Recoveries by Condition for Black Tern

More than one-third of re-encounters are ring recoveries, mainly from the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Italy, some also W Africa. Most are from after 1960. Another one-third are birds that were identified by other means, e.g. colour rings, which have been applied widely in the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, where also most of the recoveries are from. About a quarter of the recoveries are from shot birds, occurring in Spain, Italy, SE and E Europe and Russia. Just two birds were reported shot after 1990.

Annual Movements for Black Tern

Virtually all recoveries in Africa from mid Oct - Mid Mar. First birds in Italy begin Apr, mass arrival end Apr, then also first birds appear elsewhere in Europe. Birds moving NE through Europe to Baltic, Fennoscandia, Russia through May and begin Jun. No recoveries in Africa from end May to end Aug. Concentrations in all breeding areas in Jun-Jul, by end Jul Fennoscandia vacated, concentration in Netherlands mid Aug, still scatter of recoveries over wide range in Aug, but rapid decline in Sep, with just few recoveries in Spain and Italy end Sep, begin Oct. By end Oct all birds back in Africa.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Black Tern

Birds in Apr-May in W Europe show only local movements, birds in W Europe in Jun-Oct nearly all on Lake IJsselmeer, Netherlands, connecting to breeding sites in C Europe, S Sweden, S Finland, Baltic and W Russia in May-Jul, to S France and Iberia in Aug-Oct, and from there on to Mauretania Sep-Nov, and to Gulf of Guinea or Namibia Oct-Mar. Again Mauretania in Apr-May, some connections to Italy Apr-May, suggesting loop migration. Birds in N Italy in spring Apr-May connect to Senegal Sep-Nov or Gulf of Guinea in Oct-Apr and on to E Europe and W Asia in May-Sep. Fewer birds in Jun-Sep showing large scatter in connections. Very few connections straight from breeding grounds to Africa, nearly all via IJsselmeer or Italy.

Recoveries by Condition for European Turtle Dove

Despite its long-term decline, the species is still hunted and most recoveries are of shot individuals. However, the development of demographic studies means that 45% of the recoveries have been of live birds since 1991. There was a peak in recoveries in the mid-1960s, then a continuous decline related to the similar decline in Turtle Dove numbers overall. The majority of recoveries of hunted Turtle Doves were in the 1960s and 1970s.

Annual Movements for European Turtle Dove

There is currenlty no evidence of strong connectivity between the wintering grounds in the Sahel and breeding regions, so it is possible that wintering Turtle Doves spread across the Sahel, whatever their origin, and that breeding populations across Europe are panmictic (mating is not structured; Calderón et al. 2016). The precise delimitation of migration divides is not yet totally clear, especially in the S regions, from France to the Balkans.

Connectivity by Month by Region for European Turtle Dove

The timing of migration is similar along all flyways. Birds are on the breeding grounds in Jun-Jul and in their S distribution ranges in Sep-Apr. S migration starts in Aug, with a peak in mid-Sep in S Europe. N migration continues into May. High numbers are hunted on passage in Sep, Apr and May, hence the timing of recoveries largely depends on hunting activities.

Recoveries by Condition for Red-necked Nightjar

Numerous road casualties (more than one third) beyond ringing recaptures before 1960, but almost only ringing casualties after 1990.

Annual Movements for Red-necked Nightjar

Birds on the move between Iberia and Africa have been re-encountered mainly in April and October. There is no recovery in Europe in November and March.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Red-necked Nightjar

Movements between Iberia to Africa most likely through the straits of Gibraltar, as recoveries during the first two decades of April and during October are all concentrated in this region. Most northern breeding sites deserted by early October and reoccupied from early May.

Recoveries by Condition for Glaucous Gull

Overall, most recoveries are due to birds seen alive, identified by other means than ringing (64%). The proportion of dead recoveries by shooting is only 5.3% but this category represented 75% of the recoveries in the pre-1960 time period. This category decreased down to 68% between 1961-1990 and had a great decrease down to 3.9% in the 1991-to present time period. Nowadays, recoveries due to birds seen alive represent >90% of the total.

Annual Movements for Glaucous Gull

Southwards movements start soon after breeding, in Aug up to Oct. Recoveries in winter quarters mostly from Oct to Mar (most from Nov to Feb). Return to breeding area in Apr-May (Olsen & Larsson 2004).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Glaucous Gull

See ‘Annual movements’.  

Recoveries by Condition for Great Egret

Migration to winter grounds starts in Aug/Sep, and return to breeding colonies is detected in Mar. In May, most birds are found at their breeding areas, with the exception of those which remain as non-breeders in non-breeding places. A remarkable number of birds spend the winter in or near their breeding sites, a behavior likely promoted in case of warm winters, which hence would be expected to be increase with the climate warming.

Annual Movements for Great Egret

Migration to winter grounds starts in Aug/Sep, and return to breeding colonies is detected in Mar. In May, most birds are found at their breeding areas, with the exception of those which remain as non-breeders in non-breeding places. A remarkable number of birds spend the winter in or near their breeding sites, a behavior likely promoted in case of warm winters, which hence would be expected to be increase with the climate warming.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Great Egret

Recoveries in the S-Central, SE and SW region mostly belong to individuals ringed in E Europe. Ringing is done mainly from May to Jun. Recoveries in SW Europe happen mainly from Oct to Mar, but there are encounters throughout the whole annual cycle. Those in summer mostly due to non-breeding immature birds that stay their first summer in their wintering areas. A similar pattern for the S-Central region. Few recoveries for the SE region, curiously most of them obtain in summer (Jun).

Recoveries by Condition for Western Cattle Egret

Most recoveries in SW Europe-NW Africa due to birds found dead, with more or less similar proportions between those dead by shot and those found sick/wounded. An also remarkable proportion of recoveries is associated to unknown causes, but most of these might be due to birds found dead. In N Italy, however, a proportionally higher proportion of the recoveries are due to birds seen alive. Probably this is linked with the fact that the colonization of this region was more recent as compared to SW Europe, and the use of colour-rings in newer projects tends to be more generalized.

Annual Movements for Western Cattle Egret

The different nature of all the dispersal movements (post-breeding, natal, maybe breeding dispersal as well) occurring within the same geographical area adds difficulty to establish clear patterns for the annual movements. Recoveries outside the chief ringing sites occur mostly from Sep to Apr, so dispersal or birds from their breeding quarters to non-breeding quarters may be in Aug-Sep, with a return to the breeding colonies in late-winter or spring, probably well before Apr.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Western Cattle Egret

In SW Europe, egrets ringed in SW Iberia disperse mostly to SW Iberia-NW Africa. Recoveries in NW Africa mostly from Sep to Apr, reflecting post-breeding dispersal. Recoveries obtained in late-spring or summer elsewhere could reflect natal dispersal from surveyed colonies. This dispersal is random, within a distance of normally less than 500 km. Birds ringed in E Iberia constitute a well differentiated population, dispersing mostly along the coast from E Iberia to S France, with some recoveries in E Morocco. No recoveries of birds of C-S Europe (N Italy) outside this region. Monthly dispersal pattern rather similar to that observed for the SW European population. Mean dispersal distances of ca. 200 km, without variations between age classes.

Recoveries by Condition for Hen Harrier

Annual Movements for Hen Harrier

Connectivity by Month by Region for Hen Harrier

Recoveries by Condition for Common Cuckoo

Approximately half of the encounters refer to birds recovered dead, of which the majority were not shot or otherwise intentionally taken. Some 39% of encounters refers to ringing recoveries, but has increased especially in recent decades. Until 1990, approximately half of the encounters referred to birds found sick or wounded, while more recently this category made up less than 20% of encounters. Bird are mainly shot at stopovers in S Europe and N Africa.

Annual Movements for Common Cuckoo

Long-distance migrant spending only a very limited time at the European breeding grounds, arriving in late Apr and initiating southward migration already in late Jun. Migrates to C African wintering grounds via stopovers in the Baltic, S Europe, N Africa and the Sahel. Arrival at wintering grounds in Nov – Dec. Northward migration initiated in Feb. Satellite tracking revealed clockwise loop migration for all populations, with the northward route always being west of the southward route (Willemoes et al. 2014).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Common Cuckoo

Connections are restricted to movements within Europe as encounters from the wintering grounds are largely lacking. Cuckoos are present at the European breeding grounds between Apr – Jul and most encounters are from this period. Connections between Iberia and Italy and more northern areas in Feb suggests the northward migration route. During southward migration in Jul – Sep, birds from the British Isles, the Low Countries and France connect to Iberia, Italy and the Balkans. Fennoscandian and C European populations connect to Italy and the Baltic during Jul – Sep and do not use the route via Iberia. 

Recoveries by Condition for Little Bittern

Over threequarters of all reencounters are from ringing recoveries that nevertheless occur in just four locations; at the Oder river in Eastern Germany, in the Czech Republic, in SW Hungary, and on Sicily, Italy. Another 6.5% refer to birds that were alive but identified by other means, usually at the same or nearby locations. The remaining 18% are dead recoveries, nearly all of which are in C, SC and SE Europe and Africa. Among dead recoveries, shot birds represent 3.5%, mostly in Italy.

Annual Movements for Little Bittern

Reencounters are scarce in Jan – mid Mar, and only in Africa and Spain. From end Mar more recoveries in Spain and Italy, some Middle East. In May, many recoveries in N. and C. Italy, Switzerland and various locations in E. Europe, also scattered in Spain. Not until begin Jun reencounters appear in low countries. Density increases end Jul and Aug in same areas, fading out again in Sep. By begin Oct, hardly any birds N. S.  France and Italy, and reencounters become scarce again by end Oct, mainly occurring in Spain with odd recoveries elsewhere. Migration to and wintering in Africa very much underrepresented in ringing recoveries, wintering in Spain possibly overestimated.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Little Bittern

Birds during breeding in W Europe Jun – Aug connect to within region in Aug – Dec, and to Spain, Morocco Sep – May, or to Italy, Tunisia, Libya Aug – Oct. Birds during breeding in SW Europe Jun – Aug connect to within region Sep – Dec, Morocco and Niger Delta, Mali in Jan. Passage birds in May and Sep connect to low countries in Jun - Jul, Italy Aug - Sep, Austria Sep, Ivory coast Dec and Mali in Mar. Most birds in SC Europe passing through during autumn Sep – Oct or spring Mar – May, all connecting to low countries and C Europe in Jun – Aug. C. European birds show many short-distance connections within the region Jun – Aug, and to Italy in Sep – Nov, Algeria Sep, and Mali and Congo in Apr.

Recoveries by Condition for Corn Bunting

Highest majority of recoveries (>80%) due to birds found alive, mostly recaptures (ring recoveries; ca. 50%). Before 1960, however, 62% of recoveries were due to birds found dead, sick or wounded, with an additional ca. 20% of birds dead by shot. By then, just <15% of recoveries were due to birds alive. This general picture started to change during 1961-1990 period, with ca. 30% of recoveries due to birds found dead, sick or wounded, with an additional 12% of birds dead by shot. At the same time, almost 50% of recoveries were then due to birds recaptured alive in ringing campaigns. Nowadays, majority of recoveries due to birds seen alive, both recaptured for ringing and identified by other means.

Annual Movements for Corn Bunting

Migration in autumn occurs in Oct-Nov. Bird stay in their wintering sites mostly from Nov to Feb. Return back to breeding quarters across much of Europe in Feb/Mar.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Corn Bunting

Short-distance recoveries in random directions, associated to local movements (normally <100 km), usual as birds congregate in flocks (they become gregarious) before the winter. . Longer-distance recoveries from W Europe move SW, reaching Iberia with recoveries mainly in Jan-Feb. Birds from C Europe mainly move SW up to SW Iberia. Winter recoveries in S France, to a lesser extent Iberia, mostly from Nov to Feb (arrival to winter quarters in Oct/Nov, departure in Feb/Mar). Birds from SE sector from C Europe probably more likely to move SE, with a recovery in S Greece in Feb.