Habitat selection by the Canary Islands stonechat ( Saxicola dacotiae) (Meade-Waldo, 1889) in Fuerteventura Island: a two-tier habitat approach with implications for its conservation

Abstract

Habitat selection by the Canary Islands stonechat ( Saxicola dacotiae), an endemic bird of Fuerteventura Island (Canary Islands, Spain), was studied in a two-tier habitat approach of microhabitat and landscape. Birds spent all their foraging time on stony fields and barrancos, avoiding lava and sandy fields. Slopes with high shrub coverage were the best predictors of occurrence of Canary Islands stonechats at a landscape scale. At a microhabitat scale, slopes with large boulders were selected, whilst those covered with small stones were clearly avoided. Birds used those places that supported the largest invertebrate densities. Two main threats to the species are: (1) grazing pressure (which could increase the process of desertification and decrease the availability of food), and (2) the destruction or alteration of optimal habitats, mainly owing to an increase in tourism development. Future management efforts should include the protection of large patches of stony field and barranco habitats, with slopes having at least 50% of shrub cover and large boulders. In addition, rigorous studies are needed to ascertain the maximum level of goat grazing for maintaining these optimal habitats for the Canary Island stonechat.