DOCSLIB.ORG

Azores Tour Report 2021

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Azores Tour Report 2021 The endemic Azores Bullfinch, or Priolo, was the first of our two main targets! (Pete Morris) AZORES 16 – 20 JUNE 2021 LEADER: PETE MORRIS This was our first ‘mini’ tour to focus solely on the two endemic breeding species of the amazing Azores archi- pelago. It also linked nicely to our Madeira tour which also focused on the breeding endemics, making for a great combination tour when linked. I am pleased to be able to report that we had great success in finding the two endemics. The Azores Bullfinch had been seen previously on a Birdquest Reunion tour, back in 2001, but at that time, Monteiro’s Storm Pe- trel never even existed (well it did of course, but had not been recognised as a species)! Consequently our sightings on this tour constituted another Birdquest lifer! We also saw a few other goodies including some very showy Common Quail, a smart adult Sooty Tern, and a much appreciated Barolo Shearwater. We began the tour on Sao Miguel, arriving at Ponta Delgada in time for a quick wander around the harbour and a fine dinner. The harbour was rammed withatlantis Azorean Yellow-legged Gulls and a few breeding Common Terns with chicks that had survived right next to restaurants and a busy street! One thinks of the Azores as tiny specs out in the Atlantic Ocean, but Sao Miguel is a rather bigger island than I remembered, and it was a fair drive to the eastern end of the island. We paused on the way at the attractive 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Azores 2021 www.birdquest-tours.com Our second target, the rare Monteiro’s Storm Petrel, was pleasingly easy to see (Ruben Terlou) Lagoa das Furnas, though little was on show other than Common Moorhens, Eurasian Coot and a variety of grim-looking Mallards with a presumably released Ruddy Shelduck. The striking endemic Common Chaffinch form was also appreciated before we continued on to Pico da Vara. We climbed the mountain along a well- made track, though sadly the cloud and drizzle increased as we climbed. Fortunately it did not take us too long to find our first Azores Bullfinch, and soon we enjoyed great looks at several of this rare endemic. Long considered just a race of Eurasian Bullfinch, we were able to enjoy the truly unique Priolo (as it is known local- ly), and as the cloud cleared and the weather warmed, we were really able to appreciate how distinctive they are. We also appreciated the local form of Goldcrest and noticed numerous groups of Atlantic Canaries and introduced Common Waxbills. A fine lunch followed before we headed back west and explored the west end of the island. Here we found some great coastal scenery with towering cliffs containing colonies of Yellow-legged Gulls, and the fields near- by resonated with the “wet my lips” songs of Common Quail. Usually a tough bird to see, it did not take us too The first of several Common Quails seen well during the visit (Pete Morris) 2 BirdQuest Tour Report: Azores 2021 www.birdquest-tours.com long to get some great views of this often tricky bird, and I reckon the Azores must be one of the best places to get to grips with this species. A stop at the famous Sete Cidades yielded just a few common residents, and with stomachs rumbling, we decided to head back to town for dinner. The following morning required an early start as our flight to Terceira and on to Graciosa was at a rather un- sociable hour, but all worked well, and before we knew it we were in place on the quiet and pleasant island of Graciosa. A PCR test later, we were exploring the quiet and attractive town of Santa Cruz da Graciosa and enjoying a fine seafood lunch, before driving down to Praia and boaring our rib. We set off, admiring Roseate Terns in the harbour, and paused off the nearby island of Praia (the breeding site for many of the Monteiro’s Storm Petrels) admiring more Roseate and Common Terns. Having struggled so much to see Madeiran (Band-rumped) Storm Petrel in Madeira, we were unsure how we were to fare in the ocean off Graciosa. But we needn’t have. Literally a few minutes further out and we were admiring our first Monteiro’s Storm Petrel. The first flock of Cory’s Shearwaters on the sea held two more, and soon after, another flock of Cory’s Shearwaters held another ten or so storm petrels, and these individuals repeatedly flew around us, giving great views. We travelled further out offshore to some deeper water, but little was doing. Cory’s Shearwaters off Graciosa (Pete Morris) 3 BirdQuest Tour Report: Azores 2021 www.birdquest-tours.com More images of the rare Monteiro’s Storm Petrel (Ruben Terlou) A few Cory’s and the odd Monteiro’s, but nothing out of the ordinary, so we headed back towards the island. Once we hit an area where more birds were around, we paused and tried chumming for a while. This turned out to be highly successful as more Monteiro’s Storm Petrels gave us stunning views on the slightly choppy waters. Late on we added a couple of Bulwer’s Petrels and some great views of more Cory’s Shearwaters. By the time we headed back we estimated we had notched up around 50 Monteiro’s Storm Petrels, a significant percentage of this rare bird’s population! The forecast for the following day was not great, but we went to sea again, this time staying closer inshore. We spent some time around Praia Island, and here, as well as getting some stunning views of Roseate Terns, we 4 BirdQuest Tour Report: Azores 2021 www.birdquest-tours.com also picked out a fine adult Sooty Tern in the colony. Offshore we found hordes of Cory’s Shearwaters and a handful of Monteiro’s Storm Petrels, but little else to write home about. The Sooty Tern we saw, being mobbed by Common and Roseate Terns, and one of the Roseate Terns up close (Pete Morris) 5 BirdQuest Tour Report: Azores 2021 www.birdquest-tours.com Another Common Quail singing from an open field on Graciosa (Pete Morris) After lunch, we spent the rest of the day explowing the small and picturesque island. Some time was spent looking for potential seawatching sites. We also enjoyed more amazing views of Common Quails, saw some Cory’s Shearwaters in their burrows, and, in the late afternoon, looked for Azorean Noctules. Ironically the group member most keen to see the noctule was still in the hills looking for them, when we realised the best place to see them was around the pool in the middle of town! The spectacular Graciosa coast line (Pete Morris) 6 BirdQuest Tour Report: Azores 2021 www.birdquest-tours.com Our final morning saw us rising relatively early and seawatching from a headland. Literally 1000s of Cory’s Shearwaters were passing, but it seemed to be a complete monoculture! We stared and stared, and then, amazingly, a tiny Barolo Shearwater appeared amongst them. Some careful scope sharing ensured that ev- eryone got some scope views of this rare tubenose. Half the size of the Cory’s and flapping twice as fast, it could barely keep up with its graceful companions, and was in view for some time. We stayed for a while and kept staring, but we knew really that we had used our trump card, and the chances of finding another was slim! We headed back for breakfast content, and then explored the picturesque Caldeira in the south of the island, enjoying the robins and chaffinches in the woodland there. All that then remained was to get showered and packed and make our way to the airport. We paused in town to buy some snacks before our flight, and sat in the town square with a cold drink. Ironically, in the hot mid-day sun, we were suddenly joined by our friend the Azorean Noctule, once agin busy over the pool much to the delight of one of the group members! A great ending to a lovely trip, one which I hope we’ll repeat soon… A fine male Azores Bullfinch, one of several seen well (Pete Morris) 7 BirdQuest Tour Report: Azores 2021 www.birdquest-tours.com Another Monteiro’s Storm Petrel showing very well off Graciosa (Pete Morris) SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g. it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species). Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL). Species which were only recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (LO). Conservation threat categories and are taken from the BirdLife website: http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search (EW) = Extinct in the wild, (CR) = Critically Endangered, (EN) = Endangered, (VU) = Vulnerable, (NT) = Near Threatened, (DD) = Data Deficient. For polytypic species, the subspecies seen on the tour, where known, is placed in parentheses at the end of the species comment. Generally, species listed with trinomials are not currently split by the IOC. The species names and taxonomy used in the report mostly follows Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Status and Distribution of Mediterranean Mammals
    THE STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEDITERRANEAN MAMMALS Compiled by Helen J. Temple and Annabelle Cuttelod AN E AN R R E IT MED The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ – Regional Assessment THE STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEDITERRANEAN MAMMALS Compiled by Helen J. Temple and Annabelle Cuttelod The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ – Regional Assessment The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN or other participating organizations, concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN or other participating organizations. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK Copyright: © 2009 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Red List logo: © 2008 Citation: Temple, H.J. and Cuttelod, A. (Compilers). 2009. The Status and Distribution of Mediterranean Mammals. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK : IUCN. vii+32pp. ISBN: 978-2-8317-1163-8 Cover design: Cambridge Publishers Cover photo: Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus © Antonio Rivas/P. Ex-situ Lince Ibérico All photographs used in this publication remain the property of the original copyright holder (see individual captions for details).
    [Show full text]
  • High Survival Rate of a Critically Endangered Species, the Azores
    High survival rate of a critically endangered species, the Azores Bullfinch , as a contribution to population recovery David Monticelli, Ricardo Ceia, Ruben Heleno, Hugo Laborda, Sergio Timóteo, Daniel Jareño, Geoff M. Hilton, Jaime A. Ramos To cite this version: David Monticelli, Ricardo Ceia, Ruben Heleno, Hugo Laborda, Sergio Timóteo, et al.. High survival rate of a critically endangered species, the Azores Bullfinch , as a contribution to population recov- ery. Journal für Ornithologie = Journal of Ornithology, Springer Verlag, 2010, 151 (3), pp.627-636. 10.1007/s10336-010-0501-4. hal-00570023 HAL Id: hal-00570023 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00570023 Submitted on 26 Feb 2011 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. J Ornithol (2010) 151:627–636 DOI 10.1007/s10336-010-0501-4 ORIGINAL ARTICLE High survival rate of a critically endangered species, the Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula murina, as a contribution to population recovery David Monticelli • Ricardo Ceia • Ruben Heleno • Hugo Laborda • Sergio Timo´teo • Daniel Jaren˜o • Geoff M. Hilton • Jaime A. Ramos Received: 12 May 2009 / Revised: 30 November 2009 / Accepted: 1 February 2010 / Published online: 26 February 2010 Ó Dt.
    [Show full text]
  • Birdwatching in Portugal
    birdwatchingIN PORTUGAL In this guide, you will find 36 places of interest 03 - for birdwatchers and seven suggestions of itineraries you may wish to follow. 02 Accept the challenge and venture forth around Portugal in search of our birdlife. birdwatching IN PORTUGAL Published by Turismo de Portugal, with technical support from Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves (SPEA) PHOTOGRAPHY Ana Isabel Fagundes © Andy Hay, rspb-images.com Carlos Cabral Faisca Helder Costa Joaquim Teodósio Pedro Monteiro PLGeraldes SPEA/DLeitão Vitor Maia Gerbrand AM Michielsen TEXT Domingos Leitão Alexandra Lopes Ana Isabel Fagundes Cátia Gouveia Carlos Pereira GRP A HIC DESIGN Terradesign Jangada | PLGeraldes 05 - birdwatching 04 Orphean Warbler, Spanish Sparrow). The coastal strip is the preferred place of migration for thousands of birds from dozens of different species. Hundreds of thousands of sea and coastal birds (gannets, shear- waters, sandpipers, plovers and terns), birds of prey (eagles and harriers), small birds (swallows, pipits, warblers, thrushes and shrikes) cross over our territory twice a year, flying between their breeding grounds in Europe and their winter stays in Africa. ortugal is situated in the Mediterranean region, which is one of the world’s most im- In the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, there p portant areas in terms of biodiversity. Its are important colonies of seabirds, such as the Cory’s landscape is very varied, with mountains and plains, Shearwater, Bulwer’s Petrel and Roseate Tern. There are hidden valleys and meadowland, extensive forests also some endemic species on the islands, such as the and groves, rocky coasts and never-ending beaches Madeiran Storm Petrel, Madeiran Laurel Pigeon, Ma- that stretch into the distance, estuaries, river deltas deiran Firecrest or the Azores Bullfinch.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Anchorage Checklist
    ACCIDENTAL, CASUAL, UNSUBSTANTIATED KEY THRUSHES J F M A M J J A S O N D n Casual: Occasionally seen, but not every year Northern Wheatear N n Accidental: Only one or two ever seen here Townsend’s Solitaire N X Unsubstantiated: no photographic or sample evidence to support sighting Gray-cheeked Thrush N W Listed on the Audubon Alaska WatchList of declining or threatened species Birds of Swainson’s Thrush N Hermit Thrush N Spring: March 16–May 31, Summer: June 1–July 31, American Robin N Fall: August 1–November 30, Winter: December 1–March 15 Anchorage, Alaska Varied Thrush N W STARLINGS SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER SPECIES SPECIES SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER European Starling N CHECKLIST Ross's Goose Vaux's Swift PIPITS Emperor Goose W Anna's Hummingbird The Anchorage area offers a surprising American Pipit N Cinnamon Teal Costa's Hummingbird Tufted Duck Red-breasted Sapsucker WAXWINGS diversity of habitat from tidal mudflats along Steller's Eider W Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Bohemian Waxwing N Common Eider W Willow Flycatcher the coast to alpine habitat in the Chugach BUNTINGS Ruddy Duck Least Flycatcher John Schoen Lapland Longspur Pied-billed Grebe Hammond's Flycatcher Mountains bordering the city. Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Eastern Kingbird BOHEMIAN WAXWING Snow Bunting N Leach's Storm-Petrel Western Kingbird WARBLERS Pelagic Cormorant Brown Shrike Red-faced Cormorant W Cassin's Vireo Northern Waterthrush N For more information on Alaska bird festivals Orange-crowned Warbler N Great Egret Warbling Vireo Swainson's Hawk Red-eyed Vireo and birding maps for Anchorage, Fairbanks, Yellow Warbler N American Coot Purple Martin and Kodiak, contact Audubon Alaska at Blackpoll Warbler N W Sora Pacific Wren www.AudubonAlaska.org or 907-276-7034.
    [Show full text]
  • Index of Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 9. Bats
    Index of Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 9. Bats A agnella, Kerivoula 901 Anchieta’s Bat 814 aquilus, Glischropus 763 Aba Leaf-nosed Bat 247 aladdin, Pipistrellus pipistrellus 771 Anchieta’s Broad-faced Fruit Bat 94 aquilus, Platyrrhinus 567 Aba Roundleaf Bat 247 alascensis, Myotis lucifugus 927 Anchieta’s Pipistrelle 814 Arabian Barbastelle 861 abae, Hipposideros 247 alaschanicus, Hypsugo 810 anchietae, Plerotes 94 Arabian Horseshoe Bat 296 abae, Rhinolophus fumigatus 290 Alashanian Pipistrelle 810 ancricola, Myotis 957 Arabian Mouse-tailed Bat 164, 170, 176 abbotti, Myotis hasseltii 970 alba, Ectophylla 466, 480, 569 Andaman Horseshoe Bat 314 Arabian Pipistrelle 810 abditum, Megaderma spasma 191 albatus, Myopterus daubentonii 663 Andaman Intermediate Horseshoe Arabian Trident Bat 229 Abo Bat 725, 832 Alberico’s Broad-nosed Bat 565 Bat 321 Arabian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat 229 Abo Butterfly Bat 725, 832 albericoi, Platyrrhinus 565 andamanensis, Rhinolophus 321 arabica, Asellia 229 abramus, Pipistrellus 777 albescens, Myotis 940 Andean Fruit Bat 547 arabicus, Hypsugo 810 abrasus, Cynomops 604, 640 albicollis, Megaerops 64 Andersen’s Bare-backed Fruit Bat 109 arabicus, Rousettus aegyptiacus 87 Abruzzi’s Wrinkle-lipped Bat 645 albipinnis, Taphozous longimanus 353 Andersen’s Flying Fox 158 arabium, Rhinopoma cystops 176 Abyssinian Horseshoe Bat 290 albiventer, Nyctimene 36, 118 Andersen’s Fruit-eating Bat 578 Arafura Large-footed Bat 969 Acerodon albiventris, Noctilio 405, 411 Andersen’s Leaf-nosed Bat 254 Arata Yellow-shouldered Bat 543 Sulawesi 134 albofuscus, Scotoecus 762 Andersen’s Little Fruit-eating Bat 578 Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Talaud 134 alboguttata, Glauconycteris 833 Andersen’s Naked-backed Fruit Bat 109 Bat 543 Acerodon 134 albus, Diclidurus 339, 367 Andersen’s Roundleaf Bat 254 aratathomasi, Sturnira 543 Acerodon mackloti (see A.
    [Show full text]
  • Morcegos Na Net
    Morcegos na net Procuras imagens sobre os morcegos que existem em Portugal? Queres fazer um trabalho sobre eles e mostrar às tuas e aos teus colegas? Aqui, podes encontrar fotos e até vídeos destes pequenos mamíferos voadores. Diverte-te!! Morcego-de-ferradura grande Rhinolophus ferrumequinum Fotos e vídeos http://www.arkive.org/greater-horseshoe-bat/rhinolophus-ferrumequinum/ Morcego-de-ferradura-pequeno Rhinolophus hipposideros Fotos e vídeo http://www.arkive.org/lesser-horseshoe-bat/rhinolophus-hipposideros/ Morcego-de-ferradura-mediterrânico Rhinolophus euryale Fotos http://www.arkive.org/mediterranean-horseshoe-bat/rhinolophus-euryale/ Morcego-de-ferradura-mourisco Rhinolophus mehelyi Fotos http://www.arkive.org/mehelys-horseshoe-bat/rhinolophus-mehelyi/ Morcego de Bechstein Myotis bechsteinii Foto http://www.arkive.org/bechsteins-bat/myotis-bechsteinii/ Morcego-rato-grande Myotis myotis Fotos http://www.arkive.org/greater-mouse-eared-bat/myotis-myotis/ Morcego-rato-pequeno Myotis blythii http://www.arkive.org/lesser-mouse-eared-myotis/myotis-blythii/ Morcego-de-franja-do-sul Myotis escalerai Foto http://bats.regaleira.pt/morcegos/Myotis_escalerai.htm Morcego-lanudo Myotis emarginatus Fotos http://www.arkive.org/geoffroys-bat/myotis-emarginatus/ Morcego-de-bigodes Myotis mystacinus Fotos e vídeo http://www.arkive.org/whiskered-bat/myotis-mystacinus/ Morcego-de-água Myotis daubentonii Fotos e vídeo http://www.arkive.org/daubentons-bat/myotis-daubentonii/ Morcego-anão Pipistrellus pipistrellus e Morcego-pigmeu Pipistrellus pygmaeus Fotos e vídeos http://www.arkive.org/pipistrelle-bats/pipistrellus-pipistrellus-and-pipistrellus-pygmaeus/ Morcego de Kuhl Pipistrellus kuhlii Fotos http://www.arkive.org/kuhls-pipistrelle/pipistrellus-kuhlii/ Continua na página seguinte! 1 ICNF, I.P. – GIC – Cristina Girão Vieira Morcego da Madeira Pipistrellus maderensis Fotos http://www.arkive.org/madeira-pipistrelle/pipistrellus-maderensis/ Morcego de Savii Hypsugo savii Aparece com o nome antigo, Pipistrellus savii, mas não te deixes enganar, pois é a mesma espécie.
    [Show full text]
  • Effectiveness of Mitigating Measures for Bats – a Review
    CEDR Transnational Road Research Programme Call 2013: Roads and Wildlife Funded by Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands and United Kingdom SafeBatPaths Fumbling in the dark – effectiveness of bat mitigation measures on roads Effectiveness of mitigating measures for bats – a review Project partners: Aarhus University, Denmark, Jasja Dekker Dierecologie, Netherlands University of The Basque Country, Spain Flagermus Forskning & Rådgivning, Denmark Sweco, Denmark CEDR Call 2013: Programme name CEDR Call 2013: Roads and Wildlife SafeBatPaths Fumbling in the dark – effectiveness of bat mitigation measures on roads Effectiveness of mitigating measures for bats – a review Due date of deliverable: 01/06/2016 Actual submission date: 26/08/2016 Start date of project: 01/09/2014 End date of project: 26/08/2016 Authors this deliverable: Julie Dahl Møller, JDM Consult, Denmark Jasja Dekker, Jasja Dekker Dierecologie, Netherlands Hans J. Baagøe, Flagermus Forskning & Rådgivning and the Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Inazio Garin, University of The Basque Country, The Basque Country Antton Alberdi, University of The Basque Country, The Basque Country Morten Christensen, Sweco, Denmark Morten Elmeros, Aarhus University, Denmark PEB Project Manager: Marianne L. Ujvári Final version, November 2016 CEDR Call 2013: Programme name Table of contents Executive summary ................................................................................................................. i 1 Introduction
    [Show full text]
  • Advances in the Study of Irruptive Migration
    Advances in the study of irruptive migration Ian Newton1 Newton I. 2006. Advances in the study of irruptive migration. Ardea 94(3): 433–460. This paper discusses the movement patterns of two groups of birds which are generally regarded as irruptive migrants, namely (a) boreal finches and others that depend on fluctuating tree-fruit crops, and (b) owls and others that depend on cyclically fluctuating rodent popula- tions. Both groups specialise on food supplies which, in particular regions, fluctuate more than 100-fold from year to year. However, seed- crops in widely separated regions may fluctuate independently of one another, as may rodent populations, so that poor food supplies in one region may coincide with good supplies in another. If individuals are to have access to rich food supplies every year, they must often move hun- dreds or thousands of kilometres from one breeding area to another. In years of widespread food shortage (or high numbers relative to food supplies) extending over many thousands or millions of square kilome- tres, large numbers of individuals migrate to lower latitudes, as an ‘irruptive migration’. For these reasons, the distribution of the popula- tion, in both summer and winter, varies greatly from year to year. In irruptive migrants, in contrast to regular migrants, site fidelity is poor, and few individuals return to the same breeding areas in succes- sive years (apart from owls in the increase phase of the cycle). Moreover, ring recoveries and radio-tracking confirm that the same indi- viduals can breed in different years in areas separated by hundreds or thousands of kilometres.
    [Show full text]
  • Report for the Periodic Review of Graciosa UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 2017 1
    Report for the Periodic Review of Graciosa UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 2017 Report for the Periodic Review of Graciosa UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 2017 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: SUMMARY PART II: PERIODIC REVIEW REPORT 1. Biosphere Reserve 8 2. Significant Changes in the Biosphere Reserve During the Past Ten Years 11 3. Ecosystem Services 36 4. The Conservation Function 38 5. The Development Function 43 6. The Logistic Function 62 7. Governance, Biosphere Reserve Management and Coordination 84 8. Criteria and Progress made 99 9. Supporting Documents 113 10. Addresses 115 Annexes Annex I: MABnet Directory of the Biosphere Reserves 116 Annex II: Promotion and Communication Materials 122 Annex III: Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves 125 Report for the Periodic Review of Graciosa UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 2017 0 PART I: SUMMARY a) Name of the biosphere reserve: Graciosa Island Biosphere Reserve b) Country: Portugal (PT). c) Year of designation: 2007. d) Year(s) of periodic review(s): 2017. e) Previous recommendation(s) made by the International Co-ordinating Council (MAB- ICC), if applicable: No recommendations were made, since its approval in 2007, by the International Co-ordinating Council (MAB-ICC). f) What follow-up actions are completed and if not completed/initiated, please provide justifications. In general, the intervention actions/proposals included in the original application dossier have been fully achieved, either through direct action by the Biosphere Reserve Management Unit (Regional Government of the Azores),
    [Show full text]
  • Habitat Use and Space Preferences of Eurasian Bullfinches (Pyrrhula Pyrrhula) in Northwestern Iberia Throughout the Year
    Hernández Avian Res (2021) 12:8 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-021-00241-0 Avian Research RESEARCH Open Access Habitat use and space preferences of Eurasian Bullfnches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) in northwestern Iberia throughout the year Ángel Hernández1,2* Abstract Background: For all vertebrates in general, a concerted efort to move beyond single season research is vital to improve our understanding of species ecology. Knowledge of habitat use and selection by Eurasian Bullfnches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) is limited with regard to the non-breeding season. To date, research on the habitat of the Iberian subspecies iberiae consists of very general descriptions. In relation to space use, only broad features are available for the entire distribution range of Eurasian Bullfnches, including Iberia. Methods: In this study, seasonal preferences regarding habitat and space in a population of Eurasian Bullfnches are examined for the frst time in the Iberian Peninsula, through direct observation during a six-year period. The essential habitat components, substrate selection and perch height were assessed. Results: Hedgerows were the key essential habitat component for bullfnches during all seasons. Nevertheless, small poplar plantations became increasingly important from winter to summer-autumn. Bullfnches perched mostly in shrubs/trees throughout the year, but there were signifcant seasonal changes in substrate use, ground and herbs being of considerable importance during spring-summer. Throughout the year, over half of the records corresponded to feeding, reaching almost 90% in winter. Generally, bullfnches perched noticeably lower while feeding. Male bullfnches perched markedly higher than females, notably singing males in spring-summer. Juveniles perched at a height not much lower than that of males.
    [Show full text]
  • The Azores Bullfinch
    bs_bs_banner Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 108, 677–687. With 4 figures The Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina) has the same unusual and size-variable sperm morphology as the Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) JAN T. LIFJELD1*, ANTJE HOENEN2, LARS ERIK JOHANNESSEN1, TERJE LASKEMOEN1, RICARDO J. LOPES3, PEDRO RODRIGUES3,4 and MELISSAH ROWE1 1Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, PO Box 1172 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway 2Electron Microscopical Unit for Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1041 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway 3CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal 4CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Polo dos Açores, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Portugal Received 25 July 2012; revised 25 September 2012; accepted for publication 25 September 2012 The Azores bullfinch is endemic to the island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago and the sister species to the Eurasian bullfinch. Here we show that the spermatozoa of the two species have similar ultrastructure and gross morphology. Thus, the unusual and supposedly neotenous sperm morphology previously described for the Eurasian bullfinch appears to be an ancestral trait that evolved before the two taxa diverged. In addition, the coefficients of variation in total sperm length, both within and among males, were high in both species and exceed any previously published values for free-living passerines. Such high sperm-size variation is typically found in species with relaxed sperm competition. However, the high variance in mean sperm length among Azores bullfinches is surprising, because the trait has high heritability and this small, insular population shows clear signs of reduced genetic diversity at neutral loci.
    [Show full text]
  • Breeding Ecology of Eurasian Bullfinches Pyrrhula Pyrrhula in an Iberian Hedgerow Habitat
    Journal of Natural History ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnah20 Breeding ecology of Eurasian bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula in an Iberian hedgerow habitat Ángel Hernández To cite this article: Ángel Hernández (2020) Breeding ecology of Eurasian bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula in an Iberian hedgerow habitat, Journal of Natural History, 54:39-40, 2613-2645, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1860263 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2020.1860263 View supplementary material Published online: 31 Mar 2021. Submit your article to this journal View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tnah20 JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY 2021, VOL. 54, NOS. 39–40, 2613–2645 https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2020.1860263 Breeding ecology of Eurasian bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula in an Iberian hedgerow habitat Ángel Hernández Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, España; Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, España ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY The breeding ecology of the Iberian subspecies of the Eurasian Received 8 October 2019 bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula iberiae, is addressed for the first time. Accepted 1 December 2020 The studied population occupied a hedgerow habitat in northwes­ KEYWORDS tern Spain. Individuals directly watched in the study area and Breeding success; clutch size; details of these sightings were recorded over a six-year period, egg traits; parental care; and a total of 56 nests were monitored. The earliest date of nest Pyrrhula pyrrhula iberiae; building was within 11–30 April for all years.
    [Show full text]