A year-round seabird observatory at Cabo Carvoeiro.

Background

Cabo Carvoeiro, on the western coast of Portugal, is one of the country's most important vantage points for observing seabird migration along the Atlantic. Standardized land-based counts from this promontory have repeatedly demonstrated the site's scientific value.

The most comprehensive previous initiative was the 2015 Peniche Seabird Count, established and coordinated by Hélder Cardoso together with Johan Elmberg and Erik Hirschfeld. The three-month pilot campaign involved daily standardized observations and approximately 517 hours of counting, recording more than 300,000 seabirds. It produced valuable information on migration intensity, seasonal timing, species composition and age structure, and contributed to scientific papers published in Seabird and Marine Ornithology. The campaign was supported by the Municipality of Peniche, the School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, Turismo de Portugal and Kristianstad University in Sweden.

A renewed observatory

More than a decade after the 2015 campaign, the Peniche Seabird Observatory renews and coordinates regular seabird monitoring at Cabo Carvoeiro. Despite its name, it is not a physical building — it is a coordinated programme that brings together standardized counts, scientific data management, observer training, volunteer participation, research and public communication under a single organisational identity.

The renewed Peniche Seabird Observatory is coordinated by Hélder Cardoso, building on the experience, methodology and scientific outputs of the 2015 campaign.

PSO operates year-round. Its activities include annual intensive autumn migration campaigns, sporadic counts throughout the year, workshops, observer training, scientific research, volunteer involvement, public communication and institutional collaboration.

Mission

To sustain a long-term, scientifically robust programme for monitoring seabird migration and occurrence at Cabo Carvoeiro, while promoting training, collaboration and public awareness of the importance of Peniche for Atlantic seabirds.

Main goals

• Coordinate regular and standardized land-based seabird counts at Cabo Carvoeiro.
• Document the abundance, diversity, timing and age composition of migrating seabirds.
• Detect changes in migration patterns and species occurrence over time.
• Produce quality-controlled datasets that support scientific research and environmental assessment.
• Maintain compatibility with the methodology and historical data collected during the 2015 campaign.
• Train observers and create opportunities for students, researchers and volunteers to participate.
• Organise workshops, research activities and public engagement throughout the year.
• Collaborate with universities, public authorities, conservation organisations and environmental projects.
• Communicate results through reports, scientific publications, digital platforms and public engagement.

The 2026 campaign

The first intensive autumn monitoring campaign of the renewed observatory is planned for 2026. It will test and refine the monitoring methodology, generate a new dataset comparable with the historical results, involve volunteers and institutional partners, and demonstrate the potential for continued monitoring in future years. Final dates will be announced once confirmed. The project has the institutional support of the Oeste Geopark and is seeking additional scientific, institutional and financial partners.

Long-term vision

To establish Peniche as a stable reference point within the European network of coastal seabird monitoring locations, ensuring that the exceptional opportunity presented by seabird migration at Cabo Carvoeiro is documented consistently and shared openly for decades to come.