Habitat selection of an endangered European farmland bird, the Ortolan BuntingEmberiza hortulana, in two contrasting landscapes: implications for management

Abstract

SummaryEffective conservation measures for any bird species across their distribution ranges require detailed knowledge of landscape-specific differences in habitat associations. The Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana is a farmland bird species, which experienced massive population declines during the recent decades and has become a conservation priority in many European countries. Thus, identification of the key habitat features is an important prerequisite for the conservation of the species. Here we investigate habitat associations of the Ortolan Bunting for the remaining breeding population of the species in the Czech Republic. This population is remarkable by its distribution in two markedly different environments – farmland and post-mining landscapes. The main objectives of this study were to identify habitat features associated with Ortolan Bunting occurrence within the two contrasting landscapes and at two spatial scales. Our results reveal a high degree of habitat plasticity by Ortolan Buntings in the Czech Republic which was revealed by the landscape- and scale- specific habitat associations. Habitat heterogeneity, in terms of compositional and configurational diversity, and the cover of bare ground were the most important predictors of Ortolan Bunting occurrence in both landscape types. In farmland, the species occurrence was positively associated with shrub and woody vegetation, poppy fields and set-asides, and negatively associated with grasslands, gardens/orchards, seedlings and urban habitats. In the post-mining landscape, the cover of herb vegetation and greater slope steepness and terrain ruggedness were most important habitat features. Ortolan Buntings in the post-mining landscape appear to avoid patches with a higher cover of shrub and woody vegetation, forests, seedlings and urban areas. We propose that conservation measures for Ortolan Buntings should focus on enhancing farmland habitat heterogeneity, but also on regulating the rate of succession in disturbed environments, such as post-mining landscapes.

Farmstead modernization adversely affects farmland birds

“…However, the negative effect of farmstead modernization was strongest for building‐nesters and noncrop‐nesters (that comprised 83% of the studied bird species), whereas we could not detect an effect on field nesters. Thus, our results do not apply to all groups of birds, stressing that other factors, such as multi‐scale habitat heterogeneity or presence of non‐farmed habitats (Šálek et al, 2019, 2021; Šálek, Hula, et al, 2018; von Post et al, 2012), might play an important role for the abundance, survival and reproductive success of these species. Consequently, factors related to landscape composition should still be taken into consideration in conservation strategies.…”

The importance of landscape heterogeneity and vegetation structure for the conservation of the Ortolan BuntingEmberiza hortulana

“…Conrads (1968) pointed out that the vegetation height within fields should not exceed 30 cm during the period of territory establishment. Moreover, Šalek et al (2019) found that an intermediate cover of bare ground was preferred by Ortolan Buntings. Accordingly, the negative effect of maize is due to its very sparse vegetation during the time of territory establishment in the study area (Bellenhaus and Fartmann 2009, Menz and Arlettaz 2011).…”

“…On average, territories of Ortolan Buntings are ~3 ha in size (Conrads 1969, Berg 2008, Glutz von Blotzheim 2011). However, for foraging, the birds also often use larger home ranges up to 30 ha (Dale and Olsen 2002, Šalek et al 2019). While adult Ortolan Buntings are mainly granivorous, nestlings strongly depend on invertebrate prey (mainly Lepidoptera larvae, Coleoptera, and Orthoptera) (Conrads 1969, Glutz von Blotzheim 2011, Menz and Arlettaz 2011).…”

“…According to the area requirements of the Ortolan Bunting (see above), the cover of habitat types was mapped on two spatial scales, i.e. territory (100 m radius, 3.1 ha) and home range (300 m radius, 28.3 ha), around the centres of all territories and control samples (Berg 2008, Šalek et al 2019). Since previous studies detected an effect of crop type on the territory selection of the Ortolan Bunting (e.g.…”

Habitat preferences of the Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) in its prime wintering grounds, the cereal‐dominated Ethiopian Highlands

“…2016, 2017, Šálek et al . 2018). However, given the expansion of smallholders in Ethiopia (Central Statistical Agency (Ethiopia) and ICF International 2016) and their need for fire wood and timber (Fentie et al .…”