DOCSLIB.ORG

The Influence of Environmental Variation on Individual Foraging and Habitat Selection Behaviour of the European Nightjar

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Influence of Environmental Variation on Individual Foraging and Habitat Selection Behaviour of the European Nightjar The influence of environmental variation on individual foraging and habitat selection behaviour of the European nightjar Lucy Jayne Mitchell PhD University of York Environment and Geography July 2019 2 Abstract Animals experience a variety of environmental stressors, for example climate and habitat change. These changes can alter the distribution and population dynamics of species indirectly through disruption of behavioural processes, including foraging. Collecting behavioural data, such as foraging tracks, from multiple individuals can help to identify how response to habitat change, is driven by factors such as resource distribution, intra-specific competition and intrinsic factors such as sex and age. This thesis combined behavioural and dietary information collected from individual European nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus, to analyse variation in behaviour amongst the population, in response to habitat change and the consequences this might have in terms of future change and for beneficial management. This population of nightjars showed significant individual variation in home range size and habitat selection therein. Home ranges sizes increased by 1% and decreased by 9% in wetland and newly cleared habitat respectively. This indicated that although birds possess individual preferences for specific habitat types, there are foraging constraints that affect multiple individuals. Foraging behaviour changed most strongly in relation to habitat type, NDVI and more weakly in relation to the lunar cycle and temperature. Time spent foraging increased in cleared habitat (β: 0.03, R2 0.08, p: 0.07), which became more available during the study. Males spent 33% of their time foraging compared to females which spent only 18.6% of their time foraging, representing differing breeding roles. However, strong methodological influence was clear, whereby an increase in the fix interval from 3 to 5 minutes caused a 39% increase in step length, unaccounted for by year or habitat change. Individual diet composition differed and changed between years, in response to prey availability, however common species occurred in 40-50% of samples. Overall nightjars selected for larger moths compared to local availability. Collectively, my results and demonstrated flexibility at the population level and the potential to respond positively to habitat. As a species specialising in a spatially- and temporally- varying prey resource, maintenance of complex habitat mosaics that encourage a wide diversity of moth and other flying insect species, along with the diversity of habitat types to encourage breeding and survival of all individuals. 3 Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. 4 List of Tables .................................................................................................................... 9 List of Figures ................................................................................................................. 11 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ 15 Declaration ..................................................................................................................... 16 Publications .................................................................................................................... 16 Funding ................................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................... 18 1.1 Species decline ..................................................................................................... 18 1.2 Conservation measures ........................................................................................ 20 1.3 Individual and population-level responses to environmental change ..................... 21 1.4. Behavioural variation ............................................................................................ 26 1.5. Incorporating individual behaviour into habitat management ................................ 29 1.6 New technologies for applied ecology and conservation ....................................... 31 1.6.1. Tracking animals for behavioural studies ....................................................... 31 1.6.2. Device effects ................................................................................................ 32 1.6.3. Diet metabarcoding ........................................................................................ 33 1.7 The European nightjar ........................................................................................... 36 1.7.1. Population status ........................................................................................... 36 1.7.2. Previous studies of nightjar behaviour ........................................................... 41 1.7.3. Nightjar diet ................................................................................................... 44 1.7.4. Study site: Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve ........................ 46 1.7.5. LIFE+ Restoration Project .............................................................................. 49 1.7.6. Aims and objectives ....................................................................................... 51 1.8. Thesis Outline ...................................................................................................... 56 Chapter 2: The trade-off between fix rate and tracking duration on estimates of home range size and habitat selection for small vertebrates .................................................... 58 2.1 Abstract ................................................................................................................. 58 2.2. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 59 4 2.2.1 Study scenario ................................................................................................ 63 2.3. Materials and methods ..................................................................................... 64 2.3.1. Habitat Mapping ............................................................................................. 65 2.3.2. GPS data processing ..................................................................................... 65 2.3.3. Autocorrelation assessment ........................................................................... 67 2.3.4. Modelling ....................................................................................................... 68 2.4. Results ............................................................................................................. 71 2.4.1. Home range information ............................................................................ 71 2.4.2. Modelling results ........................................................................................ 72 2.4.3. Habitat Selection ....................................................................................... 76 2.4.4. Direct data comparison .............................................................................. 78 2.5. Discussion ........................................................................................................ 80 2.5.1. How sensitive are estimates of home range size and shape to changes in fix rate and tracking duration? ...................................................................................... 80 2.5.2. How sensitive are estimates of habitat selection to any changes in the tracking parameters and method of home range estimation and are the conclusions equivalent across all rates, durations and methods? ................................................ 82 2.6. Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 84 Chapter 3: Multi-year tracking reveals high individual variability in habitat selection and functional habitat relationships in European nightjars ..................................................... 85 3.1. Abstract ................................................................................................................ 85 3.2. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 86 3.2.1. Study species ................................................................................................ 88 3.2.2. Study aims ..................................................................................................... 88 3.3. Materials and methods ......................................................................................... 90 3.3.1. GPS data collection ....................................................................................... 90 3.3.2. Habitat mapping ............................................................................................. 90 3.3.3. Home range models ....................................................................................... 91 3.3.4. Habitat selection ............................................................................................ 91 3.3.5. Changes in home range size and habitat selection ratios............................... 92 3.4. Results ................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Belarus Tour Report 2015
    Aquatic Warbler, Sporovo Reserve (all photos taken on the 2015 tour by Mike Watson) BELARUS 13 – 21 May 2015 Northern Belarus Extension from 10 May LEADERS: MIKE WATSON and DIMA SHAMOVICH I was wondering how we could follow our successful first visit to Belarus in 2014... I need not have worried. New for 2015 on our expanded itinerary were: Hazel Grouse (both in the north and the south, including a fe- male on its nest); Western Capercaillie, Black Grouse and Ural and Tengmalm’s Owls on our Northern Belarus pre-tour extension, to the wonderful Krasny Bor reserve on the Russian border and we also enjoyed some great encounters with old favourites, including: point blank views of Corn Crakes; lekking Great Snipes on meadows by the Pripyat River; 46(!) Terek Sandpipers; hundreds of ‘marsh’ terns (White-winged, Black and Whiskered); Great Grey Owl (an even better close encounter than last time!); Eurasian Pygmy Owl; nine spe- cies of woodpecker including White-backed (three) and Eurasian Three-toed (five); Azure Tits at five different sites including our best views yet; Aquatic Warblers buzzing away in an ancient sedge fen (again our best views yet of this rapidly declining bird). With the benefit of the new pre-tour extension to the boreal zone of northern Belarus as well as some good fortune on the main tour we recorded a new high total of 184 bird spe- cies and other avian highlights included: Smew; Black Stork; Greater Spotted, Lesser Spotted and White-tailed Eagles; Northern Goshawk; Wood Sandpipers and Temminck’s Stints on passage in the south and breeding Whimbrels and Common Greenshanks on raised bogs in the north; Eurasian Nightjar; a profusion of song- 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Belarus www.birdquest-tours.com WWII memorial at Sosnovy sters mostly only known to western birders as scarce drift migrants including Wrynecks, Red-backed Shrikes, Marsh, Icterine and River Warblers as well as gaudy Citrine Wagtails and Common Rosefinches and lovely old forests full of Wood Warblers and Red-breasted Flycatchers.
    [Show full text]
  • The Conservation Ecology of the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus Europaeus) in a Complex Heathland-Plantation Landscape
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of East Anglia digital repository The conservation ecology of the European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) in a complex heathland-plantation landscape. Katrina Sharps A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. May 2013 © This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with the author and that use of any information derived there from must be in accordance with current UK Copyright Law. In addition, any quotation or extract must include full attribution. Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to thank my primary supervisor Paul Dolman for his constant advice, support and enthusiasm throughout this PhD. I am also grateful to the other members of my supervisory team: Ian Henderson of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Andrew Lovett of UEA, for their useful guidance. Special thanks also go to Neal Armour-Chelu of the Forestry Commission and Greg Conway of the BTO for practical advice for the fieldwork and their invaluable experience and knowledge of forest management and working with nightjars respectively. Next, I would like to thank the other members of my radio-tracking and moth trapping teams – Vivien Hartwell, Laura Wilkinson, Elwyn Sharps, Alastair Feather, Kirsten Miller and Isobel Winney. Their efforts were tireless and they showed dedication to the project throughout. Additional thanks to all radio-tracking and nest finding volunteers, including Forestry Commission, RSPB and Wildlife Trust staff.
    [Show full text]
  • A Case of Polyterritorial Polygyny in European Nightjar Caprimulgus Europaeus
    A case of polyterritorial polygyny in European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus NIELS ODDER JENSEN ✝ (Med et dansk resumé: Et tilfælde af polyterritorial polygyni hos Natravn) Abstract A case of polyterritorial polygyny among European Nightjars was observed in the summer of 2011 in a breeding population in Thy National Park in NW Jutland, Denmark. A male was found to have two ter- ritories with a female in each, and with a distance of c. 5 km between them. Polyterritorial polygyny is not previously reported from European Nightjars. Polygyny is known in particular from a number of passerines, raptors, waders and from three other nightjar species. The reason for this behavior is considered to be a combination of several factors, with the main objective of maximizing the production of chicks within the short breeding period available. Introduction and methods with an area between the two territories which the During a study of behavior and habitat use in a Euro- male does not defend. This area may contain terri- pean Nightjar breeding population, we discovered tories of other males, or it may be clearly unsuitable a case of polyterritorial polygyny, a behavior not as breeding habitat. Polyterritoriality is seen only in previously described among European Nightjars. a minor part of polygynous species (Møller 1986). Earlier observations indicate rare cases of monoter- The study was carried out during the summers ritorial polygyny, and double-brooding and female of 2011 and 2012 in a Nightjar population in Thy Na- mate-switching between broods are known as well tional Park in NW Jutland. The breeding population (Cramp 1985, Cleere & Nurney 1998).
    [Show full text]
  • The Hobby 137 – Published January 2015
    Website: www.bedsbirdclub.org.uk Issue 137: Published January 2015 Editor: Andy Grimsey 61 Wychwood Avenue Luton LU2 7HT Tel: 07402 429 312 E-mail: [email protected] EDITORIAL Welcome to another New Year ! Time to start a new list, maybe implement a new birding resolution or two, but certainly to look forward to longer hours of daylight and maybe a cold spell to move some good birds our way. Included in this bulletin, Barry reviews last year’s results for the summer garden feeding survey and Graham presents the latest Red List of Breeding birds in a Bedfordshire context Andy Grimsey NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2014 BIRD NEWS Contributors: please phone Steve Blain on 07979 606300 or email [email protected] with any news or records. Records are preferred via the online system BirdTrack, using the Excel file found on the Bird Club Website, singly using the online form ( http://tinyurl.com/2v6oweh ), or on paper. November 2014 Red-crested Pochard - Up to eight were in Quest ClP. Ferruginous Duck - A drake was at Brogborough Lake on 11th-20th (SE) but went missing for long periods. Greater Scaup - A female spent much of the month at Brogborough Lake Red-breasted Merganser - A drake was on Brogborough Lake on 27th (MJP) Northern Gannet - A juvenile flew over a Sandy garden on 21st (PN) Merlin - One flew over Tempsford on 26th. 1 Mediterranean Gull - An adult was near Potton and a second-winter at Grovebury SP on 2nd. An adult was at Broom GP On 28th. Common Tern - The latest ever record in Beds was at Stewartby Lake on 3rd (PS) Short-eared Owl - One was at Knotting Green on 5th, with others at Henlow Grange and Folly Wood, Lidlington both on 6th.
    [Show full text]
  • 29 June 2018 the New Forest
    THE NEW FOREST, WILTSHIIRE & DORSET A BIRDING ABROAD BIRDS AND NATURAL HISTORY SHORT BREAK 25 - 29 June 2018 The New Forest in southwest Hampshire is an area of outstanding natural beauty which was recently afforded National Park status. It comprises a mosaic of lowland heath, bog, rough pasture and ancient woodland. Nearby the chalk downs of ancient Wessex dominate the landscape, including the vast expanse of Salisbury Plain. Coastal Dorset is fringed by the spectacular Purbeck cliffs, which shield the stunning heaths of Arne and Studland which in turn give way to the sheltered harbours and salt marshes of Poole and Christchurch. This tour was designed as a relaxing four night mid-week break, focusing on the great diversity of habitats within this region. Avian highlights of the forest include European Honey-buzzard, Northern Goshawk, Dartford Warbler and European Nightjar, whilst on Salisbury Plain the Great Bustard Project always deserves a visit with Montagu’s Harrier and Eurasian Thick-knee also in the area. The sea-cliffs of Purbeck support small sea bird colonies and all of Britain’s reptiles are found within the area as well as several scarce species of butterfly, dragonfly and damselfly species. The group comprised Wendy Ambler and Mike Wilkinson, John and Jane Hartley, Denis and Dorothy Jackson, Lance and Pat Degnan and Steve Holliday. Nick Whitehouse and Lance Degnan were the Birding Abroad leaders. Day 1 - Monday 25 June: The tour commenced in the late afternoon as we assembled at a country hotel in Burley set in its own lovely grounds where the garden terrace was idyllically surrounded by the forest and heath.
    [Show full text]
  • Threatened Species List Spain
    THREATENED SPECIES LIST SPAIN Threatened species included in the national inventory of the Ministry of MARM and/or in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that are or may be inhabited in the areas of our Hydro Power Stations. 6 CRITIC ENDANGERED SPECIES (CR) GROUP SPECIE COMMON NAME CATEGORY (MARM) (IUCN) Birds Neophron percnopterus Egyptian Vulture CR EN Botaurus stellaris Great Bittern CR LC Mammals Lynx pardinus Iberian Lynx CR CR Ursus arctos Brown Bear CR (Northern Spain) LC Invertebrates Belgrandiella galaica Gastropoda CR No listed Macromia splendens Splendid Cruiser CR VU 24 ENDANGERED SPECIES (EN) GROUP SPECIE COMMON NAME CATEGORY (MARM) (IUCN) Amphibians Rana dalmatina Agile Frog EN LC Birds Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Chough EN LC Hieraaetus fasciatus Bonelli´s Eagle EN LC Alectoris rufa Barbary Partridge EN LC Parus caeruleus Blue Tit EN LC Tyto alba Barn Owl EN LC Burhinus oedicnemus Stone Curlew EN LC Corvus corax Common Raven EN LC Chersophilus duponti Dupont´s Lark EN NT Milvus milvus Red Kite EN NT Aquila adalberti Spanish Imperial Eagle EN VU Cercotrichas galactotes Alzacola EN LC Reptiles Algyroides marchi Spanish Algyroides EN EN Emys orbicularis European Pond Turtle EN NT Mammals Rhinolophus mehelyi Mehely´s Horseshoe Bat EN VU Mustela lutreola European Mink EN EN Myotis capaccinii Long –Fingered bat EN VU Freshwater fish Salaria fluviatilis Freshwater blenny EN LC Chondrostoma turiense Madrija (Endemic) EN EN Cobitis vettonica Colmilleja del Alagón EN EN (Endemic) Invertebrates Gomphus
    [Show full text]
  • Nightjar (European Nightjar) Caprimulgus Europaeus
    264 The Birds of Gloucestershire Species accounts 265 Nightjar (European Nightjar) Caprimulgus europaeus 2007–11 Atlas fieldwork Gloucestershire trends UK population trends % of tetrads in which UK conservation status: Number of tetrads in which recorded (max 683) Occupied 10 km squares (max 26) recorded (1st hour of TTV) Red 5 Total Confirmed Probable Possible Present 1968–71 1981–84 1988–91 2007–11 1988–91 2008–11 Long term Short term Breeding 21 1 11 7 2 5 1 4 0.2 0 – – Winter 0 0 0 – – SO 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 SP population for the Forest of Dean is at least 20–25 pairs. Elsewhere, Bird Present there have been just two sightings of single birds in the Cotswolds 4 Possible 4 Breeding since 2000. All the breeding sites in the Dean are in small areas of Probable Breeding relict or restored heath, such as the Park at Tidenham and Crabtree Confirmed Hill near Cinderford, or in areas of clear-fell, which are used by the 3 Breeding 3 birds for five to ten years until the regenerating or replanted tree crop develops to the thicket stage. 2 2 Although Nightjars in Gloucestershire have now recovered slightly from their lowest point, they enjoy nothing like the abundance and widespread distribution described by Mellersh 100 1 1 years ago. No longer is their song familiar to people throughout the county; they have become a ‘birdwatchers’ bird’, found only by those making a special journey to known sites to hear that magical 0 0 call and to enjoy in the summer dusk their graceful buoyant flight.
    [Show full text]
  • Proximity of Breeding and Foraging Areas Affects Foraging Effort of A
    www.nature.com/scientificreports Correction: Author Correction OPEN Proximity of breeding and foraging areas afects foraging efort of a crepuscular, insectivorous bird Received: 18 October 2017 Ruben Evens1, Natalie Beenaerts1, Thomas Neyens2, Nele Witters3, Karen Smeets1 & Accepted: 1 February 2018 Tom Artois1 Published online: 14 February 2018 When complementary resources are required for an optimal life cycle, most animals need to move between diferent habitats. However, the level of connectivity between resources can vary and, hence, infuence individuals’ behaviour. We show that landscape composition and confguration afect the connectivity between breeding (heathlands) and foraging habitats (extensively-grazed grasslands) of the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), a crepuscular insectivorous bird. On a daily basis, nightjars connect breeding and foraging sites by rapidly crossing unsuitable habitats in order to exploit a higher prey biomass in foraging sites. However, low availability of foraging habitat near breeding sites and clustered landscapes greatly increase foraging distance. Birds occupying these sub-optimal breeding areas compensate for longer travels by increasing foraging duration, and their physiology shows increased stress levels. All fndings suggest that landscape heterogeneity can afect population dynamics of nightjars. Therefore, we recommend an integrated management approach for this EU- protected bird species. Movement is essential for almost all animals on earth and infuences processes ranging from the individual to the ecosystem level1,2. In order to link vital resources, such as nesting and feeding sites, many species undertake daily movements between complementary habitats3–5. However, the quality of, and accessibility to these resources can vary6–10. Human pressures on natural habitats cause rapid changes in landscape composition and confguration11,12.
    [Show full text]
  • EUROPEAN BIRDS of CONSERVATION CONCERN Populations, Trends and National Responsibilities
    EUROPEAN BIRDS OF CONSERVATION CONCERN Populations, trends and national responsibilities COMPILED BY ANNA STANEVA AND IAN BURFIELD WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM CONTENTS Introduction 4 86 ITALY References 9 89 KOSOVO ALBANIA 10 92 LATVIA ANDORRA 14 95 LIECHTENSTEIN ARMENIA 16 97 LITHUANIA AUSTRIA 19 100 LUXEMBOURG AZERBAIJAN 22 102 MACEDONIA BELARUS 26 105 MALTA BELGIUM 29 107 MOLDOVA BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 32 110 MONTENEGRO BULGARIA 35 113 NETHERLANDS CROATIA 39 116 NORWAY CYPRUS 42 119 POLAND CZECH REPUBLIC 45 122 PORTUGAL DENMARK 48 125 ROMANIA ESTONIA 51 128 RUSSIA BirdLife Europe and Central Asia is a partnership of 48 national conservation organisations and a leader in bird conservation. Our unique local to global FAROE ISLANDS DENMARK 54 132 SERBIA approach enables us to deliver high impact and long term conservation for the beneit of nature and people. BirdLife Europe and Central Asia is one of FINLAND 56 135 SLOVAKIA the six regional secretariats that compose BirdLife International. Based in Brus- sels, it supports the European and Central Asian Partnership and is present FRANCE 60 138 SLOVENIA in 47 countries including all EU Member States. With more than 4,100 staf in Europe, two million members and tens of thousands of skilled volunteers, GEORGIA 64 141 SPAIN BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, together with its national partners, owns or manages more than 6,000 nature sites totaling 320,000 hectares. GERMANY 67 145 SWEDEN GIBRALTAR UNITED KINGDOM 71 148 SWITZERLAND GREECE 72 151 TURKEY GREENLAND DENMARK 76 155 UKRAINE HUNGARY 78 159 UNITED KINGDOM ICELAND 81 162 European population sizes and trends STICHTING BIRDLIFE EUROPE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Ecology of the European Roller
    Conservation ecology of the European Roller Thomas M. Finch A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia, UK November 2016 © This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with the author and that use of any information derived there from must be in accordance with current UK Copyright Law. In addition, any quotation or extract must include full attribution. Abstract Among temperate birds, two traits in particular are associated with current population declines; an association with farmed habitats, and the strategy of long-distance migration. The European Roller Coracias garrulus enjoys both of these characteristics, and has declined substantially over the last few decades. Here, I investigate intra- specific variation in Roller breeding ecology and migration in an attempt to work towards conservation solutions. I first compare the breeding ecology of Rollers from two populations; one in Latvia at the northern range limit, and one in France in the core Mediterranean range. I show that the French population is limited principally by nest-site availability, whilst foraging habitat is more important in Latvia. I also highlight the lower productivity of Latvian birds, which also varies substantially from year to year. Comparison of insect and chick feather δ13C and δ15N in France provides little support for specific foraging habitat preferences, providing further evidence that foraging habitat is not limiting for the French population. Next, I provide the most comprehensive analysis of Roller migration to date, showing that Rollers from seven European countries generally occupy overlapping winter quarters.
    [Show full text]
  • Addo Elephant Birds
    BIRDS OF THE ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK An Addo Bird Checklist is a complex list as the park is made up of many sections of differing habitat. Be aware that a species on the cummulative list may be recorded from only one section, or may be cosmopolitan across several sections: Key to Status indicators : R = Resident; S = present in summer; W = present in winter; A = non-breeding visitor recorded throughout the year; V = Vagrant; ? - Uncertain status; c = common; u = uncommon; r = rare; l = localised English (Roberts 7) English (Roberts 6) Rob # Global Names Old SA Names Addo Elephant Combined Elephant Addo Gameand Main Camp Area - Section Inland Colchester - Section Coastal Colchester Waters and Islands Coastal Woody Cape Forest Alexandria Section Nyathi Zuurberg Section Section Kabouga Section Darlington Area Contractual Kuzuko 1Common Ostrich Ostrich 1Rc Rc RcRcRc 2King Penguin King Penguin 1 V 2.1Gentoo Penguin (925) Gentoo Penguin 1 V V V 3African Penguin Jackass Penguin 1 V Rc V 5Macaroni Penguin Macaroni Penguin 1 V V V 7 Black-necked Grebe Blacknecked Grebe 1 V V 8Little Grebe Dabchick 1 Rc V RcRc RcRcRcRcRc 10 Wandering Albatross Wandering Albatross 1 Au 11Shy Albatross Shy Albatross 1 Au 12 Black-Browed Albatross Blackbrowed Albatross 1 Ac 13 Grey-Headed Albatross Greyheaded Albatross 1 V 14 Atlantic Yellow-Nosed Albatross Yellownosed Albatross 1 Au 14.1 Indian Yellow-Nosed Albatross 1 Ac 15 Sooty Albatross Darkmantled Sooty Albatross 1 V 16 Light-mantled Albatross Lightmantled Sooty Albatross 1 V 17 Southern Giant-Petrel Southern
    [Show full text]
  • Avifaunal Baseline Assessment of Wadi Al-Quff Protected Area and Its Vicinity, Hebron, Palestine
    58 Jordan Journal of Natural History Avifaunal baseline assessment of Wadi Al-Quff Protected Area and its Vicinity, Hebron, Palestine Anton Khalilieh Palestine Museum of Natural History, Bethlehem University, Bethlehem, Palestine Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Birds of Wadi Al-Quff protected area (WQPA) were studied during the spring season of 2014. A total of 89 species of birds were recorded. Thirty species were found to breed within the protected area (24 resident and 6 summer breeders), while the others were migratory. Three species of raptors (Long legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle and the Hobby) were found to breed within man-made afforested area, nesting on pine and cypress trees. Within the Mediterranean woodland patches, several bird species were found nesting such as Cretzschmar's Bunting, Syrian Woodpecker, Sardinian Warbler and Wren. Thirteen species of migratory soaring birds were recorded passing over WQPA, two of them (Egyptian Vulture and Palled Harrier) are listed by the IUCN as endangered and near threatened, respectively. In addition, several migratory soaring birds were found to use the site as a roosting area, mainly at pine trees. Key words: Birds; Palestine; Endangered species. INTRODUCTION The land of historical Palestine (now Israel, West bank and Gaza) is privileged with a unique location between three continents; Europe, Asia, and Africa, and a diversity of climatic regions (Soto-Berelov et al., 2012). For this reason and despite its small area, a total of 540 species of bird were recorded (Perlman & Meyrav, 2009). In addition, Palestine is at the second most important migratory flyway in the world. Diverse species of resident, summer visitor breeders, winter visitor, passage migrants and accidental visitors were recorded (Shirihi, 1996).
    [Show full text]