The main goal of the project is to get better understanding about the population structure and the complex spatial behaviour of this secretly living and endangered species. This knowledge is essential for the efficient planning and implication of conservation measures both on international as well as on local level. The main methodological approach of the project is an analysis of population structure based on genetic and chemical information obtained from feathers from birds all over Europe.

Summary of work in 2001 

Research teams from the following regions co-operated with collecting samples:

Romania (W.Wettstein, Demeter Laszlo, Milvus Group, BirdLife Romania): 22 samples
Hungary, Tisza river floodplains (W. Wettstein, L. Mercsak Bükk NP, R. Horvath Hortobagy NP): 20 samples
Hungary, former Tisza floodplains (W. Wettstein, R. Horvath): 16 samples
Hungary, northern hills (W. Wettstein, S. Boldogh, Aggtelek NP): 17 samples
Latvia (Oskars Keiss and team): 37 samples
Finland (Petri Parkko, Mika Asikainen, BirdLife Finland): 30 samples
Siberia (Martin Flade, Aquatic Warbler Conservation Team): 5 samples
Czech Republic (Jiri Pykal, Jiri Sebastian, Milan Frencel): 36 samples
Italy (Ivan Farronato, Paolo Pedrini): 16 samples
Germany, Murnauer Moos (Ingrid Geiersberger): 29 samples
Germany, Sachsen-Anhalt (Martin Schulze): 6 samples
Germany, Bremen (Stefan Pfützke, Werner Eikhorst): 20 samples
Germany, Oder valley (J. Sadlik): 72 old samples, in preparation
France (Franck Noel, BirdLife France): 31 samples
Scotland (Rhys Green, RSPB): 30 samples, in preparation

In 2002, we will try to complete this sampling distribution with samples from the Central Alps, Belarus and Moscow region. Because of limited finances, we will not be able to consider more samples for this study.

Preliminary analysis of the secondary shape for all samples shows a proportion of 40 % of one year old birds and 60 % of older birds.

From all samples, DNA has been extracted from the feather tip and is used now for microsatellite amplification with 9 primers at the University of Zurich. All loci are variable with 8-17 alleles per locus for 15 birds from Aggtelek region in Northern Hungary. Measurement of trace element content (22 elements) in the feathers is starting at 3 December 2001 in Hungary. Both genetic and chemical lab work will hopefully be finished by April 2002, when we will provide you with more informations.