Mangrove forests attract many insectivorous birds. Bird density in West African mangroves in January–March 2014 is higher in Avicennia (21 birds/ha canopy) than in Rhizophora (11 birds/ha). The Palearctic species are dominant in the most northern mangroves (14–16°N), but further south resident birds become as numerous as migrants (11–12°N). The European Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus is the most common winter visitor in West African mangroves between 12 and 16°N, with an estimated total of 4–6 million birds, which may account for 30–50% of the European population. The mortality of European Reed Warblers while crossing the Sahara desert in spring is higher when their Sudan-Guinean wintering areas have been drought-stricken in the preceding winter. European Reed Warblers wintering in mangroves suffer the same fate, because mangroves in the Sahel region massively die off in drought years.
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1 July 2014
West African Mangroves Harbour Millions of Wintering European Warblers
Leo Zwarts,
Jan van der Kamp,
Erik Klop,
Marten Sikkema,
Eddy Wymenga
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Ardea
Vol. 102 • No. 2
October 2014
Vol. 102 • No. 2
October 2014
Avicennia
carry-over effect
European Reed Warbler
insectivorous warblers
mangrove
migration
Rhizophora