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519:: This is an essential tool for monitoring bird populations and to improve the understanding of their migratory routes. Bird ringers are working hard worldwide to maintain and update a database which makes it possible to monitor the migratory routes of different species and therefore identify areas which are essential for conservation. Urdaibai Bird Center works in several ringing stations and complements annual ringing periods with campaigns in which specific data is obtained on a species or population.
398:, the Basque meteorological agency. It has a weather station and also a radio sounding station which are included in a global network. The radio sounding station is unique in the Basque Country and the only example in the world of a system which is integrated into a building. In order to forecast the weather, a balloon is released on a daily basis. It analyses the air layers and collects the data required for forecasting. Visitors can also enjoy a replica of Euskalmet's Meteorological Radar, Kapildui.
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Activities are organized for people interested in getting to know more about the world of ornithology whether it be scientific ringing, meteorology or the biodiversity of the area. These visits aim to promote a sense of respect for nature, and also to bring the work of the scientific community to the
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In addition to this, there is a space for temporary exhibitions and an audiovisual module that explains the habitats and birds of the
Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and also the current ornithological state of the marsh. It also provides information on projects and lines of investigation which are being
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The center opened its doors to the public in 2012 and works in the areas of scientific research and dissemination. It is managed by the
Aranzadi Society of Science, an organization which has over 60 years of experience in the research and dissemination of human and natural sciences. Ornithology is
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Urdaibai Bird Center has its origins in the Elaia
Association, an organization which began its work in the Urdaibai estuary in 2001. Its first projects were conceived from scientific ringing stations in different areas of the Urdaibai marshes. Many birds of particular interest were detected from
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and this resulted in the total isolation of the remaining wetlands. Finally, however, the fields were abandoned and began to break up. Once more the tide was allowed in, and the natural process of regeneration slowly began. Its progress was hindered, however, by the invasion of the exotic flora
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The
Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve has one of the highest rates of biodiversity in the Basque Country and the same is true in terms of avifauna. Its ornithological wealth is partly due to the wide variety of landscapes in the reserve. However, it is also due to its location right between two large
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Scientisits identified areas of special interest for their ornithological wealth or for their general biodiversity in the upper marsh. As a result, they started a more comprehensive monitoring programme of one of the most important ornithological phenomena in
Urdaibai: the
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Urdaibai Bird Center has developed environmental education programmes for children in a number of schools. Using cross curricular material, students learn about the birds of
Urdaibai. Through this collaboration, the study of birds can be integrated into every subject.
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There is also an ornithological route in the form of a circuit. It is equipped with two outdoor observatories which birders can access for free. Each hide allows visitors to view a wetland area of different characteristics along with birds of that particular habitat.
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Visitors can admire the landscape of the
Urdaibai estuary from the Bird Center tower. Inside the center a series of audiovisual modules provide the visitor with up to date information. Educational material and audiovisual resources are produced by the center itself.
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Urdaibai Bird Center is open to the public throughout the year and gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the ornithological wealth of the
Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Several visits are available for the visitors, independent tours and guided tours.
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As for wildlife, birds have been extremely receptive to the new conditions. 5 years after the start of the project, a great diversity of species has been recorded and there are large numbers of birds at all times of year. In addition to the birds,
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All this has made wetlands of
Gautegiz-Arteaga a mandatory stop for migratory birds. What is more, the number of wintering, nesting and resident birds in the wetlands is growing, a sure sign that the wetland is well on the way to a full recovery.
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Along with other ornithological centers, Urdaibai Bird Center participates in the project BirdFlyway. This network of
European wetlands makes up a tourist route and all of the participating organizations have two elements in common:
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Urdaibai Bird Center aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and the impact of human beings and their activities on nature. For this reason the center is involved in educational projects with different sectors of society.
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The marshes of Gautegiz-Arteaga, are home to a wide variety of birds in large numbers There are around 200 species. The tranquility of the area and the availability of food, in particular the abundance of fish and small
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Among the many habitats, wetlands provide an essential source of food and shelter for waterfowl. They are one of the most important focuses of the work carried out by the Urdaibai Bird Center. The center is located in
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and landscapes such as grasslands, Cantabrian holm oak woods, Atlantic countryside, riverbanks, marshes, cliffs, beaches and dunes. It is this mosaic of landscapes that make Urdaibai the area with the highest level of
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Urdaibai Bird Center has two main lines of work. The first involves research and the second involves the dissemination of the results from that research. In addition, the center manages and maintains the habitat.
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Follow-up projects using new technologies: Thanks to the development of technology, new information gathering techniques have been implemented. Among these are geo locators, GPS devices for larger birds like the
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Informe de anillamiento del 2011 de la Estación de Anillamiento Científico de Urdaibai. 2012. Unamuno, E., Azkona, A., Unamuno, J.M., Arizaga, J., Galarza, A., Unamuno, A. (Informe inédito Gobierno Vasco)
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Migration: The migration of birds is studied, as are the factors that influence birds in their stopover and resting areas. The migratory connections between different populations are also being researched.
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During the eighteenth century, the inner marshes were drained to make them into fields for crops and then later pastures for livestock. In the twentieth century, the course of the river was canalized in
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Informe de anillamiento del 2009 de la Estación de Anillamiento Científico de Urdaibai. 2010. Azkona, A., Unamuno, J.M., Unamuno, E., Unamuno, A., Ruiz Moneo F. (Informe inédito Gobierno Vasco)
340:. After evaluating several alternatives, lagoons of varying degrees of salinity and depths were created. The environmental improvement project was carried out between 2008 and 2009.
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Informe de anillamiento del 2010 de la Estación de Anillamiento Científico de Urdaibai. 2011. Unamuno, E., Azkona, A., Unamuno, J.M., Unamuno, A. (Informe inédito Gobierno Vasco)
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The restoration results were very positive. Today, total recovery of halophyte vegetation has been achieved in the abandoned area which was being invaded by alien species. Reeds,
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is a nature museum. It provides an excellent observation point from which visitors can enjoy the world of birds and their migratory journeys. It is located in the heart of the
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and radio tracking. They have provided a more complete picture of migratory routes and there is a better understanding of areas which are dangerous for protected species.
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Until just a few years ago, the area now occupied by the Orueta wetland was very run down and the fact that it had become almost disconnected from the influence of the
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Informe de anillamiento del 2008 de la Estación de Anillamiento Científico de Urdaibai. 2009. Unamuno, J.M., Unamuno, E.,Unamuno, A. (Informe inédito Gobierno Vasco)
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Faced with this problem, the local population undertook an environmental improvement project in the marsh. It aimed to encourage the correct use of the marsh through
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attention of the public. By involving people, habits and attitudes are changed and meaning is given to the scientific work which has been carried out.
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Within these school programmes, the center runs activities such as placing nest boxes and feeders for birds during the winter, or the monitoring of
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To increase the knowledge of birds and their habitats in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve research projects are carried out in the following areas.
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Informe de anillamiento del 2005 de la Estación de Anillamiento Científico de Urdaibai. 2006. Unamuno, J.M. (Informe inédito Gobierno Vasco)
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Informe de anillamiento del 2006 de la Estación de Anillamiento Científico de Urdaibai. 2007. Unamuno, J.M. (Informe inédito Gobierno Vasco)
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The Reception - this is both a tourist information point for visitors and also a shop selling products and material related to ornithology.
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The center is located in the heart of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, a protected natural area that includes one of the most important
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Urdaibai Bird Center. Memoria de investigación, 2012. 2013. Arizaga, J. (Coor.) Informe Inédito. Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi.
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611:. Every year these barriers force thousands of birds to cross this area on the migratory journeys between Europe and Africa.
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Urdaibai Bird Center. Memoria de investigación, 2013. Arizaga, J. (Coor.). Inédito. Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi.
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The center's work also involves the management of the marshland. The eradication of invasive alien species such ''
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of great interest have also colonised the wetland. Before its recovery their presence had never been registered.
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A work group was set up to develop new ideas and this project became what is now the Urdaibai Bird Center.
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and also illustrates the connection between Urdaibai and wetlands of importance in Europe and Africa.
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and Golako rivers, which open onto the sea in a wide estuary. It is home to a wide range of different
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The Urdaibai Bird Center has a role in weather forecasting and houses meteorological equipment from
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was discovered and the first steps were taken to make environmental improvements in the marsh.
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included within these fields and the Aranzadi Banding Office has done pioneering work on the
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wetland of international importance, a Special Protection Area for Birds. It is also in the
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They are part of the migratory route of two bird species, the greylag goose and the osprey.
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Bird Ringing Area - here staff members do ongoing research work into the salt marsh.
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are now present. In addition, the spread of invasive species is now under control.
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Different projects have been developed taking these basic areas into account:
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The Conference Room - here the center holds lectures, courses or other events
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next to a wetland area which is of the greatest natural value in Urdaibai.
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BUS Bizkaibus: Route Mungia-Gernika-Ibarrangelu, Station: Errekalde,
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In the hallway a large backlit map locates the center on the
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The building also provides a number of other useful spaces:
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these ringing stations and monitoring projects were set up.
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The building is situated by the marsh in Gautegiz Arteaga
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They have visitor centers in unique natural spaces.
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74:Learn how and when to remove this message
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304:Restoration of the wetlands in Gautegiz
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696:Aranzadi Society of Sciences
675:Website Urdaibai Bird Center
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685:Visits Urdaibai Bird Center
312:had led to the invasion of
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177:Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve
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108:Established
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762:Categories
732:43°20′49″N
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473:Work areas
402:Facilities
367:Facilities
349:sea rushes
261:ecosystems
735:2°39′25″W
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396:Euskalmet
607:and the
605:Pyrenees
540:Entrance
345:cattails
203:Location
116:Location
361:odonata
280:History
240:on the
238:marshes
181:Vizcaya
161:Website
52:improve
525:osprey
246:Ramsar
228:Biscay
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353:carex
310:tides
207:Place
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