Eurosite VII Spoonbill Workshop attendance

During the week between the 25th and the 30th of September, has been held in the Natural Park of the Marshes of Santoña, Victoria and Joyel in Cantabria, de Eurosite VII Spoonbill Workshop. Experts in the Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) from Europe, Africa and Asia participate in this workshop, where each researcher could make known the species situation in their countries of origin, as well as the decisions being taken for the protection and conservation of the species. 

Urdaibai Bird Center presented a poster titled "The impact of the recently created wetland in the migration stopover sites of the spoonbill in the marshes of Urdaibai".

This International Workshop began in 1992, after the creation of the International Spoonbill Working Group, in order to exchange experiences and allow the collaboration of different  research teams.

In the first two years, has developed a coordinated effort within the East Atlantic Flyway, but this year 2012, the countries that are part of the Central Flyway or the Adriatic Europe have been included to have a  wider vision of the species.

On the other hand, a session was devoted to the management and restoration of wetlands, as these measures have been seen that are essential for the conservation of the species throughout its all distribution range. We talked about different types of management and how they have been affecting different populations.

Furthermore, it was also considered how the use of technology to track the spoonbills had facilitated a better understanding of the eastern Atlantic route and how it could be also useful to learn the movements of birds from central Europe in their journey to Libya and Tunisia as well as if these same populations use other ways or areas during the migration and wintering.

Finally, formal issues were discussed regarding to the type of association or coordination should the members of the International Spoonbill Working Group have for future development.

 However, it was not all work due to the organizers prepared many trips to see and enjoy some areas of great beauty and ecological importance and of great cultural heritage, not only in the vicinity of the marshes of Santoña, Victoria and Joyel, but also had the opportunity to visit the National Park Picos de Europa, which all of it was a great experience.