Project description

The Danube region with its diverse ecosystems provides an important habitat for many bird species, especially birds of prey. These play a central role in the ecological balance. If their populations disappear, this can lead to significant disruption - such as a decline in species diversity and changes to habitats.

The greatest threats include human intervention, the consequences of climate change and the increasing spread of infectious and parasitic diseases. These factors are often closely linked.

The AVIATOR project ("Avian Resilience and Adaptation through Awareness, Monitoring, Treatment, and Outreach for Raptors") aims to strengthen the resilience and protection of birds of prey in the Danube region. To this end, coordinated measures to contain infectious and parasitic diseases are being developed and trialled.

AVIATOR combines pilot measures such as vaccination and vector control with close transnational cooperation between various interest groups. This results in integrated strategies for management, monitoring and prevention - to protect endangered birds of prey and to preserve important ecosystem services such as the regulation of prey populations and the maintenance of healthy wildlife populations.

Benefits of the project

The project makes a direct contribution to the protection of endangered birds of prey by developing effective measures against diseases and strengthening regional and cross-border cooperation between different interest groups.