Spatial distribution of breeding meadow birds – implications for conservation and research
Info
Pages
52 – 56
Published
1 April 07
Authors
Jort Verhulst, Simone de Brock, Frank Jongbloed, Willem Bil, Wim Tijsen, David Kleijn
Correspondence
Jort Verhulst
Jort.Verhulst@gmail.com
Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, PO Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Files
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Although numerous studies have focused on the nest and chick phase of waders, spatial data on their territory use or foraging range are rare. We quantified spatial habitat use relative to the nest site of eleven adult Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus during the nest phase and of eleven adult Redshanks Tringa totanus mainly during the chick phase. Both species used areas of about 0.6 ha, 72–80% of observations of adults being within 60 m of the nest site; and about half the nests were located at what seemed to be the border of the territory. Considering this small spatial scale of habitat use, our results suggest that the field scale may be too large for the implementation of habitat improvement and protection measures, such as agri-environment schemes.