Spatial Distribution and Scale-Dependent Habitat Selection by Eurasian Woodcocks<i>Scolopax rusticola</i>at the South-Western Limit of its Continental Breeding Range in Northern Spain

Braña, F.; González‐Quirós, Pablo; Prieto, Laureano; González, Francisco

doi:10.3161/000164513x669973

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Some small sedentary Woodcock populations do survive much further South and West than this on the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands, but these populations are small with restricted distributions largely confined to mountainous regions (Machado et al 2008). The same is true of small breeding populations in Northern Spain (Braña et al 2013). This tendency to favour upland areas, where soils are moister at more southerly latitudes, suggests that climate probably does, in some instances, limit distribution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current status and recent trend of the Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaas a breeding bird in Britain

et al. 2015

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Capsule The breeding Woodcock population in Britain in 2013 was estimated at 55 241 males (95% CL: 41 806-69 004), suggesting a large-scale decline that is supported by 2 additional sources of data. Aims To provide an updated estimate of the size of Britain's breeding Woodcock population, measure recent trends and identify spatial patterns of change. Methods Displaying male Woodcock were surveyed at a stratified sample of 834 randomly selected sites. Population estimates were compared with a baseline survey conducted in 2003 and the trend with data from annual Woodcock counts (2003-13) and Bird Atlas 2007-11. Results Woodcock were estimated to be present at 22% of 1 × 1 km squares containing ≥10 ha of woodland, compared to 35% in 2003. The British population estimate fell by 29% between 2003 and 2013. The Atlas suggests that presence at the 10 × 10 km scale has declined by 56% between 1970 and 2010. Both data sources suggest regional variation in the rate of decline, with losses greatest in the West and South. Conclusion The Woodcock's population size and breeding range appear to be declining severely across Britain. Regional variation in the rate of decline might be explained by the distribution of large continuous woodlands. An increasing body of research indicates recent changes in the composition of woodland bird communities in the UK (Amar et al. 2006, Hewson et al. 2007, Hopkins & Kirby 2007, Fuller et al. 2007a), with many species showing declines in range and abundance through the latter half of the 20th century (Fuller et al. 2005). These may be attributed to a range of hypotheses and their causes are likely to be species-specific (see Fuller et al. 2005 for an overview). The declines of several species have been linked to changes in woodland structure and floristic composition, especially reduced understorey density (Amar et al. 2006, Hopkins & Kirby 2007, Hewson & Noble 2009, Hewson et al. 2011), as well as reduced floristic diversity (Fuller et al. 2005) and the loss of open woodland habitats associated with early successional growth (Fuller et al. 2007a, Quine et al. 2007). An increasing trend in average woodland age since the large-scale postwar afforestation of the late 1940s and 1950s (Hopkins & Kirby 2007, Mason 2007), as well as modification, reduction or cessation of management in many woods (Fuller et al. 2005, Amar et al. 2006) are usually agreed to be important factors driving such changes. In many cases, these issues may be compounded by the impact of increased browsing pressure from rising deer populations (Gill & Fuller 2007, Holt et al. 2011) and climate change (Leech & Crick 2007). Although the Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola (hereafter Woodcock) differs ecologically from most of the woodland birds considered in previous studies, it is likely to be susceptible to some of the factors thought to be responsible for their declines. Fuller et al. (2005) were unable to identify any strong hypotheses to account for a decline in Woodcock but they listed disturbance, reduction of the field ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current status and recent trend of the Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaas a breeding bird in Britain

et al. 2015

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“…For instance, among migratory land birds, the Ruby‐throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris mainly prefers flowering shrub habitats for feeding requirements at a large spatial scale, whereas the need to avoid predation drives the use for higher, denser tree cover at a finer spatial scale (Deppe & Rotenberry 2008). Similarly, the scale‐dependent trade‐off between food requirements and low predation risk has been described, for example in the Brewer’s Sparrow Spizella breweri (Chalfoun & Martin 2007) as well as in the Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola (Braña et al 2013). In addition, organisms can show multi‐scale responses to a single resource, as for instance the different pattern of human avoidance in Bald Eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus at finer and coarser spatial scales (Thompson & McGarigal 2002).…”

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confidence: 87%

Circannual variation in habitat use of the White‐winged SnowfinchMontifringilla nivalis nivalis

Bettega

Fernández‐González²,

Obeso

et al. 2020

Ibis

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High mountain areas are subject to strong seasonal fluctuations, and species inhabiting these particular environments show a high degree of habitat specialization to cope with extreme abiotic conditions. Estimates of habitat use are influenced by the spatial and seasonal scales at which they are evaluated, so studies at multiple scales are important in order to explore adaptive responses to seasonal environments. In the present study, we assessed habitat use of the White‐winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis subsp. nivalis (henceforth Snowfinch) during breeding and non‐breeding seasons at three different spatial scales (diameters of 100, 250 and 500 m). Although Snowfinches clearly used high‐elevation habitats in both seasons, there was evidence that they are less specific during the non‐breeding period: the variance explained by habitat and topographical factors was lower in winter than in the breeding season. Moreover, our results suggest that the use of habitat is scale‐dependent. This pattern was especially relevant in the breeding season, perhaps because habitat use might be more related to nest‐site selection and specific foraging sites to provide food for nestlings. Snowfinches use high mountain habitats throughout the year, probably as a consequence of physiological and morphological specializations typical of high‐elevation species, but in winter they show a certain flexibility in habitat use. Snowfinches might thus adopt a flexible specialist strategy. This could represent a trade‐off to overcome possible effects on survival, condition and fitness, which can be particularly strong in harsh, unpredictable environments.

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“…The species can be found in Russia, Fennoscandia, the Baltic States, United Kingdom, central Europe and the Caucasus as a resident or a summer visitor, also in the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black sea and Atlantic coastal regions as a winter visitor (Svensson et al 2009;BirdLife International 2017). The species can be observed as a winter visitor for Turkey in moist woodland as well as in humid, earthworm-rich, permanent grasslands, scrubs and bushes (Ferrand et al 2008;Powell 2012;Braña et al 2013;BirdLife International 2017). It is more likely to be observed while feeding on the edge of the moist woodland at dusk and dawn.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Temporal Status of Some Game Bird Population in Bolu, Turkey

Kirazlı

2017

Uluslararası Tarım Ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi

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and Common Blackbird are popular game birds for Turkey. It is important to gather information about the population of game birds to properly manage the hunting season in each region of Turkey. The study was carried out to evaluate the temporal status and true and reliable informations of some game birds for avoidance of the conflict between conservation of game birds and hunting tourism. A total of 18 field study were conducted from October 2015 to August 2016 in important wildlife areas of Bolu, Yeniçağa Wetland, Yedigöller National Park, Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant and Köroğlu Mountains. A dataset containing information on game birds of Bolu between 2004 and 2016 was derived from bird observers' and checklist web page. According to the results, Partridges were not observed, Woodcock was rarely recorded, European Turtle Dove and Common Quail as summer visitor and Common Woodpigeon and Common Blackbird as resident were reproduced in the study area. Consequently, hunting can be granted for game birds except Partridges, Turtledove and Woodcock, but the hunting should be conditional on lower amount for especially Quail.

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Spatial Distribution and Scale-Dependent Habitat Selection by Eurasian WoodcocksScolopax rusticolaat the South-Western Limit of its Continental Breeding Range in Northern Spain

Cited by 13 publications

References 27 publications

Current status and recent trend of the Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaas a breeding bird in Britain

Current status and recent trend of the Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaas a breeding bird in Britain

Circannual variation in habitat use of the White‐winged SnowfinchMontifringilla nivalis nivalis

A Temporal Status of Some Game Bird Population in Bolu, Turkey

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