Breeding and roosting bird monitoring in the EU bird protection area "Helmestausee Berga-Kelbra (Saxony-Anhalt part)" (SPA0004LSA) incl. functionally connected project areas in Thuringia

Breeding and roosting bird monitoring in the EU bird protection area "Helmestausee Berga-Kelbra (Saxony-Anhalt part)" (SPA0004LSA) incl. functionally connected project areas in Thuringia

1. Objective: The objective of Lot 1 is the annual survey, GIS-supported processing, and nature conservation assessment of breeding bird populations in the study area. The focus is on territory mapping, breeding status assessment, breeding success monitoring, disturbances, and the assessment of measure areas within the "Kranich(t)raum Goldene Aue" project. The service serves the nature conservation inventory of valuable and protected area-relevant species, the impact assessment of planned project measures, and the support of area management. The services are to be provided in a way that ensures time series comparability and data consistency over the term. 2. Scope of Services: The services to be provided are divided into the following three areas: Breeding bird mapping, annual report, final report. 2.1. Breeding bird mapping: The mapping service is expected to begin in March 2027 and comprises five breeding bird survey years from 2027 to 2031. In each survey year, the contractor must conduct a comprehensive breeding bird survey of the designated valuable and protected area-relevant bird species throughout the entire study area. The focus is on the measure areas of the "Kranich(t)raum" project. The breeding bird survey is to be conducted as territory mapping based on the method standards according to Südbeck et al. (2025), taking into account species-specific survey periods, activity times, valuation limits, and detection requirements. According to the method standards, at least six daytime surveys in the entire area and three dawn and night surveys are to be planned. The survey dates are to be staggered seasonally between early March and the end of July and adapted to the main habitats of the area, the expected species spectrum, and the phenology and weather conditions. In addition, two breeding success monitoring sessions are to be carried out between mid-July and the end of August in the years 2027 to 2030. Based on the field data, traceable paper territories or GIS-supported territory boundaries are to be created for the valuable and protected area-relevant species. For each territory, the highest recorded breeding time code is to be indicated and professionally assessed. The recordings are to be preferably carried out using the "NaturaList" app in protected recording mode and using detailed observation lists. The use of other software is possible after consultation with the client, provided it offers equivalent functions and fully meets the required data standards. A digital transfer of the raw data for each field date to the client is required within 10 working days. Further details can be found in the tender document III – "Service Description Lot 1 – Breeding Bird Mapping". 2.2. Annual Report: For each survey year, an independent annual report on breeding bird monitoring is to be prepared after the completion of the mapping activities. It is to be submitted by October 15th of the respective survey year. The exception is the year 2031, in which the annual report must be submitted by August 30, 2031. The annual report comprehensibly summarizes the methodology, scope of survey, results, assessment, and professional uncertainties of the respective breeding bird year. It is to be structured in such a way that the results are usable for both professional project management and for later time series comparisons and the assessment of project-related measures. The report is to be written in German. A complete annual data package is to be submitted with the annual report. This includes at least the field-related raw data, the professionally checked and validated annual data set, GIS layers, metadata, survey documentation, relevant photo documentation, maps, paper territories or GIS-supported territory boundaries, and a bibliography of external data. Details can be found in the tender document III – "Service Description Lot 1 – Breeding Bird Mapping". 2.3. Final Report: In 2031, after the completion of the five breeding bird survey years (2027 to 2031), an independent final report on breeding bird monitoring is to be prepared. It is to be submitted by September 30, 2031. The final report consolidates the results of the individual breeding bird survey years and provides an overarching professional assessment. It is not to be understood as a mere compilation or repetition of the annual reports, but as a summary assessment of breeding bird populations, territory developments, habitat relationships, breeding success monitoring, disturbance influences, and measure relationships over the entire commissioned term. The report is to be written in German. A complete final data package for the entire monitoring period 2027 to 2031 is to be submitted with the final report. This includes all raw data, professionally checked and validated annual data sets, consolidated GIS layers, metadata, survey documentation, paper territories or GIS-supported territory boundaries, maps, photo documentation, bibliographies of external data, and the documents required for the traceability of the analysis. The data are to be prepared in such a way that later consolidated analysis, time series observation, and GIS-supported further processing by the client are possible. Details can be found in the tender document III – "Service Description Lot 1 – Breeding Bird Mapping". 3. Study Area: The study area comprises the EU bird protection area "Helmestausee Berga-Kelbra (Saxony-Anhalt part)" (DE 4531-401) with the Thuringian part of the reservoir, including functionally connected project areas in Thuringia. The map attached to the tender documents (Appendix 1 – "Study...