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Institution

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

NonprofitSandy, United Kingdom
About: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is a nonprofit organization based out in Sandy, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Biodiversity. The organization has 670 authors who have published 1425 publications receiving 88006 citations. The organization is also known as: RSPB & Plumage League.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors monitored seven species of burrow-nesting petrels in 2014 using a combination of infra-red video cameras augmented by burrowscope nest inspections.
Abstract: Since 2004 there has been mounting evidence of the severe impact of introduced house mice (Mus musculus L.) killing chicks of burrow-nesting petrels at Gough Island. We monitored seven species of burrow-nesting petrels in 2014 using a combination of infra-red video cameras augmented by burrowscope nest inspections. All seven camera-monitored Atlantic petrel (Pterodroma incerta Schlegel) chicks were killed by mice within hours of hatching (average 7.2±4.0 hours) with an 87% chick failure rate (n=83 hatchlings). Several grey petrel (Procellaria cinerea Gmelin) chicks were found with mouse wounds and 60% of chicks failed (n=35 hatchlings). Video surveillance revealed one (of seven nests filmed) fatal attack on a great shearwater (Puffinus gravis O’Reilly) chick and two (of nine) on soft-plumaged petrel (Pterodroma mollis Gould) chicks. Mice killed the chicks of the recently discovered summer-breeding MacGillivray’s prion (Pachyptila macgillivrayi Mathews), with a chick mortality rate of 82% in 2013/14 and 100% in 2014/15. The closely-related broad-billed prion (P. vittata Forster) breeds in late winter and also had a chick mortality rate of 100% in 2014. The results provide further evidence of the dire situation for seabirds nesting on Gough Island and the urgent need for mouse eradication.

33 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The first national-scale analysis of the potential drivers of Curlew population change in Britain is presented in this article, which is needed to guide conservation action for this globally near-threatened, declining species.
Abstract: Capsule: Across Britain, breeding Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata are less numerous and have shown greater population declines in areas with more arable farming, woodland cover and higher generalist predator abundance.Aims: We present the first national-scale analysis of the potential drivers of Curlew population change in Britain, which is needed to guide conservation action for this globally near-threatened, declining species.Methods: Breeding Bird Survey data and environmental predictors were used to model variation in Curlew abundance in 1995–99 and 2007–11, and population change between these periods.Results: Arable farming and woodland cover were negatively associated with Curlew abundance and population declines. Curlew abundance was positively associated with extent of protected area coverage and gamebird numbers. Abundance and population change were positively associated with cooler temperatures and higher summer rainfall, but negatively associated with numbers of generalist predators.Co...

33 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola (AW) is the only globally threatened passerine species of continental Europe, and the only wintering grounds that have been discovered are in river floodplain marshes along the Senegal River in the Djoudj area, Senegal.
Abstract: The Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola (AW) is the only globally threatened passerine species of continental Europe. The global population decreased by >90% during the 20th century. AWs breed in Palaearctic fen mires and sedge meadows and spend the non-breeding season in sub-Saharan Africa, but until 2007 no regular wintering site had been identified. To date, the only wintering grounds that have been discovered are in river floodplain marshes along the Senegal River in the Djoudj area, Senegal. Searches for additional wintering sites in south-western Mauritania, northern Senegal and Gambia have been unsuccessful. In Djoudj, AWs are found in extensive marshes dominated by Scirpus spp. or Sporobolus robustus, and favour shallow water and the occurrence of Eleocharis mutata and Sporobolus robustus on the microhabitat scale. Within these marshes, however, AW appear to avoid dense homogenous stands dominated by Scirpus maritimus. Estimates of the density of wintering AWs in suitable habitats range between 0.5 and 1.6 birds/ha. According to the estimated area of suitable habitat (4,000–10,000 ha with strong seasonal and inter-annual fluctuations), the Djoudj area may hold between 10 and >50% of the global population during the non-breeding season. Ringing, molecular studies and feather isotope ratios have failed to provide conclusive evidence for connectivity between the Djoudj area and particular Palaearctic breeding populations. Based on winter records, habitat data and satellite images, we speculate that the Inner Niger Delta in Mali could be another important wintering area. A pilot project that equipped 30 AWs in the Ukraine with geolocators in 2010 may reveal more details about migration routes and lead to the discovery of currently unknown wintering sites.

33 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1995-The Auk
TL;DR: Competition may be important in nest resource partitioning in individual mixed colonies depending on colony size and habitat structure and the need to maintain/create optimal nesting areas for Roseate Terns is stressed.
Abstract: Nest-site characteristics of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) and Common Terns (S. hirundo) in mixed and unmixed colonies were examined at a number of sites in the Azores archipelago using discriminant analysis. Colonies were stratified and points located in a systematic way. Physical parameters, nearest-neighbor distance, vegetation cover, and density of nests were measured. Measured nest-site parameters were compared between species and with habitat points selected in the colony. Significant interspecific differences in nesting sites were found. Roseate Terns nested in areas with high relief and/or tall vegetation and with higher nesting densities. Common Terns selected more-open areas. There was considerable variability in nest-site selection of both tern species among colonies. Roseate Terns were more specialized as their nest sites differed more significantly than those of Common Terns from the available habitats. In contrast to findings of studies in North America, nest con- cealment by Roseate Terns did not influence hatching success. Competition may be important in nest resource partitioning in individual mixed colonies depending on colony size and habitat structure. The need to maintain/create optimal nesting areas for Roseate Terns is stressed. As habitat descriminators varied greatly between colonies, management should be planned on a colony-by-colony basis. Received 15 March 1994, accepted 15 May 1994.

32 citations


Authors

Showing all 672 results

NameH-indexPapersCitations
Andrew Balmford9129033359
Rhys E. Green7828530428
Richard D. Gregory6116518428
Richard Evans4830610513
Rafael Mateo462387091
Deborah J. Pain46996717
Jeremy D. Wilson4512312587
Les G. Underhill452338217
Richard B. Bradbury421138062
Paul F. Donald4111711153
James W. Pearce-Higgins401445623
Jörn P. W. Scharlemann408416393
Juliet A. Vickery391168494
Mark A. Taggart381113703
Patrick W Thompson381446379
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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers from the Institution in previous years
YearPapers
20224
202190
202073
201993
201882
201770