Baltic Action

The Baltic Action is a research program that began in Poland in 1961, aimed at studying bird migrations, particularly passerines, along the Baltic coast. Its origins are linked to the student camps of the Scientific Circle of Biologists at the University of Warsaw, with the first initiative taking place in the autumn of 1960 in the area of the Vistula River mouth. A key figure in this project is Prof. Dr. Hab. Przemysław Busse, who led the action for many years. Currently, the program is run by the Bird Migration Research Station of the University of Gdańsk under the leadership of Dr. Eng. Jarosław Nowakowski, with Prof. Busse serving as the Honorary Chairman. Fieldwork is conducted in spring and autumn at at least two locations in field bird ringing stations (TSOP), which have a camp-like character. The oldest stations, operating continuously since 1960, are TSOP Bukowo-Kopań, TSOP Vistula Spit, and TSOP Hel. At the camps, ornithological nets are set up to catch birds, which are then ringed and measured. Net checks are carried out regularly, and between a few to over 1,500 birds are caught daily, making this action one of the largest of its kind in the world. Fieldwork relies on the efforts of volunteers, who are a crucial element of the project, and anyone interested in birds who is at least 18 years old can participate. To date, nearly two million birds have been ringed as part of the Baltic Action, and this data is extremely valuable, forming the richest database of vertebrate measurements in the world. Standard ringing procedures include 16 measurements and markings, which have also been adopted in many other countries. The Baltic Action has contributed to the preparation of over 200 scientific publications and reports, and has yielded several thousand recoveries concerning the migrations of ringed birds. This type of research not only enriches ecological knowledge but also plays an important role in nature conservation and cultural education in ornithology.