DOT-WINGED CRAKE PORZANA SPILOPTERA (RALLIDAE; DURNFORD, 1877) IN CHILE: NEW RECORDS AND A REVIEW OF THE STATUS OF PACIFIC POPULATIONS

We report new records of the Dot-winged Crake Porzana spiloptera in southern Chile, an almost unknown species distributed mainly in Argentina and recently discovered in Chile. The occasional capture of a juvenile of the species at Cruces River wetland (39°S), and the analysis of sound recordings obtained to explore the acoustic attributes of urban wetland soundscapes, made it possible to discuss the status of the Pacific populations of the species. The new records show that P. spiloptera has a resident status and suggest that the presence of the species in Chile went historically unnoticed, and that it has been confused with the Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis. Comprehensive surveys and dedicated research that provide fundamental biological aspects such as the current distribution, population abundance, habitat requirements, and main threats for these secretive rails are urgently needed for their conservation

Biological Earth observation with animal sensors

Space-based tracking technology using low-cost miniature tags is now delivering data on fine-scale animal movement at near-global scale. Linked with remotely sensed environmental data, this offers a biological lens on habitat integrity and connectivity for conservation and human health; a global network of animal sentinels of environmen-tal change

Do 50-year-old Ramsar criteria still do the best possible job?:A plea for broadened scientific underpinning of the global protection of wetlands and migratory waterbirds

With its focus on wetlands, the Ramsar Convention provides the clearest global agreement helping the conservation of migratory waterbirds. Two specific criteria (5 and 6) support the scientific basis for sites to achieve Ramsar recognition based on waterbird counts, while criterion 4, on species and ecological communities, also plays a role. Other international conventions and agreements follow these criteria. We identify several reasons why the listing thus established can only “catch” the absolute minimum wetland network for the conservation of migratory waterbirds. We argue that individual tracking and modern observational tools allow to better delineate the areas needed to effectively give migratory waterbird populations full life cycle protection. The sophisticated techniques to measure population characteristics now available should be used to modernize the guidance for the application of Criteria 4 and 6 of the Ramsar Convention for waterbirds, based on (i) time spent in a site throughout migration; (ii) critical (“untouchable”) sites; (iii) robustness of designated site network including buffer areas; (iv) full life cycle information—including early life phases; and (v) refuges used on-and-off during migration in emergency situations. In these enhanced ways, migratory waterbirds can enact their roles as effective sentinels of the ecological state of the world.</p

The mitochondrial genome of two long-distance migratory shorebirds: the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) and the Red knot (Calidris canutus)

We report the mitochondrial genome sequences of two migratory shorebirds, the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) and the Red knot (Calidris canutus) obtained through shotgun sequencing. The mitogenome is of 16.445 bp for the godwit and 15.609 bp for the knot containing thirteen protein-coding genes, two rRNAs, twenty-two tRNAs, and a control region. The ATP8 and tRNA-Glu were not found in the knot. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis supported the position of both species in the clade of the Scolopacidae Family

Widespread Presence of Domestic Dogs on Sandy Beaches of Southern Chile

Dogs on sandy beaches are a threat to shorebirds. Managing this problem requires understanding the factors that influence the abundance of dogs in these ecosystems. We aimed to determine the proportion of beaches used by dogs and the effects of human presence on dog abundance on sandy beaches of southern Chile. We conducted dog counts and recorded the presence of tracks on 14 beaches. We used zero-inflated generalized linear mixed models to determine if the number of people, number of households, and other covariates were associated with dog abundance. We detected dog tracks on all the beaches, and dog sightings on most of them. Dogs were frequently not supervised (45%) and only 13% of them were leashed. The number of people on the beach and the number of houses near the beach were positively associated with the number of dogs on beaches. Finally, when dogs co-occurred with whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus), the probability of dog harassment was high (59%). Our work reveals that human presence determines the abundance of dogs on sandy beaches. Therefore, our study suggests that any strategy aiming at reducing dog harassment of shorebirds requires changes in those human behaviors that favor the presence of free-ranging dogs at beaches

Long-distance travellers stopover for longer: a case study with spoonbills staying in North Iberia

International audienceLong-distance migration is widespread among birds, connecting breeding and wintering areas through a set of stopover localities where individuals refuel and/or rest. The extent of the stopover is critical in determining the migratory strategy of a bird. Here, we examined the relationship between minimum length of stay of PVC-ringed birds in a major stopover site and the remaining flight distance to the overwintering area in the Eurasian spoonbill () during four consecutive autumn migrations. We also analysed the potential effect of timing (arrival date), as well as the role of experience in explaining stopover duration of spoonbills. Overall, birds wintering in Africa, and facing long-distance travel from the stopover site (ca. 3,000 km) stay for longer (2.7 ± 0.4 days) than Iberian winterers (1.5 ± 0.2 days) that perform a much shorter migration (ca. 800 km). These differences were consistent between years. Stopover duration was not significantly affected by the age of the bird. However, there was a significant reduction as migration advanced. Our results suggest that spoonbills develop different stopover strategies depending on the expected distance to the wintering grounds. Adults, especially long-distance migratory ones, could reduce the potential negative effects of density-dependence processes by avoiding stopover at the end of the migration period. These findings are of significant relevance for understanding differences in migratory behaviour within single populations, especially for declining waterbirds, as well as stress the relevance of preserving stopover localities for the conservation of intraspecific diversity in migratory species

Data from: Identifying management actions to increase foraging opportunities for shorebirds at semi-intensive shrimp farms

The expansion of aquaculture has resulted in widespread habitat conversion throughout the world. Identifying beneficial management measures may dramatically reduce negative impacts of aquaculture for migratory birds. We studied how densities of foraging shorebirds varied at ponds within a semi-intensive shrimp aquaculture farm on the north-western coast of Mexico, as related to timing of harvest and tidal cycles. Further, we estimated the total daily available area for each shorebird species throughout two entire harvesting seasons at the shrimp farm. High densities (average ca. 50 individuals per ha) of foraging shorebirds were found during the first days following pond harvest. The most abundant species were Willet Tringa semipalmata and Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus, followed by Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa and American Avocet Recurvirostra americana. Other regular, but less abundant, species were whimbrel Numenius phaeopus and dowitchers Limnodromus spp. Densities of shorebirds sharply declined daily following harvest. In addition, the time-window availability of harvested ponds was related to each species' foraging behaviour: <2 days for godwits and dowitchers, 4 days for stilts, 5 days for willets and more than a week for avocets and whimbrels. However, birds continued to use harvested ponds that received a low, but continuous water influx. Our results demonstrate that a tropical shrimp farm represents a patchy environment that provides 4·3–12·7% (depending on species) of its total area as foraging opportunities for shorebirds. Synthesis and applications. Sequential harvesting of shrimp aquaculture farm ponds and increasing moisture of the substrate by providing some water supply to harvested ponds, at least throughout the harvesting period, could integrate shorebird conservation into shrimp-farm production. These low-cost and easy management procedures would not increase costs or affect shrimp production – thus representing a win-win opportunity – and would have potential applications for shorebird conservation throughout the world

Paíño europeo – Hydrobates pelagicus Linnaeus, 1758

Aves - Orden Procellariiformes - Familia Hydrobatidae en la Enciclopedia Virtual de Vertrebrados Españoles, http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/.A comprehensive review of the natural history of the Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) in Spain.Peer reviewe