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Wintering ecology of the Red Kite in a population from northern Spain Javier de la Puente, Manuel Aguilera, Lorena Alos & Ana Bermejo Red Kite lnternational Simposium October, 17th & 18th 2009 Montbéliard, Franche-Comté SEO - Monticola

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Red Kite International Symposium Montbéliard, Franche-Comté

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Page 1: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

Wintering ecology of the Red Kite in a population from

northern Spain

Javier de la Puente, Manuel Aguilera, Lorena Alos & Ana Bermejo

Red Kite lnternational SimposiumOctober, 17th & 18th 2009

Montbéliard, Franche-ComtéSEO - Monticola

Page 2: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

The Red Kite in Spain

Introduction

Breeding and wintering population (last national census from 2004) :

Wintering population: comprised approximately 30.000 birds but suffered decreased by 50% between 1994 and 2004.

Breeding population: the second most important in the world after German population. With 1.994-2.167 pairs in 2004. With

a decrease of 46% in a decade.

Cardiel, I. 2006. El milano real en España. II Censo Nacional (2004). SEO/BirdLife, Madrid.

Page 3: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

Distribution of breeding population in Spain

IntroductionThe Red Kite in Spain

Page 4: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

Situation of general knowledge about winter ecology of Red Kite in Spain.

Introduction

Other than censusing the species, the winter population of Red Kite has been barely studied,

hence little is known about the various aspects of its wintering ecology.

Nevertheles there are some relevant studies about it:

- Space and habitat use in winter (Heredia et al., 1991: Ibis, 133: 374-381 ).

- Feeding strategies in winter (Hiraldo et al., 1993. Ethology 93:117-124).

- Diet, micoflora alteration, pathogen acquisition (Blanco et al. 2006: Journal of Applied Ecology, 43:

990-998).

Page 5: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

Spanish ringing programThe Red Kite in Spain Introduction

Actually the ringing is done only in Binaced (Huesca)

and Mallorca (Balearic Islands).

Number of kites ringed anually in Spain:

Between 1973-2006 1.935 kites were ringed (59 per year)

Year pulli full grown total2003 34 17 512004 87 10 972005 43 73 1162006 70 70 140

Page 6: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 

1.- Structure of wintering population in relation to age and sex.

2.- Winter variation in body condition in relation to month, winter period, age and sex.

3.- Origin of wintering kites.

4.- Winter site fidelity in relation to age and sex.

5.-Fenology in relation to age and sex.

6.-Biometry and sexing of wintering kites.

7.- Moult and ageing of wintering kites.

8.- Local education of human population in relation to be careful with the feeding place and raptors.

AIMS

Page 7: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

Study area

Page 8: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

METHODOLOGYTrapping

- Kites are trapped in a supplementary feeding place managed by “Fondo de Amigos del Buitre.”

- Trapping activities are developed and managed by ringers of SEO-Monticola Ornithological Group.

- Birds are trapped with an automatic pull net shoot by remote control.  

Processing of kites

Individual marking of kites in winter since 2004-2005 winter with:- Metallic rings from Spanish ringig scheme. - Distant reading rings (PVC rings; white with three digits in black).- Patagial wing tags (yellow, blue and white with SP and a code of two

digits). 

Page 9: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

GEL3

T

T

T

56AEMO04-45

6857

69 72 01 GYFU-08

GEL3

T

T

T

5656AEMO04-45AEMO04-45

68685757

6969 7272 0101 GYFU-08GYFU-08

METHODOLOGY

Processing of kites

- Biometry, moult card and blood sample is taken from birds. Birds are aged by moult and sexed by genetic analysis.

Monitoring marked kites

- One day per week in winter period birds in feeding place and roosting places are checked looking for marked kites.

Data analysis

Data where introduced in EXCEL files and analysed with Statistica and ArcView programs.

Page 10: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 Number of kites

GENERAL RESULTS

Winter period

Trapping days

Ringed AutorecoveriesForeign

recoveriesTotal

Control of wing tags

2004-05 3 15 0 1 16 02005-06 2 56 0 3 59 502006-07 3 58 2 2 62 1222007-08 2 38 4 2 44 352008-09 2 47 5 1 53 30

Total 12 214 11 9 234 237

The population of wintering Red Kite in this area can reach a maximum of over 600 individuals, which constitutes 43% of the wintering population of the province of Huesca and over 2% of those wintering in all of Spain. Winter population is apparently quite dependent on feeding place and roost in Populus plantations.

Page 11: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 

1.- Structure of wintering population in relation to sex.RESULTS

Sex ratio. Near 1:1.No differences for all population and age classes.

56,7

43,3

55,0

45,0

52,9

47,1

55,9

44,1

0,0

10,0

20,0

30,0

40,0

50,0

60,0

% r

ed k

ites

Juvenile Second year Adult All

Age class

% females % males

Page 12: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 1.- Structure of wintering population in relation to age

69,2

16,2 14,5

0,0

10,0

20,0

30,0

40,0

50,0

60,0

70,0

80,0

% r

ed k

ites

Juvenile Second year Adult

Age class

Page 13: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 2.- Winter variation in body condition in relation to age

Juvenile Second year Adult950

975

1000

1025

1050

1075

1100

1125

1150B

od

y co

nd

itio

nANCOVA: Weigh: F2, 228 = 17,951; p < 0,001

Covariate: F1, 228 = 65,987; p < 0,001

Page 14: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 2.- Winter variation in body condition in relation to sex

Male Female925

950

975

1000

1025

1050

1075

1100

Bo

dy

con

dit

ion

F1, 139 = 19,478; p < 0,001

F1, 139 = 26,458; p < 0,001

Page 15: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 3.- Origin of wintering kites.

 Origin of kites ringed or controlled in breeding season (May-July) in the north of Binaced.

Page 16: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 3.- Origin of wintering kites.

 Controls in migration periods (August, September and April) out of

Binaced of kites ringed in Binaced.

Page 17: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 3.- Origin of wintering kites.

 Countries of origin of wintering kites.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Germany France Switzerland Czech Republic

% k

ites

n = 22

Page 18: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 4.- Winter site fidelity in relation to age and sex.

175 kites marked till 2007-2008 winter period (48 from 2008-2009 winter not included)

47 kites controlled by wing tags in winter period after marking (included winter 2008-09)

26,9 % of kites controlled in winter later than winter marking

19 kites controlled more than oe winter later than winter marking (included winter 2008-09)

10,9 % of kites controlled at least in two winters later than winter marking

Page 19: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 4.- Winter site fidelity in relation to sex.RESULTS

59,72

73,77

25,00

13,1115,28

13,11

01020304050607080

% r

ed k

ites

One winter Two winters More than twowinters

Winter site fidelity

Female

Male

Page 20: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 4.- Winter site fidelity in relation to age.

79,2 81,8

74,1

11,7 9,1

22,2

9,1 9,1

3,7

01020304050607080

% R

ed K

ites

One winter Two winters More than twowinters

Winter site fidelity

Juveniles

Second year

Adult

Page 21: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 Figure 4. Controls in winter period out of Binaced of kites ringed in Binaced

 4.- Winter site fidelity in relation to age and sex.

Page 22: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 Breeding population in the study area. Navarra 263 pairs, Aragón (258-363) Huesca 169-245.

It seems that all wintering kites are non Iberian. But there are not many birds ringed in the area

in breeding season.

There are no controls of tagged kites from Binaced in southern areas of Spain.

 4.- Winter site fidelity in relation to age and sex.

Page 23: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 4.- Fenology in relation to sex.

Female

Male

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Oct

1

Oct

2

Nov

1

Nov

2

Dec

1

Dec

2

Jan

1

Jan

2

Feb

1

Feb

2

Mar

1

Mar

2

Apr

1

Apr

2

Fortnigth

Per

cen

tag

e

Female Male

Page 24: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 4.- Fenology in relation to age.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%O

ct 1

Oct

2

Nov

1

Nov

2

Dec

1

Dec

2

Jan

1

Jan

2

Feb

1

Feb

2

Mar

1

Mar

2

Apr

1

Apr

2

Fortnigth

Per

cen

tag

e

Juvenile Second year Adult

Page 25: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 6.-Biometry and sexing of wintering kites.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

460-469

470-479

480-489

490-499

500-509

510-519

520-529

530-539

Wing lenght (mm)

Frec

uen

cy

FemaleMale

Page 26: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 

7.- Moult and ageing of

wintering kites.

RESULTS

Page 27: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 7.- Moult and ageing of wintering kites.  Partial body moult in first winter of life.

25,0

77,182,6

89,6 91,8

75,0

22,917,4

10,4 8,2

0,0

10,0

20,0

30,0

40,0

50,0

60,0

70,0

80,0

90,0

100,0

Head Upperparts Underparts Uppertailcoverts

Scapulars

% f

eath

ers

% unmoulted % moulted

Situation of 38 juveniles kites at beginning of March

Page 28: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 7.- Moult and ageing of wintering kites.

P9

P10

P8

P7P3P2P1 P4

P6

P5S1S3S4S5S6S8 S2S7

S13

S12

S11S10 S9

Scapulars

10 primaries and 13 secondaries.

Page 29: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

All wing feathers juveniles

Terminal lightfringes in primary coverts

and great coverts

Feathers in nape juveniles (brown and

abraded) and iris colour darker than adults.

Contour feathers in breast without

prominent blackish streaking

 

Juveniles. From fledling to next spring.

Page 30: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 7.- Ageing kites.

Different colour and pattern between juvenile unmoulted secondaries and moulted secondaries.

Juvenile unmoulted secondaries:Browner, abraded and pointed.

Moulted secondaries:Black, new and rounded.

Page 31: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

Remex moult in red kite. Moulting centres (focus) and progression. One in primeries and four in secondaries.

Page 32: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

The first complete moult in remix and rectrix in second calendar year kites. Quite similar in adults.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Remix or rectrix

% s

econ

d ye

ar w

ith f

light

fea

ther

mou

lted

in la

st s

prin

g-su

mm

er

10 primaries 6 rectrix13 secondaries

Page 33: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 

Second year autumn, third year spring.

No terminal lightfringes in primary coverts and

great coverts

Two generations of secondaries: juveniles and

moulted last spring-summer.

Contour feathers in breast with prominent

blackish streaking

Feathers in nape moulted (light and new)

and iris colour light.

Page 34: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 

Adult, at least in third year autumn, or at least in four year spring.

RESULTSNo terminal light

fringes in primary coverts and great coverts

One or two generations of secondaries. But all moulted,

new and rounded.

Contour feathers in breast with prominent

blackish streaking.

Feathers in nape moulted (light and new) and iris colour light. Bill

can be quite dark.

Page 35: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

 8.- Local education of human population in relation to be careful with the feeding place and raptors.

 Local population visit us in the ringing activities. Aproximately 200

people had visti us. This, of course, do not affect to the correct processing of kites.

We explain them the importance of this specie, biology and conservation problems.

Local newspapers had published notices about our work.

At least local population see than people from other areas of Spain come to his village to study kites. So it must be important for

somethig.

Page 36: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

1.- There are a maximum of 600 Red Kites wintering in the study area. Sex ratio for wintering population is 1,3 females/male and quite similar in different ages classes. The age composition is : 69,2% juveniles, 16,2% second year and 14,5% adults.

2.- Body condition. Differences in relation to age and sex. Females and adults in better body condition.

3.- Wintering kites are mainly from Germany, France, Switzerland and Czech Republic.

4.- No differences winter site fidelity in relation to age and sex.

5.-No differences in phenology in relation to sex. Adult and second year depart before than juveniles from winter area.

Conclusions

Page 37: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

6.- Biometry per sex and age classes had been described. Red Kites are slightly sexual dimorphic in sice. So sexing by biometrics is difficult because on the overlap in all measurements taken.

7.- Moult strategies per age class had been described and detailed information about this had been obtained. This allow have better information for accurate ageing of Red Kites.

8.- Local education of human population in relation to be careful with the feeding place and raptors.

9.- In the future we must improve the control of wing tagged birds with photo or video in the feeding place to increase the number of controls and improve our studies. Also trap and tag kites in October and November is important.

Conclusions

Page 38: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

This presentation has been done in the framework of the monitoring project of the Red Kite in Binaced Suplementary Feeding Point managed by “Fondo de Amigos del Buitre”.

The trapping activities where developed by volunteers from SEO-Monticola Ornithological Group, “Fondo de Amigos del Buitre” and “Brinzal” with no financial support.

To all ornithologist who sent us his sightings of tagged kites.

Environmental Department of Spanish and Aragón government provide the trapping and marking permits.

Acknowledgements

Page 39: FAB Red Kite Montbeliard

Thank you for your attention

We hope you send us spring sightings of

Binaced wintering kites from your countries next

breeding season