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Microhabitat Selection by Three Common Bird Species of Montane Farmlands in Northern Greece

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Abstract

Common farmland birds are declining throughout Europe; however, marginal farmlands that escaped intensification or land abandonment remain a haven for farmland species in some Mediterranean mountains. The purpose of this study is to identify the most important anthropogenic microhabitat characteristics for Red-Backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra) and Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) in three such areas within the newly established Northern Pindos National Park. We compare land use structural and physiognomic characteristics of the habitat within 133 plots containing birds paired with randomly selected “non-bird” plots. Using logistic regression and classification-tree models we identify the specific habitat requirements for each of the three birds. The three species show a preference for agricultural mosaics dominated by rangelands with scattered shrub or short trees mixed with arable land. Areas with dikes and dirt roads are preferred by all three species, while the presence of fences and periodically burned bushes and hedges are of particular importance for Red-Backed Shrike. Across the gradient of vegetation density and height, M. calandra is mostly found in grasslands with few dwarf shrubs and short trees, S. communis in places with more dense and tall vegetation of shrub, trees and hedges, and L. collurio, being a typical bird of ecotones, occurs in both habitats and in intermediate situations. In all cases those requirements are associated with habitat features maintained either directly or indirectly by the traditional agricultural activities in the area and particularly by the long established extensive controlled grazing that prevent shrub expansion.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been funded by the European Union, the Hellenic State-Ministry of Development, General Secretariat of Research and Technology and private sources through the 3rd Community Support Program “PENED” (Action 8.3 Operational Program “Competitiveness”). We would like also to thank the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Public Works and the Municipality of Central Zagori for partly funding the field work in the frame of the Sustainable Development Project 2003 (ETERPS funds). We would like to thank Professors Vassilis Goutner and Vassilios Papanastasis for inspiring the ornithological research, as well as the members of the Hellenic Ornithological Society Antonia Galanaki, Theodoros Kominos and Lavrentis Sidiropoulos for their contribution in the literature review. Lastly, we want to thank Alkis Betsis for help with the maps and Dr. Jenny Wong, who revised the English for her constructive comments and suggestions.

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  1. Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.C. 54124, Thessaloniki, 45500, Greece

    Rigas Tsiakiris, John Pantis & Stefanos Sgardelis

  2. Hellenic Ornithological Society, Vasileos Irakleiou 24, P.C. 10681, Athens, Greece

    Kalliopi Stara

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  1. Rigas Tsiakiris
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  2. Kalliopi Stara
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  4. Stefanos Sgardelis
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Correspondence to Rigas Tsiakiris.

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Tsiakiris, R., Stara, K., Pantis, J. et al. Microhabitat Selection by Three Common Bird Species of Montane Farmlands in Northern Greece. Environmental Management 44, 874–887 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-009-9359-8

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