Andorinhões começam a revelar os seus segredos

Ver a notícia completa, com mapa de migração (!!) aqui:
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3317

Muito interessante! Gonçalo, tens alguns resultados dos pálidos em que foram colocados loggers GLS?


BTO Swifts start to share their secrets
"A third of British Swifts have been lost since 1995, but the reasons underpinning this decline are unclear. BTO scientists are involved in a project aiming to address these knowledge gaps. Tiny geolocators were fitted to adult Swifts captured at the nest in summer 2010 and retrieved in summer 2011 when these birds returned to breed. The results of this work are revealing the migration routes and important wintering areas for this species, which could help to identify key areas for Swift conservation.

The first results show how incredible these small birds' annual journeys are. We now know that the wintering range of individual Swifts is huge, with birds visiting several countries across Africa once they've completed their post-breeding season migration. Swifts also live up to their name, with one individual taking only 5 days to travel 5,000 km from West Africa back to the UK. Interestingly, this bird stopped for 10 days in Liberia before embarking on this leg of its return journey, indicating the location of a previously unknown stopover site for refuelling, where conservation efforts could now start to be focused.


Chris Hewson, who has been analysing the British data, is already amazed by the conservation value of the new maps. "The ten-day stopover in West Africa is really interesting, because presumably the birds are fattening ready for their journey back to Britain — we know they can make it back from there in less than a week! Previously it was thought that, because they feed on the wing, Swifts simply make their way more slowly, but directly, feeding as they go, without the need for extended stopovers. This is completely new information and pinpoints a focal area for future research. As the Swift hasn't advanced its arrival date in Britain, understanding the species' spring migration strategy will be a very important step." It is difficult to provide confident estimates of the size of the decline in Swift numbers but everyone agrees that numbers are going down. The only difference that we, as individuals, can make is to ensure that there are nest-sites available. However, looking at the year-round story of one Swift's life, there may well be other processes at play that we need to understand.

BTO"

Ainda não, porque só começámos a colocar os loggers este ano, por isso só no próximo ano haverá resultados.

(p.s. vou mudar o tópico para a sala "anilhagem")

Ok, pensava que já tinhas colocado alguns no ano passado. Isto é quase tão interessante como aves marinhas

O pessoal do meu grupo também publicou um artigo recente sobre esse assunto:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0041195
J.

Muito fixe e nada má revista...