2012 Update of the scientific data underpinning the UNEP/CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU) BirdLife International October 2012 1 2012 Update of the scientific data underpinning the UNEP/CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU) October 2012 Prepared by Tris Allinson (Science & Information Management Officer, BirdLife International) Vicky Jones (Global Flyways Officer, BirdLife International) BirdLife International Wellbrook Court Girton Road Cambridge CB3 0NA UNITED KINGDOM T: +44 (0)1223 277 318 F: +44 (0)1223 277 200 E: birdlife @ birdlife.org Reviewed by Ibrahim Alhasani (Flyway Officer, Middle East, BirdLife International) Stuart Butchart (Global Research & Indicators Coordinator, BirdLife International) Lincoln Fishpool (Global IBA Coordinator, BirdLife International) Richard Grimmett (Director of Conservation, BirdLife International) Alison Stattersfield (Head of Science, BirdLife International) Nick P. Williams (Programme Officer Birds of Prey – Raptors, UNEP CMS) Additional contributions provided by Osama Alnouri (RFF Coordinator, Middle East, BirdLife International) Leon Bennun (Director of Science, Policy and Information Management, BirdLife International and CMS Appointed Councillor (Birds) Nicola J. Crockford (International Species Policy Officer, RSPB) George Eshiamwata (Flyway Officer, Africa, BirdLife International) Melanie Heath (Head of Policy, BirdLife International) Marcus Kohler (Senior Programme Manager, Flyways Programme, BirdLife International) Recommended citation: BirdLife International (2012) 2012 Update of the scientific data underpinning the UNEP/CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU). Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. Cover image: Egyptian Vulture © Vladimir Melnik/Dreamstime.com 2 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Overview of update task ............................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Geographic coverage .................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Species coverage ........................................................................................................................... 5 2. MoU SPECIES ....................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Potential updates to the species list—Annex 1 of the MoU ......................................................... 6 2.2 Habitats used by African-Eurasian migratory Birds of Prey .......................................................... 8 2.3 Conservation status of African-Eurasian migratory Birds of Prey................................................. 9 2.4 Threats to proposed Category 1 species ..................................................................................... 12 2.5 Conservation measures needed for proposed Category 1 species ............................................ 13 3. MoU SITES ......................................................................................................................................... 14 3.1 Background to the indicative site list (Table 3 of the MoU) ....................................................... 14 3.2 Potential update to the indicative site list (Table 3 of the MoU) ............................................... 17 3.3 Condition of proposed MoU sites (listed on Annex 3 of report) ................................................ 20 3.4 Threats to sites important for migratory raptors ....................................................................... 22 4. MOU REVIEW .................................................................................................................................... 24 4.1 Possible tasks for consideration by a future Technical Advisory Group ..................................... 24 4.2 Updating and expanding the scientific information ................................................................... 25 References ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Annex 1. African-Eurasian migratory Birds of Prey—update to the MoU Annex 1 .............................. 30 Annex 2. Range States and territories .................................................................................................. 31 Annex 3. Update to Table 3 of the MoU: Important Bird Areas (IBAs) triggered by Annex 1 species . 32 Annex 4. Sites listed on the original MoU Table 3 that no longer qualify for inclusion ....................... 91 Annex 5. Range states and territories that do not currently have any IBAs triggered by Annex 1 species. .................................................................................................................................................. 91 Annex 6. Proposed Annex 1 species within each Range State ............................................................. 91 Annex 7. Country occurrence of proposed Annex 1 species .............................................................. 102 Annex 8a. MoU Annex 1 species that may not be fully migratory ..................................................... 109 Annex 8b. Species not currently listed on Annex 1 of this report for which there is some evidence of migratory behaviour ........................................................................................................................... 109 Annex 8c. Non-European species considered by previous expert review to have an unfavourable conservation status in Asia, the Middle East or Africa ....................................................................... 109 Annex 8d. Globally declining Category 3 species ................................................................................ 109 Annex 9: Threats to proposed Category 1 species globally ................................................................ 110 3 Annex 10. Methodology for calculating the Red List Index (RLI). ....................................................... 111 4 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview of update task BirdLife International was requested by the Interim Coordinating Unit of the UNEP/CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU) to provide an update of the scientific information underpinning the MoU for consideration by the Signatories. Seven years have passed since the initial scientific analysis was completed (Tucker 2005) and it was considered important that the Signatories have access to the latest available information to support their work at the 1st Meeting of the Signatories in December 2012 and going forward. This review uses BirdLife International’s data which are held in the IUCN Species Information Service (SIS) and BirdLife’s World Bird Database (WBDB), including detailed information on the world’s avifauna and the sites important for their conservation. These databases are regularly updated and revised through processes coordinated by BirdLife International. The analyses in this review are based upon the updated species and site lists proposed in this report. The data included were accessed from the BirdLife databases between June and October 2012. 1.2 Geographic coverage The Raptors MoU is intended to promote the conservation of migratory ‘Birds of Prey’ in the Range States and territories of Africa and Eurasia. This review follows the geographical area defined in Annex 2 of the MoU, which includes all Afrotropical and Palearctic countries and territories, and Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The only political change since the Raptors MoU came into force is the creation of South Sudan, which became an independent state in 2011. South Sudan is therefore included in the proposed update to MoU Annex 2 (Annex 2 to this report). 1.3 Species coverage The MoU is intended to promote the conservation of migratory Birds of Prey in the African-Eurasian region and this is interpreted in the text of the MoU as meaning migratory Falconiformes and Strigiformes species occurring in Africa and Eurasia, listed in Annex 1 of the MoU. Taxonomy and nomenclature The Raptors MoU follows the taxonomy, scientific nomenclature and English names used by BirdLife International and Annex 1 of the MoU was based upon the BirdLife taxonomy at that time. By maintaining its own taxonomic checklist of the world's bird species, BirdLife is able to ensure a globally consistent taxonomic standard relevant to its role as the official IUCN Red List Authority for birds. The BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group (BTWG) ensures that the BirdLife taxonomic checklist evolves in a structured, documented, transparent and defensible way. The current checklist is available at www.birdlife.org/datazone/info/taxonomy. It should be noted that the general use of BirdLife taxonomy by the MoU does not of course preclude Signatories to the MoU from agreeing deviations from it where considered desirable (however, the BirdLife databases, and the analyses possible based upon them, only contain associated data for those entities recognised as species by the BTWG). Definition of migratory species