MONITORING OF THREATENED WILDLIFE POPULATIONS
Within the actions of the Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) Management Plan in the province of Alava, in 2009 an artificial colony was built on the grounds of the Provincial Council of Alava in Mendixur, next to the Ullibarri-Ganboa reservoir, as a result of the decrease in the number of breeding sites and the shortage of natural slopes. In 2010 this artificial colony was occupied by Sand Martins, being the first place in Spain where such an experience has been successful. Since then, the colony has continued to be occupied, showing an increase in the number of breeding pairs and their importance in the framework of the conservation of the breeding population in Alava. Throughout this period, different works have been carried out, related both to the monitoring of the species and the maintenance of the structure of the colony, as well as the surrounding areas.