ON THE TRAIL OF BROWN BEARS IN ROMANIA

3. Tusnad Eco Bear Conference in Romania

nature first team united

Last week, Jan-Kees, Melanie, Menno, and Rebekka gathered at the 3rd Tusnad Eco Bear Conference at Hotel O3zone in the stunning Băile Tușnad, Romania. It was an incredible experience finally meeting in person. The scenic train ride from Budapest gave us plenty of time to bond, especially over a few spirited card games. The conference was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our Nature FIRST partners and meet some intriguing new faces.

brown Bear Scratch Marks…

A standout moment was Thursday’s field trip to Lake Saint Anne and the Mohos Peat Bog, where we discovered numerous signs of brown bears. Scat, scratch marks, and chewed signage: all clear indications that bears are indeed in the area, which we dutifully documented in our Data Collection App Cluey.

brown bear scat…

As the trip progressed, we became increasingly attuned to the signs of bears, growing ever more excited about the possibility of a sighting. On the bus ride back to the hotel, we suddenly heard the call: "Brown bear!" And there it was, just off the road: a magnificent brown bear. It was a sight none of us will forget, etched forever in our hearts.

This trip to Romania was truly an adventure, and we at Sensing Clues would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved for the superb organisation, engaging presentations, and delightful conversations. We can't wait for the next opportunity to come together!

…and finally the brown bear!

3. Tusnad Eco Bear Conference in Romania

Sensing Clues and Nature FIRST Join the Tusnad Eco Bear Conference in Romania

Next week, we’re excited to be part of the 3rd Tusnad Eco Bear Conference at Hotel O3zone in Băile Tușnad, Romania.

Organised by the ProjectBag Association and WWF Romania, with support from the Mayor's Office of Băile Tușnad and Nature FIRST, this year's conference will tackle the challenges of human-large carnivore coexistence. Experts from across Europe will gather to share practical solutions for reducing human-wildlife conflicts through presentations, workshops, and field trips.

A conference about people and bears, about coexistence.

Our team members – Jan-Kees, Melanie, Menno, and Rebekka – will lead discussions on managing these conflicts and developing bear-smart communities. Rebekka will moderate a panel discussion on human-wildlife coexistence featuring Tánczos Barna, former Minister of Environment, Water, and Forests of Romania, Zsolt Butyka, Mayor of Băile Tușnad, Cristian Remus Papp, Bear Expert & Team Leader WWF Romania, and Jan-Kees. Additionally, Nature FIRST partners, including Jan-Kees, will delve into various aspects of human-large carnivore coexistence.

A special highlight will be the debut of the Human-Bear Conflict Radar, developed by Wageningen University Research and Sensing Clues as part of the EU-funded Nature FIRST Project. This innovative tool will help communities monitor and predict conflicts with brown bears in real-time, paving the way for better coexistence. We’re excited to share that similar technology will soon be adapted for other species, like elephants, wolves, and tigers. Stay tuned for updates!

Game Changer Alert: The Newest Crane Radar Is Here

Introducing the Latest Crane Migration Radar: Insights from DEVELOPER Melanie

crane radar hackathon with Melanie, Koen, Hugo, Bas & Menno

We are thrilled to announce the release of the latest version of our Crane Radar! Every autumn, cranes migrate from chilly Scandinavia to the warmer climates of France and Spain, returning in spring. With our Crane Radar, you can track their migration in real time and discover where to spot them in the coming hours.

To celebrate this milestone, we sat down with Melanie, one of the brilliant developers behind the latest release. Here are five questions that highlight her insights and contributions to this exciting upgrade.

1. Melanie, what was your role in this project?

I maintain the crane radar, focusing on development, testing, and debugging. I implement new code, primarily developed by Koen, as well as other requests into the live version. The successful launch of this new version was truly a team effort, involving Koen, Bas, Hugo, and myself, with valuable support from Alba, Ralph, Menno, and Jan Kees.

2. What key features were introduced in the latest version of the Crane Radar, and how do they enhance its functionality for tracking bird migration?

In the latest version, Koen developed a new method for calculating the probability of crane migration paths using a grid-based approach. This provides a more accurate visualization at any zoom level, addressing limitations of the previous heat map system, especially on busy days with numerous sightings. We also improved the connection between wind data - from KNMI HARMONIE model - and the crane radar, thanks to contributions from Ralph, Hugo, and Bas.

3. What challenges did you face during the development of this version, and how were they overcome?

This application was one of the first to transition to our new analytical platform, requiring us to navigate some steps through trial and error. Hugo and Bas were pivotal in this process, collaborating closely with Alba.

4. Can you explain the significance of the first bird sighting in September 2024, and how this new release enhances real-time tracking of migration patterns and contributes to conservation efforts?

While I'm not an ecologist like Koen, I know that crane migration is highly popular among birders who gather extensive data. Our improved radar aims to help them locate cranes more effectively, potentially increasing the data collected, which is valuable for scientific and conservation efforts.

5. Looking ahead, what improvements or updates do you envision for future versions of the Crane Radar based on the upcoming migration season?

With the new grid-based model, we can analyze different time intervals. Currently, the map predicts crane locations in real time, but it would be beneficial to add forecasts for future hours, similar to rain prediction apps like Buienradar. This would help birders plan their visits more effectively.

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Background Information

Koen explaining the crane radar

During migration, large grazing birds - such as cranes, geese, and swans - often gather in large numbers at staging sites to feed on agricultural crops. These sites frequently overlap with protected wetlands, resulting in significant crop damage that jeopardizes both bird conservation and wetland preservation.

To mitigate this issue, it is crucial to integrate damage prevention strategies with the conservation of these birds in agricultural landscapes. A thorough understanding of their spacing behavior is essential for assessing damage risks and determining effective protective measures. The crane radar plays a vital role in this process and is part of the Nature FIRST project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme. This initiative also serves as the first working example of a digital twin, with components that can be adapted for other projects, such as those aimed at preventing human-wildlife conflicts involving bears and elephants.