The Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), Europe’s rarest migratory songbird: in the last 100 years, its population suffered a catastrophic 95% decline. Every year, this long-distance migratory passerine bird flies more than 12.000 km from Eastern Europe to West Africa and back. During this journey, this tiny 10–14 gramme bird rests and feeds in low sedge marshes along the Atlantic coast. These specific wetlands were once common but are now fast disappearing due to drainage, river regulation and unsustainable farming practices.

Gathering 14 organisations from Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Senegal, the EU-funded “Aquatic Warblers on the Move” project aims to restore the Aquatic Warbler staging and wintering areas. 

Through this five-year project, the project will restore wetlands at 20 sites not only to create more habitat for this globally threatened species, but also to mitigate the impact of and adapt to climate change, and provide nature-based solutions to water retention, flood protection and wastewater management.

Specifically, the role of the Doñana Biological Station will focus on improving methods to assess the extent and quality of these habitats, as well as evaluating the importance of migratory stopover and wintering sites for the species. This will involve analyzing habitat and food availability, the fuel accumulation rate for migration, and its habitat use through telemetry methods.

The project also aims to demonstrate manage and restoration techniques at 19 Natura 2000 sites supporting staging of Aquatic Warblers in Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal. Additionally, it will restore a key stopover and wintering site in the Senegal River Delta and create a community conservation area there. AWOM will also develop a blueprint for climate-resilient flyway site network and promote the designation of new protected areas in Europe and Africa. These goals will be complemented by engaging and supporting local and agricultural communities in conservation efforts. 

Alongside the sister project, “LIFE4AquaticWarbler“, which focuses on the breeding countries, this project aims to protect the species throughout its entire flyway and boost its recovery. 

All information about the AWOM project can be found on its website: https://europe.wetlands.org/awom/

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