Autumn body condition of Palaearctic trans-Saharan migrant passerines at an oasis in southeast Morocco

Hama, Fadwa; Gargallo, Gabriel; Benhoussa, Abdelaziz; Zerdouk, Souad; Idrissi, Hamid Rguibi

doi:10.1080/03078698.2013.869886

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…, Hama et al. ). The results of these studies revealed that species breeding in mesic habitats had lower FDR when staging in xeric habitats similar to our study site.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Hama et al. ) may be better understood when combining observational data to capture data. All interpretations are subject to some bias related to the likelihood of capturing or being able to observe individual birds, and more information is required at the species level to understand fully the strategies adopted by migrants in areas like North Africa.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Maggini and Bairlein , Hama et al. ). Although most songbirds stopover at sites in North Africa in the spring, not all species behave the same way during stopovers (Arizaga et al.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Foraging behavior of three species of songbirds during stopover in southeastern Morocco during spring migration

et al. 2015

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ABSTRACT. Investigators studying the stopover ecology of migrating birds typically use the capture-recapture method to examine important parameters such as fuel deposition rates (FDR) and stopover duration. However, such studies can be constrained by the number of recaptures. An alternative method is to calculate a regression of mass over time of day, but this method may not be reliable because patterns of mass change of individual birds through the day may not reflect that of the whole population. Given the potential constraints of these methods, using them in combination with other methods, such as behavioral observations of foraging birds, may improve our understanding of the patterns of fuelling in birds at stopover sites. We observed the foraging behavior of three songbird species, including Western Bonelli's (Phylloscopus bonelli), Subalpine (Sylvia cantillans), and Willow (Phylloscopus trochilus) warblers, from 15 March to 30 April 2011 at a small oasis at the northern border of the Sahara desert in southeast Morocco. Given the location of our study site at the northern edge of the Sahara desert, birds migrating north likely needed to replenish their energy reserves at this stage of their journey. We assessed foraging effort by determining the rate (number per unit time) at which birds pecked at substrates or made aerial forays after flying insects. Peck rates were higher for Western Bonelli's Warblers than for Subalpine and Willow warblers, suggesting either species-specific adaptations to feeding in arid environments or differences in the motivation to feed. In addition, Western Bonelli's Warblers had FDRs that were negative or close to zero and, therefore, were apparently unable to refuel successfully (i.e., increase their fuel stores) despite greater effort, possibly indicating less efficiency in obtaining food (i.e., more unsuccessful pecks). The lower peck rates of Subalpine and Willow warblers suggest either that they were less efficient at finding prey or were simply foraging at lower rates. For all three species, peck rates were lower at higher wind speeds, suggesting that wind may alter prey availability and detectability, especially of flying insects. Interactions among species-specific migration strategies, environmental conditions, and habitat quality ultimately define the success of migration. Our results suggest that using observational data in combination with capture data may improve our understanding of these interactions at migration stopover sites. RESUMEN. Conducta de forrajeo en tres especies de aves canoras que usan como parada el sureste de Marruecos durante la migración primaveralLos investigadores que estudian la ecología de aves migratorias en sus paradas, típicamente utilizan el método de recaptura para examinar parámetros tan importantes como la tasa de deposición de combustibles (FDR) y la duración de la parada. Sin embargo, estos estudios pueden ser limitados por el número de recapturas. Un método alterno es calcular una regresión de la masa durante el periodo del dia, pero e...

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“…, Hama et al. ). The results of these studies revealed that species breeding in mesic habitats had lower FDR when staging in xeric habitats similar to our study site.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Foraging behavior of three species of songbirds during stopover in southeastern Morocco during spring migration

et al. 2015

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“…In spring they undertake the return migration in March-May and reach breeding grounds in late April-early June (Arizaga et al 2010). For birds using the western migration route through Iberia in the autumn, important autumn stopover sites (before crossing the Sahara desert) are located in Spain, Portugal and Morocco (Rguibi-Idrissi et al 2003;Hama et al 2013;Andueza et al 2014;Araújo et al 2016). Bayly et al (2012) recently demonstrated that Djoudj National Park in northern Senegal is a very important stopover site for many species, including Reed Warblers, and is used intensively by the latter species, especially during the spring just before their migration across the Sahara desert.…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…food abundance) during the wintering period (see Ockendon et al 2012Ockendon et al , 2014. We used meteorological data from Senegal to assess conditions at stopover sites before the Reed Warblers crossed the Sahara during the spring migration (Bayly et al 2012) and data from Spain and Morocco to assess conditions at the autumn stopover sites (Rguibi-Idrissi et al 2003;Hama et al 2013;Andueza et al 2014). …”

Section: Meteorological Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Conditions at autumn stopover sites affect survival of a migratory passerine

Hałupka

Wierucka

Sztwiertnia³

et al. 2017

J Ornithol

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Weather is an important factor affecting many aspects of avian ecology, yet its importance for survival during various periods of the avian annual cycle has received relatively little attention and remains poorly understood. We have investigated the effect of weather conditions at the breeding and wintering grounds and during migration on the survival probability of Eurasian Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus, a long-distance Palaearctic-African migrant species. We found that annual survival was significantly affected by precipitation at the autumn stopover sites in Spain and Morocco, where Reed Warblers accumulate energy reserves prior to crossing the Sahara desert: low rainfall was associated with decreased survival. We suggest that arid conditions at these crucial stopover sites may cause limitations in food availability, prevent proper refueling and hence result in lower survival.Survival estimates were not related to weather conditions in Africa during the bird wintering period or the preceding wet season. Likewise, meteorological conditions at the breeding area did not influence survival. Survival estimates for males and females did not differ, although recapture probability was significantly lower for females than for males. Our results indicate that weather significantly influences Reed Warbler survival, although its effect may vary for different stages of the annual cycle. Our findings suggest that marked climatic changes occurring along migratory routes, in particular at important stopover sites, may have far-reaching consequences on bird survival and population size.

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Decision-making in migratory birds at stopover: an interplay of energy stores and feeding conditions

Klinner

Buddemeier

Bairlein

et al. 2020

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Autumn body condition of Palaearctic trans-Saharan migrant passerines at an oasis in southeast Morocco

Cited by 9 publications

References 28 publications

Foraging behavior of three species of songbirds during stopover in southeastern Morocco during spring migration

Foraging behavior of three species of songbirds during stopover in southeastern Morocco during spring migration

Conditions at autumn stopover sites affect survival of a migratory passerine

Decision-making in migratory birds at stopover: an interplay of energy stores and feeding conditions

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