Whinchat Saxicola rubetra reproductive success according to hay cutting schedule and meadow passerine density in alluvial and upland meadows in France

Abstract

Summary In France, whinchat Saxicola rubetra populations now rarely breed at altitudes below 1,000 m except in flooded alluvial plains. Whinchat reproductive success, the timing of haymaking and meadow bird density were assessed in 2003 in six areas selected in three different flooded plains, in five areas from two massifs at altitudes ranging from 990 to 1,250 m, and in 2004 in six areas of three flooded plains, in seven areas from three massifs at altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 m. The percentage of whinchat territories in which juveniles were observed was negatively correlated with mown areas at the time when 80% of hatched broods (observation of prey carryings by adults) would theoretically be fledged. Additionally, assessed hatching success was negatively correlated with early haymaking in 2003 and with meadow passerine territory density in 2004. In upland meadows, whinchat populations exhibited either low reproductive success and low density (⩽1,200 m) or high reproductive success and high density (⩾1,200 m). In lowland flooded meadow however, high density could match low reproductive success and whinchat population then acts as a sink population. We conclude that adequate agri-environmental policy should not focus only on lowland meadows, even if the highest meadow bird diversity is often found there.