Observations of the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) in Bulgaria during the period of post-breeding dispersal

Daskalova, Girgina; Shurulinkov, Peter; Stoyanov, Georgi; Borisov, Borislav

doi:10.1515/srj-2016-0001

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Such movements of birds in mountainous areas before migration have been recorded in the study area (Bounas et al, 2016) and they are not uncommon in the region. Similar observations of Lesser Kestrels foraging in high altitude pastures have also been reported in Bulgaria (Daskalova et al, 2016) and Italy (Sarà et al, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Change of Feeding Strategy Prior to Migration: A Comparative Diet Analysis in the Lesser Kestrel (Falco Naumanni)

Bounas

Sotiropoulos

2017

Avian Biology Research

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Assessing the variation in diet composition of a species, over different years and between periods, offers insights to comprehend its ecological niche as well as to define different feeding strategies. We studied the diet of the Lesser Kestrel ( Falco naumanni) by analysing 1040 regurgitated pellets collected in the city of Ioannina (northwestern Greece). We compared diet composition between the breeding period (data from years 2010–2015) and the pre-migration period (data from 2013–2015) at the study site. A total of 8920 prey items were identified and classified into 13 different prey families. The Lesser Kestrel shows a consistent pattern of diet composition throughout years, displaying significant differences between breeding and pre-migration periods. The diet is rather diverse during the breeding season (Levins' diet breadth, B = 4.12) and is composed mainly of Orthoptera and Coleoptera, while during pre-migration, the species shows a more narrow diet breadth ( B = 1.98) and feeds more often and on larger amounts of Orthoptera. These results indicate a specialised feeding strategy during pre-migration. In addition, the examination of the Orthoptera consumption during this period indicates a peak in the abundance of grasshoppers (Acrididae) in the second half of August. We suggest that at this time birds exploit high elevation open grasslands around the roosting site where grasshopper abundance is high. Thus, such areas are of high conservation importance as Lesser Kestrels depend on this localised abundance of Orthoptera in order to fuel up before their trans-Saharan migration.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Change of Feeding Strategy Prior to Migration: A Comparative Diet Analysis in the Lesser Kestrel (Falco Naumanni)

Bounas

Sotiropoulos

2017

Avian Biology Research

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“…Black arrows indicate movements reported by ringing recoveries 38 , 48 , 49 . Dashed arrow shows the putative movement of individuals through areas with increased presence of migrating Lesser Kestrels 58 . Black dots correspond to sampling locations.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Meanwhile, before ending up in the roosts, birds could also exploit habitats on the move thus accounting for such transport costs. For example, birds originating from Northern Greece or potentially from Turkish Thrace, might have initially passed through highlands in Bulgaria, as numerous observations of individuals have been made after the breeding season in the country, despite the absence of any known large gatherings 58 . This way birds could take advantage of the temporal high availability of prey before making their way to the pre-migratory roosts (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using genetic markers to unravel the origin of birds converging towards pre-migratory sites

Bounas

Tsaparis

Gustin

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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Identifying patterns of individual movements in spatial and temporal scales can provide valuable insight into the structure of populations and the dynamics of communities and ecosystems. Especially for migrating birds, that can face a variety of unfavorable conditions along their journey, resolving movements of individuals across their annual cycle is necessary in order to design better targeted conservation strategies. Here, we studied the movements of a small migratory falcon, the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), by genetically assigning feathers from individuals of unknown origin that concentrate in large roosts during the pre-migratory period. Our findings suggest that birds from multiple breeding populations in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean region move towards two pre-migratory sites in the Balkans, some of them detouring greatly from their expected flyways, travelling more than 500 km to reach these sites and prepare for the post-nuptial migration. By identifying the origin of individuals using the pre-migratory sites, not only we provide a better understanding of the possible impact of local threats at these sites on multiple breeding populations but also inform the design of effective conservation actions for the species.

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“…A maximum of 200 individuals were registered in pre-migratory communal roost sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Topić & Topić, 2022), which used roofs of farm buildings and low and medium voltage power lines as perches. In Bulgaria for the period 1994 -2014, several observations of the Lesser Kestrel during the period of post-breeding dispersal have been described, and these are sightings of single birds or several hunting and feeding individuals without reports about gathering in communal roost sites (Daskalova et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High voltage pylons as roost sites of the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) during the pre-migratory period in the Southeastern Balkans

Gradev,

Klisurov,

Marin

et al. 2023

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Although the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni, Fleischer, 1818) was a widespread species in Bulgaria, there are no detailed surveys on its biology and ecology like the ones implemented in countries still harbouring abundant populations, such as Spain, Italy, Greece, etc. After 2014 when “Green Balkans”, as a breeder, launched the reinforcement of the species and its recovery in Bulgaria now it is possible to study the species using modern technologies and methods like radio and satellite transmitters. The known roost sites (n=12), the subject of our study, are located from 55 to 745 m above the sea level, as the main part of them is situated about 100 - 200 m above the sea level. The most numerous roost site, which is located in the North-eastern Greece, is comprised of about 80 individuals but in the other roost sites the number of the Lesser Kestrel reach 20-40 individuals. During the period 2014 - 2021 the Lesser Kestrels in the largest known colony of the species in Bulgaria, which is located in SPA Sakar, have used different high voltage pylons from the same power lines, alternating pylons depending on the type of agricultural crops in the area. It has been found that the birds express preferences for cereal crops around high voltage pylons, which they use as roost sites. Keywords: communal roost sites, LIFE for Lesser Kestrel, post-breeding dispersal.

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Observations of the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) in Bulgaria during the period of post-breeding dispersal

Cited by 4 publications

References 5 publications

Change of Feeding Strategy Prior to Migration: A Comparative Diet Analysis in the Lesser Kestrel (Falco Naumanni)

Change of Feeding Strategy Prior to Migration: A Comparative Diet Analysis in the Lesser Kestrel (Falco Naumanni)

Using genetic markers to unravel the origin of birds converging towards pre-migratory sites

High voltage pylons as roost sites of the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) during the pre-migratory period in the Southeastern Balkans

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