An international workgroup met recently to tackle the issues surrounding invasive non-native species in the Wadden Sea. Bureau Waardenburg made an important contribution to the proposed strategy based on a policy of prevention, early warning, monitoring, risk-assessment and management measures.

Bureau Waardenburg has carried out research into the effects of the offshore wind farm at Egmond aan Zee on birds. The results of this research were published in early 2012. The research was divided into five research modules, which focused on:

Flight paths, flight heights and flight intensity of birds  with radar, both at the wind farm and further offshore; Cumulative effects; Development of growth on underwater structures and Local birds (together with IMARES). Read more.

In 2010, Landschap Noord-Holland in cooperation with  Bureau Waardenburg, began research into the habitat use and ecology of the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris). So far, six Bitterns have been equipped with GPS transmitters enabling their movements to be followed (www.roerdomp.info). Last winter, one of the Bitterns followed (Anneke) made a round trip of England. After a brief visit to the Humber Anneke went to North Wales before heading south to Devon. She spent much of the winter here before following the Thames over London and back to North Holland. This research is proving to provide a useful insight into the lives of Bitterns.

Much of the Dutch region of Zeeland is protected by seawalls and dykes. These seawalls provide artificial rocky shore habitats that fall under wildlife protection legislations. Between 1997 and 2002 repairs and strengthening of the seawalls occurred. Plants and algae returned remarkably quickly following the work. Monitoring was undertaken by Projectbureau Zeeweringen and Bureau Waardenburg.