Premigratory dispersal of the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in Spain

Full article

Published:

Volume 47(2), December 2000. Pages 197-202.

Language:

Spanish

Original title:

Dispersión premigratoria del Cernícalo Primilla Falco naumanni en España

Keywords:

Falco naumanni, premigratory dispersal, ringing recoveries, Spain.

Abstract:

The results of a Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni censuses in an area of premigratory dispersal are presented. Census were carried out at two weeks intervals from mid-August to mid-October 1998. It was observed that the number of birds in that area after the breeding period (747-1.587 birds, estimated from data in Figure 1) was larger than the number of birds which breed in the area (some 100 pairs) plus their chicks. This results could only be explained if there was a movement of birds from the south, as the study area lies at the northwestern border of the species´ range in Spain. On the other hand, the examination of the recoveries of birds ringed in Spain shows that the localities where most of the birds were recovered at the time of premigratory dispersal were located farther north and at a higher altitude than the ringing localities (Fig. 2). It is suggested that this kind of northwards premigratory dispersal could be performed by all Lesser Kestrel populations in the Iberian Peninsula, so that premigratory dispersal areas could be important for the preservation of this species.