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Breeding parameters and factors influencing the reproduction of an expanding Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) population under high breeding density conditions

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Abstract

The productivity of raptors is affected by different factors such as habitat, food supply, disturbance, weather conditions, and competition. Of the studied breeding parameters, success rate and breeding success significantly decreased over the years, while fledgling success and breeding density showed no trend. This study shed light on the main factors influencing the breeding success of a medium-sized raptor expanding in Europe from Asia. Modeling the factors determining the breeding success, we found that grassland availability, mean temperature during fledgling period and rainfall during nestling period influenced Long-legged buzzard reproduction (ΔAIC = 0.00, wi = 0.42, p = 0.03). The second significant model was described by weather factors excluding presence of grasslands (ΔAIC = 1.03, wi = 0.25, p = 0.05). Examining the explanatory factors, only presence of grassland in the territories demonstrated some effect on buzzard productivity. The assumption that other factors such as human disturbance, Souslik density, habitat diversity, and presence of competitors shaped buzzard’s productivity did not find support in this study. This study supports the prediction of the future of Long-legged buzzard as it explored the effects of habitat and weather on its reproduction in the southern part of its distribution range. The conditions of a large-scale habitat alteration on one hand and, on the other hand, global climate change, manifested in increased rainfall during spring in Europe, draw an uncertain future for this species. Therefore, restoration of grasslands and proper habitat management, ensuring sufficient and diverse prey, is crucial for conservation of the Long-legged buzzard.

Zusammenfassung

Brutbedingungen und Faktoren, die die Fortpflanzung einer expandierenden Adlerbussard-Population ( Buteo rufinus ) bei sehr hoher Brutdichte beeinflussen

Die Produktivität von Greifvögeln wird von verschiedenen Faktoren wie Lebensraum, Nahrungsangebot, Störungen, Wetterbedingungen und Konkurrenz beeinflusst. Von den untersuchten Brutparametern nahmen die Erfolgsrate und der Bruterfolg im Laufe der Jahre deutlich ab, während Bruterfolg und Brutdichte keinerlei Trend zeigten. Diese Untersuchung gibt Aufschluss über die wichtigsten Faktoren, die den Bruterfolg einer sich von Asien aus in Europa ausbreitenden, mittelgroßen Greifvogelart beeinflussen. Bei der Modellierung der den Bruterfolg bestimmenden Faktoren stellte sich heraus, dass das Vorhandensein von Wiesenflächen, die Durchschnittstemperatur während der Zeit des Ausfliegens und die Niederschläge in der Zeit vor dem Flüggewerden die Fortpflanzung des Adlerbussards beeinflussten (ΔAIC = 0,00, wi = 0,42, p = 0,03). Ein zweites signifikantes Modell wurde durch Wetterfaktoren, aber ohne Wiesen beschrieben (ΔAIC = 1,03, wi = 0,25, p = 0,05). Bei der Betrachtung der Faktoren, die das erklären könnten, zeigte nur das Vorhandensein von Wiesen in den untersuchten Gebieten einen gewissen Einfluss auf die Produktivität der Adlerbussarde. Die Annahme, dass möglicherweise andere Faktoren wie Störungen durch Menschen, das Vorkommen von Zieseln, Habitatvielfalt und das Vorhandensein von Konkurrenten die Produktivität des Adlerbussards beeinflussen, konnte von dieser Untersuchung nicht bekräftigt werden. Sie unterstützt aber eine Vorhersage für die Zukunft des Adlerbussards, da sie die Auswirkungen von Lebensraum und Wetter auf seine Reproduktion im südlichen Teil seines Verbreitungsgebiets untersucht. Die Auswirkungen einer umfassenden Veränderung des Lebensraums einerseits und andererseits der globale Klimawandel, der sich in Europa in häufigeren Niederschlägen im Frühjahr ausdrückt, lassen eine ungewisse Zukunft für diese Art befürchten. Deshalb sind die Wiederherstellung von Wiesenflächen und eine angemessene Bewirtschaftung der Lebensräume für die Erhaltung des Adlerbussards von entscheidender Bedeutung, um diesen Greifvögeln ausreichende und vielfältige Beute zu sichern.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to Georgi Pogeorgiev, Dimitar Plachiyski, Vladimir Dobrev, Dobromir Dobrev, Kiril Metodiev, Ivaylo Angelov, Nedko Nedialkov, Vladimir Trifonov, Georgi Georgiev, Hristo Ivanov, Atanas Demerdzhiev, Krasimira Demerdzhieva, Stefan Avramov, Marin Kurtev, and Milan Bakalov, who took part in the field work. Without their assistance, this survey would not be possible. I would also like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and recommendations. The study was realized with the financial support of the project “Conservation of globally important biodiversity in high nature value semi-natural grasslands through support for traditional local economy” (GEFSEC Project No 43595), implemented by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds.

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Demerdzhiev, D. Breeding parameters and factors influencing the reproduction of an expanding Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) population under high breeding density conditions. J Ornithol 163, 405–415 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-022-01967-4

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