Abstract
Improving our understanding of the spatio-temporal distribution of migratory game species is pivotal for developing flyway-based management strategies. We used miniaturized GPS-Argos transmitters to analyse movement patterns, home-range, habitat use, and pre-breeding migratory dynamics of a medium-sized (~ 80 g) migratory songbird, the Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). We focused on the population wintering in northern Italy, an area where this species is subject to intense hunting pressure during autumn–winter. Most individuals were relatively sedentary upon reaching their wintering area, with only a few performing erratic movements up to mid-January. Forest and farmland were the most used habitats during both early and late winter. We obtained partial information on pre-breeding migration from 16 individuals. Pre-breeding migration began on 21 March on average (min.: 7 March, max.: 7 April). We identified north-western Russia (longitudes 35–50° E) as the putative breeding area of six individuals, while a single individual migrated to Finland. Our novel individual-based tracking study of south-European wintering Fieldfares thus highlights that Russia, rather than Scandinavia, is likely the main origin area for Italian wintering birds, improving previous knowledge based on recoveries of ringed birds. Our findings suggest that an effective flyway-based management plan for a sustainable exploitation of the Fieldfare in southern Europe may be hindered by knowledge gaps on the conservation status of this species over its broad breeding range, which extends to distant Russian regions.
Zusammenfassung
Wanderverhalten außerhalb der Brutsaison, Habitatnutzung und Zugbewegungen vor der Brut von in Südeuropa überwinternden Wacholderdrosseln (Turdus pilaris).
Das bessere Verständnis über die räumliche und zeitliche Verbreitung von ziehenden, jagdbaren Arten ist für die Entwicklung von auf Zugwegen basierenden Managementstrategine von entscheidender Bedeutung. Wir nutzten miniaturisierte GPS-Argos-Sender, um Bewegungsmuster, Aktionsradius, Habitatnutzung und Zugbewegungsdynamik vor der Brut eines mittelgroßen (~ 80 g), ziehenden Singvogels, der Wacholderdrossel (Turdus pilaris), zu untersuchen. Wir fokussierten uns auf die Population, die in Norditalien überwintert, einem Bereich, in der die Art zur Herbst- und Winterzeit einem intensiven Jagddruck ausgesetzt ist. Die meisten Individuen unternahmen nach dem Erreichen ihres Überwinterungsgebietes keine großen Wanderungen, abgesehen von ein paar wenigen Zugbewegungen nach der Brut, die bis in den frühen Winter hineinreichten. Sowohl im Früh- als auch im Spätwinter waren Wald und Agrarlandschaft die meistgenutzten Lebensräume. Wir erhielten für 16 Individuen Teilinformationen über die Zugwanderungen vor der Brut. Diese begangen im Mittel am 21. März (min. 6. März, max. 6. April). Wir identifizierten für sechs Individuen Nordwestrussland (Längengrad 35°–50° E) als mutmaßliches Brutareal, während nur ein Individuum nach Finnland zog. Unsere neuartige, auf Individuen basierte Studie zur Verfolgung überwinternder Wacholderdrosseln in Südeuropa stellt somit die gängige Auffassung in Frage, die sich auf frühere Wiederfunde von beringten Vögeln stützt, dass die in Italien überwinternden Populationen weitestgehend aus Skandinavien stammen. Unsere Ergebnisse lassen vermuten, dass die derzeitige Wissenslücke über den Erhaltungszustand der Wacholderdrossel in deren großem Brutgebiet, welches sich bis in entlegene russische Regionen erstreckt, einen effektiven, auf Zugwegen basierenden Managementplan für eine nachhaltige Nutzung dieser Wildart in Südeuropa behindern könnte.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Dr. V. A. Payevsky and an anonymous reviewer for constructive criticism on a previous version of the manuscript, to M. Cavallari, L. Bertacchi, and M. Bruni (FIdC Lombardia) for financial support, and to many volunteers that provided support with fieldwork, including M. Schiavi (Stazione Ornitologica la Passata), Stazione Ornitologica Capannelle ONLUS, E. Piscen, S. Bozza, M. Musatti, D. Baldoni, U. Ottolini, M. Caffi, E. Viganò, G. Sara, R. Bregoli, the Corsini family, E. Tiso, F. Pizza (Vettabbia S.c.a r.l.), and L. Ilahiane. The authors acknowledge the financial support of NBFC to CNR, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, PNRR, Missione 4 Componente 2, “Dalla ricerca all’impresa”, Investimento 1.4, Project CN00000033. This study complies with the current laws of Italy, where the fieldwork was performed.
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This study was supported by Federazione Italiana della Caccia.
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McKinlay, S.E., Morganti, M., Mazzoleni, A. et al. Non-breeding ranging behaviour, habitat use, and pre-breeding migratory movements of Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) wintering in southern Europe. J Ornithol 165, 337–346 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-023-02136-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-023-02136-x