A survey and GIS-based estimate of the breeding population of Great Snipe Gallinago media in Central Norway

Capsule By using a GIS-model to identify suitable breeding habitats for Great Snipe in Central Norway, we estimated a total of 276 leks holding approximately 2700 males.

Aim To estimate the size of the Great Snipe population in central parts of the species remaining breeding areas in Western Europe.

Methods GIS-analysis identified an area of 528?km² as suitable habitat for Great Snipe in the total study area (22?000?km²). Complete surveys were made in 8% of these habitats by using a subset of 53 sampling areas.

Results A total of 28 Great Snipe leks were found within the sampling areas. Ten of these were found in previously known lek areas, while 18 leks were found in areas with no previous knowledge of leks. Extrapolating the lek density and the lek size found in the surveyed areas, resulted in a total estimate of 276 Great Snipe leks holding approximately 2700 lekking males. The leks were found on open fens along the forest edge and were mainly situated on base-rich bedrocks. Mean altitude of the leks was 570?m.

Conclusion The total population of Great Snipe in Norway was previously assumed to comprise 5000–15?000 lekking males or ‘pairs'. By extrapolating the densities of leks found in Central Norway to a national scale, we expect the true breeding population of Great Snipe to be approximately 13?500 males. Changes in the elevation of the tree limit and increased overgrowth, as a result of reduced grazing pressure and/or global warming, are possible threats that may reduce the availability of preferred Great Snipe habitats and increase population fragmentation.     

Local temperatures inferred from plant communities suggest strong spatial buffering of climate warming across Northern Europe

Recent studies from mountainous areas of small spatial extent (<2500 km²) suggest that fine‐grained thermal variability over tens or hundreds of metres exceeds much of the climate warming expected for the coming decades. Such variability in temperature provides buffering to mitigate climate‐change impacts. Is this local spatial buffering restricted to topographically complex terrains? To answer this, we here study fine‐grained thermal variability across a 2500‐km wide latitudinal gradient in Northern Europe encompassing a large array of topographic complexities. We first combined plant community data, Ellenberg temperature indicator values, locally measured temperatures (LmT) and globally interpolated temperatures (GiT) in a modelling framework to infer biologically relevant temperature conditions from plant assemblages within <1000‐m² units (community‐inferred temperatures: CiT). We then assessed: (1) CiT range (thermal variability) within 1‐km² units; (2) the relationship between CiT range and topographically and geographically derived predictors at 1‐km resolution; and (3) whether spatial turnover in CiT is greater than spatial turnover in GiT within 100‐km² units. Ellenberg temperature indicator values in combination with plant assemblages explained 46–72% of variation in LmT and 92–96% of variation in GiT during the growing season (June, July, August). Growing‐season CiT range within 1‐km² units peaked at 60–65°N and increased with terrain roughness, averaging 1.97 °C (SD = 0.84 °C) and 2.68 °C (SD = 1.26 °C) within the flattest and roughest units respectively. Complex interactions between topography‐related variables and latitude explained 35% of variation in growing‐season CiT range when accounting for sampling effort and residual spatial autocorrelation. Spatial turnover in growing‐season CiT within 100‐km² units was, on average, 1.8 times greater (0.32 °C km^?1) than spatial turnover in growing‐season GiT (0.18 °C km^?1). We conclude that thermal variability within 1‐km² units strongly increases local spatial buffering of future climate warming across Northern Europe, even in the flattest terrains.     

Insights into post-fledging dispersal of Bearded Vultures Gypaetus barbatus in southern Africa from GPS satellite telemetry

Capsule: Fledglings progressively increase their home range size and ranging behaviour as they age.

Aims: To examine the home range size and ranging behaviour of Bearded Vulture fledglings during the post-fledging dependence period and determine the onset of natal dispersal.

Methods: Post-fledging movements of three individuals were investigated in southern Africa using global positioning system (GPS) satellite telemetry which enabled home range sizes and distances travelled from the nest to be calculated.

Results: Fledglings increased their home range size from an average of 0.4–10 999?km² (100% Minimum Convex Polygons) and 9.13–11 466?km² (fixed 95% kernels) within the first six months post fledging. They also increased home range use as they aged with maximum daily distances travelled from the nest occurring between 98 and 136 days post fledging (when fledglings were aged between 222 and 262 days), after which time they dispersed from their natal area. Distances between fixes were highest during the dispersal period.

Conclusion: GPS satellite telemetry allows us to accurately demonstrate how fledglings progressively increase and use their home ranges as they age and undertake pre-dispersive exploratory flights. Results confirm the notion that juveniles disperse at the onset of the following breeding season and suggest that dispersal occurs earlier in the southern hemisphere.     

Densities and dispersion of breeding Eurasian Hobbies Falco subbuteo in southeast England

Capsule Breeding Hobbies are more numerous in parts of southeast England than previously recognized, and in suitable habitat their breeding dispersion shows a regular pattern.

Aims To establish the density and breeding dispersion pattern of a population of Hobbies in southeast England.

Methods Surveys to locate every pair of Hobbies present were conducted in six study areas of between 48.0 and 201.2 km² in three counties in southeast England during 2005–10.

Results Each study area held between 7 and 21 pairs. Densities were higher than in previous studies conducted in Britain, at between 9.0 and 15.0 pairs per 100 km². Mean densities per unit area of non-developed habitat were also consistently higher than expected, at between 10.1 and 17.3 pairs per 100 km². The mean nearest known neighbour distances fell within the range 1.8–2.8 km. In all six study areas, pairs were regularly spaced. The majority (68.0%) of nesting and territorial pairs occupied sites in woodland.

Conclusions Breeding Hobbies are considerably more numerous in parts of southeast England than previously recognized, and numbers appear to be continuing to increase. Accurate population estimates for Hobbies require species-specific fieldwork.     

Seasonal movements of Gyrfalcons Falco rusticolus include extensive periods at sea

Little information exists on the movements of Gyrfalcons Falco rusticolus outside the breeding season, particularly amongst High Arctic populations, with almost all current knowledge based on Low Arctic populations. This study is the first to provide data on summer and winter ranges and migration distances. We highlight a behaviour previously unknown in Gyrfalcons, in which birds winter on sea ice far from land. During 2000–2004, data were collected from 48 Gyrfalcons tagged with satellite transmitters in three parts of Greenland: Thule (northwest), Kangerlussuaq (central‐west) and Scoresbysund (central‐east). Breeding home‐range size for seven adult females varied from 140 to 1197 km² and was 489 and 503 km² for two adult males. Complete outward migrations from breeding to wintering areas were recorded for three individuals: an adult male which travelled 3137 km over a 38‐day period (83 km/day) from northern Ellesmere Island to southern Greenland, an adult female which travelled 4234 km from Thule to southern Greenland (via eastern Canada) over an 83‐day period (51 km/day), and an adult female which travelled 391 km from Kangerlussuaq to southern Greenland over a 13‐day period (30 km/day). Significant differences were found in winter home‐range size between Falcons tagged on the west coast (383–6657 km²) and east coast (26 810–63 647 km²). Several Falcons had no obvious winter home‐ranges and travelled continually during the non‐breeding period, at times spending up to 40 consecutive days at sea, presumably resting on icebergs and feeding on seabirds. During the winter, one juvenile female travelled over 4548 km over an approximately 200‐day period, spending over half that time over the ocean between Greenland and Iceland. These are some of the largest winter home‐ranges ever documented in raptors and provide the first documentation of the long‐term use of pelagic habitats by any falcon. In general, return migrations were faster than outward ones. This study highlights the importance of sea ice and fjord regions in southwest Greenland as winter habitat for Gyrfalcons, and provides the first detailed insights into the complex and highly variable movement patterns of the species.     

Movements and Habitat-Use of Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the Northern Gulf of Mexico during the Reproductive Period

Nesting strategies and use of important in-water habitats for far-ranging marine turtles can be determined using satellite telemetry. Because of a lack of information on habitat-use by marine turtles in the northern Gulf of Mexico, we used satellite transmitters in 2010 through 2012 to track movements of 39 adult female breeding loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) tagged on nesting beaches at three sites in Florida and Alabama. During the nesting season, recaptured turtles emerged to nest 1 to 5 times, with mean distance between emergences of 27.5 km; however, several turtles nested on beaches separated by ∼250 km within a single season. Mean total distances traveled throughout inter-nesting periods for all turtles was 1422.0±930.8 km. In-water inter-nesting sites, delineated using 50% kernel density estimation (KDE), were located a mean distance of 33.0 km from land, in water with mean depth of −31.6 m; other in-water inter-nesting sites, delineated using minimum convex polygon (MCP) approach, were located a mean 13.8 km from land and in water with a mean depth of −15.8 m. Mean size of in-water inter-nesting habitats were 61.9 km² (50% KDEs, n = 10) and 741.4 km² (MCPs, n = 30); these areas overlapped significantly with trawling and oil and gas extraction activities. Abundance estimates for this nesting subpopulation may be inaccurate in light of how much spread there is between nests of the same individual. Further, our results also have consequences for critical habitat designations for northern Gulf loggerheads, as protection of one nesting beach would not encompass the entire range used by turtles during breeding seasons.     

Estimating brocket deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mazama gouazoubira</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. americana</Emphasis>) abundance by dung pellet counts and other indices in seasonal Chiquitano forest habitats of Santa Cruz,Bolivia

We assessed dung and track counts for indexing brocket deer abundance in seasonal habitats on a ranch where hunting is not practiced in the Bolivian lowlands. Surveys were replicated along four 10-km trails (totaling 180 km in the wet season and 90 km in the dry season) through four semideciduous forest habitats. Dung pellets and tracks were identified as belonging to Mazama gouazoubira or M. americana by size and shape. Pellet groups lasted more than 1 month during the dry season, but decayed within 1–2 weeks in the wet season. Mean density estimates based on dung counts varied widely between seasons for gray brockets (from 6.77±4.0 to 30.57±23.5 ind/km²; mean±SD) but not for reds (from 3.52±4.6 to 6.98±7.2 ind/km²). These values were probably too high due to underestimation of daily deposition rate, and were reduced during the wet season because of dung decay. We found consistently more dung in the dry season and more tracks in the wet season. Sightings of red brockets were too few for line-transect analysis (n=6), but those of gray brockets (n=42) produced an overall estimate of 5.6 ind/km² (95% CI=3.5–9.0 ind/km²). Different estimates indicated that gray brockets were more abundant than reds in all situations, except perhaps in the riverine forest. Environmental factors affected these indices of abundance differently, and while we recommend the use of dung counts in dry-season scenarios, we think that index reliability should be assessed locally before conducting population comparisons.     

Abundance and distribution of elephants in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia

Elephant density over 40 000 km² of the Luangwa Valley was estimated as 2–17 km^-2 to give a population size of around 86 000 in that area, a tally that would probably top 100 000 if unsurveyed areas within the drainage had been included. Seasonal movement is largely restricted to a migration on to the riverine strip during the wet season and reciprocal dispersal across the valley thereafter. The mean annual range of movement is about 25 km.     

Identifying gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) foraging grounds along the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia, using satellite telemetry

The purpose of this study was to evaluate summer and fall residency and habitat selection by gray whales, Eschrichtius robustus, together with the biomass of benthic amphipod prey on the coastal feeding grounds along the Chukotka Peninsula. Thirteen gray whales were instrumented with satellite transmitters in September 2006 near the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia. Nine transmitters provided positions from whales for up to 81?days. The whales travelled within 5?km of the Chukotka coast for most of the period they were tracked with only occasional movements offshore. The average daily travel speeds were 23?km?day^?1 (range 9–53?km?day^?1). Four of the whales had daily average travel speeds <1?km?day^?1 suggesting strong fidelity to the study area. The area containing 95% of the locations for individual whales during biweekly periods was on average 13,027?km² (range 7,097–15,896?km²). More than 65% of all locations were in water <30?m, and between 45 and 70% of biweekly kernel home ranges were located in depths between 31 and 50?m. Benthic density of amphipods within the Bering Strait at depths <50?m was on average ~54?g wet wt m^?2 in 2006. It is likely that the abundant benthic biomass is more than sufficient forage to support the current gray whale population. The use of satellite telemetry in this study quantifies space use and movement patterns of gray whales along the Chukotka coast and identifies key feeding areas.     

The ranging patterns of elephants in Marsabit protected area,Kenya: the use of satellite‐linked GPS collars

We investigated the ranging patterns of elephants in the Marsabit protected area, north eastern Kenya, to ascertain the range of bachelor and female family herds in different seasons, and to identify corridor and noncorridor areas. Data were acquired for five bachelor and four female family herds equipped with satellite‐linked geographical positioning system collars, and monitored from December 2005 to December 2007. Distinct dry (about 260 km²) and wet seasons (about 910 km²) ranges were observed, with connecting corridors (north‐eastern corridor: about 90 km long, about 2‐7 km wide; southern corridors: about 10‐20 km long, about 2‐3 km wide). The dry season range corresponded with Marsabit evergreen forest, while the wet season range matched with dry deciduous lowland shrubs. The ranging elephants moved at speed of about 0.2‐20 kmh^?1. Bachelor herds moved faster than female family herds. Elephants moved fast during the intermediate and wet seasons than during the dry season. The speed of ranging elephants was over 1 kmh^?1 in the corridor areas and about 0.2 to less than 1 kmh^?1 in the non‐corridor areas. Expansion of settlements towards corridor areas needs to be controlled to avoid future blocking of connectivity between wet and dry season elephant ranges.     

Spatial organisation and dynamics of the pine marten Martes martes population in Białowieza Forest (E Poland) compared with other European woodlands

We studied factors affecting density and spacing patterns in the pine marten Martes martes population inhabiting temperate forests of Bia?owieza National Park, eastern Poland. From 1985/1986 to 1995/1996 marten densities ranged from 3.63 to 7.57 individuals 10 km^?2 (mean 5.4) and were positively correlated with abundance of forest rodents in the previous year. The rate of marten population growth was inversely density‐dependent and positively related to rodent density. Annual mortality rate averaged 0.384 and tended to be negatively related to marten densities. Mean annual home range of males (2.58 km², SE=0.24) was larger than that of females (1.41 km², SE=0.20). Seasonal home ranges also differed significantly between males and females. Both sexes held the smallest ranges in December–January. Female ranges increased in April–May, whereas those of males increased in June–September when they were mating. Fidelity of pine martens to their home ranges was very high. The mean shift between arithmetic centres of seasonal ranges was 0.25 km, and the ranges recorded in two consecutive seasons overlapped, on average, by 87–90%. We observed very little home range overlap between neighbouring male (mean 4–6%) or female (mean 6%) marten. Year round the neighbouring individuals of the same sex neither avoided nor attracted each other. Females attracted males only during the spring‐summer mating season. A review of other studies has documented that winter severity and seasonal variation in ecosystem productivity were essential factors shaping the biogeographic variation in pine marten densities between 41^o and 68^oN. The density of marten populations increased in areas with mild winters and lower seasonality. Maximum population densities (indicative of habitat carrying capacity) were correlated with mean winter temperature. In Europe, male home ranges increased with decreasing forest cover in a study area, whereas female ranges varied positively with rodent abundance.     

Current and predicted future distributions of wallabies in mainland New Zealand

Bennett's (Notamacropus rufogriseus) and dama (N. eugenii) wallabies have been increasing in numbers and distribution in mainland New Zealand. Here, we update their current distributions; estimate current rates of spread to predict their future distributions; and describe the extent of suitable habitat for each species. Current distributions based on breeding populations and probable distributions based on outlier confirmed sightings resulting from natural dispersal and illegal liberations suggest that Bennett's and dama wallabies currently occupy between 5322–15,229?km² (532,200–1,522,900?ha) and 1865–4126?km² (186,500–412,600?ha), respectively. In 50 years, best- and worst-case estimates predict that they could occupy as much as 5883–44,226?km² (588,300–4,422,600?ha) and 1912–40,579?km² (191,200–4,057,900?ha), respectively. Habitat suitability was predicted to be high in the North and South islands, except for areas of high elevation, intensive agriculture with limited woody vegetative cover and large urban centres. In the absence of widespread intensive control, the ranges currently occupied by Bennett's and dama wallabies are predicted to increase by up to 7- and 20-fold (respectively) in 50 years. As their distributions continue to expand, they will become more difficult to control and their impacts more widespread. We suggest that progressively containing wallabies within increasingly smaller distributions and reducing their numbers to minimise damage within those distributions should be considered the top management priorities. If progressive containment is feasible it could lead to eventual eradication.     

Seasonal home ranges and fidelity to breeding sites among ringed seals

Population structure and patterns of habitat use among ringed seals (Phoca hispida) are poorly known, in part because seasonal movements have not been adequately documented. We monitored the movements of 98 ringed seals in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas between 1990 and 2006 using three forms of telemetry. In the winter—spring period (when the seals were occupying shorefast ice), we used radio and ultra-sonic tags to track movements above and below the ice, respectively. We used satellite-linked transmitters in summer and fall (when the seals ranged away from their winter sites) to track at-sea movements. In the shorefast ice habitat, the home ranges of 27 adult males ranged from <1 to 13.9 km² (median = 0.628) while the home ranges of 28 adult females ranged from <1 to 27.9 km² (median = 0.652). The 3-dimensional volumes used by 9 seals tracked acoustically under the ice averaged 0.07 (SD = 0.04) km³ for subadults and adult males and 0.13 (SD = 0.04) km³ for adult females. Three of the radio-tracked seals and 9 tracked by satellite ranged up to 1,800 km from their winter/spring home ranges in summer but returned to the same small (1–2 km²) sites during the ice-bound months in the following year. The restricted movements of ringed seals during the ice-bound season—including the breeding season—limits their foraging activities for most of the year and may minimize gene flow within the species.     

Status and structure of the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) population in Crete

Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) population surveys were conducted during 1996–2002 in the island of Crete (Greece) to document population status and structure. Fieldwork was carried out during the breeding period when birds could be monitored in their colonies. Total population size was estimated at 379 individuals (range = 341–417) with adult birds comprising 63%. The breeding population was estimated at 141 pairs, which were distributed on an average in 23 colonies per year (range = 16–30) while the mean number of breeding pairs that laid eggs was 98 (range= 64–126). Crete thus supports the largest insular population of the species in the world and hosts 70–80% of the breeding population of the species in Greece. Population density was estimated at 6.9 individuals/100 km², 2.6 breeding pairs/100 km² and 1.8 nesting pairs/100 km². The average home range of an occupied colony (i.e., breeding group) was estimated at ca. 204 km² producing a theoretical foraging range of 8 km radius around the breeding cliff. No trends in the total number of individuals and breeding pairs appeared to exist, although significant differences in population size of individual colonies occurred between the years. The majority of the population was concentrated in small-sized colonies, which showed a low occupancy rate. The number of abandoned sites and the colonization of new ones could represent a shift of breeding pairs to alternative colonies provoked by local food abundance and conspesific attraction.     

The decline of a population of farmland breeding waders: a twenty-five-year case study

Capsule: Changes in sward height, driven by changes in management, were associated with a large decline in a population of farmland breeding waders.

Aims: To examine the relationship between changes in habitat and numbers of breeding wader on an area of Scottish farmland over the last 25 years.

Methods: Nesting waders in a core survey area of 7.5?km² were monitored annually from 1990 to 2015. An additional 10.3?km² were monitored less frequently. Habitat characteristics of each field were recorded and breeding success by Lapwing determined in a sample of fields.

Results: All species showed large declines over the study period, Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus by 95%, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus by 88%, Curlew Numenius arquata by 67% and Redshank Tringa totanus by 87% from peaks of 125, 365, 57 and 53 pairs, respectively. Changes in spring sward height, considered to be due to changes in crop type, were associated with changes in the numbers of breeding waders over time. Productivity by a sample of Lapwings was unchanged through the study period.

Conclusion: Short swards, especially bare till, in spring appear to have been important in contributing to the maintenance of an assemblage of breeding waders in mixed arable-pasture farmland. The decline appeared greater than could be accounted for by losses of preferred habitats alone.     

Low and annually variable migratory connectivity in a long‐distance migrant: Whinchats Saxicola rubetra may show a bet‐hedging strategy

The spatial scale of non‐breeding areas used by long‐distance migrant animals can vary from specific, relatively small non‐breeding areas for each independent breeding population (high connectivity) to a distribution over a large non‐breeding area with mixing of breeding populations (low connectivity). Measuring variation in the degree of connectivity and how it arises is crucial to predict how migratory animals can respond to global habitat and climate change because low connectivity is likely to be an adaptation to environmental uncertainty. Here, we assess whether use of non‐breeding areas in a long‐distance migrant may be stochastic by measuring the degree of connectivity, and whether it is annually variable. Twenty‐nine wintering Whinchats tagged with geolocators over 2 years within 40 km² in central Nigeria were found to be breeding over 2.55 million km² (26% of the land area of Europe), without an asymptote being approached in the relationship between area and sample size. Ranges differed in size between years by 1.51 million km² and only 15% of the total breeding range across both years overlapped (8% overlap between years when only first‐year birds were considered), well above the range size difference and below the proportion of overlap that would be predicted from two equivalent groups breeding at random locations within the observed range. Mean distance between breeding locations (i.e. migratory spread) differed significantly between years (604 ± 18 km in 2013 and 869 ± 33 km in 2014). The results showed very low and variable connectivity that was reasonably robust to the errors and assumptions inherent in the use of geolocators, but with the caveat of having only ranges of 2 years to compare, and the sensitivity of range to the breeding locations of a small number of individuals. However, if representative, the results suggest the scope for between‐year variation (cohort effects) to determine migrant distribution on a large scale. Furthermore, for species with similarly low connectivity, we would predict breeding population trends to reflect average conditions across large non‐breeding areas: thus, as large areas of Africa become subject to habitat loss, migrant populations throughout Europe will decline.     

Distribution and abundance of spotted seals Phoca largha and ribbon seals Phoca fasciata in the southern Sea of Okhotsk

The distribution and abundance of spotted seals (Phoca largha) and ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) were assessed in March and April, 2000, by aerial line-transect surveys along the southern edge of the pack ice off the coast of Hokkaido (southern Sea of Okhotsk), Japan. Five hundred and seventeen spotted seals and 107 ribbon seals were found on the total 2944 km survey line. Total abundance was estimated to be 13 653 spotted (95% CI = 6167–30 252) and 2260 ribbon seals (95% CI = 783–6607) in March, and 6545 spotted (95% CI = 3284–815 644) and 3134 ribbon seals (95% CI = 1247–17 802 512) in April. The pack ice area off Hokkaido had higher densities (0.54 seals km^–2 and 0.58 seals km^–2 in March and April, respectively) of spotted seals than those reported in eastern Sakhalin, whereas densities (0.09 seals km^–2 in March and 0.28 seals km^–2 in April) of ribbon seals were lower than those in eastern Sakhalin. The large number of spotted seal pups suggests that the study area is an important breeding center. A greater number of female spotted seals with pups tended to be found in the center of larger and rougher floes than in other categories, and they were more abundant in stable pack ice areas. Observations of ribbon seals were limited because the survey period preceded the peak of pupping season. Ribbon seal surveys were also hampered by the inability to fly over the main breeding area between the Shiretoko Peninsula and Kunashiri Island.     

Current status and recent trend of the Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola as a breeding bird in Britain

Capsule The breeding Woodcock population in Britain in 2013 was estimated at 55?241 males (95% CL: 41?806–69?004), suggesting a large-scale decline that is supported by 2 additional sources of data.

Aims To provide an updated estimate of the size of Britain's breeding Woodcock population, measure recent trends and identify spatial patterns of change.

Methods Displaying male Woodcock were surveyed at a stratified sample of 834 randomly selected sites. Population estimates were compared with a baseline survey conducted in 2003 and the trend with data from annual Woodcock counts (2003–13) and Bird Atlas 2007–11.

Results Woodcock were estimated to be present at 22% of 1?×?1?km squares containing ≥10?ha of woodland, compared to 35% in 2003. The British population estimate fell by 29% between 2003 and 2013. The Atlas suggests that presence at the 10?×?10?km scale has declined by 56% between 1970 and 2010. Both data sources suggest regional variation in the rate of decline, with losses greatest in the West and South.

Conclusion The Woodcock's population size and breeding range appear to be declining severely across Britain. Regional variation in the rate of decline might be explained by the distribution of large continuous woodlands.     

Site fidelity and home range variation during the breeding season of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in Yamal,Russia

Many different ecological factors affecting the size, use, and spatial configuration of home ranges have been investigated, yet the chronology of the breeding cycle has been relatively under studied. Here, we studied peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) to describe variation in home range within and between breeding seasons in the Yamal peninsula, a region of the Russian Arctic with a high breeding density of peregrines. We used satellite telemetry to investigate variation in home range at different stages of the breeding cycle during three breeding seasons (2009–2011). We fitted Argos satellite transmitters to 10 breeding peregrines (nine females and one male) and two male fledglings. All breeding females showed fidelity to the region of the southwestern Yamal peninsula, but they were not necessarily faithful to their specific breeding ranges with 33 % dispersing to new ranges up to 40 km away. The population of peregrines in our study area was relatively synchronous in their breeding chronology, with clutches initiated in close synchrony in early June despite the birds arriving on their breeding ranges ca. 3 weeks earlier. The average home range size for breeding females was 98 km² (95 % Maximum Convex Polygon). Over the breeding season, the home range area utilized by females increased in the late nestling period and again after the chicks fledged. Expansion of the home range coincided with changes in behavior associated with parental care, resulting in greater activity and more time spent away from the nest area when the female began hunting to provision nestlings and fledglings.     

Use of GPS tags to describe the home ranges,migration routes,stop-over locations and breeding area of Taiga Bean Geese Anser fabalis fabalis wintering in central Scotland

Capsule: Taiga Bean Geese Anser fabalis fabalis wintering near Falkirk, Scotland staged in Denmark, Norway and Sweden and summered in central Sweden.

Aims: To determine the migration routes, timing of movements, breeding area and home ranges of Taiga Bean Geese wintering near Falkirk, Scotland.

Methods: Ten Taiga Bean Geese, caught on the wintering grounds in Scotland, were marked with neck collars carrying global positioning system (GPS) tags. A further 21 geese were fitted with individually marked plastic neck collars. GPS location data were collected and field counts and searches for individually marked geese were undertaken to provide detailed information on their location throughout the year.

Results: Seven GPS tags provided information away from Scotland, indicating that two migration routes were used en route to the breeding grounds in Dalarna, Sweden. During the non-breeding season, the total home range of the geese was approximately 466?km², although the total area within agricultural fields used by the geese may have been as small as 13?km².

Conclusions: The timing of movements, migration routes, breeding area and identification of important stop-over sites for this wintering population are described for the first time.