The annual report 2022 informs you about the progress of the LIFE Limicodra project. Here you can find detailed information about the implemented measures. The report can be downloaded from the information page.

Also this year, four hikes for interested people "...to the traces of the meadow breeders" will be carried out by an employee of our project partner, Naturpark Insel Usedom, in our project area Freesendorfer Wiesen.

These walks are offered in the 2023 guide program "On the road on Usedom by bike" of the Usedom Island Nature Park.

Registration via:

Usedom Island Nature Park

Phone: 038372/7630

On April 25, 2023, Dr. Bergmann from the monitoring team for LIFE projects of NEEMO Particip Ltd. visited us on behalf of the European Commission. Mrs. Hingsamer from CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency), representing the EU, visited our project for the first time. A member of the Board of Trustees of the MV Foundation for the Environment and Nature Conservation from the Ministry for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and Environment Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well as our other financiers and project partners were also present.

The project team informed about the status of the implementation of all measures in the project areas as well as the current expenditure status and discussed open technical and financial questions. In the field of public relations, the planning for an international seminar and an indoor exhibition in the rooms of the nature parks as well as community centers was presented. Further topics were the upcoming purchase and exchange regarding the securing of areas for the necessary measure implementations, the current support programs of the agricultural and environmental measures as well as the presentation of the goals to be achieved at the end of the project in 2025 and the targeted goals 5 years later in the After-LIFE-Conservation Plan.

In the afternoon, the participants were able to see the successes of our work during an excursion to our project areas Großer Wotig, Freesendorfer Wiesen and Struck.

From 02-05.04.23 Ole Thorup, luminary for meadowland birds, especially for the Ruff, employee of our project partner Amphi International and Vice-Chairman of the International Wader Study Group was on the road with us, our project partners and other meadowland bird experts from the Netherlands and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on our project areas as well as neighboring project areas (polder Leopoldshagen, Karrendorfer and Kooser Wiesen, island Koos). We looked at the polder areas with regard to the further optimization of vegetation and water levels and visited the northern areas with a view to the former breeding areas of the Dunlin. But the focus was also on what we can still optimize in general in all areas for our meadow birds. Now, thanks to Ole, we have a plan where we can still optimize a few things and hope to be able to attract the Dunlin back to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

In the winter of 2022/2023, a total of 144 pollarded willows were maintained in the Bugewitz and Rosenhagen polders. The work has been largely completed. Some pollarded willows still need the finishing touches, which will be done as soon as the areas have dried off a bit and the heavy equipment required for this can approach the trees. In the Bugewitz polder, an additional 20 elderberry trees and 243 hybrid poplars were removed. There is now great foresight for the meadow birds and we are curious how many lapwings will settle in the polder this year. We thank the company WoodPimp for the good work!

As every year, we inform our Project Accompanying Working Group (PAG) about the measures and implementations in our project from the previous year as well as about upcoming implementations and planning in the areas and in the field of public relations. After the presentation in the project office we went on an excursion with some participants to the polder Bugewitz to have a look at the work of head willow maintenance and poplar removal as well as an installed artificial foxhole and the currently adjusted water levels. The PAG consists of authorities from the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald, the municipalities of the project areas, water managers, hunting, farming and nature conservation associations as well as the nature parks. This year, a total of 14 people participated.

Many volunteers have actively supported us during the breeding bird season!

In the theoretical training of voluntary area supervisors in the EU-project LIFE Limicodra on Saturday, 03.12.2022, we underpinned the collected experiences in practice with theoretical basics.

With this knowledge, they can continue to actively support us in the next 3 years of project duration, but also beyond the term.

The presentations given as well as the protocol of the event can be downloaded under Infomation.

You can find a press report on this in the Nordkurier.

Presentation of certificate to Fabian Kruse    Group photo in front of the project office

At the end of August, together with staff from our project partners Amphi International and the Nature Park „Am Stettiner Haff“ of the State Agency for Environment, Nature Conservation and Geology (LUNG), we did a study trip to several coastal areas in Denmark with a wide variety of projects to protect meadow birds.

On the trip we were accompanied by our colleague Ole Thorup from Amphi International, an expert with extensive knowledge about the development of meadow breeding populations in Denmark. He organized the entire study tour and on the first day he took us to the local salt marshes of Vesløs, near Amtoft.

The next day we visited the Østerildtårnet bird sanctuary. Ornitologist Jørgen Peter Kjeldsen guided us through the poldered areas along the Limfjord. This area, in connection with Bygholm, is one of the largest wetland complexes in Denmark (about 6000 ha). Afterwards we met with the local manager of AAGE V. JENSEN NATURFOND in Bygholm. He showed us different areas, which are used in different ways. For example, some areas are used with grazing cattle, others are allowed to develop reed beds, some areas are closed to tourism others are very well developed for the public with sufficient information about the area and the species living there.

The destination for the third day was the island of Agersø. On the way there we visited the coastal meadow area Lejsø near Korsør, a breeding area of black-tailed godwit and ruff. Here we could participate in the impressive cooperation of nature conservationists and the municipality with the owner and farmer. It was nice to see what is possible when everyone pulls together.

On Agersø we visited the coastal meadows in the northern part and the Helleholm Game Reserve in the southern part of the island. Here, we met more lone fighters in the effort to do something for the meadow birds. On the island the landowners have to pay the farmers to bring their cattle onto the land.In Germany or on the mainland of Denmark we know it rather the other way around. That means on the northern part of Agersø no grazing in the wader area and that means that without short meadows it will be difficult for the meadow birds to find good breeding spots. So far, they mow the corresponding areas but this endeavor is also becoming increasingly difficult. We keep our fingers crossed that things will continue there in the next few years and that it will become a little easier again to manage the area.

The afternoon was spent visiting the Bøtø Nor bird reserve with Anita Pedersen, biologist at Guldborgsund Municipality (and also an ornithologist), and the local manager of Bøtø Enge/Bøtø Nor. It was exciting to hear and see how they are trying to restore reclaimed coastal meadows here as wetlands and wet meadows (Natura 2000 site). They are still in the early stages but have already accomplished much, such as grazing Highland cattle togehter with Cornic horses, hydrological separation to surrounding farmland, and large scale land purchase. The task now is to continue to develop the land and work with the agencies on management plans to further embed meadowland conservation.

On the last day of our excursion we visited Nyord. Søren Ring, biologist and director of Fugleværnsfonden, led us through a rather large meadow area, partly owned by the Fugleværnsfonden Foundation, with large meadow bird populations. We were impressed by the size of the area, the management and the cooperation with the farmers. For example, grazing is deliberately managed from the inside out, so that as the areas in the coastal floodplain dry out naturally, the cattle can move further and further to the coast and the meadow birds can breed undisturbed.

Four hikes for interested people "...to the traces of the meadow breeders" were carried out by an employee of our project partner, Naturpark Usedom, in our project area Freesendorfer Wiesen.

These walks were offered in the 2022 guide program "On the road on Usedom by bike" of the Usedom Island Nature Park.

After the welcome and introduction there was a leisurely hike through the meadows with explanations about what could be seen (e.g. white-tailed eagle, botany). With binoculars some Limicoles could be observed, once even 8 Eurasion Curlews.

Participants:

on 18. 06.: 3 adults

on 23.07.: 3 adults and one child

on 20.08.: 5 adults

on 24.09.: 7 adults

Already at the time of the birds' spring migration, the project areas offer the resting target species attractive spaces for foraging or resting. Numerous snipe use the meadows and pastures, which are often still wet on the surface. Ruffed Sandpipers have also been observed regularly passing through the polders, spending their time mating. Thus, breeding is quite conceivable here, if further work is done on the quality of the boundary conditions.

In the northern areas, Dunlins migrate through, and their breeding success is less likely but not impossible. The areas are also important for a variety of other protected birds, so any measures will benefit them as well.

The breeding season was mixed. On the island Struck, numbers stagnated at a low level, the number of breeding birds in the meadows of Freesendorf Wiesen was comparable to the previous year, and breeding success continued to be low. In addition to the target species of the project, Sand Plover, Oystercatcher as well as Avocet, which are among the rarer breeding birds in the area, breed regularly.

The re-established areas on the island Großer Wotig were well accepted by the breeding birds, breeding success is likely.

In 2022, a total of 11 breeding pairs of lapwings bred in the polders of Rosenhagen and Bugewitz. There was a slight increase compared to previous years, as the habitat conditions were very good. In the polder of Mönkebude, conditions were also ideal in 2022. A total of two pairs of black-tailed godwits, 4 pairs of redshanks, 26 pairs of lapwings, and numerous other small birds tied to extensively used wet meadows were breeding. Lapwings, redshanks and godwits fledged and left these areas flying.

The first territorial activities in the northern areas were already recorded during the warm phase in March. Among others, the first nests were established in the Freesendorfer Wiesen. After a cold spell, the lapwings abandoned these first clutches. The cold spell extended into the third decade of April and then transitioned into a prolonged dry spell during which the areas dried out quickly. Conditions were very unsuitable and breeding activity in lapwings ceased in all areas. In the second decade of May, higher water levels occurred again. Thanks to the upgrading of the tideway network in the previous year, the depressions were filled with water again. The breeding habitats were then attractive again and breeding was resumed. At the beginning of June, several families with young were on the move, many of them fledged. For the first time, breeding success was also observed in the pastoral meadows in the NSG Großer Wotig. On the island Struck, in the Freesendorfer Wiesen and in NSG Großer Wotig breeding success was recorded with the lapwings. Redshanks were less affected by the cold spring and dry period and also had breeding success on the Struck and Freesendorfer Wiesen, but not in the NSG Großer Wotig. In the case of the Plovers, only a few pairs were successful in the Freesendorf Wiesen. Avocets attempted to breed in Freesendorfer Wiesen in late April (aborted due to drought) and then again in late May in the clutch fence. However, they were not successful.

Thus, breeding success in 2022 was mixed and will have achieved stock-sustaining reproduction at most for Lapwing and Redshank. However, the evaluation of the monitoring of the breeding season 2022 has not yet been completed.

In addition to monitoring the breeding birds, it became necessary to identify the predators present and to begin targeted monitoring here as well. In order to take measures to increase breeding success, it is necessary to know what effects predators have on breeding birds. For this purpose, a thermal imaging camera was purchased so that during the main activity time of the night, it can be determined who is present and what damage is occurring there. At the same time, 3 wildlife cameras were installed at selected sites. Observations with the thermal imaging camera and recordings from the wildlife cameras provide clear information about which predators are present. For example, in the polder of Mönkebude during the breeding season, at least two marten were observed walking across the breeding area inside the clutch protection fence.

The monitoring of water levels in 2022 again yielded interesting facts about what is happening under the turf. Management of peatland grassland is possible with high water levels under current management conditions. Existing water management facilities would need to be further adapted and expanded to further stabilized water levels. The knowledge gained from monitoring water levels expands the expertise in managing fens while water levels are high. During several professional events, these long-term measurement series could be presented to a broad audience from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern but also from other federal states.

The annual report 2021 informs you about the progress of the LIFE Limicodra project. Here you can find detailed information about the implemented measures. The report can be downloaded from the information page.

The EU project LIFE Limicodra has been dedicated for 5 years now to the protection of waders. Since 2 years this protection is also supported by the agricultural program "Peatland-friendly water retention" of the AUKM (Agrar-, Umwelt- und Klima- Maßnahmen: Agricultural, environmental and climate measures) "Naturschutzgerechte Grünlandnutzung" (nature-friendly use of grassland ) in the project area of the LIFE project and the farmers are directly involved in the necessary measures.

On 13.06.2022, initial experiences with the agricultural support program were presented to farmers, representatives from various authorities, associations and the ministry in Mönkebude as part of a presentation and an excursion (documents for download under information).

The meeting met with a great response and a lively exchange took place. Now everyone is curious to see what the program will look like in the next funding period. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it will be a good program, that even more farmers will participate and that we will be able to do something for our peatlands and waders anywhere in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

On 09.06.2022 our project leader, Meike Wegner, conducted a technical excursion on meadow breeding conservation for 18 students of the 6th semester IFEM (International Forest Ecosystem Management) as part of a field trip "Zoological-Wildlife Biological Field Exercise" and Mr. Burkhard Stöcker, lecturer for ecology and ornithology (HNE Eberswalde) to the polder Mönkebude.

You may have noticed the many "UFOs" or "flying wimps," as the lapwings are sometimes jokingly called in Germany. These nicknames come from their distinctive call and their way of flying acrobatically. Many are still on migration, but the first ones are looking for suitable territories for breeding in our areas. Reason enough to start with the erection of the mobile protection fences in the polder Mönkebude. We had energetic support from volunteers and the nature parks "Am Stettiner Haff" and "Insel Usedom" and were able to place a total of 4300 m of fence on two areas. Now we hope for sufficient protection against predatory mammals as well as a successful breeding and raising of the chicks in this season.

The project advisory board was convened for the first time on 26.11.2018. At this anual meetings measures and implementations of our project were discussed directly with the affected authorities of the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald, municipalities, water managers, hunting, farming and nature conservation associations and put up for discussion. The 4th meeting was used for a mid-term review. For this purpose, the objectives and planned measures of the project as well as the achievements were presented. For a detailed presentation of the measures, reference was made to the annual project report.

Many measures could be implemented on a voluntary basis. First successes in breeding bird numbers are visible, but still far behind the goals of the EU LIFE project. The implementation of investment measures in the polders is problematic. These can only be implemented if the interests of meadow breeding protection are secured in the long term (at least 25 years). For the necessary consolidation of the area, exchange areas are needed. However, the improvement of habitat suitability could be started via an aditional program in the environmetal schemes. This started in 2021 and was well accepted by the farmers. The methodical procedure and the first experiences were presented.

Due to the pandemic, the meeting was held on 02/12/2021 via video conference.

In the polder Mönkebude, the dam in front of the Malbusen was repaired. This allows the water levels to be permanently set at a high level (-0.1 to - 0.4 m NHN) in the entire polder. Previously, this was only possible to a limited extent by adjusting the lamella oft he pumping station. Due to the higher water levels in the last three years, the gangway at the pumping station was regularly flooded. In order to enable access at higher water levels, the gangway was positioned higher and got repaired.

The evaluation of the breeding season 2021 showed a mixed picture. At the project site Struck, the numbers stagnated at a low level, the number of breeding birds in the Freesendorfer Wiesen was comparable to the previous year, the breeding success is still low. The re-established areas on the island Großer Wotig were well accepted by breeding birds, breeding success is likely. In the polders Rosenhagen and Bugewitz only a few lapwings bred in 2021 due to unfavorable vegetation structure. In the polder Mönkebude, conditions were ideal in 2021. The development here continues to be positive and breeding success was also recorded. Three pairs of black-tailed godwits bred here in 2021. We know our tasks and will continue to optimize the hydrological and vegetative conditions in our areas so that we can welcome a few more and perhaps also new guests in the next season. A curlew has already looked around a few times, at least in the polder Mönkebude.

To support the conformation of vegetation in the northern project areas, mowing of with reed overgrown areas is still required. Through contracting, 7.5 ha were mowed in the summer at the Cosim Peninsula and 29.6 ha at the project site Großer Wotig. On the island Struck, due to technical problems and subsequent flooding, mowing could only be partially carried out in 2021.

The Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Nature Park Hiking Trail runs right past the project areas of the EU LIFE project Limicodra. As part of the opening of the 907 km long hiking trail, in the presence of the Minister for Agriculture and Environment Dr. Till Backhaus and District Administrator Michael Sack presented the EU LIFE project Limicodra with its goals and measures.

During the hike, the Rosenhagen pumping station was visited and the AUKM funding “peat-conserving dewatering and meadow breeder protection” developed in the LIFE project was presented. We hope that the hikers will be accompanied by the roaring and yelling of black-tailed godwit and lapwing.

Spring season started with cold weather and many breeding pairs.

The water levels are optimally high for the time of year. It's cold, the vegetation is growing slowly and evaporation is not as strong as in previous years. The breeding conditions are optimal in Mönkebude and good to sufficient in the Bugewitz and Rosenhagen polders.

To date in Mönkebude, 21 pairs of lapwing have been breeding inside the protective fence and 3 outside, some of them already have chicks.There are 2-3 pairs of Redshank and 2 pairs of black-tailed godwit. 50-100 ruffs and approx. 40 snipes are present in search of food and on migration. The curlew has now also been sighted.

A lonely couple is breeding in the Rosenhagen polder, exactly where they were last year. So probably the same couple as last year. A total of 3 pairs of lapwing breed in the Bugewitz polder.

The limicoles are returning to their breeding habitats in salt marshes and meadows along the Szezczin Lagoon. We therefor have started to built electric fencing around breeding sites.

At project site Polder Mönkebude we set up about 2200 m of electric fencing to defend breeding sites on still humid meadows from predators like foxes and wild boars.

Mire-friendly water management and meadow birds protection

In the context of the EU-LIFE project Limicodra, the AUKM “extensive management of permanent grassland areas” runs the testing of additional funding option “mire-friendly water managemnet and meadow birds protection” from this year on. Agricultural, environmental and climate protection measures (AUKM) are agricultural funding instruments that make sustainable production processes financially more attractive for farmers.

Areas in which the water level is kept at 30 cm below the surface from January to the end of May are eligible for funding. The water level is set at a weir, a maximum of 30% of the requested parcel may be above this water level. At the same time, the farmers tolerate protective measures for meadow breeding birds, such as the construction of mobile clutch fences or partial watering in the event of drought.

For the next 2 years, about 350 hectares of land were applied for, the additional funding amounts to 210 € / hectare. This compensates for the difficulties in farming and provides financial incentives to “produce breeding birds” in addition to feed for cattle. In addition, an important contribution to climate protection is made, since the water level improvement reduces the emission of climate-damaging gases.

As a technical service provider for the state of M-V, the LIFE project coordinated the congestion targets with the farmers and the water and soil associations and supported the farmers in determining the eligible parcels. Based on the experience, a funding program is to be developed so that in future the program can be applied for throughout Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

2020 was a successful year. For the first time we welcomed four pairs of Black-tailed Godwit on the project site in Mönkebude. The measures for predator and water management are having an effect.

Good news we got recently from the European Commission/EASME. Our mid-term report was accepted. What a great message at the end of the year! Now we are looking forward to the next breeding season.

Since December Martina Behrens is part of the LIFE team and Christian Schröder has taken over the project management from Meike Kilian for the next year.

In august our solar pumps arrived in Bugewitz and are now available for watering of parts of the polders in breeding season.

Testing of the devices took place in polder Rosenhagen just for several minutes, because breeding season has passed and precipitation of the last days was sufficient for plants growth.

Since mid-July Highland cattle is grazing on peninsula Cosim. They shall suppress the reed and facilitate space for salt marshes.This race from Scottish Highlands is accostumed to raw climate and nutrition.

Now we are curious about the first arrival of lapwings.

Information at the project areas is now available on boards at project sites Freesendorfer Wiesen, Struck, Großer Wotig and Peninsula Cosim. They have been installed by the Nature Park rangers and provide infos on the project and its species. But walking onto sites is not allowed either by the rules of the Nature Reserves. You can obtain the possibility to visit the sites with an exkursion of Nature Park Usedom or our project manager in future, if you stay up to date with our website!

End of April we purchased the last required parcel of land on the northern crook of the peninsula. And also the electric fence for pasture was finished. In winter time reeds were clearcut. An area of about 9 ha is now prepared for grazing with Highland cattle.

It is a very robust race for beef, which gets on with rough feeding and wet hooves. Early beginning of grazing shall reduce abundant land reed by biting and tapping, in favour of the salt marsh species and waders. We are curious about the development of this site.

The recent dryness in Western Pomerania brings a great risk for the meadow birds in the polder areas. Sociable Lapwing, Common Godwit and other waders need humid, pokeable soil for nutrition mostly in spring saison to nurse their chicks. If soil surface is drying to fast, chicks are missing water and insects.

At the moment the fen soil is still humid enough. But shown by the ground water measurements the ground water level is sinking daily by 1-2 cm. So breeding until June is very precarious.

To help the meadow birds, we try to prevent a fast water level sinking and irrigate some parts of the polders at the surface. Additionally we develop strategies for prolonging the higher ground water levels until summer month.

Not only for the waders low water level is unfavourable: The polders consist of fen moores with turf tickness up to 5 meteres. By desiccation the turf is decomposing (by oxidisation) and surface sags up to 1 cm per year. It provokes sinking ground surface, high carbon dioxide emissions and high costs for pumping stations.

The Office of nature conservation of destrict Vorpommern-Greifswald invited all volunteer workers to a meeting on 7^th of March in the „Zuckerfabrik“ in Anklam. 76 participants listened to interesting lectures and talks from the practices. Our colleague from Flächenagentur MV Peter Markgraf told about safeguarding land for compensation measurements. Our project and its recent status was introduced by the manager Meike Kilian. You can find a download link of the presentation (german) in Information.

Now we are seeking for volunteers in our project sites to care for the meadow birds. We continue this year with training and hope for further interested persons. Contents of the program will be ecological basics, legal background, basics of hunting and farming, detailed knowledge of target species and habitats, ornithological monitoring methods, protection methods in field and further. The program takes place for several days in the breeding saison (8-12 weeks in spring) to learn theory and practices. The training volunteers will be certificated. It is foreseen to assist the project team, mainly in spring, until completion of the project in 2025 and afterwards to continue the care of the meadows sites. Are you interested now? Please contact us!

Our project meeting takes place once a year. For this, our project partners (Landesamt für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Geologie, Natureparks "Am Stettiner Haff" and "Insel Usedom", Ostseestiftung, Amphi International, Stiftung Umwelt und Naturschutz M-V) came together on January 31 in the project office in Bugewitz.

Within the project management team, we evaluated the 2nd half of 2019 and set the work planning for the 1st half of 2020.

Further colleagues joined for the project meeting and we discussed completed project activities in 2019, planned activities in 2020 and evaluated the project progress (financial and reports).

After Lunch at Café Oblomov (http://www.oblomow-bugewitz.de/), the steering committee discussed about drawn downs, funds and proof of use. 

It was a long and constructive day and we have made a few decisions. We are ready for the breeding season 2020!

The annual meeting of the International Wader Study Group was held in Morecambe Bay, UK from 20.-23.09.2019. The first results of the LIFE Limicodra project were presented with a poster (for download see information). The lectures and posters of various experts in the field of waders stimulated discussions and informative talks. A workshop on predator management provided many examples of measures and implementations that we can use for our project.

We took a lot of new information, contacts, suggestions and hints for the implementation of our project from the conference. Some experts have invited us to get to know their areas and projects. A study trip to the Netherlands and England is planned with other LIFE projects next year. The exchange of knowledge is an important tool for successful project implementation and the conversations between coffee and cake solved open questions and provided new ideas. Next year the conference will take place in Germany on Sylt and we will join it again.

A group of experts from Greifswald Moor Centrum, University of Greifswald and State office for Environment visited in the end of June the Greater Isle of Wotig in the Peene Stream. They were guided by Christian Schröder, our site manager, to see the status quo. Some questions were discussed.

They found the salt marshlands in deconstruction in some areas, because of the frequent flooding and tapping of cattle. Also the cattle cannot reach every part of the isle, because of difficult crossing of tideways. So this summer we will built some firm fords across tideways or drainage channels, to get the cattle grazing in the reeds to restore the marshlands in the northern part of the isle.

Dr. Buchwald (left in picture) was accompanied by Marie-Luise Waldenspuhl from the Department of Sustainable Development, Forestry and Nature Protection. They were informed about our project and its challenges as far as the first milestones to present. They got the chance to see two polders together with the farmers to talk about their recent problems and to find a way to serve both: land users and conservationists. Goal is to keep the soil in good conditions to feed the cattle as well as the breeding birds. A positive side effect is the reduction of climate relevant gases from the drained fens. We hopefully look farward to find a new and flexible programme or module in the next period of Agro-environmental and Climate protection Measures suitable for meadow breeding birds in wet grasslands.

Presse release of Ministry of Agriculture and Environment M-V

you find the release as download in the information site

The breeding birds have already recured to their territories in our project sites. A reason to protect their habitat sites from intrusion by fox, raccoon and raccoon dog. So we have built up 4500 m of electric fences.

We have now protected habitats of 30 ha in both sites Freesendorfer Wiesen and Mönkebude with mobile electric fencing. Northern Lapwing, Redshank, Common Ringed Plover and even some Avocets in Freesendorfer Wiesen and Lapwings in Mönkebude will hopefully benefit from it.

Solar panels feed-in the electric fences reducing the impact on climate revelant emissions.

This time Dr. Bergmann took a glance on polder Bugewitz with sunny and to warm wheather. We spoke about the geohydrological study going on in the polders. Results are expected for end of May. Meantime we are looking forward on monitoring of breeding birds and fencing for protection of nests.

At the first meeting of the projects advisory board we appointed stakeholders from public authorities, communities, associations for water management, agriculture, hunting and nature protection. They were informed about the projects aims and measures. The actual status is finishing ex-ante monitoring and starting of our geo-hydrological study in polders Rosenhagen, Bugewitz and Mönkebude.

At the end of september with early autumn weather we toured southern Sweden to see wader projects at Kristianstad, Öland and Falsterbo.

In biosphere reserve Vattenrike we learned a lot of hydrological situation and meadow management from Hans Cronert. He showed us H°aslövs Ängar, a peninsula in lake Hammersjö what is flowed through by Helge river towards the Baltic Sea.

Öland island is the place for former LIFE project Meadows and wetlands of Öland (2000-2004) that was presented by Susanne Forslund. We have seen a lot of different meadows types and were impressed by the geological features and especially by the hunting methods of Magnus Johansson for predator birds .

Last but not least we got to know more successful methods of protection for meadow breeding birds near Falsterbo bird station. P.G. Bentz showed us some highlights of recent bird migration and methods for recolonization of Avocet.

From our trip from northern shore of Baltic we took many suggestions for our project and thank a lot our guides Susanne, Hans, Magnus and P.G.

On May 23, 2018, site supervisor Christian Schröder held a presentation about the LIFE grassland birds project at Greifswald University in front of 140 children. He was supported by Kai Paulig and Dr. Sebastian Lorenz. The kids were enthusiastic about the birds' looks and calls. Afterwards they had the opportunity to look through a spotting scope that is used to watch and count birds in order to record their populations.

On friday, 13th of April we gathered together with the project partners for the Kick-off-meeting of LIFE-Limicodra. The project was  completely introduced by our (temporary) manager Christian Schröder. Steering Commitee (SC) and project management team (PMT) were called up. Next steps will be convening an advisory council and the forum of experts.