Birds: Castro Verde SPA Vale do Guadiana SPA

• Sitio Guadiana (SACs) | Natura 2000 Network MÉRTOLA | AN UNIQUE PLACE FOR BIODIVERSITY

Diversity of habitats Diversity of Steppe Birds Large Eagles and Iberian Lynx

Incentivo às Produção de culturas coelho e Locais de repovoamento nidificação Melhoria de habitat do coelho Monitorização Ninhos Fiscalização artificiais Sensibilização Peixes endémicos Ordenamento

Reabilitação ribeirinha Controlo de exóticas MÉRTOLA | THE NATURAL PARK AND Manutenção de stock A GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR CONSERVATION genético ex- situ MÉRTOLA | A SPECIAL PLACE FOR BIRDS

The birdlife is one of the most visible groups of the Vale do Guadiana Nature Park. Since its creation in 1995, the Nature Park teams, in partnership with other entities and the local community, have developed several conservation projects aimed at species with vulnerable , such as Little Bustard, Bonelli's Eagle, Iberian Imperial Eagle, or Lesser . As an example of the results of this work, Mértola remains the only urban Lesser Kestrel colony in the country. MÉRTOLA | MAIN SPECIES The following species nest in the village of Mértola:

- Lesser Kestrel - White Stork - Barn Owl - Pallid and Common Swift - House and Crag Martin - Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Spanish Sparrow, other passerines

Around the village:

- Iberian Imperial Eagle and other large eagles - Griffon and Black Vultures - Eagle, Scops and Little Owls - Many species of passerines, etc. SOME BIRD CONSERVATION PROJECTS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED • Protocolos com agricultores para o cultivo de culturas propícias à avifauna estepária • Suportes de nidificação para peneireiro-das-torres

• Produção de coelho e ações de repovoamento em territórios de grandes águias • Melhoria do habitat do coelho com a instalação de 150 marouços, 100 pontos de água e 25ha de leguminosas • Colocação de ninhos artificiais para a águia-imperial • Programa de seguimento de águia-imperial • Implementação de dois alimentadores para abutre-preto

• Substituição de linhas elétricas com mortalidade associada • … SOME BIRD CONSERVATION PROJECTS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED

Projetos anuais na vertente educacional: A desertificação e o tartaranhão-caçador A Cegonha-preta vai à escola O peneireiro-das-torres A águia-imperial-ibérica BIRDS OF MÉRTOLA

A community bird conservation project To create an unique BIRDS OF exemple of nature conservation in a MÉRTOLA village, envolving both the resident community and the A community bird the international conservation project community MAIN OBJECTIVES Resident community: BIRDS OF - to create a feeling of proud for their MÉRTOLA unique birds - to create an understanding of the A community bird economic value of conservation project birds conservation, through tourism (birdwatching) MAIN OBJECTIVES International BIRDS OF community: - to create MÉRTOLA awareness about the village of Mértola, the respective birds and conservation A community bird projects, generating conservation project tourism (birdwatching) To implement a BIRDS OF nature conservation project / action plan, MÉRTOLA focusing on both the resident community, the international A community bird community and, of conservation project course, the birds ACTION PLAN – LESSER KESTREL

Conservation Measures: Lesser Kestrel

• To increase the feeding areas of the Lesser Kestrel, next to the village of Mértola. Support for new sowing areas. Working with local farmers. • To increase the number of nest boxes for Lesser Kestrel in the village of Mértola: placing 50 new nest boxes. • Getting to know our birds better: to install 10 satellite transmitters to study migratory behaviour; monitoring Lesser Kestrel nests: to install 3 cameras in nests with a link to the Project website; to install thermal cameras for prospecting nocturnal birds: 4 cameras. ACTION PLAN – WHITE STORK

Conservation Measures: White Stork

• No need of conservation measures, really • To maintain a number of White Stork nests inside the village, ie. 3 (including the Torre do Relógio) ACTION PLAN – BARN OWL, SWIFTS, MARTINS, OTHER PASSERINES OTHER PASSERINES

Conservation Measures: Barn Owl, etc.

• To install nest boxes for Barn Owl in the village of Mértola: 2 new nest boxes. • Getting to know our birds better: installing a camera in 2 Swifts nests, with a link to the Project website. ACTION PLAN – IBERIAN IMPERIAL EAGLE

Conservation Measures: Iberian Imperial Eagle

• Education for bird conservation | Poisons - Measures for the protection and risk awareness. • Getting to know our birds better: to install 8 satellite transmitters (GMS) • Monitoring nests: to install cameras in 6 nests with a link to the Project website • Reposition of nests, with volunteering work • Ações p/ o coelho (maroços, pontos de água, leguminosas) ? ACTION PLAN – GRIFFON AND BLACK VULTURES

Conservation Measures: Vultures

• To install feeding stations for vultures: 2 feeding stations adapted with hides for bird photography ACTION PLAN – EAGLE, SCOPS AND LITTLE OWLS

Conservation Measures: Owls

• To install thermal cameras for prospecting nocturnal birds: 4 cameras ACTION PLAN – RESIDENT COMMUNITY

Education for Bird Conservation • Get Outdoors and Enjoy Nature: Birdwatching as an hobby and an educational activity for children, young people and seniors. Workshops and field trips with the target groups and the educators. Teach Others About Our Birds. • Birdwatching Guide for Children – Illustrated birdwatching guide. • Optical equipment for birdwatching. • Be a Citizen Scientist – Creating a volunteer group for local conservation projects. • Merchandising inspired in our local birds. • Birds Arts & Crafts – Art, Crafts and street art inspired in our local birds. • Project website with links to nest cameras and satellite tracking birds. ACTION PLAN – INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Birdwatching: Conservation and sustainability

• Birdwatching – Working with local tourism entrepreneurs – Building a Network of services; • Birds of Mértola – Birding itinerary in the village of Mértola; • Birdwatching - Training for local tourism entrepreneurs. • Project website with links to nest cameras and satellite tracking birds. ACTION PLAN – INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Working with the Media and Social Media • Birds of Mértola – A photograph Journey – Book and exhibition – National and international bird/nature photographers • 24/7 Lesser Kestrel, Iberian Imperial Eagle, Swifts: reporting on video the activity • Sharing the information about the satellite tracked birds (Lesser and Iberian Imperial Eagles) • Birds of Mértola - Press trips BUDGET

- 50 new nest boxes for Lesser Kestrel - 10 sattelite transmitters for Lesser Kestrel - 3 cameras for Lesser Kestrel nest boxes - 5 nocturnal cameras - 2 nest boxes for Barn Owl - 2 cameras for Swifts nests - 8 satellite transmitters (GMS) for Iberian Imperial Eagles - 6 cameras for Iberian Imperial Eagle nests - 2 hides for vultures feeding stations - Project Website - TOTAL: XXX € BUDGET

- 85 % (XXX €) through EU funds (XXXXX ) - 15 % (XXX €) through sponsorship from companies and perhaps individual donativos?

- Volunteering work PARTNERS

Local Partners • Municipality of Mértola | ICNF – Vale do Guadiana Natural Park | Birds & Nature Tours Portugal Media Partners • BBC Wildlife Magazine (UK) • Birdwatcher's Digest (USA) Other Partners • Swarovski Optik • Selected International Birding Tours Companies • Others