Revealing unexpected uses of space by wintering Aquila pomarina:
how does satellite telemetry identify behaviour at different scales?

Bernd-Ulrich Meyburg,
Stephie Mendelsohn,
John Mendelsohn,
Helen Margret de Klerk

*DOI: 10.1111/jav.00670


Journal of Avian Biology 2015


 
Abstract

Little is understood about the dispersion and movements of Palaearctic migrant raptors while wintering in southern Africa.
The high temporal and spatial resolution of GPS telemetry data provided the opportunity to describe how space is used
by one such migratory raptor in its wintering range, the lesser spotted eagle Aquila pomarina . Kernel density estimation
was used to map the distribution of three individuals at various spatial scales. In addition to their extremely large overall
wintering range (up to 112 000 km 2 ), three fi ner levels of spatial concentration were identifi ed: favoured activity zones
where the birds spent much of the winter, smaller core areas to which the birds returned each year, and tiny intensive foraging
clusters. Philopatry was demonstrated by one bird which revisited core areas over eight wintering seasons. Th e same
core areas, particularly the Waterberg, Grootfontein (Namibia) and the eastern and western sides of the Okavango Delta
(Botswana), were visited by two other eagles in 2012/2013, although not simultaneously. Such results potentially provide
important information on areas where conservation activities might be focused to mitigate human degradation of habitat.





Edited By: Chief Editors - Thomas Alerstam and Jan-Åke Nilsson; Managing Editor - Johan Nilsson


Impact Factor: 2.235

ISI Journal Citation Reports © Ranking: 2013: 2/21 (Ornithology)

Online ISSN: 1600-048X


Also available from BUMeyburg@aol.com