Fresh Water Health Control Through Black Stork Perspective

Summary

The project focused on the restoration of Estonian fresh water sources ending in the Baltic Sea, from the perspective of the black stork using these habitats. The aim was to generate knowledge about what areas are important habitats for black storks and how further restoration measures can be planned to improve these habitats. Also, a pilot restoration was part of the project.

The project did an inventory of fresh water sources in protected areas and Natura 2000 sites. Also, black storks were tracked to generate information on migration patterns and important habitats. Based on this, guidelines for restoration of fresh water sources were written to be used in further projects for the restoration on a bigger scale. Also, a fish-pass in the Laadiveski dam along Reiu river was constructed as a pilot restoration measure to improve the migration of salmonids to important Black Stork habitats.