Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Species no. 56: Redshank Tringa totanus Distribution: The Redshank is breeding in temperate, boreal and steppe regions of Eurasia, from the Iberian Peninsula to northern Norway and from the British Isles to China. Two subspecies breed in Europe, nominate Tringa t. totanus from Ireland to European Russia and Tringa totanus robusta in Iceland and the Faeroes. Movements: The birds of Southern Europe are largely sedentary. Those of the north are wintering from the North Sea to Northwest Africa, and those of Iceland winter mainly in the British Isles. The breeding population in British Isles are largely sedentary but some individuals disperse to Denmark and Portugal. In Greece, birds from Eastern Europe are passing on migration to Northeast Africa. Population size: The European population has been estimated at 280,000 – 610,000 pairs (BirdLife Int. 2004A). The total population of the European Union is estimated to 100,000 to 140,000 pairs (BirdLife Int. 2004B) and constitutes 30-40% of the total European population, Russia not included. The population underwent a moderate decline during 1970-1990 and the populations continued to decline in most of Fennoscandia, the Baltic Stetes and Middle Europe, resulting in an overall decrease during 1990-2000 (BirdLife Int. 2004A). The population breeding in Fennoscandia, the Baltic States and West central Europe that winters in Britain, west Mediterranean south to West Africa has been estimated at 250,000 individuals with a stabile/decreasing trend (Delany & Scott 2006). Biological and behavioural aspects: clutch size is usually 4 eggs (3-5); incubation: 24 (22-29) days; fledging period: variable, 25-35 days; independence: independent at fledging; broods: one brood. Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 334 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Movements Redshank Tringa totanus Member MIGRANT RESIDENT State Breeding Passage Wintering FI 9 9 SE 9 9 EE 9 9 Occasional LV 9 9 LT 9 9 PL 9 9 SK 9 9 CZ 9 9 DK 9 9 9 UK 9 9 9 9 IE 9 9 9 9 DE 9 9 9 NL 9 9 9 BE 9 9 9 LU 9 HU 9 9 AT 9 9 SI Few 9 FR 9 9 9 ES 9 9 9 PT 10-20 pairs 9 9 IT 9 9 9 MT 9 GR 9 9 9 CY 9 9 RO 9 9 9 BG 9 9 9 HR 9 9 9 Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 335 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Definition of period of reproduction Redshank Tringa totanus Member Period of reproduction Comments References State begins with FI Occupation of breeding 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 sites SE Occupation of breeding 8, 11, 12 sites EE Occupation of breeding sites LV 1 LT Construction of the nest 7 PL Occupation of breeding 3 sites SK Occupation of breeding sites CZ Occupation of breeding sites DK Occupation of breeding 1, 2, 3, 4 sites UK Construction of the nest 2 IE Display 1, 2, 3 DE Occupation of breeding 4 sites NL Display 11, 12, 21 BE Occupation of breeding 1, 2, 3, 4 sites LU HU Occupation of breeding sites AT Occupation of breeding 13, 19 sites SI FR Construction of the nest 1, 4, 6 ES PT Occupation of breeding Small population sites IT Construction of the nest Scarce, localised breeder MT GR CY RO 3 BG Occupation of breeding 6 sites HR Occupation of breeding Small breeding 23 sites population Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 336 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Period of reproduction Redshank Tringa totanus J A N F E B M A R A P R M A Y J U N J U L A U G S E P O C T N O V D E C FI SE EE LV LT PL SK CZ DK UK IE DE NL BE LU HU AT SI FR ES PT IT MT GR CY RO BG HR Comments and conclusions 1) Mainly migratory, though some resident in Western Europe and resident in Southern Europe. 2) The period of reproduction begins with the occupation of the breeding sites in northern countries (where it is mainly migratory), and the construction of the nest in western and southern countries (and LT). 3) The end of the reproduction period ranges from the 3rd decade of June (PL) to the 3rd decade of August (SE, FI, BG). Full flight of young birds marks the end of the reproduction period. Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 337 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Prenuptial migration Redshank Tringa totanus  Difficulty in identifying the beginning of the period of return to the rearing grounds? Member YES NO References State FI X 1, 2, 3, 4 SE X 8, 11, 12 EE X LV 6 LT X 5,7 PL X 3 SK X CZ X DK 1, 2, 3, 4 UK Mixed population of residents & 1 migrants IE X 1, 3 DE Mixing of robusta & totanus 4, 10 NL Mixed population of residents & 37 migrants BE Presence of wintering birds 1, 2, 3, 4 LU Small numbers HU X AT SI X FR X 2, 4, 6 ES PT IT MT 5 GR CY RO 3 BG X 5, 6, 15, 21 HR Mixing of migrating and wintering 17, 18, 21 populations Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 338 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Prenuptial migration Redshank Tringa totanus J A N F E B M A R A P R M A Y J U N J U L A U G S E P O C T N O V D E C FI SE EE LV LT PL SK CZ DK 1 DK 2 UK IE DE NL BE LU HU AT SI FR ES PT IT MT GR CY ? RO BG HR 1 T. t. totanus 2 T. t. robusta NL, DE - T. t. totanus + T. t. robusta; BE - T. t. robusta is probably a regular visitor. Comments and conclusions 1) Departure of first migrants from wintering grounds, in southern and western regions, or arrival of first migrants, in other regions, corresponds to the beginning of the prenuptial migration. 2) Beginning of prenuptial migration ranges from the 1st decade of February (IE, BG) to the 1st decade of April (FI, EE, LU). Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 339 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Species no. 57: Greenshank Tringa nebularia Distribution: Greenshank inhabits marshes and wet clearings in taiga, from Scotland and Scandinavia to Kamchatka. Movements: Migratory. This wader winters in small number in coastal Atlantic Europe (mostly from the Scottish breeding population) and more commonly from the Mediterranean to South Africa. Population size and trends: The European breeding population amounts to 75,000- 160,000 breeding pairs, including 14,000 – 65,000 pairs in Russia (BirdLife Int. 2004A). The total population in the European Union can be estimated at 46,000- 67,000 breeding pairs (BirdLife Int. 2004B). Because of the Greenshank’s secretive nature and its generally low breeding density, it is extremely difficult to census accurately. Like many other wader species, it may suffer considerable fluctuations in breeding numbers from year to year, but the population seems to have remained stable during 1970-1990 and also during 1990-2000 except for the relatively small population in UK, that declined (BirdLife Int. 2004A). The population breeding in Scotland and Scandinavia and wintering in west and southwest Europe, NW Africa south to South Africa is estimated at 190,000 – 270,000 individuals and is considered stable (Delany & Scott 2006). Biological and behavioural aspects: clutch size is 4 eggs (sometimes 3); incubation: 23-26 days; full flight of young birds at 25-31 days; independence: at or soon after fledging; broods: one brood. Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 340 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Movements Greenshank Tringa nebularia MIGRANT Member State RESIDENT Breeding Passage Wintering FI 9 9 SE 9 9 EE Few 9 LV Few 9 LT 9 PL 9 SK 9 CZ 9 DK 9 UK 9 9 9 IE 9 9 9 DE 9 NL 9 9 BE 9 9 LU 9 HU 9 AT 9 SI 9 FR 9 9 ES 9 9 PT 9 9 IT 9 Few MT 9 GR 9 9 CY 9 9 RO 9 BG 9 9 HR 9 Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 341 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Definition of period of reproduction Greenshank Tringa nebularia Member Period of reproduction Comments References State begins with FI Occupation of breeding 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 sites SE Occupation of breeding 10, 11 sites EE Occupation of breeding Rare breeder sites LV LT PL SK CZ DK UK Occupation of breeding 2 sites IE Occupation of breeding occasionally 1-2 3 sites breeding pairs DE NL BE LU HU AT SI FR ES PT IT MT GR CY RO BG HR Reproduction & Prenuptial Migration * 342 * Key concepts of Article 7(4): Version 2008 Period of reproduction Greenshank Tringa nebularia J A N F E B M A R A P R M A Y J U N J U L A U G S E P O C T N O V D E C FI SE EE LV LT PL SK CZ DK UK IE DE NL BE LU HU AT SI FR ES PT IT MT GR CY RO BG HR Comments and conclusions 1) The period of reproduction starts with the occupation of the breeding sites. 2) The end of the period of reproduction ranges from the 3rd decade of June (EE) to the 1st decade of decade of August (FI, SE).