Nicola Baccetti

Experience‐dependent natal philopatry of breeding greater flamingos

1. Contrary to the generally high level of natal philopatry (i.e. likelihood that individuals breed at their natal colony) found in first-breeding colonial birds, little is known of natal philopatry later in life. Most hypotheses advanced to explain natal philopatry are valid at all ages. However, for young and inexperienced birds, the benefits of natal philopatry may be counterbalanced by the costs of intraspecific competition at the natal colony making dispersal temporarily advantageous. In turn, experience may increase competitive ability and make natal philopatry advantageous again. 2. We evaluated this hypothesis on the large-scale dispersal of greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus breeding among three colonies comprising >85% of the Western Mediterranean metapopulation. The Camargue (France) and Fuente de Piedra (Spain) are large and saturated colonies while Molentargius (Sardinia) is a recent and growing colony. 3. We used a 20-year capture-mark-resighting dataset of 4900 flamingos ringed as chicks in Camargue and Fuente de Piedra and breeding at the three colonies. We assessed the effects of natal colony and breeding experience (first-time observed breeders versus confirmed experienced breeders) on dispersal using multistate capture-recapture models. Dispersal to an unobservable state accounted for temporary emigration. 4. Fidelity was higher at the natal colony (>84%) than elsewhere. Fidelity increased with experience in the two large colonies (Camargue and Fuente de Piedra) suggesting a large-scale experience-related despotic distribution. Breeding dispersal was significant (up to 61% and 52% for first-time breeders and experienced breeders, respectively) so that colony dynamics is affected by exchanges with other colonies. Except for Fuente-born breeders leaving Molentargius, dispersal to the natal colony was higher than to any other colonies. 5. Survival was not higher at the natal colony. Inexperienced birds likely had lower breeding success at the Camargue and skipped reproduction after having emigrated to the other large colony but not to Molentargius. Breeding at Molentargius could allow avoiding queuing (and non-breeding) at the large colonies while gaining experience and competitive ability for future attempts. 6 Natal philopatry appears as an important driver of large-scale breeding dispersal in the Greater flamingo. The fitness advantage of natal philopatry is likely experience-dependent and mediated by the variations of intraspecific competition.

Range of the Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus, metapopulation in the Mediterranean: new insights from Turkey

Metapopulation conservation should rely on a flyway approach aiming at assessing the spatial range of metapopulations by estimating the level of exchanges among local populations. In the western Mediterranean, Greater Flamingos have been shown to constitute a metapopulation with natal and breeding dispersal among colonies. In this paper, we examine whether this metapopulation reaches Turkey using a band-resighting study. Our results are the first evidence of natal and breeding dispersal from the western Mediterranean to Turkey, and suggest that the Gediz Delta, one of the two Turkish breeding colonies, can play a significant role in the recruitment of flamingos from the western Mediterranean. In 2003 and 2004, breeders of western Mediterranean origin accounted for more than 1.2 and 1.9% of the estimated breeding population of the Gediz Delta, respectively. Our observations also indicate that the western Mediterranean and Southwest Asia may constitute two sets of populations, which overlap in Turkey. Finally, the resightings of flamingos banded in Turkey show that post-fledging dispersal from Turkey reaches both the eastern and western Mediterranean wetlands. Future data on the natal and breeding dispersal of flamingos born in Turkey could clarify further the connection between Turkey and the western Mediterranean metapopulation.

Connectivity between the Algerian population of Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus and those of the Mediterranean basin

In the Mediterranean basin, Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus constitute a metapopulation with natal and breeding dispersal among colonies. However, the rate of exchange between European and North African colonies remains poorly known. In this paper, we document the wintering and breeding of European flamingos in Algeria and provide the first post-fledging dispersal data for flamingos born in Algeria. At breeding colonies in Algeria, most ringed birds (99.4% of 835 birds) originated from north-western Mediterranean colonies (397 individuals born in France, 369 in Spain, 57 in Sardinia and seven in continental Italy), but there were also four from Turkey (the first evidence of natal dispersal from a north-eastern Mediterranean colony to Algeria) and one from Algeria. Among the 860 fledglings ringed in Algeria in 2006 and 2009, 619 different individuals were resighted from August 2006 to September 2010 in a total of 980 resightings. A large proportion (73%) of these birds was observed at North African sites, while the remaining ones reached both north-western (168 birds) and north-eastern (three birds) Mediterranean wetlands, suggesting extensive interchange between colonies from both sides of the Mediterranean Sea.

Timing of attachment to wintering site as revealed by experimental displacements of Dunlins (Calidris alpina)

Two groups of adult and two groups of juvenile colour-marked Dunlins (Calidris alpina) were moved from their wintering site in four successive years, in order to assess the existence of time- and age-dependent differences in homing behaviour and, in particular, to determine when attachment to wintering grounds is achieved by juveniles. Each group was released on different dates at the beginning of the wintering season 133 km to the south of the capture site. We expected that the behaviour of adults would not vary according to date, whereas that of juveniles would. In all four experiments the majority of birds left the release site. Juveniles displaced early in the season (5 Nov.) remained at the release site in higher numbers (34% vs 0–14%) and homed to a lesser extent (20% vs 57–62%) than juveniles displaced late in the season (13 Dec.) and both adult groups. The final return rates of adults displaced early and late in the season (8 and 24 Nov.) were similar. Most birds that left the release site departed within 20 days of displacement, whereas observations of colour-marked Dunlins at the capture site indicated a more gradual pattern of return. The first homed birds were observed three days after release, but new birds continued arriving back at the release site for at least 40 days longer. Most juvenile Dunlins seem to become attached to a wintering site during November. Recovery rates of displaced and non-displaced birds retrapped in following winters suggested that year-to-year site fidelity is developed after a longer period. Je zwei Gruppen von adulten und juvenilen farbmarkierten Alpenstrandläufern (Calidris alpina) wurden in vier aufeinanderfolgenden Wintern von ihren Winterquartieren verfrachtet. Die Untersuchungen dienten dazu, die zeit- und altersabhängige Unterschieden im Heimfindeverhalten zu überprüfen und vor allem festzustellen, wann die Jungvögel eine Winterortsbindung eingehen. Jede Gruppe wurde zu Beginn der Überwinterungssaison an unterschiedlichen Zeitpunkten 133 km südlich des Fangortes freigelassen. Es wurde erwartet, daß sich das Verhalten der Altvögel nicht in Abhängigkeit zum Datum änderte, wohl aber das der Jungvögel. Bei allen vier Experimenten verließ die Mehrheit der Vögel den Auflassungsort. Jungvögel, die früh in der Saison verfrachtet wurden (5. Nov.), verblieben in größerer Zahl im Gebiet der Freilassung (34%) und kehrten in geringerem Maße zum Fangort zurück (20%) als Jungvögel, die spät verfrachtet wurden (13. Dez.; 0–14% bzw. 57–62%) und als beide Altvogelgruppen. Die letztendlichen Rückkehrraten früh und spät in der Saison (8. und 24. Nov.) verfrachteter Altvögel waren ähnlich. Die meisten Vögel, die das Auflassungsgebiet verließen, flogen innerhalb von 20 Tagen nach der Verfrachtung ab, wogegen Beobachtungen am Fangort auf ein graduelleres Rückkehrmuster schließen ließen. Die ersten zurückkehrenden Vögel wurden drei Tage nach ihrer Freilassung gesehen. Die Rückkehr neuer Vögel zog sich jedoch mindestens 40 Tage länger hin. Die meisten juvenilen Alpenstrandläufer schienen im November eine Bindung an ein Überwinterungsgebiet einzugehen. Die Wiederfangraten verfrachteter und nicht verfrachteter Vögel in nachfolgenden Wintern lassen vermuten, daß Alpenstrandläufer ihre Winterortstreue erst nach einer längeren Zeit entwickeln.

Spring migration and body condition of common sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos on a small Mediterranean Island

Forty two Common Sandpipers were examined at a stopover site on a small island in the central Mediterranean during the spring migration. Some details about the timing of passage and body conditions are given. Birds had very low mean body mass, indicating that they were probably at the end of one of the most arduos part of their journey, although none of them appeared exhausted. The absence of information about body mass at more southerly latitudes precludes assessment of the role of insular stopover sites in relation to the species’ overall migration strategy. A hopping strategy, at least during spring Mediterranean crossing, seems possible.

Fifteen Years of Rat Eradication on Italian Islands

The black rat (Rattus rattus) is thought to be the most widespread mammal on Mediterranean islands. In recent years, many field studies have documented its detrimental impact on native species, communities and ecosystems. In order to restore island ecosystems by eliminating the impacts of black rat, several projects have been planned and implemented during the last 15 years on Italian islands. Although these projects were specifically aimed at protecting nesting shearwaters Calonectris diomedea and Puffinus yelkouan from rat predation, they were also planned in order to provide benefits to other island ecosystem components, species and communities. Rats were eradicated from small islands (about 1 ha of surface) to very large islands (over 1000 ha, i.e. Montecristo). Monitoring programmes showed that shearwater reproductive success increased after rat eradication. During these years, we obtained data on different aspects related to the problem of rat impact and control on islands: (1) rat impact on target species; (2) benefits for native species from rat removal; (3) field techniques and bait delivery methods; (4) impact of rodenticides on non-target species; (5) rat abundance, home range and movements and (6) rat reinvasion after eradication. Furthermore, we developed a model aimed at identifying priority islands where rat eradication should be carried out, and/or establish recommended actions.

Migration flyway of the Mediterranean breeding Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis emigratus

The Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis emigratus breeding population in the Mediterranean is found exclusively in Libya, on the two coastal islands of Gara and Elba and one wetland on the mainland coast at Benghazi. In order to improve knowledge of the species migration to wintering quarters in West Africa, a ringing programme was conducted from 2006–2008 and 2009–2012. From a total of 1 354 nestlings ringed using metal and/or colour rings, 64 were recovered along their flyway and in their wintering range, representing 6.9% of birds ringed with both colour and metal rings. This provided the opportunity to collect information on post-natal movements (staging and wintering ranges), breeding philopatry and recruitment, in addition to a preliminary estimate of their migration journey duration. This paper indicates sighting and recovery distributions in space and time, highlighting the important areas for the species during its journey between breeding and wintering sites. The findings indicate that several areas where ringed terns stop-over during pre- and post-breeding migration journeys are not protected, causing an additional threat to their survival, as some wintering areas are also not protected. Conservation of this highly localised and threatened population needs not only to address protection at breeding sites but also at migratory stop-overs and wintering strongholds.

First breeding of Audouin’s Gull, Larus audouinii, in the Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius - Saline (Sardinia)

In 2007 a colony of Audouin’s Gull settled for the first time in Molentargius saltpans, which represent a non-typical habitat for this (formerly) strictly marine species. The 64 breeding pairs had a productivity of ca. 0.2 chicks/pair. Within Sardinia, this is the third breeding site located on coastal wetlands/saltpans. These habitats host today more than 40% of the Italian population, playing therefore a key role in the conservation of this endangered species.