Enhancing monitoring and transboundary collaboration for conserving migratory species under global change: The priority case of the red kite

Calls for urgent action to conserve biodiversity under global change are increasing, and conservation of migratory species in this context poses special challenges. In the last two decades the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has provided a framework for several subsidiary instruments including action plans for migratory bird species, but the effectiveness and transferability of these plans remain unclear. Such laws and policies have been credited with positive outcomes for the conservation of migratory species, but the lack of international coordination and on-ground implementation pose major challenges. While research on migratory populations has received growing attention, considerably less emphasis has been given to integrating ecological information throughout the annual cycle for examining strategies to conserve migratory species at multiple scales in the face of global change. We fill this gap through a case study examining the ecological status and conservation of a migratory raptor and facultative scavenger, the red kite (Milvus milvus), whose current breeding range is limited to Europe and is associated with agricultural landscapes and restricted to the temperate zone. Based on our review, conservation actions have been successful at recovering red kite populations within certain regions. Populations however remain depleted along the southern-most edge of the geographic range where many migratory red kites from northern strongholds overwinter. This led us to a forward-looking and integrated strategy that emphasizes international coordination involving researchers and conservation practitioners to enhance the science-policy-action interface. We identify and explore key issues for conserving the red kite under global change, including enhancing conservation actions within and outside protected areas, recovering depleted populations, accounting for climate change, and transboundary coordination in adaptive conservation and management actions. The integrated conservation strategy is sufficiently general such that it can be adapted to inform conservation of other highly mobile species subject to global change.Financial and logistic support were provided by GREFA, IREC, UCLM (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha), CSIC and MITECO.Peer reviewe

Mohoua ochrocephala abundance in the Catlins following aerial 1080 control

Pest control using aerially-distributed 1080 bait could threaten non-target native bird species either by primary or secondary poisoning. To understand the impact of aerial 1080 control on the abundance of mohua (Mohoua ochrocephala), a vulnerable endemic forest bird, we analysed bird counts from the Catlins State Forest Park recorded over the period 1998-2002. Statistical modelling showed that mohua occupancy varied during the study and actually increased after 1080 control in 1999, but not significantly so. Concurrently with high predator numbers in the area during a beech (Nothofagus spp.) mast event, mohua abundance significantly declined in 2001 but then recovered in 2002. In conclusion, this study shows no negative effect for the nationally vulnerable mohua following a single aerial 1080 possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) control operation. In fact, with improvements in the experimental design and survey effort this study suggests future work could show positive effects of aerial possum control on populations, based on the increase in mohua occupancy observed directly after 1080 application

to breed or not to breed - meadow wader nest-site selection

<p>Conference poster on nest-site selection of breeding meadow waders in agricultural grasslands of Bremen.</p> <p>Statsitical modelling shows that for conservation in agricultural grasslands polder flooding and extensive use, together with maintainance of open landscapes, promises to be effective.  </p> <p>This data-based model can assist conservation management in the study area, to optimise site attraction for breeding waders.</p> <p> </p> <p>For more information see:</p> <p>http://figshare.com/articles/Habitat_parameters_affecting_the_distribution_of_breeding_meadow_birds_in_grasslands_of_Bremen/971336</p

Habitat parameters affecting the distribution of breeding meadow birds in grasslands of Bremen

<p>The continuing rapid decline of Europe’s breeding meadow wader populations in the last three decades is largely attributed to agricultural intensification and the resulting deterioration of habitat quality in cultivated grasslands. With the widespread destruction of their former natural habitats, extensive and dynamic wetlands, these birds have found refuge in man-made grasslands. Of vital importance for these birds in meadow and pasture ecosystems are the habitat parameters groundwater level, vegetation structure and openness on a landscape scale. In this study, landscape elevation, structure and openness derived from satellite imagery, combined with annual data on agricultural use and conservation management were used to analyse nest site selection in five species of meadow waders in the Blockland grassland area in Bremen from 2009 – 2012. Based on the statistical modelling of these data the results show that the wader species Common Snipe (<em>Gallinago gallinago</em> L.), Curlew (<em>Numenius arquata</em> L.), Redshank (<em>Tringa totanus</em> L.), Northern Lapwing (<em>Vanellus vanellus</em> L.) and Black-tailed Godwit (<em>Limosa limosa</em> L.) especially prefer low-lying fields without trees in the vicinity for nesting. Also, the results show that flooding polder areas in spring, together with extensive use, strongly increases site attraction for breeding meadow waders. Furthermore, with an increasing number of small water bodies the fields in the study area became more attractive as nesting sites for the species analysed here. On the contrary, a negative effect on nest site selection in these birds was evident for fields close to power-lines and on intensively used meadows (more than three cuts per year). The agri-environmental scheme “KoopNat”, that offers contracts to farmers for adopting practices suitable for meadow breeding birds in the study area, did not show an effect on the settlement or abundance of the breeding bird species analysed here. For future management aiming to attract meadow waders for breeding in the area, removing trees close to low-lying fields and clearing and creating small water bodies promises to be effective. Raising groundwater tables and flooding fields in spring, together with long-term extensive use in grasslands will potentially help to reverse the ongoing declines of meadow wader populations in central Europe.</p