At the end of december two of our ornithologists, Katarina Denac and Urška Koce, attended a two-days workshop about methodology for identification of marine IBAs. The workshop was implemented by the Portuguese BirdLife partner SPEA (Sociedade Portuguesa para o estudo des aves). The Portuguese experts introduced us to the standard method for marine bird census at sea (ESAS) and with analitical methods for identification of marine IBA borders. Moreover, they shared with us valuable experience that they gained in years of field work at sea.
Portugal is one of six EU countries which appropriately designated marine IBAs and is currently on the way to the final designation of the marine Natura 2000 sites. SPEA and Spanish BirdLife partner SEO (Sociedad Española de Ornitología) had within LIFE projects played a key role in establishing standard methodology for identification of marine IBAs.They now share their knowledge and experience with organizations from other European countries where the program of marine IBAs identification is still going on or have they, like Slovenia, entered this program just recently. UK