Migratory birds under threat

Posted on by

red-knot-photo-by-romano-da-costaFrom Science

A new paper in Science by Franz Bairlein highlights how habitat degradation and loss, illegal killings, and climate change threaten European migratory bird populations.

The populations of migratory bird species that breed in Europe and overwinter in sub-Saharan Africa are declining considerably faster than those of nonmigratory resident species or of migratory species that overwinter in Europe. Likely factors are habitat changes due to changes in land use, illegal killing and taking along the northern African coasts, and climate-induced changes in timing of migration and breeding. However, not only European trans-Saharan migrants are declining fast. This holds also for North American long-distance migrants wintering in Central and South America. To halt these declines, preservation of remaining habitats and restoration of habitats both at breeding and no-breeding grounds is essential, as well as stopping illegal killing and taking of birds along their migration routes.

Illegal killing and taking

Every year, between 11 million and 36 million birds are killed or taken illegally in the Mediterranean region. The areas of greatest concern are in the eastern and central Mediterranean, with more than five million birds taken in both Egypt and Italy and an estimated one million each in Cyprus and Lebanon. Common migratory species such as Eurasian chaffinch, blackcap, and song thrush are most affected, but many less common migratory species are also taken in substantial numbers, including species of global conservation concern such as red kite and Eurasian curlew. On average, the annual illegal killings and takings of threatened or near-threatened migratory bird species amount to 1-3.5% of their populations – percentages that are very likely to have considerable impacts on the fate of these species. Illegal trapping can cause a collapse in population numbers within a short period of time. For example, the yellow-breasted bunting was abundant in its Eurasian breeding range until illegal takings in China caused an 84% population decline between 1980 and 2013.

red-kite-photo-by-regis-perdriat

Habitat degradation and loss

Many European migratory birds that overwinter in sub-Saharan Africa do not travel across those areas of the eastern Mediterranean most affected by illegal killings. Rather, they use a flyway across the western Mediterranean where illegal taking is much less intense. Other factors must play a role in their decline. A large number of European migratory species overwinter in the dry savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Annual survival of many of these species correlates with rainfall in the Sahel zone. However, despite an increase in rainfall in the Sahel in recent decades, bird populations have continued to decline. Thus, factors other than rainfall must contribute to the population declines. Land-use and landcover changes are the most important. Between 1975 and 2000, agriculture increased by 57% in sub-Saharan Africa at the expense of natural vegetation, with nearly five million hectares of forest and non-forest vegetation lost per year. Most affected are the Sahel and Guinea Savanna zones where the majority of the Eurasian migratory species overwinter. An analysis of breeding-bird survey trends of 26 long-distance migratory species in the United Kingdom shows that wintering habitat is the most important determinant of population trends, with specialist species that occupy either open or woodland habitats in Africa showing declines.

Climate change 

Climate change is another major driver for biodiversity changes, including responses of bird populations. Many migratory species, including those that overwinter in sub-Saharan Africa, now arrive earlier at their spring breeding grounds. However, different organisms do not respond to climate change at the same pace, which has led to an ecological mismatch between some consumers and their prey. Dutch pied flycatchers, which overwinter in sub-Saharan Africa, do not arrive earlier at breeding grounds, but the populations of their insect food peak earlier as a result of warmer spring temperatures.

This mismatch between breeding and food availability has caused a decline of up to 90% in Dutch pied flycatcher population sizes. Climate change–induced changes in migratory bird populations are  evident in other species too, but their relative contribution to population changes in long-distance migrants wintering requires further clarification.

pied-flycatcher-photo-by-romano-da-costa

A global issue

In North America, the Breeding Bird Survey shows that half of the migratory bird species are declining; declines in long-distance Neotropical migrants are more pronounced than those of birds that migrate short distances. As for the European–African migrants, climate mismatch is a factor, but the long-distance migrants are particularly sensitive to habitat changes. Similar patterns might be expected for migratory birds in East Asia, but large-scale and long-term breeding bird population surveys, population trends, and nonbreeding habitat assessments are largely missing for that region.

Outlook

Any attempt to understand and ameliorate migratory bird losses must consider threats far away from their breeding sites. These threats could include killing and taking, human disturbance at staging sites, pesticide exposure, or collisions with human obstacles such as wind turbines and traffic. The most important drivers of population declines in migratory bird species are likely to be land-use changes and connected habitat degradation and loss, but few studies have investigated the specific impacts of land-use and land-cover changes on migratory bird populations in detail. Such studies are urgently needed to disentangle the various factors acting on populations of migratory species.

blackcap-2-photo-by-mick-dryden

These studies must include carry-over effects, because conditions at nonbreeding grounds can affect reproductive success in the breeding season. Conversely, conditions at breeding grounds can affect nonbreeding fitness. In the red knot, climate-induced malnutrition at their Arctic breeding grounds resulted in shorter bills and reduced survival rates at their African wintering grounds. Future studies must also consider the role of stopover sites. Most long-distance migratory species rely on considerable fueling at such stopover sites before they embark on migratory flight, particularly if they need to cross oceans or deserts with no or limited feeding opportunities. The main fuel for migratory flights is fat. Consequently, migrants must accumulate enormous amounts of fat before migratory flights, some doubling their body mass within just a few weeks. To achieve that timed fueling, suitable habitats and food must be available at stopover sites. The effect of habitat loss and degradation at stopover sites on population trends in trans-Saharan migrants remains uninvestigated.

Consequently, future studies also need to clarify where species of conservation concern stop over and overwinter, and which migration routes they take. For example, British common cuckoos migrate along two routes to the same winter destination in sub-Saharan Africa. They face a much higher en route mortality when migrating along a western route than along an easterly route. Emerging technologies for tracking individual migratory birds throughout their annual cycle will reveal migratory routes and destinations in more detail than past bird marking, allowing more detailed and frequent assessment of the drivers of migratory species declines.

Existing data can, however, already be translated into immediate conservation actions to halt the decline of these migratory species. Wetlands can be protected from drainage; woody vegetation can be protected from grazing or even be replanted. Such efforts would not only support migratory birds but also the local biodiversity and livelihoods of local farmers and pastoralists. In addition, illegal taking and killing can be stopped. The required political instruments, such as the African–Eurasian Waterbird Agreement and the African–Eurasian Migratory Landbird Action Plan, are already in place. We just need to act, and we can if we wish.

song-thrush-photo-by-mick-dryden

657 thoughts on “Migratory birds under threat”

  9. I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet Inever found any interesting article like yours.It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggersmade good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.

    Reply ↓

  10. The very next time I read a blog, I hope that it won’t disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read through, however I actually thought you would have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of complaining about something you could possibly fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.

    Reply ↓

  15. Preetty nice post. I jusst stumbbled upon you wsblog and wwanted to say that I’ve tuly enjoyed suirfing ardound your blog
    posts. After alll I will be subscribing too your feed aand I hope
    yyou wriute again soon!

    Reply ↓

  150. With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism
    or copyright infringement? My site has a lot
    of exclusive content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it
    seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without
    my permission. Do you know any solutions to help stop content from being
    stolen? I’d certainly appreciate it.

    Here is my web blog; Nordvpn Coupons inspiresensation [tinyurl.com]

    Reply ↓

  251. 互に初恋の私語（さゝやき）を取交したのは爰だ。互に無邪気な情の為に燃え乍ら、唯もう夢中で彷徨（さまよ）つたのは爰だ。 HIPSHOP– 唯一無二なアンダーパンツを今までに500種類以上展開。会話が得意な方は、上手に盛り上げてお酒好きの人に飲んでもらい自分は、飲んでるようにみせて、あまり飲まないというテクニックで逃げる。の碧からAB型の自分は生まれることはないことに気付く。翌31日に檜山は上京し、連盟当局者や在京の広島県出身の有力者にも積極的にあたり、4月2日に連盟の松島鹿夫セ・

    Reply ↓

  280. Ꮋello, i reaԀ your bloog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was ϳust wwondering ifyߋu get a lot оf spam ⅽomments? If so how do you stоp it,any plugin or anything you can suggeѕt? I gеt sso much latｅlyit’s driving me insɑne so any help is very mucһ ɑppreｃiated.

    Reply ↓

  324. “［ドラゴンボールZ］新作劇場版の声優に山寺宏一と森田成一”.“. 映画『聖闘士星矢 LEGEND of SANCTUARY』. “STAFF&CAST”. 映画『SHORT PEACE』オフィシャルサイト. “『峰不二子という女』から2年–アニメ『LUPIN THE III RD 次元大介の墓標』2014年初夏、新宿バルト９にて期間限定で特別上映！ “マスコミの取材マナー悪さ ネットで指摘が相次ぐ”.ロペとアキラが通う高校の先生。特別約款で定める保険事故が発生した場合に保険金が支払われる。

    Reply ↓

  325. I intended to send you that tiny observation in order to thank you the moment again just for the stunning views you’ve discussed on this page. This is certainly remarkably generous with you to offer unreservedly just what a few individuals would have offered for sale for an ebook in order to make some bucks on their own, principally now that you could have tried it if you ever decided. These points also served to be the fantastic way to fully grasp that other individuals have the same keenness just like my personal own to know lots more on the topic of this matter. I think there are lots of more pleasant occasions ahead for those who looked over your website.

    Reply ↓

  326. また、浅羽は竹中平蔵や小泉純一郎政権の構造改革などの市場原理主義は自由を徹底させ、既得権否定などは平等実現にも思えるため左翼のようである。名越健郎.1959年（昭和34年） – 沿線で多摩田園都市の開発が始まる。衣笠泰介; 藤原昌;和久貴洋; Gulbin Jason, 本田翼「我が国におけるタレント発掘・ 1996年（平成8年）、NHKと東北新社は海外ドラマである『ER緊急救命室』の吹き替え放送（翻訳：木原たけし、演出：佐藤敏夫）に先立って、声優オーディションを開催している。

    Reply ↓

  382. *Spa Prices and discounts are subject to change without notice. Add on and spa package products are subject to availability. Spa Specials and Discounts cannot be combined with any other discounts, promotion or coupons. “They don’t have the most impressive game library but they offer a lot of regular awesome promos. Withdrawals are instant seven days a week. Good customer service and they add loyalty bonuses for your losses; they treat you fair and with respect (as they should) your a paying customer member or player, whatever you consider yourself when you visit these casinos.” “They don’t have the most impressive game library but they offer a lot of regular awesome promos. Withdrawals are instant seven days a week. Good customer service and they add loyalty bonuses for your losses; they treat you fair and with respect (as they should) your a paying customer member or player, whatever you consider yourself when you visit these casinos.”
    https://webehind.es/aviator-game-review-flying-high-with-spribe-in-kenyan-online-casinos/
    Let’s focus now on a method connectedCallback(). It’s something similar to Vue’s created() or React’s componentDidMount lifecycle methods. It allows running some Javascript when the element is connected to DOM. Similarly, we have disconnectedCallback in Web Components API which is invoked when element will be disconnected. Sign up Whether you’re a seasoned Web Component developer or just starting, keeping these nuances in mind will ensure a smoother journey as you design, develop, and deploy your components. Remember, the true power of Web Components lies not just in their encapsulation but also in their interoperability and the fine balance between the two. Happy coding! Build cross-framework component libraries on open web standards, and break free of Framework Churn. But! you get Named slots OR Imperative slots, on one Web Component

    Reply ↓

  387. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. thanks

    Reply ↓

  408. Quer testar? Não precisa pagar, nem logar, nem dar o CPF do seu hamster. É só clicar, girar e ver o caos acontecer — só aqui no demoslotsfun, o lar oficial do slot insano, grátis e maravilhoso. Ao jogar o demo, você tem acesso a todas as funcionalidades da versão paga, mas os ganhos são virtuais, sem valor real. Geralmente, para acessar o demo do Fortune Tiger, não é necessário registrar-se ou baixar o jogo; você pode obtê-lo diretamente em nosso site ou nos cassinos online que recomendamos. Esta é uma maneira conveniente e sem complicações de explorar o jogo em profundidade. A versão demo é uma ferramenta valiosa tanto para novos jogadores quanto para aqueles experientes que desejam aprimorar suas habilidades antes de jogar com dinheiro real. Experimente hoje mesmo e prepare-se para a aventura mística que o Fortune Dragon Demo tem a oferecer!
    https://swiftlysaas.com/uncategorized/analise-do-jogo-mines-da-spribe-no-cassino-online-para-jogadores-brasileiros/
    Se os provedores de slot fossem pessoas, a Pragmatic Play seria aquele maluco com quatro cafés na corrente sanguínea, criando um jogo novo por semana, ganhando torneio e ainda chegando nas festas com uma mala cheia de giros grátis e explosões de bônus. O jogo do tigre funciona como a maioria dos jogos de slots disponíveis nos cassinos, onde o jogador informa um valor de aposta e torce para que os slots tenham uma combinação vitoriosa. O jogo do tigre funciona como a maioria dos jogos de slots disponíveis nos cassinos, onde o jogador informa um valor de aposta e torce para que os slots tenham uma combinação vitoriosa. A PG Soft não cria apenas slots — ela cria experiências insanas no seu bolso. De Mahjong Ways a Fortune Tiger, cada jogo é bonito, rápido e absurdamente viciante.

    Reply ↓

  436. A mild-mannered introvert with a love for Raymond Carver and Haruki Murakami’s works, Ding comes from the coastal city of Wenzhou, renowned as the cradle of mathematicians in China and as the birthplace of the country’s landscape poetry. “This match reflects the deepness (sic) of my soul,” Ding offered in poetic summation right after he won the world title in 2023 against Ian Nepomniachtchi. A match in which he was never once in the lead through the 14-game classical affair. We BuyFullCode is the best Dragon vs Tiger game development company in india. We’ve readymade Dragon vs Tiger solution so that will save your major time The game stands out due to its unique ability to simulate the immersive experience associated with becoming a popular character or engrossing oneself within specific genres. The joy users feel is like the adrenaline rush associated with hitting jackpot-like symbols on a slot machine or developing an exhilarating suspense, strategically and gradually building up a strong hand in a risky high-stakes card game, making the game truly exceptional.
    https://nomadsjo.com/the-balloon-game-casino-trend-thats-captivating-india/
    Guys Dragon vs Tiger Is a very simple game, even a fresher also learn it easily. Inside this game a Dragon is on the left-hand side and Tiger is on the right-hand side, you need to invest money to one of these. Still, many fans noticed a pattern: Yamcha always loses in the quarter-finals, often to the most essential character of the arc, like in the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, where he lost against Tien. Yamcha competed and lost the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. He was also a technical competitor in the Cell Games. Besides that, Goku competed in the 21st, 22nd, 25th, 28th, and 31st World Martial Arts Tournaments. The 31st Tournament happened in Dragon Ball GT. Outside of the Dragon Ball anime fights, Goku forfeited most of his tournaments to deal with a significant threat or personal matter.

    Reply ↓

  446. I must convey my passion for your generosity supporting those individuals that need help on this concern. Your special commitment to passing the message around came to be pretty effective and have regularly helped folks just like me to get to their aims. Your helpful suggestions indicates much to me and still more to my office workers. Thanks a lot; from all of us.

    Reply ↓

  496. рџ”Љ Voice-Chat am Plinko-Board! Im Jahr 2023 können wir von Spins Casino Deutsch viele Verbesserungen und Neuerungen erwarten, Roulette. Auf der Suche nach dem perfekten Wochenend-Reload-Bonus für das letzte Wochenende des Jahres, pielsymbol plinko um das Ergebnis zu beeinflussen. Zum einen ermöglicht sie eine schnellere und sicherere Zahlungsabwicklung, dass unsere Online-Casino-Liste alle derzeit verfügbaren Spieleseiten vergleicht und kontrastiert und es einfach macht. In plinko erfahrung dieser ausführlichen Analyse werden wir die Faszination von Plinko erkunden und die verschiedenen Aspekte betrachten, die zu den über 80 % positivenPlinko-Erfahrungen der Spieler beitragen. Wir werden die Spielmechanik, Strategien, Vor- und Nachteile, sowie die besten Plattformen für das Spielen von Plinko beleuchten. Darüber hinaus werfen wir einen Blick auf die Spielerlebnisse und was genau es ist, das dieses Spiel so unwiderstehlich macht.
    https://huzzaz.com/createdby/HieristdieBesch
    Plinko Loto-québec Com Content рџ‘‘ Hoheitsvoll“ „plinko By Spribe Download Plinko Game Game Real-time Rtp Insights Casino À Sous Plinko Quels Sont Les Plinko Dans Les Différents Casinos? Comment Se Familiariser Grâce À Le Jeu? Existe-t-il Un Mode Démo? What Is Plinko? Plinko Game May I Hit 1000x How To Experience Plinko рџ•№️ Plinko Video In den letzten Jahren hat Plinko online die Spannung des klassischen Plinko-Spiels auf ein ganz neues Niveau gehoben. Mit dem Wachstum von Online-Glücksspiel- und Casino-Plattformen können Spieler Plinko jetzt bequem von zu Hause oder unterwegs genießen. Die Online-Version des Spiels behält die Essenz seines physischen Gegenstücks bei, fügt jedoch einige aufregende Funktionen hinzu, die es für das digitale Publikum ansprechender machen.

    Reply ↓

  498. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

    Reply ↓

  516. De originele Sweet Bonanza is uitgebracht in 2019 en speelt zich af in een vrolijk snoeplandschap. Dankzij het “pay anywhere” mechanisme, cascading wins en multipliers tot wel 100x tijdens de Free Spins, werd deze slot al snel een wereldwijde hit. In de Sweet Spins feature krijg je 10 gratis spins op de Sweet Bonanza-slot. Deze spins worden op het grote scherm gespeeld. De rollen en de uitslag zijn hetzelfde voor iedereen die deelneemt aan de bonus feature. Hotwin is uw vertrouwde provider en partner als het gaat om het aanbieden van de beste online casino ervaring in een 100% veilige en beveiligde online casino omgeving. We zijn trots op het feit dat we een B+ online casino licentie hebben van de Belgische Kansspelcommissie. Dit betekent dat we volledig gecertificeerd zijn om u een veilige en eerlijke online casino ervaring te bieden. Het officiële licentienummer van Hotwin is 5352, toegekend door de Belgische Kansspelcommissie aan SA NV Antwerp Gaming Club in 2023.
    https://camp-fire.jp/profile/tinglohundbang1972
    Connect Calaméo to your favorite applications Sweet Bonanza 1000, een nieuwe toevoeging in de Sweet Bonanza-serie! Stap in een kleurrijke 6×5 speelwereld waar snoep en fruit samenkomen voor een explosieve spelervaring. Meloenen, druiven en glinsterende harten zorgen voor smakelijke uitbetalingen, ongeacht waar ze op de rollen verschijnen. sweet bonanza yorumlar: sweet bonanza siteleri – sweet bonanza demo sweetbonanza1st.shop sweet bonanza: sweet bonanza 1st – sweet bonanza sweetbonanza1st.shop sweet bonanza demo sweet bonanza 1st sweet bonanza siteleri sweetbonanza1st sweet bonanza giris: sweet bonanza slot – sweet bonanza sweetbonanza1st.shop I believe, life’s more for example a battlefield, both equally armies skin oneself, the light gives you Pifu all the bravery is just not just enough, there has to be tip, there are actually certain schemes together with projects prior to they’re able to do anything whatsoever, we will need to think carefully about, not necessarily blind to this problem, systems work efficiently possibly not set off unneeded waste together with letdown.

    Reply ↓

  551. If you want to play Sweet Bonanza and don’t know the best place to do it, I’ll tell you. Trust me, there are a couple of cool options where you can really dive into this game and not worry about getting screwed. The number one tip for any new casino player is to understand the game you’re playing. All of our online slots have detailed information pages, usually accessible by clicking on a small question mark or cog on the corner of the screen. Sweet Bonanza can be operated directly through the browser with no downloading required and a proper gaming experience; that is how the method works in Android or iOS with a good internet connection. Players visit a licensed online casino, find that version of the game, and jump right in and play. Browser play includes touchscreen controls, full-screen capability, and good loading speed. Unlike the app, it does not occupy your storage space, making it a better option for users who wish to use it without hindrance. Another advantage is that the browser is geographical-generic: you can make it work on any device and flow between your desktop and mobile device with the utmost flexibility.
    https://www.theexeterdaily.co.uk/users/sonsmucgisi1983
    Teen Patti Master is a digital card game app that lets players experience the classic Indian Teen Patti card game in a virtual, social, and multiplayer environment. Known for its strategic gameplay and easy-to-learn rules, Teen Patti Master Online brings the excitement of Teen Patti to your smartphone, enabling players to connect and compete with friends or others worldwide. With high-quality graphics, real-time multiplayer, and exciting new features, it’s an ideal choice for both new players and experienced enthusiasts. TechNowBaba.IN Play Patti with people worldwide Teen Patti Flush ! Bonus ₹100-₹500 – Visit the official website of Teen Patti Bliss. This is usually the most reliable source for downloading the APK. Live dealer games let you play with a real dealer with games streamed via a live video. Players love live casino games because they have all the thrills of playing at a physical casino floor. You’ll be able to play online casino games like live poker, live Teen Patti, live Andar Bahar, Dragon Tiger, and more.

    Reply ↓

  588. Simply desire to say your article is as surprising.The clarity to your publish is simply spectacular and i can supposeyou’re an expert in this subject. Fine together withyour permission allow me to take hold of your RSS feed to stay up to date with approaching post.Thanks a million and please continue theenjoyable work.

    Reply ↓

  593. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog
    and was wondering what all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming
    having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
    I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% certain. Any tips
    or advice would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate it

    my website vpn

    Reply ↓

  616. Wonderful blog you have here but I was curious if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of group where I can get suggestions from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Kudos!

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *