Nils Kjellén

Bird orientation: compensation for wind drift in migrating raptors is age dependent

Despite the potentially strong effect of wind on bird orientation, our understanding of how wind drift affects migrating birds is still very limited. Using data from satellite-based radio telemetry, we analysed the effect of changing winds on the variation of the track direction of individual birds. We studied adults and juveniles of two raptor species, osprey Pandion haliaetus and honey buzzard Pernis apivorus, on autumn migration between North Europe and Africa, and demonstrate an important difference between the age categories of both species in the extent of wind drift. For juveniles, side- and following-wind components affected the rates of movement perpendicular to and along the mean direction, respectively, to a similar degree, suggesting full wind drift. By contrast, for adults the rate of crosswind displacement was significantly smaller than the effect of wind on forward movement, showing much reduced wind drift (29%). This indicates that adults have acquired a more sophisticated orientation system, permitting detection of and compensation for wind drift, than juveniles. These drift effects are likely to reduce the ability of juveniles to locate species-specific wintering areas in case of rapid climatic wind change.

Terrestrial trophic dynamics in the Canadian Arctic

The Swedish Tundra Northwest Expedition of 1999 visited 17 sites throughout the Canadian Arctic. At 12 sites that were intensively sampled we estimated the standing crop of plants and the densities of herbivores and predators with an array of trapping, visual surveys, and faecal-pellet transects. We developed a trophic-balance model using ECOPATH to integrate these observations and determine the fate of primary and secondary production in these tundra ecosystems, which spanned an 8-fold range of standing crop of plants. We estimated that about 13% of net primary production was consumed by herbivores, while over 70% of small-herbivore production was estimated to flow to predators. Only 9% of large-herbivore production was consumed by predators. Organization of Canadian Arctic ecosystems appears to be more top-down than bottom-up. Net primary production does not seem to be herbivore-limited at any site. This is the first attempt to integrate trophic dynamics over the entire Canadian Arctic.

Population trends in Swedish raptors demonstrated by migration counts at Falsterbo, Sweden 1942–97

The autumn migration of raptors at Falsterbo, Sweden has been studied since the early 1940s, and from 1973 standardized counts were made. Here we present data for 15 species over a 39-year period from 1942–97. These are discussed in the context of available information on population trends in Sweden and neighbouring countries. Although annual numbers and concentration rate vary considerably between species, population changes are very well reflected in the migration figures from Falsterbo. Most raptors showed stable populations at a fairly high level during the 1940s, but a marked decline was already obvious in White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. During the 1950s and 1960s, a more or less steep decline occurred in most species. Four species started to increase during the 1960s, but the real change came during the 1970s. At that time, decreased human persecution and a reduction in the effects from pesticides resulted in a general increase in Scandinavian raptors, with only Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus continuing to decrease. The increases continued during the 1980s, but in the 1990s many raptors seem to have reached stable numbers or to have started to decline again. Two species, Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus and Montagus Harrier C. pygargus show a positive trend through the study period. Numbers of Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus, Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus and Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus stabilized during the 1980s and show a clear decline since then, most probably due to a general lack of rodent peaks in Northern Scandinavia since 1982. Most species of raptors seem to be doing reasonably well at the moment, but a continuous decline in Honey Buzzard and Common Buzzard Buteo buteo is disturbing, and is possibly due to declining proportions of old deciduous forest and grazed meadows in Scandinavia. Since a general census programme of birds of prey does not exist in Sweden, the migration counts at Falsterbo is the best general method of monitoring population changes.

Effects of wind and weather on red admiral, Vanessa atalanta, migration at a coastal site in southern Sweden

Each autumn, large numbers of red admirals migrate throughout northern Europe, flying south, to reach areas with conditions suitable for surviving the winter. We observed the visible butterfly migration at Falsterbo peninsula, the southwesternmost point in Sweden, where red admirals are seen most autumns flying towards the Danish coast on their way to more southern parts of Europe. Weather parameters from a local weather station were used to analyse what factors are important for red admiral migration across the sea. Wind direction was among the important weather variables affecting the initiation of the migratory departure; most other studies of butterfly migration reported no large effect of wind direction. This difference is probably because the butterflies in our study were about to cross open sea for more than 20 km, whereas most previous studies were from inland locations where butterflies could avoid wind effects by flying close to the ground or on the lee side of topographical features. Other important weather variables affecting red admiral migration at Falsterbo were low wind speed and clear skies. The flight direction at Falsterbo was towards the west, which is in contrast to the southward direction generally reported during autumn migration in this species. This is probably because the red admirals followed both the local topography and the closest route to land on the other side and therefore deviated from the normally preferred direction to minimize flight over open water.

Long-Term Phenological Shifts in Raptor Migration and Climate

Climate change is having a discernible effect on many biological and ecological processes. Among observed changes, modifications in bird phenology have been widely documented. However, most studies have interpreted phenological shifts as gradual biological adjustments in response to the alteration of the thermal regime. Here we analysed a long-term dataset (1980-2010) of short-distance migratory raptors in five European regions. We revealed that the responses of these birds to climate-induced changes in autumn temperatures are abrupt and synchronous at a continental scale. We found that when the temperatures increased, birds delayed their mean passage date of autumn migration. Such delay, in addition to an earlier spring migration, suggests that a significant warming may induce an extension of the breeding-area residence time of migratory raptors, which may eventually lead to residency.

The size and migratory origins of the population of Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus wintering in England

Capsule The majority of Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus that spend the winter in England are derived from the British breeding population. Aims To investigate the popular hypothesis that Hen Harriers which over-winter in England are derived principally from breeding populations in mainland Europe. Methods Demographic data were used to estimate numbers of Hen Harriers in Britain at the end of the breeding season. This figure was used, together with data from winter (October–March inclusive) recoveries of Hen Harriers ringed in Britain during the breeding season, to estimate the number of birds from the British breeding population wintering in England and in other parts of Europe. Results It was estimated that Hen Harriers wintering in England are derived primarily from British breeding populations. Published winter population figures for British Hen Harriers may be significant underestimates. Conclusion The link between breeding and wintering populations of Hen Harriers in Britain is closer than previously thought. Conservation action should be spread more equally between the environmental factors which limit populations in different seasons. The winter population in Britain, as monitored by the Hen Harrier Winter Roost Survey, may provide a good indication of the status of the breeding population.