Compte rendu ornithologique camarguais pour les années 1990-1994

Abstract

The present ornithological report for the Camargue covers five years (1990-1994). This time-period was characterised by mild winters, high yearly rainfall in 1990, 1993 and 1994 and a sharp drop of salinity in the Vaccarès. The Little Egret and the Cattle Egret have increased their breeding figures that might be related to some mild winters and good breeeding success. The Black-crowned Night Heron was still at a low level. With about 1500 breeding pairs, the Grey Heron has nearly tripled its numbers since 1981, whereas the Purple Heron has continued to decline. The following species have become new breeders : White Stork, Great Egret, Glossy Ibis, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose and Common Buzzard. Some others have become rare breeders : Collared Pratincole, Stone-curlew, Eurasian Scops Owl, Little Owl and Com Bunting. These species have been threatened by habitat alterations to their breeding grounds or along their migration routes and wintering quarters. There is a concern about the breeding of gulls, terns and waders in the two salines of Camargue. While the number of breeding islets has remained un¬ changed, most of them are now colonised by the Yellow-legged Gull. This has led to dramatic population shifts of the smaller species from one saline (Salin de Giraud) to the other (Aigues-Mortes). At the latter site, the smaller species have, moreover, adopted nest sites with low breeding success. Thus, the survival of several species is guaranteed by immigration movements from abroad. The Black-headed Gull has continued to decline, but the Slender-billed Gull, the Mediterranean Gull and the Sandwich Tern has increased and other species have remained more or less stable. The trend of all these species should be followed with great care and the carrying capacity of the two salines must be urgently enhanced. A few individuals of some trans-Saharan migrants have overwintered (Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, Black-winged Stilt, Common Tern, Whiskered Tern, Wryneck and Yellow Wagtail) or have increasingly overwintered (Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover). The recent mild winters may have favoured this trend. Two other species (Cetti’s Warbler and Fantailed Warbler) have increased their breeding numbers probably for the same reason. The Purple Swamphen and the Spotless Starling are expected to become new breeders in a near future. The Common Crane and the Greylag Goose have increased their wintering numbers. The Camargue still remains a good breeding area for the Mallard but the Gadwall did not progress. The Common Pochard is still absent as a breeder. Among the Anatidae, only the Greylag Goose and the Mute Swan have increased as breeders. The high hunting pressure is suspected to be the major factor that limits the overall carrying capacity of the Camargue for wintering ducks and coots. A concern for wildlife conservationists and for hunters.