scholarly journals First Off-Shore Site Bird Monitoring In Poland (Debki-Białogóra, 2002–2004)

The Ring ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Przemysław Busse
Keyword(s):  
Wind Farm ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Migratory Bird ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Administrative Procedure ◽  
The North ◽  
Baltic Coast ◽  
Bird Monitoring ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Wintering Areas

Abstract Due to the presence along the Polish Baltic coast of migratory bird flyways from north-eastern European breeding grounds to wintering areas distributed on continental shelf waters of western and southwestern Europe, the area has been designated as a NATURA 2000 site (PLB 990002). Therefore the site of a planned off-shore wind farm in this area requires monitoring as to its potential influence on birds. This was the first such monitoring performed in Poland. The expanse of water covered by the research included the planned location of the wind farm as well as adjacent areas. A series of 15 investigative cruises were undertaken from the beginning of October to the beginning of May. The period of observations was divided into five seasons: early autumn, late autumn, winter, early spring and late spring. The standard method of counting birds on transects in the form of strips reaching 300 m from the ship was used in the research, as well as the ‘snapshot’ technique (scan with bands transect with snapshot technique). Additional observations were made from a point on the shore. In the study area maritime birds are present in low or moderate densities, with localized clusters. Two diving benthophagous species dominate: the Long-tailed Duck (58.9%) and the Velvet Scoter (34.3%). The next two commonest species have a share of over 1% within the community – the Common Scoter (3.2%) and the Herring Gull (2.4%). Other species are very uncommon. There is very high fluctuation in the number of birds both observed on the water surface and seen in the air. In the area studied no pronounced migratory passage of waterfowl was observed; the usual migratory flyways probably lie farther to the north and the birds observed in flight perform mainly local movements. Observed bird densities in the study area are considerably lower (52.0 ind./km2) than those estimated for the entire NATURA 2000 area (116.7 ind./km2). In the area of the planned wind farm densities are even lower (36.1 ind./km2, i.e. 31% of the NATURA 2000 level), while densities in neighbouring areas are still below the NATURA 2000 average. In the subsequent administrative procedure the area was not accepted as the location of the planned wind farm.

scholarly journals Declines in Wintering Populations of Red Knots in Southern South America

The Condor ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. I. Guy Morrison ◽  
R. Kenyon Ross ◽  
Lawrence J. Niles
Keyword(s):  
Population Decline ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Limulus Polyphemus ◽  
Tierra Del Fuego ◽  
Calidris Canutus ◽  
The North ◽  
Dramatic Decline ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Wintering Areas ◽  
Key Sites

AbstractSurveys of the North American race of the Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) on its main wintering areas on the coasts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile) showed a dramatic decline in the wintering population: totals in 2003 were about 30 000 compared to 67 500 in the mid-1980s. Numbers at the principal wintering site, Bahia Lomas, fell by approximately 50%, from 45 300 in 2000 to 22 000–25 000 in 2002–2003. Numbers at peripheral sites on the coast of Patagonia declined dramatically, decreasing 98% compared to numbers in the mid-1980s. The results showed that declines at core sites did not result from birds moving to other places within the known wintering (or other) areas, but reflected a general population decline, with most birds now restricted to key sites in Tierra del Fuego. This phenomenon may explain why long-term declines noted elsewhere have only recently become apparent at key wintering areas. Possible reasons for the declines are discussed. Banding studies in Delaware Bay have shown that in recent years an increasing proportion of Red Knots is unable to gain sufficient weight for migration to the breeding grounds. This is likely due to reductions in their main food resource, eggs of the horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus. The resulting increase in mortality could account for the magnitude and severity of the declines we observed.Disminuciones en las Poblaciones Invernantes de Calidris canutus rufa en el Sur de Sur AméricaResumen. Censos de la raza norteamericana de Calidris canutus (rufa) en sus áreas de invernada principales en las costas de la Patagonia y Tierra del Fuego (Argentina y Chile) mostraron una disminución dramática en la población invernante. Los totales en 2003 fueron aproximadamente 30 000, comparados con 67 500 a mediados de los años 80. Los números en el sitio principal de invernada (Bahía Lomas) decayeron en aproximadamente un 50%, de 45 300 en 2000 a 22 000–25 000 en 2002–2003. Los números en sitios periféricos en la costa de Patagonia declinaron dramáticamente, en un 98% en comparación con los números de mediados de los ochenta. Los resultados mostraron que las disminuciones en los sitios núcleo no fueron el resultado de que las aves se movieran a otros sitios dentro del rango invernal conocido, o a otras áreas. En cambio, reflejaron una disminución general de la población; la mayoría de las aves están ahora restringidas a sitios claves en Tierra del Fuego. Este fenómeno podría explicar por qué las disminuciones poblacionales de largo plazo detectadas en otros lugares sólo se han hecho aparentes ahora en las áreas claves de invernada. Se discuten las posibles causas de las disminuciones. Estudios de anillamiento en la bahía de Delaware han mostrado que en años recientes una mayor proporción de las aves es incapaz de incrementar su peso hasta los niveles necesarios para la migración hacia las áreas de invernada. Esto probablemente es debido a reducciones en su principal recurso alimenticio, los huevos de Limulus polyphemus. El incremento en mortalidad resultante podría explicar la magnitud y la severidad de las disminuciones poblacionales que observamos.

scholarly journals Sixteenth Census of Seabird Populations in the Sanctuaries of the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 2005

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Rail ◽  
Richard Cotter
Keyword(s):  
Migratory Bird ◽  
Seabird Species ◽  
North Shore ◽  
The North ◽  
Common Murre ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Leach’S Storm Petrel ◽  
Caspian Tern ◽  
Atlantic Puffin

The Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence are important breeding grounds for many seabird species. The quinquennial censuses of seabirds in these sanctuaries have been carried out for 80 years (since 1925), in order to detect changes in the distribution and population levels of seabirds breeding on the North Shore. Between 1998-1999 and 2005, the most striking trends observed were the near doubling in numbers of Common Eiders in most sanctuaries, and the strong population growth rate of Razorbill. Unexplainable declines of Common Murre and Atlantic Puffin were observed at some of the larger colonies of these species. The last active colonies of Leach’s Storm-Petrel (Corossol Island) and Caspian Tern (Île à la Brume) on the North Shore seem on the verge of disappearing, with zero and three birds observed in 2005, respectively. Seabird populations in the larger, more accessible and disturbed sanctuaries are still markedly smaller than in historical times.Les refuges d’oiseaux migrateurs de la Côte-Nord du Golfe du Saint-Laurent constituent d’importants sites de nidification pour plusieurs espèces d’oiseaux marins. Des inventaires quinquennaux des oiseaux marins dans ces refuges sont effectués depuis 80 ans (depuis 1925), pour détecter les changements dans la répartition et les niveaux de population des oiseaux marins nichant sur la Côte-Nord. Entre 1998-99 et 2005, les tendances les plus marquantes étaient chez l’Eider à duvet, dont les effectifs ont pratiquement doublé dans la plupart des refuges, et chez le Petit Pingouin, dont les populations ont également connu une croissance rapide. Des déclins énigmatiques chez le Guillemot marmette et le Macareux moine ont été observés à plusieurs des colonies les plus importantes de ces espèces. Les dernières colonies actives d’Océanite cul-blanc (à l’île du Corossol) et de Sterne caspienne (à l’île à la Brume) sur la Côte-Nord semblent sur le point de disparaître, avec respectivement zéro et trois oiseaux observés en 2005. Les populations d’oiseaux marins demeurent à des niveaux bien endeça de ceux rapportés historiquement dans les refuges de grande superficie, davantage accessibles et sujets au dérangement.

Distribution of Olrog’s Gull Larus atlanticus from Bahía San Blas during the non-breeding period: signals of partial migration

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
SOFÍA COPELLO ◽  
NICOLÁS SUÁREZ ◽  
PABLO YORIO ◽  
MARÍA T. RAVASI ◽  
JESICA A. PAZ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Partial Migration ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Buenos Aires Province ◽  
Migration Behavior ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
The North ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Wintering Areas ◽  
Olrog’S Gull

SummaryThe Olrog’s Gull Larus atlanticus is an endemic and threatened species of the south-western Atlantic. Little is known about its movements during the non-breeding period. The objective of this study was to analyse the migration of the species by tracking adults from Bahía San Blas (Buenos Aires province, Argentina) with geolocators and using information of sightings of ringed gulls. Differences between males and females were evaluated using tracking data and ringed data were used to determine age differences. A single core area (kernel 50%) from 21 tracked birds was identified. This area included the study colony and also other breeding colonies located up to 300 km to the north. The range area (kernel 95%) included coastal areas up to 1,000 km from the colony. All sightings of ringed gulls (n = 41) occurred north of the breeding colony, however 12 adult individuals were sighted during the winter in its breeding grounds. Our results suggest the occurrence of partial migration behavior in Olrog’s Gull. The migration pattern reported here implies than during the non-breeding season, breeding and wintering areas away from the nesting grounds should be considered as one system in the design of conservation strategies for this regionally threatened gull.

scholarly journals Local adaptation from afar: migratory bird populations diverge in the initiation of reproductive timing while wintering in sympatry

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 20200493
Author(s):  
S. M. Wanamaker ◽  
D. Singh ◽  
A. J. Byrd ◽  
T. M. Smiley ◽  
E. D. Ketterson
Keyword(s):  
Local Adaptation ◽  
Migratory Bird ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Junco Hyemalis ◽  
Time Reproduction ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Seasonally Breeding

The initiation of reproduction in many seasonally breeding animals is controlled by photoperiod and tends to be clinal: populations at higher latitudes breed later than those at lower latitudes, often reflecting a higher photoperiodic threshold. Migratory animals presumably time reproduction to match conditions at their breeding grounds, at least in part, by cues perceived on their wintering grounds. We asked how closely related dark-eyed junco ( Junco hyemalis ) populations that overwinter in sympatry but breed in allopatry respond to their shared winter environment by comparing early spring indices of readiness to migrate (fat and muscle condition) and breed (baseline and elevated testosterone). We measured stable hydrogen isotopes from feathers grown the preceding year and claws grown during winter to estimate breeding and wintering latitudes, respectively. We predicted that if reproductive initiation is adapted to the emergence of resources at their respective breeding destinations, then birds migrating to higher latitudes (slate-coloured junco; J. h. hyemalis ) should delay breeding as compared with those migrating to lower latitudes (pink-sided junco; J. h. mearnsi ) despite a common overwinter environment. We found higher testosterone in pink-sided juncos, consistent with earlier reproductive initiation, suggesting local adaptation in reproductive phenology is achieved through differential responses to predictive environmental cues.

A longitudinal study of humpback whales in Irish waters

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 877-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor Ryan ◽  
Pádraig Whooley ◽  
Simon D. Berrow ◽  
Colin Barnes ◽  
Nick Massett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Migratory Species ◽  
The Public ◽  
Photo Identification ◽  
The North ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Eastern North Atlantic

Knowledge on the ecology of humpback whales in the eastern North Atlantic is lacking by comparison with most other ocean basins. Humpback whales were historically over-exploited in the region and are still found in low relative abundances. This, coupled with their large range makes them difficult to study. With the aim of informing more effective conservation measures in Ireland, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group began recording sightings and images suitable for photo-identification of humpback whales from Irish waters in 1999. Validated records submitted by members of the public and data from dedicated surveys were analysed to form a longitudinal study of individually recognizable humpback whales. The distribution, relative abundance and seasonality of humpback whale sighting records are presented, revealing discrete important areas for humpback whales in Irish coastal waters. An annual easterly movement of humpback whales along the southern coast of Ireland is documented, mirroring that of their preferred prey: herring and sprat. Photo-identification images were compared with others collected throughout the North Atlantic (N = 8016), resulting in matches of two individuals between Ireland and Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands but no matches to known breeding grounds (Cape Verde and West Indies). This study demonstrates that combining public records with dedicated survey data is an effective approach to studying low-density, threatened migratory species over temporal and spatial scales that are relevant to conservation and management.

scholarly journals Effects of a 5-year trawling ban on the local benthic community in a wind farm in the Dutch coastal zone

2014 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 962-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magda J. N. Bergman ◽  
Selma M. Ubels ◽  
Gerard C. A. Duineveld ◽  
Erik W. G. Meesters
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Zone ◽  
Benthic Community ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Benthic Assemblages ◽  
The North ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Reference Areas

Abstract As part of a large impact study in a wind farm (OWEZ) in the Dutch coastal zone, the effects of exclusion of bottom trawling on the benthic community were studied by comparison with nearby reference areas which were regularly fished. In addition to a standard boxcorer for common macrofauna, a Triple-D dredge was used to collect longer-lived, more sparsely distributed infauna and epifauna. Multivariate analysis did not reveal any difference between the assemblages in and outside OWEZ with respect to abundance, biomass, and production after a 5-year closure. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index pointed to a significantly higher diversity in OWEZ compared with some of the reference areas. A minority of the bivalve species assumed to be sensitive to trawling showed higher abundances (Spisula solida) or larger sizes (Tellina fabula, Ensis directus) in OWEZ than in some of the reference areas. In general, samples collected with the Triple-D showed more differences between areas than boxcore samples. No evidence was also found that the species composition in OWEZ relative to the reference areas had changed in the period between 1 (2007) and 5 (2011) years after closure. The change observed in all areas between 2007 and 2011 was mainly due to relatively small variations in species abundances. In conclusion, 5 years after the closure of OWEZ to fisheries, only subtle changes were measured in the local benthic community, i.e. a higher species diversity and an increased abundance and lengths of some bivalves. Depleted adult stocks, faunal patchiness, and a limited time for recovery (5 years) might explain that a significant recovery could not be found. The current study shows that designation of large-scale marine protected areas as planned for the North Sea will not automatically imply that restoration of benthic assemblages can be expected within a relatively short period of years.

Extreme Wave Condition at Doggerbank

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Espen Engebretsen ◽  
Sverre K. Haver ◽  
Dag Myrhaug
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Extreme Condition ◽  
Exceedance Probability ◽  
Extreme Wave ◽  
Sea State ◽  
Wave Condition ◽  
The North ◽  
Wave Conditions

In design of offshore wind turbines, extreme wave conditions are of interest. Usually, the design wave condition is taken as the sea state corresponding to an annual exceedance probability of 2 × 10−2, i.e., a return period of 50 years. A possible location for a future wind farm, consisting of bottom fixed wind turbines, is the Doggerbank area. The water depth in this area varies from about 60 m in the north to about 20 m in the south. The hindcast database NORA10 provides sea state characteristics from 1957 to present over a domain covering Doggerbank. Regarding the deeper areas just north of Doggerbank, this hindcast model is found to be of good quality. Larger uncertainties are associated with the hindcast results as we approach shallower water further south. The purpose of the present study is to compare sea state evolution over Doggerbank as reflected by NORA10 with the results of the commonly used shallow water hindcast model SWAN. The adequacy of the default parameters of SWAN for reflecting changes in wave conditions over a sloping bottom is investigated by comparison with model test results. Extreme wave conditions for two locations 102.5 km apart in a north–south direction are established using NORA10. This is done using both, an all sea states approach and a peak over threshold (POT) approach. Assuming the extremes for the northern position to represent good estimates, the wave evolution southward is analyzed using SWAN. The extreme condition obtained from NORA10 in the northern position is used as input to SWAN and the results from the two hindcast models are compared in the southern position. SWAN seems to suggest a somewhat faster decay over Doggerbank compared to NORA10.

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