Recoveries by Condition for Kentish Plover

Most recoveries were either in the mid-1980s to early 2000s or after 2010. They are mostly in the breeding season, peaking in May-Jun (c. 42% in total). Most are in W (53%), followed by SC (25%) and SW Europe (16%). The percentage of recoveries of dead birds has decreased markedly over time: from 31% before1961 to less than 1% after 1991. This reflects an increase in recaptures, especially colour ring resightings; about 3% of the resightings now come from metal-ring reading in the field. Shooting was an important factor in the past (19% of all recoveries before 1961).

Annual Movements for Kentish Plover

Post-breeding dispersal starts in late Jun – in W Europe many birds move to the Waddensee to moult first (del Hoyo et al. 2021); autumn migration is most evident in Sep. Many birds overwinter in SW & W Europe, others continue S to winter in W Africa (Dec-Jan, Guinea-Bissau).

SW & SC European populations largely stay in the western and central Mediterranean respectively, some birds taking longer routes – birds marked in Italy have been found wintering in Morocco (Jan) and Senegal  (Spina & Volponi 2008). Birds from the C European inland populations are encountered mostly in spring (Mar) in NW Africa & N Italy. Birds from the C European inland populations are found in spring (Mar) in NW Africa & N Italy. W Black Sea breeders return as early as Aug in Malta and there are Oct records from Tunisia & Cyprus; with wintering (Dec-Feb) records in Italy, Cyprus and Israel (Delany et al. 2009). In Europe, birds reach the breeding grounds mainly in Mar-Apr, although some birds arrive in May.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Kentish Plover

Dispersal movements after the breeding season start in mid-summer. Autumn migration is intensive in early autumn - many birds from W overwinter locally or in the Iberian Peninsula, some S to W Africa. Birds breeding in SW & SC Europe mainly make within-region movements, some reaching NW Africa (mid-winter record). Inland populations of Hungary and Austria are encountered in late summer and early autumn along the N Adriatic coasts, some of them staying there to overwinter, with others continuing S (early winter record in Sicily); there are early spring records in Morocco and Italy. Birds from the western Black Sea population are encountered in C and E Mediterranean as early as late summer, but mostly from mid-autumn. Most birds reach their breeding grounds in Europe in early to mid-spring.

Most birds reach back their breeding grounds in Europe early to mid-spring.

Recoveries by Condition for Common Pochard

As the species is hunted in several countries, ~70% of the recoveries are of hunted birds before 1991.  The development of colour-marking has increased the percentage of recoveries of live birds and, since1991, only 45% of recoveries are of shot birds. The decrease in recovery numbers since 1985 is probably linked to a similar decline in overall numbers for the species, but may also be a result of the decline in reporting of metal rings.

Annual Movements for Common Pochard

While Common Pochards are still present in Russia in early Oct, most  have left by mid-Oct, and spread across W Europe in Oct-Nov. There are still movements during winter, sometimes over long distances (>200 km; Korner-Nievergelt et al. 2009); indeed, movements between wintering sites, posibly driven by depletion of food, are common in winter (Keller et al. 2009). Movements back to the E start mainly in Mar, but become more obvious in Apr, with the northernmost breeding sites occupied in May.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Common Pochard

In C Europe, most breeding birds are back on the breeding grounds in Apr, or in May further E (Russia). Some are already on W wintering grounds in Aug, although most arrivals on major wintering sites are in Oct-Nov. Ringing occurs mainly on the wintering grounds in mid-winter, and most of these birds move to N (Baltic), C and E Europe in summer (the furthest E recovery is of a British-ringed bird in Yakoutia, Sakha Republic, 118°E). Males undergo a moult migration to gather, often in large aggregations, sometimes towards or on the winter quarters ahead of females and juveniles, which move much later (van der Wal & Zomerdijk 1979, Stanevičius et al 2008)

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Penduline Tit

Almost all records are ring casualties, with special capture efforts dedicated to the species. There are very few recoveries before 1960, while their numbers increase from 1980 onwards, with the increase in range and numbers of the species in Europe.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Penduline Tit

The majority of recoveries are from individuals first captured along the migration flyways or on the wintering grounds, with recoveries on the breeding grounds. Ringing penduline tits along the flyways is a popular activity among ringers as it produces an unusual rate of recoveries, probably because the species uses thin corridors to migrate. This is highlighted by the distribution of the recoveries, which gently draw the main European rivers, such as the Rhine, Danube, etc. During the 1980s and especially the 1990s, penduline tits migrated in numbers to spend the winter in the South-West, and this was followed by the establishment of consequent breeding populations in Iberia.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Penduline Tit

Movements from Central Europe to the South-West starts mid-September, and ends in early December when all birds are on their Mediterranean wintering grounds. The northward movements of birds wintering in the South-West and South starts at the beginning of March, occurs uniformly along April, and ends early May when birds have reached their breeding grounds. Most recoveries are obtained from September to November, during the post-breeding migration, and to a lesser extend during the spring migration, in April, so most that most recoveries are from birds on the move.

Recoveries by Condition for Great Crested Grebe

Persecuted in Europe in 19th and early 20th century (O’Donnel & Fjeldså 1997). Currently protected species in Europe. Before 1960 about 44% of all recoveries were from birds found dead and more than a third (35%) – as a result of shooting/ hunting; the latter factor was subsequently reduced largely to just 1% for the next 30 years. Fishing nets are major cause of death – the birds get drowned when diving (Abt & Konter 2009, Keller et al. 2020).

Since 1960 more than 90% of all recoveries come from alive birds, identified by other means (not ringing).

The main part of the ringing recoveries come from birds originating in W & C Europe due to the special efforts applied in that region. A difficult species to trap, majority of birds ringed at very few locations.

Annual Movements for Great Crested Grebe

In the Netherlands territorial males have been found back to their breeding grounds as early as Jan (van der Poel 1985). In UK the spring return of the birds starts from mid-Feb, while in most other parts of Europe it happens in late Mar – early Apr; in northernmost part of species’ range the breeding territories are occupied in early May. The species undergoes a flightless wing-moulting period in late summer and autumn (Aug to Oct), either staying on the breeding grounds or moving to large wetlands to form – sometimes big, concentrations; more prominent movements towards coastal areas are taking place after moult (BirdLife International 2021). The largest autumn and winter gatherings have been recorded in The Netherlands (IJsselmeer), Denmark, the lakes of Switzerland, the Baltic Sea and the Turkish coast of Black Sea (O’Donnel & Fjeldså 1997, Llimona et al. 2020).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Great Crested Grebe

Those birds breeding in N & E Europe and migrating SE are encountered in SW Russia and inland Ukraine Sep-Oct, reaching the Black Sea region as early as Aug but mostly between Nov and Mar, some of them staying until May; those heading S & SW are found along the Mediterranean, the region of the Alps and W Europe Nov-Mar. UK breeders reach the local coastal areas as early as Aug, spending the winter there mostly Nov-Mar. Birds breeding in W & C Europe are encountered on their wintering grounds mostly between Nov and Mar – the Atlantic Coast, the big pre-alpine lakes and the Mediterranean.

Post-breeding dispersion of the birds breeding in S Iberian Peninsula involves movements in various directions, many of them spending the winter on local coastal areas and Morocco mostly Sep-Feb.

Recoveries by Condition for Spotted Nutcracker

Most recoveries are from the mid-1990s onwards and are mainly in autumn and winter (peak in Oct of 24%); those during the breeding season (Apr-Jul) comprise only ca. 5% of all recoveries. Most recoveries (ca. 93%) are in N Europe. There are very few recoveries before 1961. Recoveries of dead birds decreased from 65% in 1961-1990 to ca. 2% after 1991, while those of live birds increased from 37% to 98% - largely due to an incease in both recaptures and colour-mark resightings. Most of the longer recoveries (>=50 km) are of live birds from Fennoscandia. Shooting was significant factor in the past, accounting for 14% of recoveries between 1961 and 1990 (mostly in France and Russia).

Annual Movements for Spotted Nutcracker

Based on Finnish data, autumn irrruptions in populations of macrorhynchos start in Jul, peaking between Aug and Oct; the nominate subspecies migrates about three weeks earlier (Saurola et al. 2013). Birds marked during the 1968-1969 invasion were recovered in France as early as Sep; although most were found from Oct (W, C & E Europe) and Nov (SW Russia). This invasion resulted in some birds being recorded in SW Europe & NW Africa (Madge et al. 2020). Return migration is poorly known, although birds ringed in N Europe have been recovered in W & C Siberia, mostly during autumn and winter (Sep-Jan). Between the mid-18th century and 2000, there were 34 irruptions, which are triggered by pine seed shortages (Bračko 2019).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Spotted Nutcracker

Although Spotted Nutcracker is mostly resident, there is some post-breeding dispersal - primarily within N Europe. Substantial irruptions, triggered by pine-seed shortages, take place when Siberian populations (ssp macrorhynchos) move W in big numbers, reaching Finland. The  longest movements have been recorded in the populations of N & E Europe. There is a stronger tendency to avoid water crossings in the nominate subspecies compared to macrorhynchos (Saurola et al. 2013). During the 1968-1969 invasion marked birds were recovered in W Europe from early autumn, most were from the mid-temperate zone across Europe and occured in mid- to late autumn - these form the bulk of the long-distance recoveries. There is very little ringing data from the Carpathians and the Balkan Peninsula mountains. 

Recoveries by Condition for Ruddy Turnstone

There were very few recoveries before 1961 and only 7% were on live birds.  Since 1991 96% of recoveries are of live birds, mainly as a reuslt of metal-or colour rings read in the field. The major increase in numbers of recoveries is from 2000 onwards.

Annual Movements for Ruddy Turnstone

Turnstones wintering along western European coasts breed in Greenland and NE Canada, while those breeding in N Europe migrate via the North Sea coasts, a major refuelling region, continuing south to the African moulting and wintering grounds (Branson et al. 1978). In Poland, migrating juveniles are captured from early Aug-end of Sep (Meissner and Koziróg 2000).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Ruddy Turnstone

Spring departures from Iceland to the Nearctic breeding grounds occur mainly at the end of May (Alerstam et al. 1990), and recoveries in Greenland and Canada are in May-Aug. Birds breeding in the N region are present in West Africa Aug-May, and on their breeding grounds in northern Scandinavia Ma-Aug, with movements across Europe mainly in Apr-May and Sep.

Recoveries by Condition for Common Grasshopper Warbler

Most recoveries (97%) due to birds recaptured alive (ringing recovery). Extremely few recoveries (N=3) before 1960.

Annual Movements for Common Grasshopper Warbler

Breeding quarters in Europe left probably from Jul, with SW-movement patent in Aug. NW Africa is reached in Aug-Sep, and recoveries in W Africa mostly obtained in Jan. Departure from winter quarters in Jan, then birds seem to stop over up to 2 months somewhere in N Africa (Bayly et al. 2011).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Common Grasshopper Warbler

Autumn migration patent in Aug, with movements to SW obvious across Europe. Recoveries from northern warblers in Iberia mostly in Sep-Oct. Passage across NW Africa (Morocco) also Sep-Oct (though note the few recoveries existing for the region). Ringing studies suggest that <10% of birds in Portugal may reach sub-Saharan grounds without refueling (Bayly et al. 2011), highlighting the importance of NW Africa as a main stopover region before crossing the Sahara in autumn. Wintering in W Africa (Mauritania, Senegambia) at least until Jan. Recoveries suggest a further-E flyway in spring, with more recoveries in the Mediterranean and less in Iberia (where, in addition, all are found along the Mediterranean façade, none in W Iberia), indicating a possible loop migration.

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Woodcock

A gamebird, so most recoveries come from birds dead by shot (ca. 70%). Before 1990, shooting comprised ca. 80% of all recoveries but from 1991 to present this percentage has decreased to ca. 70%, in favor of an increasing proportion (ca. 25%) of recoveries of birds alive, recaptured by ringing. This is mostly caused by a relatively recent increasing amount of projects to ring woodcocks in order to estimate their survival prospects (among many other issues), especially in southern Europe (Tavecchia et al. 2002, Péron et al. 2012, Prieto et a. 2019).

Annual Movements for Eurasian Woodcock

Ring-recovery data show that, in autumn, migration over Europe is patent in Oct, with arrival to winter quarters in Oct-Nov. Scape movements within-winter possible, in particular under harsh conditions (cold spills), that force birds to move to the coast and/or to south (Péron et al. 2011, Guzmán et al. 2017). Spring migration patent in Mar, with arrival to breeding quarters in Apr-May. However, census data reveal that wintering areas may start to be depleted from Feb (Arizaga et al. 2014). Remote tracking revealed: median departure from Iberia on 20 Mar, spring migration lasted a mean of 40 days, median date of arrival to breeding quarters on 29 Apr (Arizaga et al. 2014).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Woodcock

Similar temporal patterns for all those population which show migratory behavior. Birds from N Europe move mostly across the Atlantic façade. Leave their breeding sites in Sep/Oct, with recoveries again at or close their breeding quarters in Mar. Birds from C/E Europe migrate parallel as compared to those from N Europe, i.e. they have a more continental, less coastal flyway (though birds from E Europe obviously show longer migration distances). Recoveries in Sep still in E Europe; by Oct most recoveries in W/SW Europe. Population from NW, W, SW Europe, mainly resident with just short-range movements found. Birds wintering in Italy mostly from E Europe (i.e. a higher proportion of Central Siberian birds).

Recoveries by Condition for Pied Avocet

Less than one-third of all recoveries refer to dead birds, of which half (15% of the total) was shot, mainly in France and Spain, and mostly before 1960. Hardly any shot birds were reported after 1990. Birds dead from other causes were spread evenly across the entire range. Ringing recoveries make up 6%, mainly in the Netherlands, France and Spain. Almost 60% of the recoveries were of alive birds identified by other means, most likely readings of metal or colour-ringed birds. After 1990, the vast majority of recoveries is in this category.

Annual Movements for Pied Avocet

Most recoveries end Dec- end Feb in Iberia and France, SW Netherlands and S coast of England, few W Africa, Italy and Greece. Begin Mar birds move N, end Mar Netherlands, Denmark and S half of British Isles are filled. Begin Apr first birds appear in Hungary. By May birds reach Baltic, densities high in breeding areas in Netherlands, Denmark and Baltic, Hungary, SW Spain and W France through to begin Jul. Baltic vacated by begin Aug, more scattered encounters in Europe and around Black Sea Aug-Sep, still widespread but sparse along W coasts in Oct- begin Dec.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Pied Avocet

Birds in winter in British Isles are mainly local breeders connecting to elsewhere in country in Apr-Aug, minority to Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden in Mar-Jul. Birds during breeding Apr-Aug connect to within country in all months, to Netherlands, Denmark in Apr-Aug and to France, Iberia in Oct-Feb. Birds wintering France Oct-Feb mainly from Germany, Denmark, Sweden May-Jun. Dutch, N German and W Danish breeders Apr-Aug mainly connect to Iberia and W. Africa in Oct-Mar, while breeders from E Denmark and Sweden Apr-Aug mostly connect to W France, few also S France, Italy. Wintering birds absent in Fennoscandia except few in SW Denmark. Hungarian breeders Apr-Aug pass through Italy Sep-Oct and Mar-Apr en route to Spain and N Africa Nov-Jan, or connect to Greece Oct-Jan.

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Wryneck

The bulk of encounters are obtained after 2000. They come from mainly from the breeding season, peaking in Jun (25% of all cases). Majority of encounters (ca. 94%) are recorded in C, SC, N % SW Europe (41, 26, 15 and 12% respectively). The encounters based on dead birds significantly decreased over time: from 70% pre-1960 to 5% after 1991; those based on alive birds markedly increased from 20% before 1960 to 95% after 1991. Shooting was an important factor mostly in the past – 18% pre-1960 and 5% in 1961-1990; most of these cases are concentrated in the Mediterranean region. Nowadays, most of the encounters come from alive birds due to ringing, including ringing at nestboxes (2.4% of all encounters). 

Long-distance ring recoveries from African winter quarters S of Sahara apparently lacking.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Wryneck

Post-breeding movements start from late Jul, autumn migration take place mostly Aug-Sep, with progressively decreasing numbers afterwards. N Africa is reached as early as Sep, mostly in Oct. Most winter encounters in Europe are from the Iberian Peninsula and Italy. European breeding grounds are occupied primarily from Apr to mid-May.

In the Middle East (Israel) passage birds are more numerous in spring (Mar to mid-May) than in autumn (Sep to mid-Nov) (Yosef & Zduniak 2011).

Tracked birds from C Europe wintered both in SW Europe (Spain & Portugal) and Morocco: they reached their non-breeding areas between early Sep and mid-Oct (early Oct on average) and stayed there for 4.5-6 months; spring departure took place in early Mar (van Wijk et al. 2013).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Wryneck

Dispersal and autumn migratory movements begin as early as mid-summer. European breeders are encountered on the continent mostly until early autumn, small fraction of birds is encountered mid- to late autumn or during winter. Spain, Portugal and Italy hold the bulk of winter encounters in Europe. Passage and wintering sites in Africa are reached from early autumn, mostly mid-autumn.  Return movements within Europe take place mostly mid- to late spring.

Isotope analyses suggested low migratory connectivity for two studied breeding

populations (German and Swiss), leapfrog migration and partially overlapping wintering regions in Africa – possible wintering region of the German population is the Sahel zone, while that of the Swiss also included S Iberian Peninsula and S Italy (Reichlin et al. 2010).