The complete birds of the Western Palearctic on CD-ROM
... The European Roller Coracias garrulus is a long-distance migrant, obligate secondary cavity-nesting, insectivorous, central-place forager of conservation concern [1]. It dwells in agricultural landscapes, and it breeds in abandoned woodpecker nests as well as in artificial places of breeding such as nestboxes, roof cavities, or wall cracks [2]. ...
... It dwells in agricultural landscapes, and it breeds in abandoned woodpecker nests as well as in artificial places of breeding such as nestboxes, roof cavities, or wall cracks [2]. The clutch is 2 to 6 eggs, and only a single brood is laid each year [1]. This species has suffered greatly from habitat loss at breeding sites, caused by changes to agricultural practices in the last decades across Europe [3], resulting in a decrease in prey availability due to the conversion of pastures into arable lands, heterogenous land into monoculture, and removal of hedges and trees in agricultural areas. ...
... We found only few differences in the spatial patterns of nest site selection between years. Our results confirm the breeding philopatry of European Rollers, whose breeding dispersal is low, with Rollers often nesting in the same cavity in subsequent years [1]. By contrast, we discovered significant shifts between months in both the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of selected nest locations, with northward and westward shifts from May to August. ...
Citation: Meschini, A.; Brambilla, O.; Cannarella, S.; Muscianese, E.; Mastronardi, D.; Norante, N.; Pascucci, M.; Pucci, M.; Sottile, F.; Tagliagambe, S.; et al. Space-Time Abstract: The European Roller Coracias garrulus has suffered greatly from breeding habitat loss due to the renovation of old farmhouses and rural buildings and changing agricultural practices that took place extensively across Europe in the last decades. As a consequence, this species experienced a significant decline, and local extinctions of breeding populations were recorded in several European countries. We investigated nest sites and nesting area selection by the Italian Roller population during the breeding period (May-August) between 2016 and 2018. We collected 711 points from field surveys and used four types of point pattern analysis to detect space-time patterns of nest site and nesting area selection. We found that: (a) the spatial distribution of selected (i.e., occupied) nest sites was significantly nonrandom (p < 0.01) for all years and months; (b) only 2.6% of the selected nest sites was located within parks or reserves; (c) there were significant (p < 0.01) latitudinal, longitudinal, and altitudinal shifts of selected nest sites between May and August; (d) the geographical barycentres of selected nest sites shifted northward by about 80 km per month from May (southernmost barycentre) to August (northernmost barycentre); (e) four main nesting areas (7886 km 2 in total) occurred in central and southern Italy, whose utilization by the European Rollers differed between months but not between years; (f) the detected nesting areas corresponded mainly to non-irrigated arable lands (41.22% of their extent) and natural grasslands (12.80%). Our results are useful to support conservation strategies for the breeding sites of this farmland species, which is not a regular visitor to protected areas in Italy.
... The European Roller Coracias garrulus is a long-distance migrant, obligate secondary cavity-nesting, insectivorous, central-place forager of conservation concern [1]. It dwells in agricultural landscapes, and it breeds in abandoned woodpecker nests as well as in artificial places of breeding such as nestboxes, roof cavities, or wall cracks [2]. ...
... It dwells in agricultural landscapes, and it breeds in abandoned woodpecker nests as well as in artificial places of breeding such as nestboxes, roof cavities, or wall cracks [2]. The clutch is 2 to 6 eggs, and only a single brood is laid each year [1]. This species has suffered greatly from habitat loss at breeding sites, caused by changes to agricultural practices in the last decades across Europe [3], resulting in a decrease in prey availability due to the conversion of pastures into arable lands, heterogenous land into monoculture, and removal of hedges and trees in agricultural areas. ...
... We found only few differences in the spatial patterns of nest site selection between years. Our results confirm the breeding philopatry of European Rollers, whose breeding dispersal is low, with Rollers often nesting in the same cavity in subsequent years [1]. By contrast, we discovered significant shifts between months in both the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of selected nest locations, with northward and westward shifts from May to August. ...
The European Roller Coracias garrulus has suffered greatly from breeding habitat loss due to renovation of old farmhouses and buildings, and changing agricultural practices that extensively took place across Europe in the last decades. As a consequence, this species experienced a significant decline and local extinctions of breeding populations were recorded in several European countries. We investigated nest site selection by the Italian Roller population during the breeding period (May–August) between 2016 and 2018. We collected 711 points from field surveys and used four types of point pattern analysis to detect space-time patterns of nest site selection. We found that: a) the spatial distribution of selected nest sites was significantly nonrandom (p < 0.01) for all years and months; b) only 2.6% of the selected nest sites was located within parks or reserves; c) there were significant (p < 0.01) latitudinal, longitudinal and altitudinal shifts of selected nest sites between May and August; d) the geographical barycentres of selected nest sites shifted northward by about 80 km per month from May (southernmost barycentre) to August (northernmost barycentre); e) four main nesting hotspots (7,886 km2 in total) occurred in central and southern Italy, whose utilization by the European Rollers differed between months, but not between years; f) the detected hotspots corresponded mainly to non-irrigated arable lands (41.22% of their extent) and natural grasslands (12.80%). Our results are useful to support conservation strategies for the breeding sites of this farmland species which is not a regular visitor to protected areas in Italy.
... In Poland, it is a rare species under strict protection, and its breeding sites are also protected. The range of the BS extends almost the whole Palearctic (from the Iberian Peninsula up to Eastern China and the Korean Peninsula) and part of South Africa [15,16], with the population estimated to be 9800-13,900 pairs across the European range [17]. The BS population in Poland is estimated to be 1300-1900 breeding pairs [18]. ...
... Forestry and other economic activities within 200 m of BS nests are prohibited all year round. During the breeding season (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31), this buffer zone is increased, and the area 500 m around the nest is protected from human activities. Such provisions of the Law on Nature Protection are intended to ensure tranquility for this rare species and allow successful breeding [22]. ...
... In the present study, young storks left the nest for the first time between 70 and 108 days of age, with a mean age of 87 days, whereas Cramp and Simmons [15] found that nest departure occurs between 63 and 71 days of age. In central Poland, however, storks were recorded in the nest at 77 and 87 days of age [50], which is closer to the results obtained in the present study using telemetry. ...
The black stork is a protected species in Poland, and its numbers have declined significantly in recent years. The protection of nesting sites during the period of growth and independence of young birds is crucial for the population. In 2022–2023, 34 young storks were equipped with GPS-GSM backpack loggers. On average, birds had left the nest by the 87th day of life. In the period between the first flight attempt and the final abandonment of the nest, the birds spent 82% of their time in a zone up to 200 m from the nest. During the period of independence, resting areas played an important spatial role, 75% of which were located within 500 m of the nest. As the young birds grew older, their area of activity gradually increased. Differences in nesting phenology were observed depending on the geographical location of the nest. A shorter migration route from the wintering grounds allowed for earlier breeding. As a result, the young birds begin to fledge earlier. The data collected confirm the validity of designating protective zones with 500 m radii around nests and the need to maintain them from the beginning of the breeding season in March until the end of August.
... This is a situation that has evolved during the last few decades, ever since the Whooper Swan began to establish new breeding populations. Before that, these two species were considered to be allopatric: the Whooper Swan was originally associated with the boreal zone in northern Asia, northern Europe and Iceland (Cramp & Simmons 1977), whereas the Mute Swan inhabited the temperate zone of Europe. Their breeding ranges were thus quite separate (Butkauskas et al. 2012). ...
... For each nest, circular buffers 200 and 500 m in radius were generated as polygon layers. These two zones were adopted due to the wide variation in the territories of the two species (see Cramp & Simmons 1977;Brazil 2003;Włodarczyk & Minias 2016). It was assumed that an area with a radius of 200 m (12.5 hectares) could mostly guarantee a suitable breeding area for both swan species during the first nesting period (nest building and egg incubation). ...
... This could indicate the possibility of fierce competition for habitat between the two species, with the Whooper Swan displacing the Mute Swan from ponds where the latter has readily nested in the past (Dudzik et al. 2014, own observ.). Whooper Swans are known to defend larger territories than Mute Swans (Cramp & Simmons 1977). ...
... The European population has been strongly reduced during the last two centuries due to human persecution [12,13]. The GE is regarded as a habitat generalist inhabiting mountainous and lowland areas with a low stand density [14]. It uses diverse environments: mountainous and upland areas, lowland forests, wetlands, and marginally even steppe and desert. ...
... The GE is considered to be a top predator, mainly preying on medium-sized vertebrates and also feeding on carrion [14]. The basis of its food is birds and mammals, and seldom reptilians, consumed in varying proportions. ...
... This finding is in line with the general pattern. Environmental conditions strongly influence local density, and home range size shows significant variation [12,14]. A Finnish study with GPS transmitters documented the GE using vast areas up to 300 km 2 and a range of 14 km, although the raptor did not use their home range evenly [38]. ...
The Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos (hereafter GE) is one of Europe’s largest avian top predators. The present study recognizes the habitat characteristics and food composition of the GE in Poland. The research was carried out in the Polish part of the Carpathian Mountains. The GEs built nests mainly on old coniferous trees and strongly preferred the Silver Fir Abies alba. On average, within a 5 km buffer around the nest, forests covered about 2/3 of the area, while open land with villages was at 31% and water was about 1%. Birds preferred areas with less forest cover than in the random points, but the nests were significantly further from the countryside than the distance measured for the drawn points distributed in the GEs’ range in Poland. Their diet during the breeding season was assessed by analyzing pellets and food remains. The proportion of birds was 55.7%, mammals was 43.4%, and reptiles was 0.9%. The ten most common prey species included the Domestic Pigeon Columba livia, the Ural Owl Strix uralensis, the Tawny Owl Strix aluco, the Buzzard Buteo buteo, the Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus, the Martens Martes sp., and the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, which composed 70% of food items. Our results showed that the GE is a top predator, as evidenced by the high share of other predators—both mammal and bird species—in its diet, which constituted about 34% of identified preys. The diet of the studied GE population showed geographical variation, suggesting local adaptations to available prey species. The share of Roe Deer increased from west to east, indicating a higher availability in the less urbanized eastern part of the country. An analysis of general food categories showed that, as latitude increased, the share of captured birds among prey of the GEs declined, while the percentage of forest prey increased. Pigeons were prey of the GEs mainly in the western part of their range. The GEs often captured species with nocturnal activity—owls and martens, which were identified in most of the GEs’ territories. The proportion of mammals in the diet of the GE increased with an increase in the proportion of open areas, while the abundance of birds of prey and owls in the diet correlated with a higher proportion of forests. The greatest threat to Poland’s GE population is the reduction in semi-open areas with low human activity and low human population densities.
... The Fieldfare is a medium-sized (~ 80 g) widespread intrapalearctic migrant. It breeds across a broad range encompassing European mountain woodlands and taiga, ranging from Norway to Eastern Russia, eastward to the Lena River (Cramp 1998). It is a partially migratory species, with populations breeding at high latitudes typically undertaking southward movements after the breeding season (Cramp 1998). ...
... It breeds across a broad range encompassing European mountain woodlands and taiga, ranging from Norway to Eastern Russia, eastward to the Lena River (Cramp 1998). It is a partially migratory species, with populations breeding at high latitudes typically undertaking southward movements after the breeding season (Cramp 1998). These movements follow an irruptive pattern and exhibit considerable inter-annual variability, likely related to the severity of the winter climate and the availability of summer food resources (Tyrväinen 1975;Hogstad et al. 2003). ...
... Although the sample size was small, no significant sex or age differences in timing of pre-breeding migration were observed. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has reported on sex or age differential migration of Fieldfares (e.g., Cramp 1998). ...
Improving our understanding of the spatio-temporal distribution of migratory game species is pivotal for developing flyway-based management strategies. We used miniaturized GPS-Argos transmitters to analyse movement patterns, home-range, habitat use, and pre-breeding migratory dynamics of a medium-sized (~ 80 g) migratory songbird, the Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). We focused on the population wintering in northern Italy, an area where this species is subject to intense hunting pressure during autumn–winter. Most individuals were relatively sedentary upon reaching their wintering area, with only a few performing erratic movements up to mid-January. Forest and farmland were the most used habitats during both early and late winter. We obtained partial information on pre-breeding migration from 16 individuals. Pre-breeding migration began on 21 March on average (min.: 7 March, max.: 7 April). We identified north-western Russia (longitudes 35–50° E) as the putative breeding area of six individuals, while a single individual migrated to Finland. Our novel individual-based tracking study of south-European wintering Fieldfares thus highlights that Russia, rather than Scandinavia, is likely the main origin area for Italian wintering birds, improving previous knowledge based on recoveries of ringed birds. Our findings suggest that an effective flyway-based management plan for a sustainable exploitation of the Fieldfare in southern Europe may be hindered by knowledge gaps on the conservation status of this species over its broad breeding range, which extends to distant Russian regions.
... Eurasian goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) might be skeptical about approaching humans in areas where they have been heavily persecuted, as they earlier have been in Norway. That is probably one important factor resulting in former declining populations [38][39][40][41]. The goshawk population in Norway is estimated at 1384-1856 pairs, and the population is still declining [42]. ...
... The home ranges of breeding goshawks vary considerably between areas and territories, depending on the amount of woodland edge and prey availability [57]. Some individuals might have home ranges of more than 3 km from the nest site [45,58], also in and near my study area [59], and hunting range is recorded up to 6 km from the nest [40] and even longer outside the breeding season [55]. I therefore started this investigation by defining all areas within 3 km from the closest wind farm or power line to belong to the influence area (Figure 1) and other areas to be in the control area. ...
Wind power is commonly used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but often has negative effects on biodiversity. In this study, I investigated the effects of wind farm and power line construction on the territory status of the Eurasian goshawk Accipiter gentilis, whether fledglings were produced or not, and the number of fledglings. Included were 55 goshawk territories investigated before and after the construction period. I found that the territory status declined significantly in the influence area within 3 km from the disturbance compared to the control area more than 7 km away. Interestingly, the decline in territory status was similar in the distance categories 0–1 km, 1–2 km, and 2–3 km, while there was nearly no change in territory status in the control area, thus indicating that the influence area from this kind of disturbance was minimum 3 km from the nest. The number of breeding pairs declined significantly during the construction period only in the influence area. Possible reasons might be higher mortality caused by collisions with power lines, desertion, avoidance of the areas with noise and disturbance from the constructions, and possible indirect effects caused by reductions in prey species. I found no effects of the construction on the number of fledglings.
... The Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) (hereafter Griffon Vulture) is a large Old-World vulture with a distribution spanning from the Iberian Peninsula to the Himalayan region (Cramp & Simmons 1980). The species plays a key ecological role to recycle animal carcasses, limit the spread of diseases, and maintain the nutrient return in natural ecosystems , Sebastián-González et al. 2020. ...
... We demonstrated that variables related to the breeding cliffs have high significance for the habitat preferences of the Griffon Vulture. Cliff height, length and distance to the nearest conspecific colony were highlighted as important factors for occupancy by other studies as well (Cramp & Simmons 1980, Xirouchakis & Mylonas 2005. Similarly, the best predictors affecting the distribution of large birds of prey such as the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) were related to topographic features (López-López et al. 2007, Margalida et al. 2008, Di Vittorio & López-López 2014. ...
The Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is a large scavenger with a population ranging between Portugal and India. The species is an obligate scavenger with a narrow ecological niche and is therefore particularly dependent on, and limited by habitat availability. The study aimed, for the first time in Eastern Europe, to identify the habitat preferences of the Griffon Vulture at landscape and cliff scales. We used long-term monitoring data between 1987–2018 to analyze habitat preferences of the natal Griffon Vulture population in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria. We employed single explanatory variable tests to reveal the species habitat preferences at two spatial scales. The results revealed Griffon Vultures’ high preferences towards rocky habitats at the landscape level. At a cliff scale, the height and length of the cliff, the distance to the nearest conspecific colony and the distance to the nearest feeding site were the best predictors for the species habitat preferences. We stress the importance of these findings considering the current status of the species within the region. Our results are useful to support the future conservation of the Griffon Vulture population in Bulgaria and provide a starting point for future research in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
... The newly amplified sequences were aligned to those from other western Palaearctic conspecific populations retrieved from GenBank (Supplementary S1) in Geneious Prime v.2021.2.2 [27]. For the sake of clarity, there is no consensus about the intra-Palaearctic boundaries, with at least two main views-one traditionally excluding all of Iran from the western Palaearctic [28] and a new one including it in its entirety (thus featuring the Greater Western Palaearctic [29,30]). Both of these views are widely accepted, and another has been recently proposed (see [31]). ...
Located at the crossroads of two continents and at the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Basin, Anatolia was one of the most important Pleistocene glacial refugia in the Western Palaearctic. As part of the Irano-Anatolian, Caucasus and Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspots, this region is also home to a rich avian community including nearly 400 breeding species. Nevertheless, research addressing the genetic structure and diversity of local bird populations is limited, and information on glacial refugia in this region is still scant, especially when compared to other large Mediterranean peninsulas, namely the Balkan, Italian and Iberian ones. In this study, we contribute to filling this gap by addressing the biogeographic pattern of four common resident songbirds—the Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), the great tit (Parus major), the Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and the Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)—and one endemic species—the Krüper’s nuthatch (Sitta krueperi)—by amplifying two mitochondrial DNA genes in individuals from Anatolia (n = 329) and comparing their sequences to those of conspecifics from the rest of their distribution range across the western Palaearctic (n = 357) deposited in public databases. The overall genetic structure of these species is consistent with a scenario of isolation for multiple populations in different refugia across Anatolia and subsequent secondary contact in the wake of ice retreat, which makes this region a hotspot of genetic diversity for both widespread and endemic avian species.
... Observations continued in fledging territories, with the presence or absence of young checked every three days for the subsequent six months. The coordinates of the nests were recorded using a GPS device (Cramp and Simmons, 1980). ...
The Bonelli’s Eagle exhibits a wide geographic distribution yet remains relatively understudied on the island
of Cyprus. Between 1999 and 2002, we examined 32 pairs of Bonelli’s Eagles, totaling 64 breeding attempts. During
this period, a total of 116 eggs were laid, with an average clutch size of 2.0 ± 0.1 eggs per pair. Incubation, predominantly
performed by the female, lasted an average of 38.7 ± 0.2 days. Of the eggs laid, 71 hatched, resulting in an average hatching
rate of 82.6%. Hatchability varied, with the highest rate (91.3%) observed in 1999 and the lowest (76.2%) in 2001. Nestlings
spent an average of 61 ± 0.5 days in the nest before fledging. Remarkably, 92.6% of pairs successfully fledged young (n
= 60), with a mean breeding success of 1.6 ± 0.1 fledglings per pair. Significant differences were observed in the average
number of eggs laid, hatched, and young fledged between the two types of habitats. Nest sites varied in altitude, ranging from
170 to 1,242 meters, with a nearest-neighbor distance between adjacent nests averaging 7.86 ± 0.43 kilometers.
... We supposed that a food shortage is the main cause of the low survival of young Black Storks in the Baltic States (see above), in which case we could also predict that survival rates will be lower in the smaller sex. Indeed, the body mass of fledgling females is lower than that of males (2.7 kg vs 3.2 kg at 50 days of age, respectively, n = 158, M. Strazds, unpublished data), corresponding to the apparent dimorphism in adulthood (males are slightly larger than females; Cramp and Simmons 1977). This size difference could be particularly important during the first migration of inexperienced Black Stork juveniles. ...
Detecting factors causing the decline of wildlife populations provides essential knowledge for their effective conservation. Populations of Black Stork Ciconia nigra are decreasing in northern Europe; however, there are no detailed analyses of its survival, which frequently is a key demographic parameter affecting population dynamics in long-lived species. We used long-term data from re-sighted colour-ringed birds and satellite-tracked birds to estimate age- and sex-specific survival in a rapidly declining Black Stork population in the Baltic region at the northern end of the European range. Apparent survival (0.89) among colour-ringed birds older than one year was not significantly different from the previously reported estimates in Central Europe and the estimated real survival of GPS-tracked birds (0.77). However, the apparent survival of first-year (1y) birds was only 0.04, which is remarkably lower than earlier estimates in Central Europe. The real survival of GPS-tracked 1y birds was somewhat higher (0.11), but still much lower than estimates in other long-lived species. Apparent survival was three times lower in 1y females (0.013) than 1y males (0.045); this could be explained in part by a higher mean natal dispersal of females (189.1 km), compared with that of males (72.0 km), as well as by sex-specific mortality due to poor foraging conditions. There were no significant differences in apparent survival between the male and female storks older than one year. To better address the population decline, further research is needed to determine the factors causing low survival in young Black Storks, including the roles of food availability and climate change.
... Firecrest is a common species breeding in central-western Europe and likewise in the whole area of Poland, where the population is estimated at around 258,000-539,000 breeding pairs (Chodkiewicz et al. 2019). The Goldcrest's breeding range is the western Palearctic, from middle to upper temperate and boreal forests (Cramp 1998). In Poland, it occurs frequently in coniferous forests with population estimated at 522,000-811,000 breeding pairs (Chodkiewicz et al. 2019). ...
The effectiveness of surveys of breeding birds varies due to multiple factors, with the primary being imperfect detection, which is particularly severe for elusive species. For example, the territory mapping method requires surveying an area multiple times a season to compensate for missing individuals during single surveys. Novel methods require much less effort in the field and include estimation of both detection probability and abundance corrected for individuals that went undetected. The aim of this study was to check if point counts and model-based results provide estimates similar to the ones from the territory mapping method. We studied the abundance of two forest birds—Goldcrest Regulus regulus and Firecrest R. ignicapilla—on three permanent census plots in the Białowieża Forest (E Poland). We compared abundance estimates resulting from the territory mapping method in its ‘standard’ (~ 10 visits) and intensive (~ 20 visits) approaches. We also performed point counts at the same plots using distance sampling methodology and hierarchical models in an attempt to get unbiased estimates by correcting for imperfect detection. We found that the standard territory mapping method produces much lower abundances than model-based estimates, which was particularly evident for the more numerous Firecrest. At the same time, results from point counts were more consistent with numbers from the intensive territory mapping. Our findings suggest that applying point counts and distance sampling models meet modern standards by considering various effects in abundance, availability and detection processes along with providing uncertainty of their estimates. We assume that our results might be applicable to other elusive species.
... Due to their commonness and wide distribution, rails (Gruiformes, Rallidae), which are usually associated with marshy habitats covered by dense vegetation (De Kroon 2004), are considered to be good biological models for monitoring anthropogenic (human-induced) changes in wetlands . Notably, the Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is a territorial and generalist rail, which exploits a wide spectrum of habitats ranging from rivers and canals to lakes and ponds (Wood 1974;Cramp and Simmons 1980;Talbi et al. 2020). In Northern Africa, the Common Moorhen is a sedentary species that breeds and winters in a large number of wetlands (Samraoui and Samraoui 2008;Samraoui et al. 2011), and shows high resilience to anthropogenic changes (Smith and Chow Fraser 2010;Samraoui et al. 2013). ...
We carried out a study on dynamics of the Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus, a synanthropic rallid (Aves, Gruiformes), to elucidate the adverse effects this species has possibly suffered from the markedly increased habitat degradation that has been taking place over the last decades at Boussedra Pond, northeastern Algeria. During the period 2015-2018, this wetland-related species showed an annual 35.4% decrease in its numbers, and the number of breeding pairs, which was monitored between 2008 and 2018, experienced an annual drop of 4.9%. The clutch size, a key determinant of breeding performance, averaged 4.7 ± 1.0 eggs (N = 26 clutches) in 2018 and was significantly lower than those reported in previous studies. As a result of anthropogenic activities, the size of the marsh decreased by more than 50% over the 1984-2018 period. The long-lasting shrinkage of this relict wetland was accompanied by the expansion of built-up areas (>50%) and cultivated plots, and, also, by a marked reduction in natural both wet-and dry-land habitats in its vicinity. We suggest that the decrease in the population trend and the breeding performance of the Common Moorhen could be indicative of the species stress response to the long-lasting land conversion , pressuring the relict habitat of Boussedra Pond.
... While the Greylag Goose is an obligate grazer principally foraging on pasture or meadows (e.g., Olsson et al. 2017), the Common Crane is a selective omnivorous forager, mostly foraging on plants and cereals in winter (Cramp and Simmons 1980). Accordingly, geese and cranes could be expected to show different vigilance/foraging dynamics underlying different trade-offs among individuals. ...
A continuous balance between costs and benefits dictates individual vigilance and foraging dynamics. In group-living animals, understanding the resulting trade-off is often complicated by multiple confounding effects. Vigilance and foraging levels may be the result of intrinsic (e.g., body size, trophic ecology, migratory phenology) and extrinsic (e.g., flock size, edge effect, group dynamism) factors, potentially differing between species, individuals, and contexts. We explored this idea by investigating intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing vigilance and foraging behavior of two sympatric gregarious bird species that differ markedly in body size and foraging strategies (Greylag Goose Anser anser and Common Crane Grus grus), during their non-breeding period. Interspecific differences were detected in activity allocation and in response to group-related variables. For both species, time spent in vigilance decreased with increasing flock size and with increasing distance from the edge of the group. While cranes allocated the resulting time to foraging, the same did not occur in geese. Changes in individual position in the group (i.e., peripheral vs. central or vice versa) elicited a prompt behavioral change (i.e., vigilance vs. foraging or other activity). Temporal changes in activity budgets were reported for geese but not for cranes, with a decrease of vigilance and an increase of foraging as winter progressed. Results allowed to disentangle the role of multifactorial determinants of vigilance and foraging, in turn increasing our understanding of underlying forces driving the evolution of behavioral traits and of group-living.
... The reproductive distribution of the Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola, is nearly circumpolar in the high Arctic north, extending from the Kanin Peninsula east to the Bering Strait and from Alaska to the western side of Baffin Island [5] . There are three subspecies: P. s. squatarola, P. s. tomkovichi, and P. s. cynosurae [6] . ...
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola, is one of Algeria’s rare bird species. During the international waterbird census in the month of May for the year 2023 using the direct observation method, a single individual of the Grey Plover was spotted at Kef Doukhane wetland in Ghardaïa on May 16, 2023. This is the first observation in the Sahara with a new locality in Algeria.
Keywords: Pluvialis squatarola, New locality, Sahara, Algeria
... Residents, while in low numbers (only three birds, followed for four seasons in total), were detected at multiple breeding populations. Iberian little bustards were historically described as resident/sedentary birds [73], but this is now thought to be a less frequent strategy [37]. Most little bustards are short to medium-distance migratory birds and their behaviour is most likely a genetic trait [74], even though other non-genetic factors, such as environmental conditions and individual fitness, may influence this behaviour [75]. ...
Background
Seasonal changes in resource availability are known to influence the migratory behaviour of animals, including both timing and distance. While the influence of environmental cues on migratory behaviour has been widely studied at the population level, it has rarely been examined at the spatial scale at which individuals experience their environment. Here, we test the hypothesis that individuals exposed to similar large-scale environmental cues may vary in migratory behaviour in response to the different microclimate conditions they experience at fine scales.
Methods
We combine high-spatial and temporal resolution microclimate and habitat information with GPS tracking data for a partially migratory threatened grassland bird. Data from 47 little bustards ( Tetrax tetrax ; 67 breeding events) tracked between 2009 and 2019 was used to (i) evaluate individual consistency in migratory behaviour (timing and distance) and (ii) assess whether the local environmental characteristics experienced by individuals – and in particular their use of microclimate refugia - influence distance and timing of migration, from and to the breeding sites.
Results
Migratory distance was consistent for birds tracked over multiple years, while the timing of migration showed high variability among individuals. Departures from breeding areas spanned from May to August, with a few birds remaining in their breeding areas. Vegetation greenness (a proxy for food availability) was positively associated with the time birds spent in the breeding area. The best model also included a positive effect of microclimate refugia availability on breeding season length, although an interaction with temperature suggested that this effect did not occur at the highest relative temperatures. The return date to breeding grounds, although spanning from September to April, was not influenced by the environmental conditions or food availability.
Conclusions
Food availability, measured by a vegetation greenness proxy, was associated with later migration at the end of the breeding season. Availability of cooler microclimate refugia may also allow for later departures from the breeding sites in all but the hottest conditions. Management measures that increase microclimate refugia availability and provide foraging resources can thus potentially increase the length of the breeding season for this species.
... We aimed to identify sites often used as resting locations during foraging trips away from the colony, as these sites may be important for maintenance behaviours (e.g., sleeping, preening) and socializing (Cramp 1998;Billerman et al. 2021). To identify resting sites, we classified periods of "resting" behaviour lasting > = 20 min (i.e., the bird was grounded during at least two consecutive GPS locations). ...
Assessing at-sea distributions and behaviour of seabirds to identify critical foraging sites and spatial overlap with potential threats is a major step for delineating conservation guidelines. The West African Crested Tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis) is the most abundant breeding tern in West Africa, nesting from Mauritania to Guinea. Its restricted breeding range and exclusive nesting at coastal low-lying areas, place this species at particular risk of losing suitable breeding and resting sites as a consequence of current global changes, namely, sea-level rise. The at-sea distribution of this species is mostly unknown, and therefore, the specific threats faced are still unidentified. Here, we characterize the foraging behaviour and distribution of West African Crested terns breeding at the world’s second-largest colony of the species, in Guinea-Bissau, by tracking 20 individuals. Overall, terns took an average of 2 trips per day, travelling on average 100 km per trip, but often reaching areas up to 120 km from the colony. Shallow waters, usually not exceeding 10 m in depth, and upwelling areas were mostly used as foraging sites. Nocturnal movements, rarely reported on terns, suggest active foraging at night. Key foraging and resting sites were identified, which altogether may regularly hold 2.5–23% of the global breeding population of the West African Crested Tern. These areas are only partly (ca. 50%) covered by the existing marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). Therefore, our results should be considered in any re-evaluation of the IBA borders.
In this study, we detected and compared changes in the annual and daily captures of the Eurasian (Certhia familiaris) and Short-toed Treecreeper (C. brachydactyla) in the timing of their post-breeding movements, in the length of minimum stopover duration (MSD) in the area, and also in biometrics in western Hungary. The birds were captured and ringed, or recaptured from the end of July to the first weekend of November in all years from 2001 to 2023. The annual captures of both species indicated stable populations in this period, with milder February months having a positive effect on annual captures. There were similarities and differences in the movement strategies and habitat selection of the species. During the post-breeding season, the Eurasian Treecreeper was more strongly associated with the scrubland and forest edge than the Short-toed Treecreeper. There were two autumn capture waves in September and October for the Eurasian Treecreepers and just one in September for the Short-toed Treecreepers, which were primarily consisted of birds captured only once. There were no significant differences in wing length of the three capture intervals (July-August, September, October-November) in either species, which suggests that the dynamics of post-breeding movements cannot be explained on the bases of possible differences in the behavior of sexes, ages, or populations. The proportion of birds captured only once was about double of that of stopovers in both species each year. The average real length of stopover duration in the area for Eurasian Treecreepers was 94.25 days, and 84.31 days for Short-toed Treecreepers. The length of MSD in the area was not significantly associated with wing length and body mass in either species. Individuals of both species did not gain fat stores significantly during post-breeding season.
The foraging behaviour of the Red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis, Scolopacidae, Charadriiformes) was analyzed in detail. The observations were carried out by the authors on the coasts of the Sea of Okhotsk near Magadan and Ola (August 2010), and on Urup Island, Kuriles (August-September 2021, as part of the complex expedition of the second field season “Eastern Bastion – Kuril Ridge”, organized jointly by the Expeditionary Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Russian Geographical Society. The diversity of stint species-specific feeding techniques was assessed, and their list compiled, based on a digital coding system. A schematic presentation of the foraging strategies of the Red-necked stint has been proposed.
Interspecific variation in sex-specific contributions to prenatal parental care, including avian nest building, is becoming increasingly better understood as we amass more information on more species. We examined whether sex-specific nest building contributions covary with the colouration of parents and their eggs in 521 species of Western Palearctic birds. Having colourful plumage and laying colourful eggs are costly because of the deposition of pigments in feathers and eggs and/or forming costly nanostructural substrates in feathers, and so it might be expected that those costs covary with the costs of nest building at the level of individuals and/or across species to produce of a suite of codivergent traits. Using a phylogenetically informed approach, we tested the hypothesis that species in which females alone invest energy building nests exhibit less sexual plumage dichromatism. However, we found comparative support for the opposite of this prediction. We then tested that species in which females alone build nests lay more colourful, and costlier, eggs because the dual costs of building nests and laying colourful eggs can only be borne by higher quality individuals. As expected, we found that species in which females build nests alone or together with males are more likely to lay colourfully pigmented eggs relative to species in which only males build nests. Finally, stochastic character mapping provided evidence of the repeated evolution of female-only nest building. Interspecific sex differences in plumage colouration therefore covary in a complex manner with female pre-(nest building) and post-copulatory (egg production) investment in reproduction.
We studied the structure and the abundance of waterbirds assemblages in an arid region of southeastern Algeria for the first time. The results which were obtained from monthly counts for four years from 2013 to 2016 at Fountains of gazelles reservoir, showed 09 species of Anatidae. Three species are sedentary Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea and Shelduck Tadorna tadorna. Others are wintering birds Northen Shoveler Anas clypeata, Northen pintail Anas acuta, Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope, Common Teal Anas crecca, Marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris, and Garganey Anas querquedula. Both the Common Teal Anas crecca and Northen Shoveler Anas clypeata were highly dominant species accounting for more than 60% of Anatidae. This reservoir has an important role in the preservation of the Anatidea population.
Ectoparasite fauna of Falco vespertinus breeding colonies was investigated in a system of artificial nests in the Po valley (Parma province), Italy, during four subsequent breeding seasons (2019 – 2022). Conservation actions regarding Falco vespertinus led to a great increase in its presence in the area. This rise was believed to coincide with an increase in the prevalence of hematophagous ectoparasites breeding in the nests, with a potential negative impact on the attractiveness of the breeding site. Ectoparasites collected from the nestlings’ bodies almost entirely belonged to a single species, Diptera Carnus hemapterus, with a quite variable prevalence in different years. Maximum ectoparasite load was consistently linked to younger than two weeks old chicks. Carnus hemapterus may pose a threat to less resilient specimens of Falco vespertinus because it feeds on live tissues, increases metabolic expenditure, and can introduce blood parasites. Nonetheless, this species is part of the ecosystem shared with the falcon and might have a conservational value itself. We propose that higher occurrence of this ectoparasite might be linked to diet parameters, especially the availability of small mammals and the lingering of prey remnants in the nests, as well as to the age of the parasitized nestlings. These findings might have important implications for the conservation of this rare Falco species.
Agricultural intensification has affected wildlife across Europe, triggering steep declines and regional extinctions of farmland birds. Effective conservation activities are essential for the preservation of biodiversity in an agricultural landscape, but current efforts have not succeeded in halting these declines. Here we investigate a ground-nesting shorebird, the collared pratincole Glareola pratincola , which has shifted its habitat use in Central Europe over the last 20 years from alkaline grasslands to intensively managed agricultural fields. We show that nesting success was different between three agricultural habitat types, with the highest nesting success in fallow lands and the lowest in row crops. Nesting success was also associated with the timing of breeding and breeding density, as nests produced early in the breeding season and those in high-breeding-density areas hatched more successfully than those produced later in the season and at low density. We implemented direct conservation measures including marking nests and negotiating with farmers to avoid cultivating the field between nest markers, controlling nest predators and, most recently, creating suitable nesting sites and foraging areas for pratincoles. As a result of these conservation actions, nest survival increased from 11.2% to 83.5% and the size of the breeding population increased from 13 to 56 pairs during 2012–2021. Thus, we show that agricultural landscapes can continue to provide suitable habitats, and targeted conservation actions have the potential to reverse the declines of farmland species.
The White-headed Duck is a stifftail with a highly fragmented distribution in the central and southwestern Palearctic, from south of Lake Baikal in the east, to northwestern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula in the west. Populations in north-central Asia are migratory, and spend the winter in the Middle East, Türkiye, and southeastern Europe. There are sedentary populations in Spain and northwestern Africa. This charismatic bird is used as a flagship for wetland conservation in several countries in its range, and reintroductions have been attempted in Hungary, Italy, France, and Mallorca Island (Balearic Islands, Spain).
It is a highly aquatic species that is found in a variety of wetlands throughout the year, including natural and man-made habitats, and they exhibit seasonal variations in habitat use. The bulbous base of the bill contains large salt-excreting glands, which are considered an adaptation to brackish and saline habitats. It breeds in a variety of wetlands, including freshwater, brackish, alkaline, and eutrophic lakes with emergent vegetation used for nesting. Wintering sites generally have a larger surface area and lower cover of emergent vegetation compared to breeding sites, and include saline lakes in regions where freshwater ones freeze. The White-headed Duck shows adaptations for diving and the main food sources of adults and immatures are midge larvae (Diptera, Chironomidae) and seeds of aquatic plants.
The mating system of the White-headed Duck is characterized as male-dominance polygyny, in which males compete for females by sorting out positions of dominance. Courtship behaviors are increasingly intense, from relaxed flotilla-swimming to head–high–tail–cock, sideways hunch, kick–flap, and side–ways–piping. During the early breeding season, the males move to open water close to emergent vegetation selected for nesting. In these areas, fighting between males is common and dominance hierarchies are established. First breeding takes place when females are two years old. Females nest over water and their eggs are very large in relation to female size, which may be related to semi-parasitic nesting or to highly precocial ducklings that are tended by the female only for 1–3 weeks.
Considered globally Endangered, it is extinct as a breeder in Europe with the exception of Spain. It has undergone an estimated decline in numbers of 34.4% between 2005 and 2013, and is threatened by competition and hybridization with the introduced Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), habitat alteration, drainage, droughts, and competition with introduced populations of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and other cyprinids. Other important threats are hunting, ingestion of lead shot, and drowning in fishing–nets.
There are numerous aspects of the natural history of White-headed Duck that are poorly known. The breeding success of males has not been analyzed by means of genetic studies of paternity. Another aspect that remains unstudied is mate selection by females. There are few data about parasitic nesting. Genetic studies of nest maternity would be important to understand nest parasitism. Studies on the effects of both parental and creching behavior on chick survival are needed. Future studies on dispersal and adult survival would be helpful. Migratory routes, stopover sites and destinations are not well-known, and more information is needed. Data on population sizes of this species are inadequate and coordinated censuses are required. The role of White-headed Duck as a dispersal vector for aquatic plants and invertebrates has not been studied.
Knowledge of the White-headed Duck was improved by the work of Amat and Sánchez (2) and the comparative studies of stifftail ducks made in captivity by Montserrat Carbonell (3), largely overlooked until their publication (4).
Food availability shapes demographic parameters and population dynamics. Certain
species have adapted to predictable anthropogenic food resources like landfills. However, abrupt shifts in food availability can negatively impact such populations.
While changes in survival are expected, the age-related effects remain poorly understood, particularly in long-lived scavenger species. We investigated the age-specific demographic response of a Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) population to a reduction in organic matter in a landfill and analyzed apparent survival and the probability of transience after initial capture using a Bayesian Cormack-Jolly-Seber model on data from 2012–2022. The proportion of transients among newly captured immatures and adults increased after the reduction in food. Juvenile apparent survival declined, increased in immature residents, and decreased in adult residents. These results suggest that there was a greater likelihood of permanent emigration due to intensified intraspecific competition following the reduction in food. Interestingly, resident immatures showed the opposite trend, suggesting the persistence of high-quality individuals despite the food scarcity. Although the reasons behind the reduced apparent survival of resident adults in the final four years of the study remain unclear, non-natural mortality potentially plays a part. In Europe, landfill closure regulations are being implemented and pose a threat to avian
scavenger populations, which underlines the need for research on food scarcity scenarios and proper conservation measures.
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