BirdPlotter: preventing disruption for birds during project works

In the new Environment and Planning Act, protecting nature, plants and animals is a more explicit requirement than ever before. This underlines the duty of care vested in those carrying out (project) works. Our experts have developed a digital tool, Witteveen+Bos BirdPlotter, which can identify locations where works are likely to cause disruption for birds. It can also determine the months in which works at a given site will result in the least disruption.

The impetus for developing this tool arose during plan development for the Koehool-Lauwersmeer dyke reinforcement on the Wadden Sea coast in northern Friesland. During the planned works execution phase, works on the dyke will lead to disruption for birds in the Wadden Sea. This disruption must not result in significant negative effects on the bird population. In accordance with Natura 2000 legislation, an assessment needs to be made of whether this is the case and, if so, what the extent is.

Complex puzzle

In line with Natura 2000 stipulations, there are at least 39 species of bird which rest or forage in this part of the Wadden Sea and need to be protected. This number is augmented by the various species which breed in the Wadden Sea. Investigating how to mitigate negative effects for so many species of bird quickly leads to a very complex puzzle too complicated to solve effectively with ‘pen and paper’.

BirdPlotter exploits the power of data collection and analysis to identify any potential negative effects and determine the best time to carry out works. Using bird count data, together with the works execution planning’s general principles and the boundaries of (parts of) the project area, the tool quickly identifies the optimal period for birds and determines which species are likely to be disrupted by works in a certain time of year.

For every bird area

The results provided by the tool form an objective basis for the legally required ecological assessment. BirdPlotter thus contributes to a higher quality and more transparent assessment, making it possible to care even better for different species of bird. The tool can be used for any location where sufficient bird data is available – for example, along the Waal or the IJssel, or on the shores of the IJsselmeer.

*BirdPlotter development was made possible in part by data collected by bird counters from the Fryske Feriening foar Fjildbiology. Over several years, these bird counters counted waterbirds each month following Sovon protocols. Wetterskip Fryslân, for whom we are working on the Koehool-Lauwersmeer plan development, also played an important role in the creation of the tool.

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