Bird eggs or wheat: Assessing the impact of an overabundant crow species in a landscape mosaic in the Negev desert of Israel

Abstract

The intensification of land alterations promotes the spread of invasive and overabundant species. Yet, controlling such species is not always derived from extensive impact assessments. We explored the consequences of the Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) expansion into the arid region of Israel on the local biota. Crow activities and their potential effects were examined in a nature reserve and its surrounding agricultural lands. We used line transect counts and Global Positioning System (GPS) tagging to assess crow habitat utilization patterns. To measure crow impact on the local community, we compared artificial nest predation rates between agrarian and natural land types. Compositional analysis of the GPS-tagged crows' home range indicated a preference for arable lands, with low utilization of natural areas, limited to the vicinity of the nature reserve edges. Accordingly, Hooded Crows were among the dominant nest predators, mainly in agricultural lands or near their borders. These findings suggest that crow impact on natural habitats is low and limited to highly exploratory individuals. As crow abundance is expected to continue increasing, we call for short and long-term management actions, including establishing agri-environmental schemes to boost the local community's resistance to overabundant and invasive species.