Spatial and temporal differences in migration strategies among endangered European Greater Spotted Eagles Clanga clanga

Summary Understanding connectivity between migratory bird breeding and wintering grounds is essential for range-wide planning of conservation activities. We used GPS tracking to explore the migration of 28 ‘Endangered’ Greater Spotted Eagles, Clanga clanga from three remaining European breeding populations towards their wintering range, and to identify population and sex-specific patterns in selection of wintering sites. The tracked eagles wintered in three continents, 46% in Africa (mostly Eastern Sahel), 43% across southern Europe (mostly Greece) and 11% in Asia (the Middle East). Migratory connectivity was weak (rM = 0.16), and the population spread across the wintering range was large (1,917 km). The three studied populations differed in their migration strategy, with northerly, Estonian breeders all wintering in Southern Europe, and Polish and Belarusian breeders divided between Southern Europe and Africa. Migration strategy was different between Belarusian males and females, with males more likely to winter in Africa than Europe, and on average, migrating 2,500 km further south than females. Migration to Africa took longer, but was partly compensated by higher migration speeds. Greater Spotted Eagles wintered in wetland sites throughout their wintering range, with 15 of 29 birds wintering in internationally or nationally protected sites (including 12 Ramsar sites). Nearly a third of European winterers stayed in the same Greek national park, perhaps indicating a limitation of suitable sites in Europe due to wetland loss or degradation. This highlights the importance of protected wetlands to this species, but also shows their vulnerability to future wetland degradation. Only two of 14 wintering sites in Africa were under protection, showing a potential mismatch between protection of females and males in their wintering grounds.

Variable tropical moisture and food availability underlie mixed winter space-use strategies in a migratory songbird

Identifying environmental correlates driving space-use strategies can be critical for predicting population dynamics; however, such information can be difficult to attain for small mobile species such as migratory songbirds. We combined radio-telemetry and high-resolution GPS tracking to examine space-use strategies under different moisture gradients for wood thrush ( Hylocichla mustelina ). We explored the role moisture plays in driving food abundance and, in turn, space-use strategies at a wintering site in Belize across 3 years. Individuals occupying drier habitats experienced lower food abundance and poorer body condition. Using data from our radio-tracked study population and GPS tracking from across five breeding populations, we detected low rates of overwinter site persistence across the wood thrush wintering range. Contrary to expectations, individuals in wetter habitats were more likely to engage in permanent mid-winter relocations, up to 148 km. We suggest facultative movements are instead a condition-dependent strategy that enables wintering wood thrush to locate alternative habitat as food availability declines throughout the dry season. Increased aridity is predicted across the wintering range of wood thrush, and future research should delve deeper into understanding how moisture impacts within and between season space-use dynamics and its ultimate impact on the population dynamics of this declining species.

The White-headed yellow wagtail Motacilla flava leucocephala (Przewalski, 1887): migration, movements, and breeding and wintering ranges

The subspecies leucocephala of the western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava is endemic to the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion (Central Asia). The occurrence of leucocephala is associated with saline water bodies and solonchak habitats. Its distribution, especially outside the breeding season, is still uncertain. The aim of this work is to better define the breeding range, migratory movements, and the wintering range of this subspecies and provide guidance to distinguish whiteheaded intraspecific hybrids from the true leucocephala subspecies. The reproductive range of leucocephala is concentrated near lakes and wetlands in the Great Lakes Depression (north-west Mongolia) and in the flat southern part of the Tuva Republic (Russian Federation). The small population uses two separate areas for wintering: the eastern equatorial Africa reached through the Great Rift Valley Flyway and the Indian subcontinent reached along a route that bypasses the great belt of mountains and plateaus of central Asia to the west.

The Gmelin’s wagtail Motacilla lutea: breeding range, migratory movements and wintering range

The breeding range, the migratory movements, and the wintering range of the yellow-headed wagtail, called Parus luteus from Samuel Gottlieb Gmelin (now Motacilla flava lutea, or Motacilla lutea for some authors), has always been described in very general terms. Some authors pointed out that a modern and detailed map with the real distribution of the lutea is lacking, especially for evaluating the overlap of breeding ranges with other subspecies of Motacilla flava. The purpose of this study is to fill this gap in information by drawing up an updated map of the breeding range, as well as the wintering range and the migratory movements followed by this wagtail. These same aspects are also considered in perspective terms from 1851 to 2018 in order to assess any changes that have occurred over time. This study is based on data obtained from the consultation of 672 bibliographic sources, 40 travel reports, databases (including 6 relating to museum collections), and some websites. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the breeding range of the lutea is located within the area of the Eurasian steppe and forest-steppe with the greatest abundance occurring in two areas in European Russia: the southern one in the floodplain of the Volga River and the northern one in the floodplain of the Kama River. Similarly to what is happening for the subspecies cinereocapilla and feldegg, from the end of the 20th century the lutea is extending its breeding range west and north. The advancement of the lutea to the western and northern regions of the European portion of Russia became possible due to the westward and northern advancement of key plant communities and food supply facilities of this bird. The lutea mainly uses two migratory routes: the Great Rift Valley Flyway and the Central Asian Flyway. The first is used by birds that nest in European Russia and western Kazakhstan to reach Africa, while the second is probably only used by the minority portion of the population that is present in the central and eastern part of Kazakhstan and in the Asian portion of Russia to reach India and Sri Lanka. Starting from the 21st century, the passage of birds towards north of the Black Sea seems to intensify. East Africa is the main wintering area of the lutea, but starting from the last decades of the 20th century, a small part of the birds traveling towards Africa interrupt their migratory journey and wintering in the Arabian Peninsula.

Wintering range of western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava in Africa and Europe in a historical perspective

Over the past few centuries, some subspecies of the western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava have shown changes in their reproductive ranges. The aim of this research is to verify if changes have occurred also in the wintering range of the species in Africa and Europe from 1848 to 2017. The data, collected through the consultation of over 840 bibliographic sources, 184 travel reports, 38 databases (including 25 relating to museum collections) and some website, shows an expansion of the wintering range to the north. The analysis is also extended to the single subspecies (flava, iberiae, cinereocapilla, flavissima, thunbergi, pygmaea, feldegg, beema, lutea, leucocephala). The factors that can affect the conservation of the species during wintering are examined and the oversummering range of Motacilla flava in sub-Saharan Africa is also discussed.

On the bat fauna of the Dnipro-Orilskiy Nature Reserve

Data on visual observations of bats in the territory of the Dnipro-Orilskiy Nature Reserve during 2013–2020 are given. The photos that were taken at the same time are presented. From the existing checklist of bats occurring in the reserve, four species were recorded during the mentioned period: Eptesicus serotinus (2 specimens), Pipistrellus pipistrellus (1 specimen), Nyctalus noctula (about 40 specimens), and Pipistrellus kuhlii (about 30 specimens). The most interesting fact is the finding of Nyctalus noctula in November, which is due to the tendency to expand its wintering range. The occurrence of Pipistrellus kuhlii in natural habitats was also revealed, which is uncommon for this species.