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1 June 2007 Trends in Abundance of Migrating Raptors at Gibraltar in Spring
Keith J. Bensusan, Ernest F.J. Garcia, John E. Cortes
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Abstract

Raptor migration has been monitored regularly at Gibraltar since the mid-1960s. Long-term trends in abundance of spring migration were investigated for the ten most frequent species, five of which changed significantly in abundance during the study period. Black Kites Milvus migrans, Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus and Booted Eagles Hieraaetus pennatus increased. The trends for these three species correspond with those observed elsewhere in western Europe. European Honey-buzzards Perms apivorus and Common Buzzards Buteo buteo, whose western European populations are described as stable, both decreased. For Common Buzzards at least this discrepancy appears to represent a shift in wintering distribution, possibly as a result of climate change, with populations that wintered formerly in North Africa now wintering closer to their breeding grounds.

Keith J. Bensusan, Ernest F.J. Garcia, and John E. Cortes "Trends in Abundance of Migrating Raptors at Gibraltar in Spring," Ardea 95(1), 83-90, (1 June 2007). https://doi.org/10.5253/078.095.0109
Received: 2 June 2006; Accepted: 1 February 2007; Published: 1 June 2007
KEYWORDS
climate change
raptors
spring migration
Strait of Gibraltar
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