Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Madge ◽  
Chris Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
Emberiza Hortulana ◽  
Ortolan Bunting

Habitat selection of an endangered European farmland bird, the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana, in two contrasting landscapes: implications for management

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN ŠÁLEK ◽  
VÍT ZEMAN ◽  
RADOVAN VÁCLAV
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Farmland Bird ◽  
Emberiza Hortulana ◽  
Ortolan Bunting

SummaryEffective conservation measures for any bird species across their distribution ranges require detailed knowledge of landscape-specific differences in habitat associations. The Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana is a farmland bird species, which experienced massive population declines during the recent decades and has become a conservation priority in many European countries. Thus, identification of the key habitat features is an important prerequisite for the conservation of the species. Here we investigate habitat associations of the Ortolan Bunting for the remaining breeding population of the species in the Czech Republic. This population is remarkable by its distribution in two markedly different environments – farmland and post-mining landscapes. The main objectives of this study were to identify habitat features associated with Ortolan Bunting occurrence within the two contrasting landscapes and at two spatial scales. Our results reveal a high degree of habitat plasticity by Ortolan Buntings in the Czech Republic which was revealed by the landscape- and scale- specific habitat associations. Habitat heterogeneity, in terms of compositional and configurational diversity, and the cover of bare ground were the most important predictors of Ortolan Bunting occurrence in both landscape types. In farmland, the species occurrence was positively associated with shrub and woody vegetation, poppy fields and set-asides, and negatively associated with grasslands, gardens/orchards, seedlings and urban habitats. In the post-mining landscape, the cover of herb vegetation and greater slope steepness and terrain ruggedness were most important habitat features. Ortolan Buntings in the post-mining landscape appear to avoid patches with a higher cover of shrub and woody vegetation, forests, seedlings and urban areas. We propose that conservation measures for Ortolan Buntings should focus on enhancing farmland habitat heterogeneity, but also on regulating the rate of succession in disturbed environments, such as post-mining landscapes.

scholarly journals Unravelling migration connectivity reveals unsustainable hunting of the declining ortolan bunting

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. eaau2642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Jiguet ◽  
Alexandre Robert ◽  
Romain Lorrillière ◽  
Keith A. Hobson ◽  
Kevin J. Kardynal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Migration Strategy ◽  
Illegal Hunting ◽  
Emberiza Hortulana ◽  
Ortolan Bunting ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stable Populations

In France, illegal hunting of the endangered ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana has been defended for the sake of tradition and gastronomy. Hunters argued that ortolan buntings trapped in southwest France originate from large and stable populations across the whole of Europe. Yet, the European Commission referred France to the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) in December 2016 for infringements to legislation (IP/16/4213). To better assess the impact of hunting in France, we combined Pan-European data from archival light loggers, stable isotopes, and genetics to determine the migration strategy of the species across continents. Ortolan buntings migrating through France come from northern and western populations, which are small, fragmented and declining. Population viability modeling further revealed that harvesting in southwest France is far from sustainable and increases extinction risk. These results provide the sufficient scientific evidence for justifying the ban on ortolan harvesting in France.

The genetic structure of the European breeding populations of a declining farmland bird, the ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana), reveals conservation priorities

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 909-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Moussy ◽  
Raphaël Arlettaz ◽  
José Luis Copete ◽  
Svein Dale ◽  
Valery Dombrovski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Breeding Populations ◽  
Farmland Bird ◽  
Emberiza Hortulana ◽  
Ortolan Bunting

scholarly journals What are the important landscape components for habitat selection of the ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana in northern limit of range?

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaanus Elts ◽  
Kunter Tätte ◽  
Riho Marja
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Power Lines ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Crop Density ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Emberiza Hortulana ◽  
Ortolan Bunting ◽  
Overhead Power Lines ◽  
Positive Effect

AbstractOrtolan buntings Emberiza hotulana have undergone one of the most severe population declines of any European farmland bird over the last thirty years. The aim of this study was to find out which habitat features, including crop characteristics, ortolan bunting prefers in Estonia in breeding areas. This study compared currently occupied and unoccupied ortolan bunting territories. Occupied areas contained significantly more tall broadleaf trees, crop types, structural elements (trees, bushes, roads, overhead power lines and buildings) and spring wheat, but also had lower crop drilling densities. Ortolan bunting territories were best described by a logistic regression model containing six variables: amount of structural point elements, length of power lines, amount of tall broadleaf trees and number of different crops had a positive effect, whereas crop density and area of autumn-sown crops had a negative effect. Based on the findings of this study, the following conservation measures can be recommended: lower crop densities; spring rather than autumn-sown crops; small-field systems containing a variety of crops; scattered scrub preserved or planted; habitat patches of permanent grasslands, hedges and tall broadleaf trees retained within the agricultural landscape.

scholarly journals Breeding range, population size and population trend of the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana in Slovenia between 1979 and 2016

Acrocephalus ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (172-173) ◽  
pp. 3-20
Author(s):  
Domen Stanič ◽  
Primož Kmecl ◽  
Jernej Figelj ◽  
Andrej Sovinc
Keyword(s):  
Field Work ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Breeding Range ◽  
The Status ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Steep Decline ◽  
Marked Decline ◽  
Emberiza Hortulana ◽  
Ortolan Bunting ◽  
Number Of Males

AbstractIn this work we investigated the historical and present breeding range of the Ortolan Bunting in Slovenia and studied one of its last remaining breeding grounds in the country. Its range has suffered a marked decline in the last few decades, bringing the species on the brink of extinction in Slovenia. Firstly, we gathered all the available data and field records regarding the species in Slovenia and created several distribution maps outlining the status of the Ortolan Bunting in Slovenia. Thus we were able to confirm the drastic reduction in the species range, now confined to only two larger breeding grounds on the Karst (Kras). Field work was then concentrated on studying and monitoring one of the two last known populations of Ortolan Buntings in Slovenia. We paid special attention to the study of the males’ singing territories. Our main discovery was the presence of a lek in the central part of the study area, where several different male Ortolan Buntings shared their song-posts. In 2013 we counted a total of 18 Ortolan Buntings and found 5 nests, whereas in 2014 we counted 16 individuals, with 4 pairs probably breeding there. The number of breeding pairs is thus significantly lower than the total number of males holding territory. In the period from 2005 to 2016, the population of Ortolan Bunting in Slovenia was in steep decline.

scholarly journals Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana at Kvismaren, central Sweden – breeding studies and suggested management

Ornis Svecica ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2–4) ◽  
pp. 167-178
Author(s):  
Jan Sondell ◽  
Craig Brookes ◽  
Magnus Persson
Keyword(s):  
Bare Soil ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Autumn Migration ◽  
Northern Sweden ◽  
Swedish Population ◽  
Open Ground ◽  
Emberiza Hortulana ◽  
Ortolan Bunting ◽  
Spring Sowing

The only remaining Ortolan Buntings in the province of Närke are about 15 singing males in the Kvismaren valley. We studied this small population intensively during May–June, 2011. We found that the birds depend on bare soil of two kinds: potato fields turning green only in early July and open ground underneath birch and elder vegetation in an old bog. Thus spring sowing may be a “trap” as fields that look optimal when the Ortolans arrive in early May will in a few weeks turn green and become less suitable for breeding. In 2011, 6 pairs likely raised young and this result seems normal. Possibly this very small population persists due to recruitment from the much larger population in northern Sweden, that passes through Kvismaren during spring and autumn migration. The central Swedish population is only about 100 pairs and will probably disappear if a management plan is not implemented rapidly. New potentially suitable areas must be identified, and optimal breeding conditions must be provided at sites where Ortolan Buntings still occur.

Ortolansparvens Emberiza hortulana förekomst och habitatval i Sverige

Ornis Svecica ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Ottvall ◽  
Martin Green ◽  
Åke Lindström ◽  
Sören Svensson ◽  
Per-Anders Esseen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Swedish Population ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Young Forest ◽  
Bird Survey ◽  
Combining Data ◽  
Emberiza Hortulana ◽  
Ortolan Bunting

The Swedish population of the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana has decreased with about 80% since 1975. The breeding habitat has traditionally been linked to farmland, but Ortolan Buntings are also found on clear cuts. Combining data from the Swedish Bird Survey (1996–2006) with landscape data (Swedish CORINE), we investigated the relationship between occurrence of Ortolan Buntings and different land cover variables. At a landscape scale of 5×5 km2, occurrence was positively correlated to the proportion of open cast mines, farmland, young forest, inland marshes and clear cuts south of 61°N. North of 61°N, the present population stronghold (~90%), occurrence was positively correlated to the proportion of farmland, clear cuts, coniferous forest, young forest, mixed forest and inland marshes. At a local scale (within 400 m), abundance was highest where clear cut was the main habitat, but abundance was not higher on clear cuts close to than far away from farmland. We estimate the total population at 6300 (4000–8600) pairs with around 50–85% occurring on clear cuts.

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