Christopher, you work for the “Association of German Avifaunists”. You have to explain: What are “avifaunists”?
This term is derived from the term avifauna, which refers to all bird species found in a region. Avifaunists are a special group of ornithologists who are particularly concerned with the distribution and frequency of birds.
And what does the umbrella organization do?
Our core activity is the organization of bird monitoring, i.e. the standardized recording of our native bird life in space and time. This includes, for example, the "monitoring of common breeding birds", the "monitoring of resting water birds" or the "seabird monitoring". Our knowledge of the population situation and the conservation status of native bird species is constantly improved. The findings help us to understand the causes of population developments, to ward off threats and to take suitable protective measures.
Can only professional bird watchers contribute data? Or are there ways for laypeople to report their data as well?
The data collection programs are largely supported by volunteers. Several thousand people are involved. The knowledge requirements vary greatly. Our Citizen Science platform is a good place to start www.ornitho.de This is aimed specifically at anyone interested in the world of birds. How well you already know the world of birds is not important. It is only important that you only report sightings of bird species that you are sufficiently sure of identifying. Reporting "common species" is also a good idea. Interesting information about distribution and, for example, seasonal occurrence can also be obtained for common species.
What exactly do I have to do if I am out and about in the Oder-Spree Lake District with binoculars and want to report my observations?
Since the data is also used in science and nature conservation, the author of each sighting must be known. Registration on the portal is therefore necessary. Once you have received access data, there are two ways to contribute your own observations. The easiest way to do this is via the ornitho app "NaturaList“, which is available free of charge for both Android and Apple. You can use it to report the relevant bird species directly in the field - i.e. immediately after observation - using your smartphone or tablet. Alternatively, you can also enter the data on your home PC via the ornitho.de website.
What do you do with the data you collect?
The data is used in a variety of places. At the international level, the data is included in the EU bird protection report and ornitho.de is the German partner of the EuroBirdPortal for the visualization of bird migration (www.dda-web.de/ornitho/eurobirdportal). The data is also used throughout Germany for a wide range of scientific analyses and in nature and bird conservation. But of course the portal also serves people who are interested in the world of birds: you can find out what others have observed in your own area or where certain bird species can be found.
Can I also find out about the species present in the observation areas?
Yes, that is also possible. Within the NaturaList app, you can use the "Around me" function to display the latest observation reports in the area around your own location. But there is also another option: In many bird watching areas in Germany, you can now find QR codes from ornitho.de. Simply scan them with your smartphone camera and the current observations are displayed, differentiated by common and rare species, with a precise location name. The codes can also be found at various observation facilities in the Oder-Spree Lake District.
When observing, you obviously don't want to disturb the birds. How should I behave in the area, what should I look out for?
The welfare of the birds must of course always take precedence over all other interests. Disturbances to birds – especially at nesting sites – and impairments to their habitats must be avoided at all costs. For example, you should keep a sufficiently large observation distance and stay on the paths so as not to harass the birds. The specific area and tour descriptions for the Oder-Spree Lake District are available on the website www.seenland-oderspree.de/aktiv-in-der-natur/birdwatching to recommend.
You know the Oder-Spree Lake District and have even written an article about the Ziltendorfer Niederung. Do you have any other tips for great observation areas / insider tips in the Lake District?
I was in the area for a few days bird watching in 2023. "Knowing" is probably an exaggeration, because the region has far too much to offer to get to know everything in such a short time. In addition to the Ziltendorfer Niederung, other areas offer exciting observations.
Our advice: After the ponds are drained in the autumn, the Altfriedland ponds attract many resting water and wading bird species. Numerous swans and geese overwinter in the Oderbruch in particular. Flocks of ducks gather on the Scharmützelsee and the Groß Schauener chain of lakes in the cold season. The region has a lot to offer in terms of ornithology!