Trophic segregation of the Burrowing Owl and the American Kestrel in fragmented desert in Mexico

Frixione, Martín G.; Rodríguez‐Estrella, Ricardo

doi:10.1080/00222933.2020.1865470

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Their hypothesis for the upsurge is the recent rapid invasion of European wall lizards ( Podarcis muralis ) into habitat with mild climates (Engelstoft et al 2020). This may not be surprising, considering that reptiles (e.g., lizards) play a major role in the diet of American Kestrels breeding and wintering in other regions (Frixione and Rodríguez-Estrella 2020, Smallwood and Bird 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of Continuing Downward Trends in American Kestrel Populations and Recommendations for Research into Causal Factors

Bird

Smallwood

2023

Journal of Raptor Research

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We analyzed long-term datasets from nest box programs, Breeding Bird Surveys run by the US Geological Survey, Christmas Bird Counts run by the National Audubon Society, and counts from two key fall migration watch sites, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and Cape May Hawkwatch. We found that populations of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) in North America are generally still declining, albeit with some caveats. Some populations are actually increasing, while others are remaining stable. Overall, the magnitude of annual change appears to be decreasing slightly during recent years. To understand potential causes of the decline, we recommend the following courses of action in no particular order: (1) determine whether the increase in Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) populations is restricting kestrel distributions by the mere presence of the larger raptor; (2) study the effects of habitat loss and/or degradation on the falcon's wintering range; (3) further investigate on a broader spatial scale whether within-season habitat alterations are creating ecological traps for breeding kestrels; (4) determine the importance of arthropods in the diet of kestrels, especially the long-term population trends and timing of emergence of grasshoppers in relation to kestrel breeding chronology; (5) discover whether rodenticides pose a serious risk to American Kestrels across North America; (6) learn more about possible effects, both direct and indirect, that the use of neonicotinoids may have on kestrels; and (7) continue ongoing studies of the effect of climate change on these birds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of Continuing Downward Trends in American Kestrel Populations and Recommendations for Research into Causal Factors

Bird

Smallwood

2023

Journal of Raptor Research

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“…Nests of birds of prey Falco tinnunculus and Accipiter nisus were built separately in urban forests far from the breeding passerines. Te segregation of breeding habitats between predators and preys is currently cited among avian species [56,57] as in the case of olive orchards surrounding Fez city [18] in which the breeding Doves (Streptopelia decaocto and Streptopelia turtur) nested far from the predatory Maghreb magpie (Pica mauritanica) and the case of Oued Bouhellou watershed in which the community of breeding passerines selected nesting sites far from the birds of prey counting Falco tinnunculus, Falco naumanni, Buteo rufnus, Circus aeruginosus, Elanus caeruleus, Lanius excubitor, and Lanius senator [47]. In the same way, our study revealed a clear habitat partitioning between Streptopelia decaocto that nested in urban farmlands and its competitor Spilopelia senegalensis concentrated in green gardens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and Abundance of Breeding Birds, Habitat, and Nesting Substrate Selection in Urban Areas: A Relevant Case from the Southern Slope of the Mediterranean

Douini

Squalli

Mansouri

et al. 2023

International Journal of Zoology

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Urban areas may affect the richness of avian species. The abundance and diversity of urban landscapes offer breeding habitats and nesting resources for urban-adapted species. In our study, we investigated the breeding birds in urban landscapes of Fez’s historical city (Morocco). We used line-transects to search for nests of breeding species, populations, and habitats counting breeding sites and predicting factors (foraging, nesting resources, and urbanization). Furthermore, four habitats counting green gardens, old city walls, urban farms, and urban forests were prospected to search for nests of breeding birds. Among 13 breeding species including 12 resident-breeders, and one breeding migrant, a total of 109 nests were documented. Five species counting Turdus merula, Sylvia atricapilla, Spilopelia senegalensis, Columba livia, and Coloeus monedula were encountered in green gardens; four species counting Athene noctua, Sturnus unicolor, Passer domesticus, and Tachymarptis melba were observed in old city walls. Falco tinnunculus, Fringilla coelebs, and Accipiter nisus occurred in urban forests; and Streptopelia decaocto in urban farms. The recorded nests were divided between cavities (50 nests) and trees (59 nests). In green spaces, nests were distributed among Olea europaea (17), Citrus aurantium (15), Bambusa vulgaris (11), and Eucalyptus globulus (7). In contrast, Olea oleaster and Cupressus sp. hosted only tree nests each, while Populus sp. and Washingtonia filifera hosted only one nest each. Most nests were recorded in habitats rich in nesting trees and close to water sources. On the contrary, the number of nests decreased as the surface and distance of the habitat to the urban center increased. Our data revealed the diversity, habitat use, and nesting substrates of urban breeding bird communities in Morocco and the Southern slope of the Western Palearctic. Future urban plans must integrate measures to provide suitable breeding resources such as cavities of old walls and a high diversity of urban green spaces for birds to enhance their breeding performances, thus promoting the well-being of the population via increasing biodiversity.

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“…American Kestrels are commonly found foraging in agricultural areas across the American continents (Sarasola et al 2003, Smith et al 2017), as well as in other grasslands, open areas, and even urban/suburban habitats. Kestrels inhabit agricultural zones amid the sarcocaulescent scrub of northwestern Mexico, where they prey on small reptiles, rodents, birds, and invertebrates (Frixione and Rodríguez-Estrella 2021). Kestrel home ranges are small (0.24–1.1 km radius) during the breeding season in fragmented areas (Bowman and Bird 1986), and may be even smaller during the nonbreeding season due to competition (Ardia and Bildstein 2001, Crouch 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing Prevalence and Intensity of Haemosporidian Infection in American Kestrels in the Nonbreeding Season on the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

Frixione

Rodríguez‐Estrella²

2023

Journal of Raptor Research

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Overwintering areas can act as reservoirs for haemosporidians, and their blood-sucking vectors may easily survive and flourish in warm climates. The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is a small-sized raptor that includes both resident and migratory individuals that overwinter in agriculture areas of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico. We measured and collected blood samples from 54 individual kestrels captured in a fragmented habitat located within a matrix of agricultural and native scrub in the southern part of the peninsula during the autumn and winter of 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. We identified and quantified haemosporidians in blood smears of each individual. We used decision tree classification models of prevalence and intensities of haemosporidians to assess the importance of season, host body size, and environmental characteristics of the capture site (proximity to the nearest infected host, number of ponds used for irrigation, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index [NDVI], distance to the edge of the agricultural matrix, and distance to the nearest city). Overall prevalence was 42.6%, with an average intensity of 2.4 haemosporidian-infected cells per 2000 erythrocytes. Most haemosporidians (91.3%) were identified as Haemoproteus tinnunculi, and the rest as Plasmodium spp. The prevalence of haemosporidians increased with pond availability, the distance from the edge of the agricultural matrix, and the proximity of infected individuals. Parasite intensity increased with the availability of ponds, the distance to the edge of the agriculture matrix, and the NDVI. Spatial and temporal patterns of parasite prevalence and intensity illustrated local infection dynamics, suggesting a complex scenario of haemosporidian transmission in migratory and resident kestrels.

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Trophic segregation of the Burrowing Owl and the American Kestrel in fragmented desert in Mexico

Cited by 6 publications

References 70 publications

Evidence of Continuing Downward Trends in American Kestrel Populations and Recommendations for Research into Causal Factors

Evidence of Continuing Downward Trends in American Kestrel Populations and Recommendations for Research into Causal Factors

Diversity and Abundance of Breeding Birds, Habitat, and Nesting Substrate Selection in Urban Areas: A Relevant Case from the Southern Slope of the Mediterranean

Factors Influencing Prevalence and Intensity of Haemosporidian Infection in American Kestrels in the Nonbreeding Season on the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

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