In April, within the framework of the LIFE TRŠCA project, we will begin a new season of monitoring the nests of waterbirds that breed in the area of Lake Cerknica. As in previous year, we will also use camera traps and a drone to support our monitoring efforts. Before the fieldwork begins, however, we will carry out final coordination with project partners regarding the most suitable methodology and the monitoring procedures.
As last year, camera traps will be installed in lake windows( slo. “jezerska okna”) at 10 locations across the intermittent Lake Cerknica.
Lake windows are patches of open water without vegetation, completely surrounded by a wide belt of lush lake vegetation, mainly reed beds. They represent an extremely important habitat for many animal species – birds nest in the reeds, while the open water areas are often used for feeding.
The cameras used for monitoring with camera traps are discreet, silent, and resistant to various weather conditions. They allow us to observe natural events continuously without disturbing wildlife. Their purpose is to reveal which species use these water bodies, what their behaviour is like, and how the environment changes over time.
With the collected data, we will be able to better plan conservation measures for these sensitive habitats, which can also be threatened by inappropriate mowing up to the edges of depressions and channels. Already last year, camera traps recorded lively activity in the lake windows – a few highlights can be seen in the photo gallery below.
This year we will once again monitor the nesting process from the air – a drone will be used to observe six selected locations in the Lake Cerknica area.
To ensure minimal disturbance to nesting birds, we use an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a thermal camera and an optical zoom camera. Observing from a distance reduces disturbance during monitoring, as we fly high enough not to disturb the birds.
Aerial monitoring provides valuable insight into birds’ nesting behaviour – the timing of nesting, breeding success, and the selection of nesting habitats. Such data are often difficult to obtain using conventional monitoring methods. The thermal camera allows us to detect nests even in remote and densely vegetated stands of healthy reed beds. Nests and birds can be detected through thermal contrast, while optical zoom allows for more precise species identification and assessment of nest condition – all without entering sensitive reedbed areas where many waterbird species nest.
Direct human presence during the nesting period can lead to nest abandonment or even the desertion of chicks, which is why this type of monitoring is significantly less disturbing for the birds.
Lake Cerknica is not only the largest intermittent lake in Europe but also an important bird area included in the Natura 2000 network. Regular monitoring of waterbird populations helps us better understand the impact of human activities, land-use changes, and climate change on local bird species – and allows us to plan appropriate conservation measures in time.
A few moments captured by the drone can be viewed in the photo gallery below.
We will keep you regularly informed about what this year’s monitoring season brings and which interesting moments we capture.
The implementation of extensive nature conservation projects exceeds the financial capacity of the local community, therefore Notranjska Park regularly applies for projects with the possibility of co-financing by the European Union.
The implementation of large-scale conservation projects exceeds the financial capabilities of the local community, therefore Notranjska Park regularly applies for projects with the possibility of co-financing from the European Union.
