EDP Baixo Sabor: Birds of Riparian Habitats - Reservoir Filling [2015] and Exploration [2015-2020] Phases

The dataset contains records of birds of riparian habitats (Aves) collected in the lower valley of River Sabor (NE Portugal), in the scope of the long-term Ecological Monitoring Program (PME) and part of the Compensatory Measures (PMC) Programs of the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric Dams (AHBS), promoted by EDP – Energias de Portugal, S.A. This dataset includes results of surveys made in the areas affected in the reservoir filling phase (2015) and in the initial exploration phase (2015-2020) near the dam structures, between in March 2015 and October 2020. Sampling was performed in selected points located in the banks of the Sabor river, in the reservoir areas around the dams (PME) and in weirs and ponds restored or constructed in the framework of the Compensatory Measures Program (MC2 – “Habitat recovery and Improvement of the affluent streams of the AHBS”). The bird’s presence and species identification were assessed by visual and/or acoustic observation, from the margins of the reservoir, or in the vicinity of the structure (weirs and ponds) with the support of binoculars and a telescope. The records include taxa identified at the species or genus levels. A total of 1376 observation events produced 22524 confirmed identifications. The most abundant species (>1000 records) were Phalacrocorax carbo (2749 individuals/observations), Delichon urbica (1332), Turdus merula (1247), Fringilla coelebs (1082) and Erithacus rubecula (1041).