Open Access
Issue
Published:
04 April 2019
How can the home range of the Lesser Kestrel be affected by a large civil infrastructure?
Download citation
458
Views
13
Downloads
5
Crossref
N/A
WoS
5
Scopus
0
CSCD
The loss of traditional agropastoral systems, with the consequent reduction of foraging habitats and prey availability, is one of the main causes for the fast decline of Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni). To promote the conservation of the Lesser Kestrel and their habitats, here we studied the foraging activities patterns of this species during the breeding season.
Between 2016 and 2017, we captured and tagged 24 individuals with GPS dataloggers of two colonies in Villena (eastern Spain) with the goals of estimating the home range sizes of males and females, evaluating the differences in spatial ecology between two colonies located in different environments: natural and beside a thermosolar power plant, and investigating habitat selection.
Considering the distances before July 15, date until which it can be assured that the chicks remain in the nest in our colonies, there were significant differences with the distances to the nest in relation to the colony of the individuals: Lesser Kestrels from the thermosolar power plant colony had a greater average distance. The average size of home range areas was 13.37 km2 according to 95% kernel, and there were also significant differences in relation to colony: the individuals from the thermosolar power plant colony used a larger area (22.03± 4.07 km2) than those from the other colony (9.66± 7.68 km2). Birds showed preference for non-irrigated arable lands and pastures.
Despite the differences between the two colonies, the home ranges of both are smaller or similar to those observed in other European colonies. This suggests that Lesser Kestrels continue to have adequate habitats and a good availability of prey. Therefore, the extension and proximity of the plant does not imply a great alteration, which highlights the importance of maintaining the rest of the territory in good conditions to minimize the impact.
menu
How can the home range of the Lesser Kestrel be affected by a large civil infrastructure?
Abstract
The loss of traditional agropastoral systems, with the consequent reduction of foraging habitats and prey availability, is one of the main causes for the fast decline of Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni). To promote the conservation of the Lesser Kestrel and their habitats, here we studied the foraging activities patterns of this species during the breeding season.
Between 2016 and 2017, we captured and tagged 24 individuals with GPS dataloggers of two colonies in Villena (eastern Spain) with the goals of estimating the home range sizes of males and females, evaluating the differences in spatial ecology between two colonies located in different environments: natural and beside a thermosolar power plant, and investigating habitat selection.
Considering the distances before July 15, date until which it can be assured that the chicks remain in the nest in our colonies, there were significant differences with the distances to the nest in relation to the colony of the individuals: Lesser Kestrels from the thermosolar power plant colony had a greater average distance. The average size of home range areas was 13.37 km2 according to 95% kernel, and there were also significant differences in relation to colony: the individuals from the thermosolar power plant colony used a larger area (22.03± 4.07 km2) than those from the other colony (9.66± 7.68 km2). Birds showed preference for non-irrigated arable lands and pastures.
Despite the differences between the two colonies, the home ranges of both are smaller or similar to those observed in other European colonies. This suggests that Lesser Kestrels continue to have adequate habitats and a good availability of prey. Therefore, the extension and proximity of the plant does not imply a great alteration, which highlights the importance of maintaining the rest of the territory in good conditions to minimize the impact.
References(58)
Bechard MJ. Effect of vegetative cover on foraging site selection by Swainson's Hawk. Condor. 1982;84:153-9.
Bustamante J. Predictive models for Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni distribution, abundance and extinction in southern Spain. Biol Conserv. 1997;80:153-60.
Catry I, Franco AMA, Sutherland WJ. Landscape and weather determinants of prey availability: implications for the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni. Ibis. 2012;154:111-23.
Catry I, Franco AMA, Rocha P, Alcazar R, Reis S, Cordeiro A, Ventim R, Teodósio J, Moreira F. Foraging habitat quality constrains effectiveness of artificial nest site provisioning in reversing population declines in a colonial cavity nester. PLoS ONE. 2013;8:e58320.
Catry I, Franco AMA, Moreira F. Easy but ephemeral food: exploring the tradeoffs of agricultural practices in the foraging decisions of Lesser Kestrels on farmland. Bird Study. 2014;61:447-56.
Cody M. Habitat selection in birds. London: Academic Press; 1985.
Cramp S, Simmons KEL. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa; The birds of the Western Palaearctic. New York: Oxford University Press; 1980.
Clere E, Bretagnolle V. Food availability for birds in farmland habitats: biomass and diversity of arthropods by pitfall trapping technique. Rev Ecol. 2001;56:275-97.
De Frutos A, Olea PP, Mateo-Tomas P, Purroy FJ. The role of fallow in habitat use by the Lesser Kestrel during the post-fledging period: inferring potential conservation implications from the abolition of obligatory set-aside. Eur J Wildl Res. 2010;56:503-11.
Di Maggio R, Campobello D, Tavecchia G, Sarà M. Habitat- and density- dependent demography of a colonial raptor in Mediterranean agroecosystems. Biol Conserv. 2016;193:116-23.
Donázar JA, Negro JJ, Hiraldo F. Foraging habitat selection, land-use changes and population decline in the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni. J Appl Ecol. 1993;30:515-22.
Franco A, Andrada J. Alimentación y selección de presa en Falco naumanni. Ardeola. 1977;23:137-87.
Franco A, Sutherland WJ. Modelling the foraging habitat selection of Lesser Kestrels: conservation implications of European Agricultural Policies. Biol Conserv. 2004;120:63-74.
García J. Dispersión premigratoria del cernícalo primilla Falco naumanni en España. Ardeola. 2000;47:197-202.
García J, Morales MB, Martinez J, Iglesias L, De La Morena E, Suárez F, Viñuela J. Foraging activity and use of space by Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in relation to agrarian management in central Spain. Bird Conserv Int. 2006;16:83-95.
Guixé D, Arroyo B. Appropriateness of special protection areas for wideranging species: the importance of scale and protecting foraging, not just nesting habitats. Anim Conserv. 2011;14:391-9.
Gustin M, Ferrarini A, Giglio G, Pellegrino SC, Frassanito A. Detected foraging strategies and consequent conservation policies of the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in Southern Italy. Proc Int Acad Ecol Environ Sci. 2014;4:148-61.
Gustin M, Giglio G, Pellegrino SC, Frassanito A, Ferrarini A. Space use and flight attributes of breeding Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni revealed by GPS tracking. Bird Study. 2017;64:274-7.
Hernández-Pliego J, Rodríguez C, Bustamante J. A few long versus many short foraging trips: different foraging strategies of Lesser Kestrel sexes during breeding. Mov Ecol. 2017;5:8.
Hiraldo F, Negro JJ, Donazar JA, Gaona P. A demographic model for a population of the endangered Lesser Kestrel in southern Spain. J Appl Ecol. 1996;33:1085-93.
Kenward RE. A manual for wildlife radio tagging. London: Academic Press; 2001.
Kotsonas E, Bakaloudis D, Papakosta M, Goutner V, Chatzinikos E, Vlachos C. Assessment of nestling diet and provisioning rate by two methods in the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni. Acta Ornithol. 2018;52:149-56.
Lepley M, Brun L, Foucart A, Pilard P. Régime et comportament alimentaires du Faucon Crécerellette Falco naumanni, en Crau en période de reproduction et post-reproduction. Alauda. 2000;68:177-84.
Limiñana R, Soutullo A, Arroyo B, Urios V. Protected areas do not fulfil the wintering habitat needs of the trans-Saharan migratory Montagu's harrier. Biol Conserv. 2011;145:62-9.
Limiñana R, Romero M, Mellone U, Urios V. Mapping the migratory routes and wintering areas of Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni: new insights from satellite telemetry. Ibis. 2012;154:389-99.
López-López P, de La Puente J, Mellone U, Bermejo A, Urios V. Spatial ecology and habitat use of adult Booted Eagles (Aquila pennata) during the breeding season: implications for conservation. J Ornithol. 2016;157:981-93.
Manly BFJ. Randomization, bootstrap and Monte Carlo methods in biology. 2nd ed. London: Chapman & Hall; 1997.
Martin TG, Possingham HP. Predicting the impact of livestock grazing on birds using foraging height data. J Appl Ecol. 2005;42:400-8.
Martínez C. Habitat selection by the Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax in cultivated areas of central Spain. Biol Conserv. 1994;67:125-8.
Mellone U, Yáñez B, Limiñana R, Muñoz AR, Pavón D, González JM, Urios V, Ferrer M. Summer staging areas of non-breeding short-toed snake eagles. Bird Study. 2011;58:516-21.
Moreira F. Relationships between vegetation structure and breeding bird densities in fallow cereal steppes in Castro Verde, Portugal. Bird Study. 1999;46:309-18.
Negro JJ, Hiraldo F. Nest-site selection and breeding success in the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni. Bird Study. 1993;40:115-9.
Rocha PA. Dieta e comportamento alimentar do Peneireiro-de-dorso-liso Falco naumanni. Airo. 1998;9:40-7.
Rodríguez C, Johst K, Bustamante J. How do crop types influence breeding success in Lesser Kestrels through prey quality and availability? A modelling approach. J Appl Ecol. 2006;43:587-97.
Rodríguez C, Tapia L, Ribeiro E, Bustamante J. Crop vegetation structure is more important than crop type in determining where Lesser Kestrels forage. Bird Conserv Int. 2014;24:438-52.
Shrubb M. Farming influences on the food and hunting of kestrels. Bird Study. 1980;27:109-15.
Silverman BW. Density estimation for statistics and data analysis. London: Chapman and Hall; 1986.
Smallwood JA. The relationship of vegetative cover to daily rhythms of prey consumption by american kestrels wintering in southcentral Florida. J Raptor Res. 1988;22:77-80.
Soutullo A, Urios V, Ferrer M, López-López P. Habitat use by juvenile Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos in Spain. Bird Study. 2008;55:236-40.
Tella JL, Forero MG, Hiraldo F, Donázar JA. Conflicts between Lesser Kestrel conservation and European agricultural policies as identified by habitat use analyses. Conserv Biol. 1998;12:593-604.
Toland BR. The effect of vegetative cover on foraging strategies, hunting success and nesting distribution of American kestrels in central Missouri. J Raptor Res. 1987;21:14-20.
Ursúa E, Serrano D, Tella JL. Does land irrigation actually reduce foraging habitat for breeding Lesser Kestrels? The role of crop types. Biol Conserv. 2005;122:643-8.
Village A. The home range and density of kestrels in relation to vole abundance. J Anim Ecol. 1982;51:413-28.
Vlachos CG, Bakaloudis DE, Chatzinikos E, Papadopoulos T, Tsalagas D. Aerial hunting behaviour of the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni during the breeding season in Thessaly (Greece). Acta Ornithol. 2003;38:129-34.
Vlachos CG, Bakaloudis DE, Kitikidou K, Goutner V, Bontzorlos V, Papakosta MA, Chatzinikos E. Home range and foraging habitat selection by breeding Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanni) in Greece. J Nat Hist. 2015;49:371-81.
Worton BJ. Kernel methods for estimating the utilization distribution in homerange studies. Ecology. 1989;70:164-8.
Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Toni Pérez for his help during all the fieldwork and along all the time. We are thankful to Servicio de Biodiversidad of Conselleria de Agricultura, Medio Ambiente, Cambio Climático y Desarrollo Rural (Generalitat Valenciana), especially to Juan Jiménez and Juan Antonio Gómez for giving all the necessary permissions. We are also thankful to Ruben Limiñana for his advices. This paper is part of the PhD thesis of M. Romero at the University of Alicante.
Rights and permissions
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
FEEDBACK 
TOP