Zur Situation der MilaneMilvus milvus fasciicauda (Hartert, 1914) undMilvus m. migrans (Boddaert, 1783) auf den Kapverdischen Inseln

Summary

In 1996 and 1997 population size ofMilvus milvus fasciicauda andMilvus m. migrans was censused and estimated to be five to six individuals for the former and three to five for the latter. In the 1950's,Milvus m. migrans and the endemicMilvus milvus fasciicauda were sympatric taxa on most of the Cape Verde Islands. While still widely distributed in the 1980's, the Black Kite today is restricted to Boavista, the eastermost island. The Red Kite less widely distributed in the 1950's and in the 1980's restricted to three islands, is now found only on Santo Antao, the westernmost island. There is no evidence of breeding of either of the two Kites.

This drastic reduction of Kites on the Cape Verde Islands may be due to habitat changes associated with the expansion of the Sahel region resulting in an increase in aridity on the islands, the pressure from human activities in the form of new settlements, structural changes in agriculture like overgrazing by goats, as well as the use of poisened meat as a bait, the use of rodentizides, and persecution.

Zusammenfassung

WährendMilvus milvus fasciicauda undMilvus m. migrans in den 1950er Jahren noch sympatrisch auf fast allen Inseln anzutreffen waren, umfaßt der Bestand heute, nach der Erfassung in den Jahren 1996 und 1997, lediglich zehn Individuen pro Art auf je einer Insel. Diese drastische Abnahme ist unter anderem auf Landschaftsveränderungen, Vergiftungen und Verfolgung durch den Menschen zurückzuführen.