White-tailed Kite Movement and Nesting Patterns in an Agricultural Landscape

Erichsen, A; Smallwood, Shawn K.; Commandatore, A. Marc; Wilson, Barry W.; Fry, Michael

doi:10.1016/b978-012100130-8/50020-1

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Raptors have been considered sensitive to humaninduced environmental transformations (Newton 1979). Thus, species inhabiting temperate North American agricultural lanscapes have suffered greatly from modern improvements in agro-pastoralism (Colvin 1985;Schmutz 1989;Erichsen et al 1996;Smallwood et al 1996). Precise information is lacking, however, about the influence of these changes on European dryland raptors (Donázar et al 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conflicts between Lesser Kestrel Conservation and European Agricultural Policies as Identif ied by Habitat Use Analyses

Tella¹,

Forero

Hiraldo

et al. 1998

Conservation Biology

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European pseudo-steppes have suffered from extensive changes in agricultural practices during the past decades with the disappearance of field margins and fallow systems and the increase of biocide treatments. The negative effect on wildlife has led to the adoption by the European Union of policies more compatible with environmental conservation, but decisions about optimal land use are difficult to make because of lack of information. We studied habitat use by the Lesser Kestrel ( Falco naumanni ), a globally vulnerable species, in a Spanish pseudo-steppe (Los Monegros) where traditional agro-grazing systems are still being practiced, and we compared the results with those of another Spanish pseudo-steppe where modern and intensive agriculture has been implemented. We focused on the use by Lesser Kestrels of habitats subject to changes provoked by recent agricultural policies. Habitat availability was determined in a 3-km radius around 11 colonies, where 23 Lesser Kestrels were radio-tracked during the chick-rearing stage. Habitat selection was determined through compositional analysis. The rank of selected habitats was similar for all kestrels, considering both habitats surveyed and habitats where kestrels hunted. Kestrels selected field margins and cereal fields and rejected abandoned crops and scrubland. This selectivity seemed to be due to prey availability. In the intensively cultivated areas the kestrels selected similar habitats but used only small foraging patches and obtained smaller prey than in the traditional agro-grazing systems, probably because of the irregular distribution of prey resources as a result of the intensive biocide treatments. Consequently, in intensively cultivated habitats Lesser Kestrels had larger home ranges (63.65 km 2 ) than in those with traditional systems (12.36 km 2 ). These differences are reflected in the productivity and population trends of both populations. Thus, the best strategy for conserving the Lesser Kestrel seems to be the maintainance of traditional cereal cultures with low biocide treatments and numerous field margins. Both agricultural intensification and marginal land abandonment (with subsequent scrubland invasion) have detrimental consequences for this and probably for other pseudo-steppe species. Positive management steps can be encouraged by recent agro-environmental regulations such as the 2078/92 European Union Reglament, which favors the creation of programs in which agricultural practices accord with wildlife conservation. Conflictos Entre la Conservación del Cernícalo Priniilla y la Politica Agraria Comunitaria Determinados por Estudios Sobre Uso del HábitatResumen: Durante las últimas décadas, las prácticas agrícolas en las pseudo-estepas europeas han sufrido fuertes cambios; los márgenes entre campos y los sistemas de barbechado han tendido a desaparecer mientras se incrementaba el uso de biocidas. Estas tendencias se aceleraron con la puesta en marcha de la Política Agraria Comúniteria (PAC) de la Unión Europea (UE). Sus efectos negativos sobre l...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conflicts between Lesser Kestrel Conservation and European Agricultural Policies as Identif ied by Habitat Use Analyses

Tella¹,

Forero

Hiraldo

et al. 1998

Conservation Biology

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“…In South Africa, breeding success is known to be higher when food supply is abundant (Mendelsohn, 1984). Most nests were built in residential areas, indicating that Black-shouldered Kite prefer to select a nest-site in the corridors of natural vegetation that comprise of agricultural and human settlement areas (Erichsen et al, 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nesting biology of Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) in oil palm landscape in Carey Island, Peninsular Malaysia

Ramli

Fauzi

2018

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences

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Black-shouldered Kite () is a well-known raptor that inhabits open areas such as oil palm plantation or paddy field. To determine preferable habitat and nesting site of Black-shouldered Kite in oil palm landscape, we conducted a study on Black-shouldered Kite's nesting biology in Carey Island, Selangor, Malaysia. We divided the island into six types of habitat and conducted road-side count of Black-shouldered Kite from April 2009 to February 2011. Whenever the Black-shouldered Kite was detected, we thoroughly searched the surrounding area for their nest. In total, we have recorded forty nests. The nests were built on 15 species of trees but most of the trees shared common physical characteristics. Some novice breeders also used oil palm tree as their nesting site. Structure and building materials of nests constructed on oil palm trees were different from nests built on other trees. Of all breeding attempts, only four nests which were located in residential area adjacent to young oil palm habitat were successful. Among important characteristics of successful nesting site include taller trees with strong branches and good leaf coverage. These trees not only protect nests from predator detection (except from other predatory birds) and physical environment but also facilitate Black-shouldered Kite's foraging activities by providing good vantage point.

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Comparing pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) density in alfalfa stands to assess management and conservation goals in northern California

Smallwood

Geng

Zhang

2001

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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White-tailed Kite Movement and Nesting Patterns in an Agricultural Landscape

Cited by 7 publications

References 6 publications

Conflicts between Lesser Kestrel Conservation and European Agricultural Policies as Identif ied by Habitat Use Analyses

Conflicts between Lesser Kestrel Conservation and European Agricultural Policies as Identif ied by Habitat Use Analyses

Nesting biology of Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) in oil palm landscape in Carey Island, Peninsular Malaysia

Comparing pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) density in alfalfa stands to assess management and conservation goals in northern California

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