scholarly journals Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana at Kvismaren, central Sweden – breeding studies and suggested management

Ornis Svecica ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2–4) ◽  
pp. 167-178
Author(s):  
Jan Sondell ◽  
Craig Brookes ◽  
Magnus Persson

The only remaining Ortolan Buntings in the province of Närke are about 15 singing males in the Kvismaren valley. We studied this small population intensively during May–June, 2011. We found that the birds depend on bare soil of two kinds: potato fields turning green only in early July and open ground underneath birch and elder vegetation in an old bog. Thus spring sowing may be a “trap” as fields that look optimal when the Ortolans arrive in early May will in a few weeks turn green and become less suitable for breeding. In 2011, 6 pairs likely raised young and this result seems normal. Possibly this very small population persists due to recruitment from the much larger population in northern Sweden, that passes through Kvismaren during spring and autumn migration. The central Swedish population is only about 100 pairs and will probably disappear if a management plan is not implemented rapidly. New potentially suitable areas must be identified, and optimal breeding conditions must be provided at sites where Ortolan Buntings still occur.

Ornis Svecica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-103
Author(s):  
Julianna Anne Percival ◽  
Svein Dale

Ortolan Buntings Emberiza hortulana in Sweden used to occur mainly in farmland. Nowadays, a large proportion of the remaining population is found on forest clear-cuts in northern Sweden. Few studies have identified the types of clear-cuts that Ortolan Buntings prefer and whether these habitats are used for both breeding and foraging. We recorded presence and abundance of ortolan buntings on clear-cuts in Västerbotten County, northern Sweden. We sampled 123 clear-cuts (present N = 48, absent N = 75; total of 93–100 territories) and our results showed that clear-cut size, the number of remaining trees, bare soil percentage (≥10%) and narrow-leaved grass vegetation had a positive influence on ortolan bunting occupancy. The number of territories on clear-cuts was positively related to clear-cut size and number of remaining trees. Proximity to nearby farmland did not influence occupancy on clear-cuts. Behavioural observations indicated that the forest clear-cuts were used for both nesting and feeding. We discuss these results in relation to forest management policies and conservation of the ortolan bunting.


Ornis Svecica ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Ottvall ◽  
Martin Green ◽  
Åke Lindström ◽  
Sören Svensson ◽  
Per-Anders Esseen ◽  
...  

The Swedish population of the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana has decreased with about 80% since 1975. The breeding habitat has traditionally been linked to farmland, but Ortolan Buntings are also found on clear cuts. Combining data from the Swedish Bird Survey (1996–2006) with landscape data (Swedish CORINE), we investigated the relationship between occurrence of Ortolan Buntings and different land cover variables. At a landscape scale of 5×5 km2, occurrence was positively correlated to the proportion of open cast mines, farmland, young forest, inland marshes and clear cuts south of 61°N. North of 61°N, the present population stronghold (~90%), occurrence was positively correlated to the proportion of farmland, clear cuts, coniferous forest, young forest, mixed forest and inland marshes. At a local scale (within 400 m), abundance was highest where clear cut was the main habitat, but abundance was not higher on clear cuts close to than far away from farmland. We estimate the total population at 6300 (4000–8600) pairs with around 50–85% occurring on clear cuts.


Ornis Svecica ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Ottvall ◽  
Martin Green ◽  
Åke Lindström ◽  
Sören Svensson ◽  
Per-Anders Esseen ◽  
...  

The Swedish population of the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana has decreased with about 80% since 1975. The breeding habitat has traditionally been linked to farmland, but Ortolan Buntings are also found on clear cuts. Combining data from the Swedish Bird Survey (1996–2006) with landscape data (Swedish CORINE), we investigated the relationship between occurrence of Ortolan Buntings and different land cover variables. At a landscape scale of 5×5 km2, occurrence was positively correlated to the proportion of open cast mines, farmland, young forest, inland marshes and clear cuts south of 61°N. North of 61°N, the present population stronghold (~90%), occurrence was positively correlated to the proportion of farmland, clear cuts, coniferous forest, young forest, mixed forest and inland marshes. At a local scale (within 400 m), abundance was highest where clear cut was the main habitat, but abundance was not higher on clear cuts close to than far away from farmland. We estimate the total population at 6300 (4000–8600) pairs with around 50–85% occurring on clear cuts.


Ornis Svecica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2–4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Persson ◽  
Jan Sondell

During field work on foraging of the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana in a small and isolated population at Kvismaren in the county of Örebro in south Sweden, two females, nesting 1,250 m apart were observed to be mate-guarded by the same colour-ringed male. Although the male commuted between the nests, none of the females seemed to obtain any substantial help from him when feeding the young. Polygyni has been reported only once before in this species, namely seventy-five years ago, also in a small population in Sweden, when a male behaved in a similar manner to that that we observed at Kvismaren.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN ŠÁLEK ◽  
VÍT ZEMAN ◽  
RADOVAN VÁCLAV

SummaryEffective conservation measures for any bird species across their distribution ranges require detailed knowledge of landscape-specific differences in habitat associations. The Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana is a farmland bird species, which experienced massive population declines during the recent decades and has become a conservation priority in many European countries. Thus, identification of the key habitat features is an important prerequisite for the conservation of the species. Here we investigate habitat associations of the Ortolan Bunting for the remaining breeding population of the species in the Czech Republic. This population is remarkable by its distribution in two markedly different environments – farmland and post-mining landscapes. The main objectives of this study were to identify habitat features associated with Ortolan Bunting occurrence within the two contrasting landscapes and at two spatial scales. Our results reveal a high degree of habitat plasticity by Ortolan Buntings in the Czech Republic which was revealed by the landscape- and scale- specific habitat associations. Habitat heterogeneity, in terms of compositional and configurational diversity, and the cover of bare ground were the most important predictors of Ortolan Bunting occurrence in both landscape types. In farmland, the species occurrence was positively associated with shrub and woody vegetation, poppy fields and set-asides, and negatively associated with grasslands, gardens/orchards, seedlings and urban habitats. In the post-mining landscape, the cover of herb vegetation and greater slope steepness and terrain ruggedness were most important habitat features. Ortolan Buntings in the post-mining landscape appear to avoid patches with a higher cover of shrub and woody vegetation, forests, seedlings and urban areas. We propose that conservation measures for Ortolan Buntings should focus on enhancing farmland habitat heterogeneity, but also on regulating the rate of succession in disturbed environments, such as post-mining landscapes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. eaau2642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Jiguet ◽  
Alexandre Robert ◽  
Romain Lorrillière ◽  
Keith A. Hobson ◽  
Kevin J. Kardynal ◽  
...  

In France, illegal hunting of the endangered ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana has been defended for the sake of tradition and gastronomy. Hunters argued that ortolan buntings trapped in southwest France originate from large and stable populations across the whole of Europe. Yet, the European Commission referred France to the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) in December 2016 for infringements to legislation (IP/16/4213). To better assess the impact of hunting in France, we combined Pan-European data from archival light loggers, stable isotopes, and genetics to determine the migration strategy of the species across continents. Ortolan buntings migrating through France come from northern and western populations, which are small, fragmented and declining. Population viability modeling further revealed that harvesting in southwest France is far from sustainable and increases extinction risk. These results provide the sufficient scientific evidence for justifying the ban on ortolan harvesting in France.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 909-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Moussy ◽  
Raphaël Arlettaz ◽  
José Luis Copete ◽  
Svein Dale ◽  
Valery Dombrovski ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 27963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Ramnemark ◽  
Margareta Norberg ◽  
Ulrika Pettersson-Kymmer ◽  
Mats Eliasson

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaanus Elts ◽  
Kunter Tätte ◽  
Riho Marja

AbstractOrtolan buntings Emberiza hotulana have undergone one of the most severe population declines of any European farmland bird over the last thirty years. The aim of this study was to find out which habitat features, including crop characteristics, ortolan bunting prefers in Estonia in breeding areas. This study compared currently occupied and unoccupied ortolan bunting territories. Occupied areas contained significantly more tall broadleaf trees, crop types, structural elements (trees, bushes, roads, overhead power lines and buildings) and spring wheat, but also had lower crop drilling densities. Ortolan bunting territories were best described by a logistic regression model containing six variables: amount of structural point elements, length of power lines, amount of tall broadleaf trees and number of different crops had a positive effect, whereas crop density and area of autumn-sown crops had a negative effect. Based on the findings of this study, the following conservation measures can be recommended: lower crop densities; spring rather than autumn-sown crops; small-field systems containing a variety of crops; scattered scrub preserved or planted; habitat patches of permanent grasslands, hedges and tall broadleaf trees retained within the agricultural landscape.


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