Recoveries by Condition for Northern Bald Ibis

Mostly dead recoveries since 2007, of juveniles released in Austria, obtained mainly in May and June.

Annual Movements for Northern Bald Ibis

Available tracking data on movebank illustrate the local movements of Andalusian reintroduced individuals in southern Spain, and the migration of the Austrian-released birds to the Orbetello peninsula in Italy – where they have been trained to move for wintering. The migration trajectories of tagged Syrian ibises followed the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast to Yemen, then over Djibouti to reach Ethiopia, with staging sites in western Saudi Arabia and Yemen (Serra et al. 2015).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Northern Bald Ibis

The true migratory schedule of wild bald ibises can not be deduced from available ringing or tracking data, though the Syrian recovery was obtained in the first half of October. However, surveys of the wintering grounds of the now-extinct relict Syrian population document arrivals all along August, and departures in February (Serra et al. 2013).

Recoveries by Condition for Bonelli's Eagle

Most recoveries concern birds found dead, the major cause of death being electrocution (44% of all recoveries). A few have been shot (6% of all recoveries), which is unacceptable for such a protected and endangered eagle.

Annual Movements for Bonelli's Eagle

The dispersal strategy of juveniles is individually variable (Cadahía et al. 2010), and recent tracking data revealed unexpected movements up to Denmark. Ringing recoveries also allowed to estimate the natal dispersal in the species, up to >440 kilometres (Cadahía et al. 2009).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Bonelli's Eagle

Recoveries are concentrated around early May, with also another period covering September-November. These periods represent the emancipation of post-fledging dispersal of juveniles, and the spring movements to return closer to the natal area (Hernández-Matías et al. 2010).

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Golden Oriole

Before 1991, most recoveries were of dead birds.  However, increased ringing effort at migration stopover sites and constant effort sites means that the majority of records since 1991 (77%) are now recaptures by ringers.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Golden Oriole

The first birds return to the SW at the end of Apr mainly May and the last leave in Sep. The same pattern is seen for breeders in the SC region, although some individuals are still in N Africa in early May, and there are Sep records in the Nile Valley. Breeders from C Europe depart mainly in Sep, and settle in May. Breeders from the W and SW have a clockwise, loop migration, returning from the East (Dimaki et al. 2019).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Golden Oriole

The few encounters from the winter range occured in Dec, Mar and Apr, with encounters in N Africa from May and Sep.

Recoveries by Condition for Long-tailed Duck

There are almost only dead recoveries (95%), with ~5% of live recoveries since 1990, while there are almost no recoveries in the 2000s. The species is a game bird in some European countries.

Annual Movements for Long-tailed Duck

Recovery distances indicate some winter movements at a few hundred kilometres, especially from North Europe around. Tracking data (Karwinkel et al. 2020, Žydelis et al. 2022) revealed that western Russian Arctic females moulted at freshwater lakes then went out to sea around breeding sites and to marine waters ranging from the White Sea to Novaya Zemlya Archipelago for a month. After a rapid autumn migration, they spent the winter (7 months) in the Baltic Sea. The spring migration was also rapid, with a stopover of three weeks at sea before returning to the freshwater breeding habitat in June.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Long-tailed Duck

Recoveries on the far north breeding grounds are obtained in May to July, with the first returns to non-breeding grounds in August, though mainly in October, with a presence until February, and movements again for spring migration in April. Arrivals close to breeding grounds are noted from May onwards.

Recoveries by Condition for Greater Scaup

The majority of recoveries across the periods are of dead birds (~82%), even during the decades providing numerous recoveries (80%). Recent records are very few and are almost all (~93%) of dead birds, illustrating that this declining diving duck is still hunted in some European countries.

Annual Movements for Greater Scaup

Greater Scaup of varying summer provenance start to move back to the breeding grounds in Apr, where females with their offspring remain into late summer. Males leave the breeding gounds on moult migration, where they remain in Aug-Sep, before all age and sex classes begin to move to the winter quarters in Oct. This is a species about which we know very little, especially as our understanding based on patterns obtained from recoveries is heavily influenced by the timing and distribution of hunting activities.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Greater Scaup

The recoveries of Icelandic birds in the British Isles and adjacent continental European coasts are in Oct-Feb i.e. mainly during the hunting season, with a few in late summer. Birds from the Baltic Sea reach the N Sea in Sep, although some arrive in late Jul, with the latest record in March. Siberian birds are present on their breeding grounds from May onwards, although some are still present on the wintering grounds in Apr. There are a few recoveries in Arctic bays (e.g. Pechora) in Sep, probably of birds that moulted there, and as late as Oct from Russia, but recoveries from Nov onwards are only from the wintering sites from N Sea coasts to Spain.

Recoveries by Condition for Great Grey Owl

Currently protected species in Europe. Encounters have been recorded after 1961 only, ca. 19% obtained in just two years (2017-2018) only. Most encounters come from the breeding season (May-Jul) – ca. 71%. N Europe holds almost all (ca. 97%) of the encounters.

The encounters based on dead birds considerably decreased over time – from 80% during the period 1961-1980 (15% shot) to 35% after 1991, while those based on alive birds – considerably increased (from 15 to 63% respectively), mostly due to ringing encounters (Finland holding the majority of them). Hitting of wires was more important negative factor in the past (6.1%), its impact is currently lowered to 1.3%.

Quite limited number of distant recoveries (>=50 km), most of them less than 350 km away from the ringing site.

Annual Movements for Great Grey Owl

In Finland, when encountered in two successive breeding seasons both males and females have been found to move < 10km between the two nests; in contrast, the females encountered some years later have moved much longer distances (median 67km, max. 405km) (Saurola et al. 2013).

Post-natal dispersal in juveniles start in Aug-Sep, but it is more evident Oct-Nov (But’ev et al. 2005; Noskov et al. 2016).

The adults are back on their breeding sites in late Feb – early Mar, while non-breeding immatures may roam until mid-May (Noskov et al. 2016).

The newly emerged and increasing population in SE Norway during the last decade is believed to have been founded by birds from Sweden (Sonerud et al. 2021); regular ringing activities showed a short-distance dispersal in W, S, & E directions in S Norway & S Sweden.

Between 1955 and 1981 nine sporadic invasions have taken place S of the breeding range in Europe (Cramp 1985).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Great Grey Owl

All encounters are located within N Europe (N & E regions) – Fennoscandia and Russia (the bulk of ringing data coming largely from Finland): mostly within-country movements and small amount of short-distance movements across neighbouring countries.

Finnish data suggest that part of the populations (particularly the males) remains resident, while the rest is nomadic (Saurola et al. 2013).

The juveniles start their dispersal after the breeding season – in late summer, and it continues until late autumn (But’ev et al. 2005). They disperse only moderate distances from the natal site in their first year (Bull, Duncan, 2020).

Adults occupy their breeding sites in late winter or early spring; in contrast, non-breeding immature birds may look for appropriate territory until late spring (Noskov et al. 2016).

Ringing data are insufficient for outlining connectivity patterns in detail.

Recoveries by Condition for Arctic Loon

Protected species throughout most of Europe, game species in Russia but apparently not intensively hunted. N Europe accounts for most of the encounters (ca. 65%). About one third of all encounters obtained during the 1960s. Most encounters (ca. 62%) come from the period May-Aug. The percentage of recoveries based on dead birds stayed pretty high in the past (72% pre-1960, ca. 92% during 1961-90) but decreased markedly to 48% after 1990. Currently, more than half (ca. 51%) of all recoveries come from alive birds thanks to colour marking studies.

Drowning in fishing nets stays rather stable negative factor over the years – 16-17% from the total sample (33% of all dead birds in Finland; Saurola et al. 2013).

Annual Movements for Arctic Loon

The species undergoes a flightless wing-moulting period of about a 6-8 weeks in spring, still on the non-breeding grounds (Russell 2020). Post-breeding movements start as early as Aug, breeding sites are left in Oct at latest. Birds breeding in Fennoscandia are encountered in the North/Baltic Sea region in Aug before continuing to their wintering grounds in S Europe (data from the Bay of Biscay, Adriatic, Marmara & Black Seas) which are reached as early as late Sep/Oct. Satellite tagging revealed almost straight autumn flights from Finland to the Black Sea (Lindholm, Forsten, 2020).

Birds stay on their wintering sites until Apr-May. Baltic Sea region is an important stopover area in spring as well (May, from Feb-Mar in mild winters) (Skov et al. 2011). Breeding sites are occupied as early as Apr but in N Siberia – late Jun (spring-thaw dependent).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Arctic Loon

Birds stay on their breeding grounds until late summer – early autumn. Breeding birds both from the Fennoscandian and Siberian populations stopover in the Baltic Sea region (the latter covering much longer routes W to N Europe) before continuing further SW, S & SE to their wintering grounds which are reached most often in mid-autumn – the Atlantic coast, Mediterranean & Black Seas, as well as some suitable wetlands inland. A bird has been found wintering (Dec) in two consecutive years at sites ca. 600km apart in the C Mediterranean Sea. Another bird marked in the S Ural Mts. has been subsequently encountered in E Black Sea (Ilichev 1978). Wintering grounds are left mid- to late spring and breeding sites are usually reached in late spring.

Recoveries by Condition for Smew

Protected species in Europe. Most encounters obtained during the breeding season in early summer – ca. 92% in Jun. About 90% of all encounters recorded during the last 10-year period (2009-2018). The bulk of encounters from 1991 to nowadays (ca. 95%) comes from alive birds, based on ringing recoveries; the remainder consisted of both dead birds (shot, other reasons) and unknown cases. Recoveries obtained as a result of direct shooting were more frequent in 1961-1990 (ca. 38% out of a small sample of 21 cases).

Very few recoveries prior to 1990. About 97% of all encounters come from N Europe.

Annual Movements for Smew

Post-breeding movements of the Fennoscandian population start as early as late Aug, more often in Sep and by Oct the breeding grounds are already left; the wintering grounds in the region of Baltic Sea are reached Nov-Dec, while those in W Europe in Dec-Jan. The return migration in spring becomes noticeable in Mar, the birds are back to their breeding areas in Apr-May. Autumn migration timing of the birds breeding in NE Europe apparently similar, they have been encountered during winter in the Netherlands in Dec-Jan.

Single birds remain in their wintering areas until Apr-May, immatures can remain at lower latitudes throughout the first summer (Snow, Perrins, 1998).

After mating males moult close to their breeding grounds, gathering in big flocks (Madge, Burn, 1988).

Small number of non-breeding birds moult S of the breeding areas (Snow, Perrins, 1998).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Smew

Breeding birds from Fennoscandia are encountered from late autumn until early spring in English Channel, North Sea region, E Germany and Baltic Sea region. A number of birds ringed in the Netherlands during the winter (Dec-Jan) are subsequently encountered in NE Europe and NW Siberia, either during the breeding season or post-breeding dispersal.

Main wintering areas in Europe are considered the coastal zone of The Netherlands, Baltic Sea and Black Sea regions (Carboneras, Kirwan, 2020), the populations often subject to hard winter movements (Scott, Rose, 1996).

Recent study suggested a shift in wintering distribution within Europe in NE direction. Lacking ringing recoveries from SE Europe (Pavón-Jordan et al. 2015).

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Stone-curlew

Most encounters come from the period 1998-2008. They are obtained mainly during the breeding season – 76% from the period Apr-Jul. Majority of encounters are recorded in SC & SW Europe (79 and 12% respectively). In general, there are few recoveries before 1990. The encounters based on dead birds first increased from 60% pre-1960 to 78% in 1961-1990, then markedly decreased to 9% after 1991; those based on alive birds considerably increased over time – from 21% in 1961-1990 (there were none pre-1960) to 90% after 1991. The latter is mostly due to ringing recoveries, and especially to colour ring resightings. Shooting was an important factor in the past (40% of all recoveries pre-1960), it is currently responsible for 2% of all cases.

Ringing recovery data from SE & E Europe are lacking.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Stone-curlew

In migratory populations, autumn migration takes place mostly Oct-Nov. Migrating birds from the British population are encountered as early as Sep in W France, more encounters exist from Oct-Nov both from Spain and France. Records from Jan suggest either definite (Sierra Leone) or possible wintering (S Spain).

Satellite-tracked juvenile in Turkey started migrating S in late Oct, reaching Red Sea region in early Nov (Kittelberger et al. 2021).

A juvenile marked in S France is encountered in N Algeria early Mar next spring, either on passage or wintering in the region.

In general, spring movements are evident from late March, mostly in Apr (sometimes as late as May).

Satellite tracking study of two birds wintering in Tunisia revealed spring flights mainly above Tyrrhenian Sea towards the breeding grounds in N Italy (Giunchi et al. 2015).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Stone-curlew

Based on distant recoveries (>=50 km), the distance moved by the C & W European populations is much larger than S European birds (sample sizes rather limited, though). Birds breeding on the British Isles are encountered mostly mid- to late autumn in W & SW Europe. In Portugal, except for the local population, wintering of birds from W Europe is also suggested (Equipa Atlas 2018). A possible loop migration for the British population has been suggested, based on colour-ring resightings in the Low Countries (Wernham et al. 2002). C European breeders (Germany) are encountered in Italy during migration. Birds breeding in SW & SC Europe perform mainly short-distance movements (Balearic islands – mainland Spain, within N Italy).

Return migration takes place mostly in mid-spring.

Long-distance recoveries from Africa are almost lacking.

Recoveries by Condition for Greater Spotted Eagle

Very few recoveries before 1990 corresponding to three birds found dead. Only 57 ring recoveries after 1990, mainly of live birds (86%), obtained after 1999.

Annual Movements for Greater Spotted Eagle

A family from East Poland has been tracked (Meyburg et al. 2005). Male, female and juvenile started the autumn migration in the last decade of September. The juvenile was lost in Albania on 26 October. The parents moved by Romania and Bulgaria and passed the Bosphorus in the second half of October. A bird rehabilitated and tagged in the UAE further moved to Kazakhstan and later to Pakistan (Strick et al. 2011).A famous bird fledged in Estonia and named Tönn was tracked from 2008 to 2017. He migrated each year between Estonia and el Hondo wetlands in Spain, and wandered extensively in summer across Finland, Norway and Sweden, though became a breeder in Estonia when mature. Tõnn generally travelled across France during the second decade of November (Reeber et al. 2009).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Greater Spotted Eagle

Given the time schedule of tracked migrating individuals, the recoveries of Estonian and Polish birds from October and November should correspond to active migration, while recoveries later from December onwards should correspond to wintering, with recoveries on wintering grounds until February.