Abstract
The identification of migration routes, wintering grounds and stopover sites are crucial issues for the understanding of the Palearctic-African bird migration system as well as for the development of relevant conservation strategies for trans-Saharan migrants. Using miniaturized light-level geolocators we report a comprehensive and detailed year round track of a granivorous trans-Saharan migrant, the European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur). From five recovered loggers, our data provide new insights on migratory journeys and winter destinations of Turtle Doves originating from a breeding population in Western France. Data confirm that Turtle Doves wintered in West Africa. The main wintering area encompassed Western Mali, the Inner Delta Niger and the Malian/Mauritanian border. Some individuals also extended their wintering ranges over North Guinea, North-West of Burkina Faso and the Ivory-Coast. Our results reveal that all individuals did not spend the winter period at a single location; some of them experienced a clear eastward shift of several hundred kilometres. We also found evidence for a loop migration pattern, with a post-breeding migration flyway lying west of the spring route. Finally, we found that on their way back to breeding grounds Turtle Doves needed to refuel after crossing the Sahara desert. Contrary to previous suggestions, our data reveal that birds used stopover sites for several weeks, presumably in Morocco and North Algeria. This later finding is a crucial issue for future conservation strategies because environmental conditions on these staging areas might play a pivotal role in population dynamics of this declining species.
Highlights
Populations of Afro-Palearctic migrant birds have suffered a sustained and severe decline for several decades [1]
It is well established that the environmental conditions experienced on the wintering grounds may significantly affect the population dynamics of trans-saharan migrants [4,5,6,7,8,9]
It is thought that food access and quality might be among the major proximate environmental factors shaping the survival of birds on their wintering quarters [4]. Besides this potent and direct impact on population dynamics, habitat quality and environmental conditions experienced by birds on their wintering grounds may have delayed adverse effects on subsequent breeding success [10]
Summary
Populations of Afro-Palearctic migrant birds have suffered a sustained and severe decline for several decades [1]. It is thought that food access and quality might be among the major proximate environmental factors shaping the survival of birds on their wintering quarters [4] Besides this potent and direct impact on population dynamics, habitat quality and environmental conditions experienced by birds on their wintering grounds may have delayed adverse effects on subsequent breeding success [10]. While such carry-over effects have been documented in few species [10,11,12,13], they are suspected to be more conspicuous in migratory birds than previously thought [14]. Resting or fuelling conditions before crossing may play a crucial role in the success of migration journeys, on subsequent body condition and on individual fitness
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