Bonn, 19 December 2022 - Jointly organized by the Croatian Society for Birds and Nature Protection, the Department of Biology University of Osijek, the CASA Institute of Ornithology, and the Tour du Valat, Research Institute for the Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands, this workshop gathered 29 participants from 15 different countries. The group was created in 1992, and this workshop takes place every three years. It involves staff from various nature conservation organizations, including scientists, members of NGOs, managers of breeding sites, students, all passionate about this emblematic wetland species.

The aim was to share information and build practical know-how on population and habitat management. While the Western European population is doing well, the Southeastern European population is in decline and a particular focus this year has been on including the Eastern Mediterranean countries within the network.

Exchanges were focused on the state of knowledge on the Eurasian spoonbill in each of the participating countries, the threats to the species, in particular during its migration, and the new knowledge acquired on its ecology in recent years, in particular through the development of new technologies such as onboard GPS. 

The Eurasian Spoonbill is a species that benefits from an international action plan implemented by the group of experts. Important moment was the animation and evaluation of the progress of the action plan for each flyway and subspecies. Major conclusions of the workshop are available attached. Proceedings of the workshop will be available in 2023 as a special publication of the IUCN SSC Stork Ibis Spoonbill Specialist group. Next spoonbill workshop will take place in 2025, either in the Netherlands or Bulgaria.

For more information, please contact Jelena Kralj, Coordinator; Jocelyn Champagnon, Chair 

Meeting Conclusions