Pratincole Glareola Research Articles

Changes in the waterbird community of the Lake Sevan–Lake Gilli area, Republic of Armenia: a case for restoration

Waterbird species richness (Gaviiformes, Podicipediformes, Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes, Phoenicopteriformes, Falconiformes, Anseriformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Passeriformes) has been significantly affected by a 19.5 m lowering of the water level in Lake Sevan (1933–2000), and the complete draining of nearby Lake Gilli (1960–2000) in the Republic of Armenia. Twenty-three former breeders are currently nonbreeders in the area. Four former breeders (black stork Ciconia nigra, glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus, white-winged scoter Melanitta fusca, little crake Porzana parva) have been extirpated from the area. Four former nonbreeders (cattle egret Bubulcus ibis, red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis, sociable lapwing Chettusia gregaria, lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus) have been absent from the area for at least 20 years. The red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator is the only former nonbreeder discovered breeding in the Lake Sevan basin. We recommend that management plans of the 1960s and 1970s be used to further develop and enact new efforts to increase the water level of Lake Sevan by at least 6 m, and that Lake Gilli and its surrounding wetlands be restored as a means of increasing waterbird species richness overall, and protecting regional populations of globally threatened or near-threatened species (Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus, red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis, ferruginous pochard Aythya nyroca, white-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala, corn crake Crex crex, great snipe Gallinago media, black-winged pratincole Glareola nordmanni, white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla).

Use of the Drana Lagoon (Evros Delta, Greece) by threatened colonially nesting waterbirds and its possible restoration

Six species of waterbirds nested colonially on small islands in the Drana saltwater lagoon in the Evros Delta from 1980 to 1986 and in the freshwater lake created in 1989, namely avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, collared pratincole Glareola pratincola, common tern Sterna hirundo, little tern Sterna albifrons, gull-billed tern Sterna nilotica and Mediterranean gull Larus melanocephalus. The favoured islands provided greater isolation, were larger, and had greater cover of plant species preferred by the birds. The most important habitat factor affecting the choice of bird populations in general was isolation of islands. The gradual concentration of most species in the Drana lagoon was due to habitat alteration, predation and disturbance in coastal habitats resulting in scarcity of suitable breeding habitat. The Drana lagoon had a prominent conservation, scientific and economic value and therefore its restoration is recommended by reflooding with sea water, which would better ensure the preservation of the values of the area.

Colony and Nest-Site Selection by Collared Pratincoles (Glareola pratincola) in Southwest Spain

Colony and Nest-Site Selection by Collared Pratincoles (Glareola pratincola) in Southwest Spain

Effects of agricultural land-use on the breeding of collared pratincole Glareola pratincola in south-west Spain

The collared pratincole Glareola pratincola is an insectivorous wader with a small and declining breeding population in southern Europe. Aspects of its breeding performance were studied in a marshland and a farmland colony in south-western Spain. Clutch size was similar in both habitats but eggs were bigger in the marshland colony. Hatching success was much lower in the farmland colony due to agricultural activities. Food availability was analysed with pit fall traps and sticky traps. Capture rate (number of individuals captured per day) was slightly higher in marshland than in farmland for pitfalls, but there were no differences in insect capture rates by sticky traps. It was not possible to record fledging success but chicks were fed at the same rate and adult attendance and chick growth were very similar in marshland and farmland. Food does not seem to be a constraint to chick rearing in either habitat. Altogether, breeding performance of birds nesting in marshes was good, while for those breeding in crops egg losses due to agricultural activities during the incubation period severely reduced chick production. Simple changes to farming practice might alleviate this problem.

Evaluation of the ornithological importance of the Alyki Kitrous wetland, Macedonia, Greece: a priority for conservation

The ornithological importance of the Alyki Kitrous wetland (Macedonia, Greece) is evaluated for five groups of birds of special conservation interest by comparison with existing criteria. Ten raptor species (six protected in the EC) occurred but in small numbers. Herons also occurred in small numbers, but wintering great white egrets Egretta alba and wintering and summering spoon-bills Platalea leucorodia occurred in numbers of international importance. Waterfowl were especially abundant in winter, but Alyki was of international importance only for shelduck Tadorna tadorna, although in the past it had also been important for Eurasian wigeons Anas penelope. Alyki was also nationally important for the most abundant wintering anatid species, and for overall numbers, and has been occasionally important for coots. Waders were most abundant in spring migration: avocets Recurvirostra avosetta (during most of the year) and collared-pratincoles Glareola pratincola (in summer) occurred in internationally important numbers. Of breeding waders the same species were important in numbers both internationally and nationally. The latter category also included black-winged stilts Himantopus himantopus. Larids formed one of the most abundant groups, and Alyki was internationally important for particular breeding species such as Mediterranean gulls Larus melanocephalus and gull-billed terns Gelochelidon nilotica. It was also nationally important for breeding common Sterna hirundo and little S. albifrons terns and wintering and breeding slender-billed gulls Larus genei. The Alyki Kitrous wetland is threatened by illegal building and unscheduled development of the salines in the area. Priority conservation measures are proposed.

DISTRIBUTION AND BREEDING OF THE ROCK PRATINCOLE ON THE UPPER AND MIDDLE ZAMBEZI RIVER

Summary Williams, G. D., Coppinger, M. P. & Maclean, G. L. 1989. Distribution and breeding of the Rock Pratincole on the Upper and Middle Zambezi river. Ostrich 60: 55–64. The Rock Pratincole Glareola nuchalis was studied on the Upper and Middle Zambezi fromMayto November 1986 and from April to December 1987. Altogether 1938 Rock Pratincoles were counted; their distribution was closely associated with the availability of breeding habitat. The first birds were seen in mid-August and the species was still present in December. They nested in loose colonies on midstream rocks separated from the shore by flowing water. Sixty-four clutches (mean clutch size 1,8 eggs) were found and 44 eggs measured (mean size 29,2 x 21,5 mm). The eggs were usually laid on bare rock less than 1 m above the surface of the water and were sometimes in shade. Both sexes incubated and the frequency of nest relief was greatest during the hottest times of the day. The responses of incubating birds to overheating were bill-opening, pant...

Vögel als Schädlingsvertilger im Altertum

Pest feeding birds in the antique The usefulness of certain species of birds in exterminating of vermins was known already in the antique. From birds looked useful were mentioned (whereby we are dependent partially on suppositions): owls, little owl, throstles, wood-pecker, hawk, ibis, stork and rock-partridge. A special part is attributed to the birds in fighting against the grass-hoppers; there is reported about the useful activity on this section by daws, rose-ousels, krestels, owls blue-rollers, crows and larks. Some of this birds are so much estimated, that they were protected by strong penalties. However for the “beginning of bird-protection” ther were decisive only selfish views in regard of men or magic ideas. Illustrations about birds with vermins especially with grass-hoppers are found sporadicly on coins, gems and mosaics. The pictured birds are owl, cook, throstle and on the mosaics here for the first time published: purple-hen, indian parrot and another bird perhaps Glareola pratincola.

Les migrateurs paléarctiques au Sénégal. II. Passereaux et synthèse générale

This article reports the results of several years of faunistic and ecological research on palearctic migratory birds in Senegal. Most of the data was collected in the north portion of the country in full Sahelian zone. The major environments studied are described and the representative migratory elements of their avifauna indicated. Each species is then considered separately under several aspects : systematic, dates of presence, habitat, relative abundance and diet when known. The banding information has been included. The number of palearctic species «wintering» in Senegal is considerable : 150, or over a third of the total known avifauna of the region. It appears from this fact, that wintering in West Africa is qualitatively comparable to what it is in East Africa, regarded till now as a privileged zone. Several unknown or rarely mentionned species of tropical Western Africa have been observed and collected. Among them : Porzana porzana, P. pusilla, P. parva, Burhinus oedicnemus, Larus audouinii, Otus scops, Caprimulgus ruficollis, Locust ella tusci-nioides, L. naevia, Acrocephalus schenobaenus, Luscinia svecica, Emberiza hortulana. Emphasis is placed on the particularly abundant species : Ciconia ciconia, Anas querquedula, Milvus m. migrans, Philomachus pugnax, Limosa limosa, Streptopelia turtur, Motacilla flava, etc., as well as those with a still ambiguous status : Ixobrychus m, minutas, Plegadis falcinellus, Gallinula chl. chloropus, Glareola pratincola, Clamator glandarius, etc. During their migrations, while some species only rapidly cross the region studied : Cuculus canorus, Apus apus, Merops apiaster, Sylvia borin, Phylloscopus trochilus, Muscicapa striata, Ficedula hypoleuca, Saxicola rubetra, etc., others are absent only during a period equal to or under two months, Tringa ssp, Philomachus pugnax, Lanius senator, etc., ; others finally leave representatives all year round : Limosa limosa, Himantopus himantopus, Hippolais pallida, for exemple. Banding results and morphological examination tend to show that most of the migrants come from northern and western Europe. However the contribution of palearctic Africa is not to be underrated : Falco biarmicus erlangeri, Buteo rufinus cirtensis, Capri-mulgus aegyptus saharae, Oenanthe oe. seebohmi, etc. Some species originate from eastern Europe or Asia : Circus macrourus, Tringa stagnatilis, Oenanthe isabellina, and others come from Greenland : Charadrius h. hiaticula, Oenanthe oe. leucorhoa. Local banding revealed, on the other hand, that some species regularly return to the same wintering sites. This is the case for Motacilla alba, Hippolais pallida, Sylvia cantillans, Phylloscopus collybita and Phoenicurus phoenicurus.

A note on Glareola platincola

The pratincole, Glareola pratincola, has been considered as a straggler, only ten records being known during the past 60 years. However, recently it was repeatedly observed in Osaka. In August and early September of 1952, '53 and '54 the author observed its flocks of up to seven birds at the mouth of R. Ichikawa, Himeji City, Hyogo. Its coloration, general structure with large eyes and mouth adapted for aerial catching of insects, detailed habits and behaviour, flight and stomach contents of five birds collected, are given. Its stay on migration is very short; it keeps off from salt water and is more sensitive to tidal conditions than other shore-birds. Its flight is often acrobatic and feeds in the air, and makes a long glide before landing. Entire dragonflies, butterflies (Polytremis), grosshopper, ground beetles and ground bees, etc. were found in the oesophagus and gizzard. Often a few entire insects were packed in the mouth.

Notes on some rare shorebirds recorded from Osaka Bay, Japan (2)

The present paper includes brief accounts of a total of nine (9) species of shorebirds considered as rare visitors in Japan which I have collected from January 1950 to June 1954 on the Nanko mudflat along the shore of Osaka Bay. Records have been maintained on a total of 173 study trips made in this area during the above period. A more detailed, complete publication of my observations in this area is contemplated within the next few years.The following species are here recorded:1) Tringa stagnatilis (see Tori, No. 65)2) Pseudototanus guttifer (see Tori, No. 65)3) Calidris canutus canutus4) Calidris ferruginea5) Limicola falcinellus sibirica6) Crocethia alba7) Charadrius leschenaultii leschenaultii8) Himantopus himantopus himantopus9) Glareola pratincola maldivarum

A SURVEY OF THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHERN LIBYA.

SUMMARY A summary of bird records in Cyrenaica, listed in systematic order, has been made from published literature, unpublished field notes of various observers, and personal observations. There are now satisfactory records of some 190 species. In a collection of specimens made in March‐May 1952 the following species seem to be new records for Cyrenaica:–Ardeola ralloides, Falco biarmicus, Porzana parva, Tringa erythropus, Limicola falcinellus, Glareola pratincola, Pterocles coronatus, Otus scops, Caprimulgus europaeus, Ptyonoprogne rupestris, Oenanthe isabellina, Hippolais pallida, Scotocerca inquieta, Lanius minor, Emberiza hortulana. Taxonomic notes on the collection have been made.

A SURVEY OF THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHERN LIBYA

SUMMARY 1 A summary of bird records in Cyrenaica, listed in systematic order, has been made from published literature, unpublished field notes of various observers, and personal observations. There are now satisfactory records of some 190 species. 2 In a collection of specimens made in March-May 1952 the following species seem to be new records for Cyrenaica:–Ardeola ralloides, Falco biarmicus, Porzana parva, Tringa erythropus, Limicola falcinellus, Glareola pratincola, Pterocles coronatus, Otus scops, Caprimulgus europaeus, Ptyonoprogne rupestris, Oenanthe isabellina, Hippolais pallida, Scotocerca inquieta, Lanius minor, Emberiza hortulana. 3 Taxonomic notes on the collection have been made.