DOCSLIB.ORG

SUMMARY REPORT of WOODLARK Lullula Arborea SURVEYS On

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
SUMMARY REPORT of WOODLARK Lullula Arborea SURVEYS On SUMMARY REPORT Of WOODLARK Lullula arborea SURVEYS On LAND AT BILSTHORPE BUSINESS PARK & CUTT’S WOOD BILSTHORPE, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE March – May 2014 Waxwings Ornithology Sunnybank Cottage Ruston Parva Driffield East Yorkshire YO25 4DG Report Prepared by; Completed; David M. Pearce (Consultant Ornithologist) 19th May 2014 Waxwings Ornithology Sunnybank Cottage Ruston Parva Driffield East Yorkshire YO25 4DG Telephone (01377) 254775 Mobile 07867 642501 Email [email protected] On behalf of; Argus Ecology Unit 14 The Greenhouse Greencroft Industrial Park Annfield Plain County Durham DH9 7XN Survey Address; Bilsthorpe Business Park Bilsthorpe Nottinghamshire 1. INTRODUCTION Waxwings Ornithology was commissioned by Argus Ecology in February 2014 to undertake surveys to determine the presence or absence of breeding Woodlark Lullula arborea at two adjacent sites in Nottinghamshire in spring 2014. This summary report presents results of Woodlark surveys undertaken at Bilsthorpe Business Park, a restored colliery site, and an area of old clear-fell on the western side of Cutt’s Wood, c.1km north-west of the Business Park in March, April and May 2014. The survey was commissioned with regard to the proposed Bilsthorpe Energy Centre (BEC) development being promoted by Peel Environmental Management UK Limited and Bilsthorpe Waste Limited at Bilsthorpe Business Park and potential impact upon the local population of Woodlark in the Sherwood Forest area; Woodlark were reported to have bred successfully within two kilometres of both sites in 2010 (SLR 2013). In addition, a full list of bird species recorded at both sites on each survey visit is contained in a separate spreadsheet. 1.1 Status of Woodlark in Britain The current breeding distribution of Woodlark in Britain includes strongholds in Devon, the New Forest, the Thames Basin and East Anglia with populations also now present in the West Midlands, northern England and South Wales (Balmer et al 2013). Woodlarks breed in a variety of habitats usually on acidic, sandy soils, providing a mosaic of short vegetation and bare ground where birds forage, longer vegetation where birds nest and isolated or scattered trees from which birds sing. Traditional habitats include lowland heathland, downland, rough pasture and woodland clearings, but in recent decades, clear-felled and re-planted conifer plantations have become second in importance only to heathlands. Breeding territories are comparatively large, often exceeding three hectares (Brown & Grice 2005) and birds can be present on breeding territories by mid-February, remaining until late July. In Britain the Woodlark is currently an amber listed species of conservation concern, listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and also a United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan species. The 1997 national Woodlark survey (Wotton & Gillings 2000) revealed an increase in the number of occupied territories in Nottinghamshire from one to 30 since 1986, with success partly attributed to increases in breeding success but also range expansion due to felling and re-planting of forestry plantations, providing the open ground with scattered bushes that the species favours (Parkin & Knox 2010). The most recent population estimate of 3064 territories in Britain was derived from the 2006 national Woodlark survey and included the largest regional increase in range at the 10 kilometre square level in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire (Conway et al 2009). Furthermore, the breeding distribution in Britain has expanded by 107% in range up to 2008 – 2011 including consolidation in the Thames Basin and East Anglia and further expansion into central and northern England (Balmer et al 2013). 1.2 Summary of Relevant Legislation with Regard to Birds The primary legislation affecting wild birds in England and Wales is the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) as amended. The basic principle of this act is that all wild birds, their nests, and eggs are protected by law and some rare species are afforded additional protection from disturbance during the breeding season. The Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) states that ‘it is an offence, with certain exceptions, to: 1. intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird, 2. intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built, 3. intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird, 4. intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building or is in, on or near a nest with eggs or young; or disturb the dependant young of such a bird.’ 1.3 United Kingdom Conservation Status of Birds The fourth major review of the status of birds occurring in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man – Birds of Conservation Concern 3 (Eaton et al 2009) presents lists of conservation concern based on assessments using objective listing criteria and most recent data. The listing criteria assess global conservation status, historical population decline, recent population decline (numbers and geographical range), European conservation status, rarity, localised distribution, and international importance of populations. Lists are denoted Red, Amber and Green in a simple ‘traffic light’ system to provide a single, easily understood measure for each species to convey concern and hence to help set priorities for conservation action. Species are assigned to each list depending upon the scale of population decline and concern which includes breeding and non-breeding populations. Red list criteria – Severe population decline over 25 years/longer term. Amber list criteria – Moderate population decline over 25 years/longer term. Green list criteria – Species not currently considered of conservation concern United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan Bird Species are those identified as being the most threatened and requiring conservation action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) and included on a list of priority bird species, initially created between 1995 and 1999, and subsequently updated in response to the Species and Habitats Review Report published in 2007. The UK BAP has recently (July 2012) been succeeded by the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework which is focused at a country-level rather than at a UK-level with the list of priority bird species remaining an important reference source for bird conservation. 2. METHODOLOGY Three visits were made to each site from early March to early May 2014. Survey visits were undertaken by David M. Pearce, an experienced field ornithologist, with extensive experience of recording Woodlark in Britain including migrant and breeding birds in various habitats in Norfolk, Hampshire and Yorkshire over the past thirty five years and also extensive survey experience for this species at sites within the Norfolk core breeding area in the Breckland region between March 2010 and June 2011. Equipment used - binoculars (10 x 42 magnification) and shoulder pod mounted telescope (22 x 60 magnification). Each site was covered comprehensively on each survey visit, covering all habitats and areas within the site boundary and survey routes were reversed on each subsequent visit to alleviate recording bias. No survey constraints were identified. Survey visits followed standard methodology which recommends three visits between mid-February and the end of May, visits falling within the following time periods: visit 1 from 15th February to 21st March, visit 2 from 22nd March to 25th April and visit 3 from 26th April to 1st June. Visits to be made before midday on clear, dry days with little wind. Areas should be covered to within 100m of every point within the survey boundary, recording the position of all singing males (birds which sing are assumed to be males), flying birds, feeding pairs (any pairs observed assumed to be one male and one female), possible nests and adults feeding chicks (Gilbert, Gibbons & Evans 1998). Table 1. Survey Visit Schedule Bilsthorpe Business Park Visit Date Time Weather Conditions 1 05/03/2014 0655 – 1015 F2 SW wind, 7/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cold, occasional bright intervals, no rain 2 08/04/2014 0625 – 0945 F2 SW wind, 4/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cool, sunny intervals, no rain 3 08/05/2014 0620 – 0940 F2 SW wind, 8/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cool, occasional bright intervals, no rain Cutt’s Wood 1 05/03/2014 1015 – 1145 F2 SW wind, 7/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cold, occasional bright intervals, no rain 2 08/04/2014 0945 – 1115 F2 SW wind, 4/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cool, sunny intervals, no rain 3 08/05/2014 0940 – 1110 F2 SW wind, 8/8 cloud, vis.>3km, cool, occasional bright intervals, no rain 3. RESULTS Results of the Woodlark survey visits to Bilsthorpe Business Park and Cutts Wood revealed no Woodlarks present at either site on any of the survey visits. All bird species were recorded for each site during the survey visits and these results are presented in a separate spreadsheet to show the numbers recorded and categories of conservation concern for each species. Totals of 53 bird species were recorded at the Bilsthorpe Business Park site and 32 at the Cutts Wood site over three visits to each site location. 4. DISCUSSION Although the restored colliery site at Bilsthorpe Business Park includes several habitat types including short vegetation and bare ground, longer vegetation and scattered trees which Woodlark require for breeding and foraging the overall habitat quality for breeding Woodlark is considered to be very low. One of the main reasons for this largely relates to soil type within the site boundary which as a restored former colliery site does not consist of light, dry, sandy soils preferred by this species. The national Woodlark survey in 2006 identified a fairly consistent association for Woodlark breeding territories and soil type, with between 70% and 100% of territories associated with sandy soils within the Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire areas (Conway et al 2009). In addition, areas of grassland across much of the site are largely improved and intensively managed, further reducing potential breeding and foraging opportunities for Woodlark.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Nest Survival in Year-Round Breeding Tropical Red-Capped Larks
    University of Groningen Nest survival in year-round breeding tropical red-capped larks Calandrella cinerea increases with higher nest abundance but decreases with higher invertebrate availability and rainfall Mwangi, Joseph; Ndithia, Henry K.; Kentie, Rosemarie; Muchai, Muchane; Tieleman, B. Irene Published in: Journal of Avian Biology DOI: 10.1111/jav.01645 IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below. Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Publication date: 2018 Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Mwangi, J., Ndithia, H. K., Kentie, R., Muchai, M., & Tieleman, B. I. (2018). Nest survival in year-round breeding tropical red-capped larks Calandrella cinerea increases with higher nest abundance but decreases with higher invertebrate availability and rainfall. Journal of Avian Biology, 49(8), [01645]. https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.01645 Copyright Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum.
    [Show full text]
  • Avian Adaptation Along an Aridity Gradient. Physiology, Behavior, And
    AVIAN ADAPTATION ALONG AN ARIDITY GRADIENT PHYSIOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND LIFE HISTORY B. Irene Tieleman This research was financially supported by Schuurman Schimmel van Outeren Stichting National Wildlife Research Center, Taif, Saudi Arabia Schure Beijerinck Popping Fonds Lay-out: Heerko Tieleman Figures: Dick Visser Photographs: Irene Tieleman © 2002 Irene Tieleman ISBN-nummer: 90-367-1726-4 Electronic version 90-367-1727-2 RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN Avian adaptation along an aridity gradient physiology, behavior, and life history Proefschrift ter verkrijging van het doctoraat in de Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen op gezag van de Rector Magnificus, dr. F. Zwarts, in het openbaar te verdedigen op dinsdag 10 december 2002 om 13.15 uur door Bernadine Irene Tieleman geboren op 15 juni 1973 te Groningen Promotores: Prof. S. Daan Prof. J.B. Williams Beoordelingscommissie: Prof. W.R. Dawson Prof. R.H. Drent Prof. R.E. Ricklefs Contents PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. General introduction 11 2. Physiological ecology and behavior of desert birds 19 3. The adjustment of avian metabolic rates and water fluxes to desert 61 environments PART II: PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF LARKS ALONG AN ARIDITY GRADIENT 4. Adaptation of metabolism and evaporative water loss along an 89 aridity gradient 5. Phenotypic variation of larks along an aridity gradient: 105 are desert birds more flexible? 6. Physiological adjustments to arid and mesic environments in larks 131 (Alaudidae) 7. Cutaneous and respiratory water loss in larks from arid and 147 mesic environments 8. Energy and water budgets of larks in a life history perspective: 165 is parental effort related to environmental aridity? PART III: PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS 9.
    [Show full text]
  • Identification of Oriental Skylark
    Identification of Oriental Skylark Hadoram Shirihai he Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula (also sometimes known as Small TSkylark, Lesser Skylark or Eastern Skylark) is found across a large area of southern Asia. Eleven races were recognised by Vaurie (1959), most of which are resident in tropical Asia, but A. g. inconspicua, which breeds west to central Asia and Iran, is migratory, though its winter quarters are not known. The species has not yet been reliably recorded in Europe, although there are several recent records for Israel (see final section, and Shirihai in prep.) and it is possible that the Oriental Skylark will eventually be found in western Europe, and perhaps even Britain and Ireland. The main confusion species is Skylark A. arvensis, especially the smaller races. Given good views, however, the careful observer should not find separating them a serious problem. This paper summarises the main identification features of Oriental Skylark and its distinction from Skylark and other larks. Identification in the field In the field, Oriental Skylark resembles Skylark in coloration, but Wood- lark Lullula arborea in shape and flight. Its pointed bill is relatively long and thick, and it has a shortish tail and relatively long legs. From a distance, it might even be confused with Short-toed Calandrella brachydactyla or Lesser Short-toed Lark C. rufescens. The following are important points to observe when identifying the Oriental Skylark in the field. SILHOUETTE AND SIZE Size as Woodlark lark's. Wings rather short, primaries project- (about 16 cm in length), significantly smaller ing little, if at all, beyond tertials, unlike than nominate Skylark (18.5 cm).
    [Show full text]
  • Multilocus Phylogeny of the Avian Family Alaudidae (Larks) Reveals
    1 Multilocus phylogeny of the avian family Alaudidae (larks) 2 reveals complex morphological evolution, non- 3 monophyletic genera and hidden species diversity 4 5 Per Alströma,b,c*, Keith N. Barnesc, Urban Olssond, F. Keith Barkere, Paulette Bloomerf, 6 Aleem Ahmed Khang, Masood Ahmed Qureshig, Alban Guillaumeth, Pierre-André Crocheti, 7 Peter G. Ryanc 8 9 a Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese 10 Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China 11 b Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7007, 12 SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden 13 c Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, 14 University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa 15 d Systematics and Biodiversity, Gothenburg University, Department of Zoology, Box 463, SE- 16 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden 17 e Bell Museum of Natural History and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 18 University of Minnesota, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA 19 f Percy FitzPatrick Institute Centre of Excellence, Department of Genetics, University of 20 Pretoria, Hatfield, 0083, South Africa 21 g Institute of Pure & Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, 60800, Multan, 22 Pakistan 23 h Department of Biology, Trent University, DNA Building, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, 24 Canada 25 i CEFE/CNRS Campus du CNRS 1919, route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France 26 27 * Corresponding author: Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of 28 Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, P. R. China; E- 29 mail: [email protected] 30 1 31 ABSTRACT 32 The Alaudidae (larks) is a large family of songbirds in the superfamily Sylvioidea.
    [Show full text]
  • Phenotypic Variation of Larks Along an Aridity Gradient Tieleman, BI; Williams, JB; Buschur, ME; Brown, CR
    University of Groningen Phenotypic variation of larks along an aridity gradient Tieleman, BI; Williams, JB; Buschur, ME; Brown, CR Published in: Ecology DOI: 10.1890/0012-9658%282003%29084%5B1800%3APVOLAA%5D2.0.CO%3B2 IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below. Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Publication date: 2003 Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Tieleman, BI., Williams, JB., Buschur, ME., & Brown, CR. (2003). Phenotypic variation of larks along an aridity gradient: Are desert birds more flexible? Ecology, 84(7), 1800-1815. https://doi.org/10.1890/0012- 9658%282003%29084%5B1800%3APVOLAA%5D2.0.CO%3B2 Copyright Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). The publication may also be distributed here under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act, indicated by the “Taverne” license. More information can be found on the University of Groningen website: https://www.rug.nl/library/open-access/self-archiving-pure/taverne- amendment. Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal.
    [Show full text]
  • OSME List V3.4 Passerines-2
    The Ornithological Society of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia (OSME) The OSME Region List of Bird Taxa: Part C, Passerines. Version 3.4 Mar 2017 For taxa that have unproven and probably unlikely presence, see the Hypothetical List. Red font indicates either added information since the previous version or that further documentation is sought. Not all synonyms have been examined. Serial numbers (SN) are merely an administrative conveninence and may change. Please do not cite them as row numbers in any formal correspondence or papers. Key: Compass cardinals (eg N = north, SE = southeast) are used. Rows shaded thus and with yellow text denote summaries of problem taxon groups in which some closely-related taxa may be of indeterminate status or are being studied. Rows shaded thus and with white text contain additional explanatory information on problem taxon groups as and when necessary. A broad dark orange line, as below, indicates the last taxon in a new or suggested species split, or where sspp are best considered separately. The Passerine Reference List (including References for Hypothetical passerines [see Part E] and explanations of Abbreviated References) follows at Part D. Notes↓ & Status abbreviations→ BM=Breeding Migrant, SB/SV=Summer Breeder/Visitor, PM=Passage Migrant, WV=Winter Visitor, RB=Resident Breeder 1. PT=Parent Taxon (used because many records will antedate splits, especially from recent research) – we use the concept of PT with a degree of latitude, roughly equivalent to the formal term sensu lato , ‘in the broad sense’. 2. The term 'report' or ‘reported’ indicates the occurrence is unconfirmed.
    [Show full text]
  • See the Checklist
    Official Reader Rendezvous Checklist Portugal: Birding an Ancient Land Lisbon, Portugal April 2017 ü (Common) Shelduck Tadorna tadorna ü Great Bustard Otis tarda ü Mallard Anas platyrhynchos ü Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax ü Gadwall Anas strepera ü (Eurasian) Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus ü (Northern) Shoveler Anas clypeata ü (Pied) Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta ü Garganey Anas querquedula ü Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus ü (Common) Pochard Aythya ferina ü Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus ü Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina ü Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola ü Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa ü Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius ü (Common) Quail Coturnix coturnix ü (Common) Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula ü Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis ü Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus ü Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus ü Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola ü Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea borealis ü (Northern) Lapwing Vanellus vanellus ü Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus ü (Red) Knot Calidris canutus ü (Northern) Gannet Morus bassanus ü Sanderling Calidris alba ü (Great) Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo ü (Ruddy) Turnstone Arenaria interpres ü (European) Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis ü Dunlin Calidris alpina ü Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus ü Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea ü (Black-crowned) Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax ü Little Stint Calidris minuta ü Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ü Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola ü Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides ü Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
    [Show full text]
  • Studies of Less Familiar Birds 116. Crested Lark by I
    Studies of less familiar birds 116. Crested Lark By I. J. Ferguson-Lees Photographs by lb Trap-Lind (Plates 6-7) WE HAVE ONLY two photographs of the Crested Lark (Galerida cristatd) here, but they show the salient features very well. The species gets its name from the long upstanding crest which arises from the middle of its crown and which is conspicuous even when depressed. Many other larks have crests and inexperienced observers are sometimes misled by that on the Skylark (Alauda arvensis) when they see it raised and at close range, but the crest of the Crested Lark is really of almost comical proportions. The two plates also illustrate several other characters of this species and attention is drawn to these in the caption on plate 7. Crested Larks have a somewhat undulating flight, rather like that of Woodlarks (Lislbfa arborea), and a characteris­ tic outline from their short tails and broad, rounded wings. In Britain the Crested Lark is a surprisingly rare vagrant which has been recorded on less than fifteen occasions. The last two accepted observations were on Fair Isle in 1952 (Brit. Birds, 46: 211) and in Devonin 1958-5C) (Brit. Birds, 53: 167, 422), though it should be added that the species has almost certainly also occurred in Kent on at least two occasions in the last five years. Thus, while so many other birds formerly regarded as very rare wanderers to Britain are now known to be of annual occurrence in small numbers—the Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglottd) is one such example—the enormous increase in experienced observers has failed to raise the number of records of the Crested Lark.
    [Show full text]
  • Simplified-ORL-2019-5.1-Final.Pdf
    The Ornithological Society of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia (OSME) The OSME Region List of Bird Taxa, Part F: Simplified OSME Region List (SORL) version 5.1 August 2019. (Aligns with ORL 5.1 July 2019) The simplified OSME list of preferred English & scientific names of all taxa recorded in the OSME region derives from the formal OSME Region List (ORL); see www.osme.org. It is not a taxonomic authority, but is intended to be a useful quick reference. It may be helpful in preparing informal checklists or writing articles on birds of the region. The taxonomic sequence & the scientific names in the SORL largely follow the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) List at www.worldbirdnames.org. We have departed from this source when new research has revealed new understanding or when we have decided that other English names are more appropriate for the OSME Region. The English names in the SORL include many informal names as denoted thus '…' in the ORL. The SORL uses subspecific names where useful; eg where diagnosable populations appear to be approaching species status or are species whose subspecies might be elevated to full species (indicated by round brackets in scientific names); for now, we remain neutral on the precise status - species or subspecies - of such taxa. Future research may amend or contradict our presentation of the SORL; such changes will be incorporated in succeeding SORL versions. This checklist was devised and prepared by AbdulRahman al Sirhan, Steve Preddy and Mike Blair on behalf of OSME Council. Please address any queries to [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • THE BIOLOGY of the LARKS (ALAUDIDAE) of the KALAHARISANDVELD Department of Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca
    THE BIOLOGY OF THE LARKS (ALAUDIDAE) OF THE KALAHARISANDVELD G. L. MACLEAN Department of Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, U.S.A.· INTRODUCTION No family of passerine birds has shown as great an adaptive radiation in the arid regions of the Old World as have the larks. One species, the homed lark Eremophila alpestris, probably has the widest range of any passerine (excluding introduced species), having a circumpolar distribution with numerous subspecies, and even one in northern South America (Meinertz­ hagen 1954). Of the world's 76 species of larks (Peters 1960) 25 occur in South Mrica (McLachlan & Liversidge 1957) and of these, nine are found in the Kalahari sandveld. Eight of them are breeding species, while one, the red-capped lark Calandrella cinerea, is an irregular visitor in small numbers. It is therefore surprising to find that little biological work has been done on the South Mrican larks, although the systematists have argued long about the systematic pos~tion of museum skins (e.g. Macdonald 1952b, 1953, 1957; Verheyen 1958, 1959; White 1952, 1956a, b, c, 1957a, b, 1959a, b; Winterbottom 1962). Most of the biological work on larks has been done. in regions where only one, or at most three or four, species occur regularly, such as ) 0 North1 America (Du Bois 1935, 1936; Forbush 1927; Lovell 1944; Pickwell 1931), Europe 0 2 (Abs 1963; Guichard 1960; Harrison & Forster 1959; Hartley 1946; Koftln 1960; Labitte d e t 1958; Lebeurier & Rapine 1935; Wadewitz 1957) and Australia (Bourke 1947; Bravery 1962). a d In( Africa the biological information is largely confined to works of a general nature (Andersson r e 1872; Etchecopar & HUe 1964; Heim de Balsac & Mayaud 1962; Hoesch 1955; Macdonald h s i 1957;l McLachlan & Liversidge 1957; Meinertzhagen 1954; Smithers 1964; Valverde 1957), b althoughu a few more detailed studies do exist (Steyn 1964; Van Someren 1956; Winterbottom & P Wilsone 1959).
    [Show full text]
  • 297 C. Stoate, R. Borralho and M. Araújo: Abundance of Four Lark
    ORNIS HUNGARICA 12-13: 1-2 (2003) 297 Abundance of Four Lark Species in Relation to Portuguese Farming Systems C. Stoate, The Game Conservancy Trust, Loddington House, Loddington, Leics. LE7 9XE, U.K. E-mail: [email protected]. R. Borralho, ERENA, Av. Visconde Valmor 11-3°, 1000 Lisbon, Portugal. M. Araújo, Centro de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Évora, Portugal. 1. Introduction systems survive in some parts of southern Europe, including Portugal, where the main arable region is Alentejo in the south Throughout much of Europe, farmland of the country. However, such systems are birds have declined more than those of not currently economically viable. other habitats, because of the abandon- Larks (Alaudidae) represent a passerine ment of traditional farming systems and family that is strongly associated with the simplification of remaining agricultur- farmland landscapes. In Portugal, the al systems, including increased use of species present include Calandra Lark external inputs (Tucker & Heath 1994, Melanocorypha calandra, Woodlark Baldock 1991, Bignal & McCracken Lullula arborea, Short-toed Lark 1996). Traditional low-input agricultural Calandrella brachydactyla and Skylark Alauda arvensis. Of these, Woodlark and Tab. 1. Agricultural statistics for the three Short-toed Lark are widely distributed as land-use categories considered in Alentejo, Portugal (source: Cordovil 1993). breeding species in Portugal, while Skylark occurs mainly in the north of the country Intensi Extens Monta and Calandra Lark mainly in the southeast ve ive do Mean farm size (ha) 48 161 66 (Rufino 1989). Iberian populations of all (all farms) four species declined in numbers during the 1970s and 1980s and are currently the sub- Crop area (%) Total annual crops 81 42 28 ject of European conservation concern Winter cereals 45 40 21 (Tucker & Heath 1994).
    [Show full text]
  • Ground Greening in Vineyards Promotes the Woodlark Lullula Arborea and Their Invertebrate Prey
    Journal of Ornithology (2019) 160:799–811 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-019-01666-7 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Ground greening in vineyards promotes the Woodlark Lullula arborea and their invertebrate prey Laura Bosco1,2 · Raphaël Arlettaz1,2 · Alain Jacot1,2 Received: 18 November 2018 / Revised: 8 February 2019 / Accepted: 8 April 2019 / Published online: 13 April 2019 © Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft e.V. 2019 Abstract Vineyards are intensively managed monocultures, constituting homogeneously cultivated landscapes. They often have a mineral appearance, not only because they occur mostly in xeric biomes but also as a result of the herbicide treatments used to combat ground vegetation. However, new vineyard management practices are being developed that tolerate more vegeta- tion cover on the ground, potentially having positive impacts on biodiversity. We have investigated the efects of ground greening on habitat preferences of the Woodlark (Lullula arborea), an emblematic, insectivorous passerine typical of vine- yards in central and southern Europe. We frst investigated the role of ground vegetation cover and plant species richness on habitat use by Woodlarks, while accounting for various additional habitat characteristics. Second, we assessed whether the dependence of Woodlarks on ground vegetation cover could be mediated by an increased occurrence of invertebrate prey. Ground-dwelling invertebrates were sampled with pitfall traps placed in vineyard felds visited by Woodlarks (presence felds) and in adjacent vineyards where Woodlarks had not been observed (pseudo-absence felds). We show that increased ground vegetation cover, plant species richness and wider inter-rows were the main drivers of Woodlark occurrence. Overall invertebrate prey abundance increased with ground vegetation cover.
    [Show full text]