This montagu’s harrier (circus gnome) elected by popular vote’bird of the year 2023‘. Closely linked to agricultural environments, this migratory predator beat the other two finalists.common slime (Nephron percnopterus) and Iberian bargain (Pterocles alchata), in an online poll organized by SEO/BirdLife, attended by more than 7,600 people.
According to the latest SEO/BirdLife count, There are 4,269 to 5,360 pairs of Montagu’s Harriers in Spain.Species cataloged as ‘Sensitive‘ in the Red Book of Birds in Spain. These numbers are a 23% to 27% decline in just ten years.
Within the usual distribution area The biggest decreases were observed in Galicia, Andalusia, Extremadura, Madrid and the Basque Country.. In general, a strong and widespread decline is observed in the western half of the region where this species lives.
Spain is the most important European country for the species numerically, it is followed by France with 3,800-5,100 pairs or Poland with 3,000-4,000 pairs. “Therefore, Spain has a great responsibility to protect this species on a global scale and must act accordingly,” says SEO/BirdLife.
Reasons for the strong population decline in Montagu’s Harrier, ” agricultural intensification, transformations of cereal crops from rain-fed to succulent or woody, pesticide, early harvest, destruction of nests and chicks by combines and abolition of borders and fallows“, according to SEO/BirdLife.
Ecological value of cereal products
The ‘2023 Bird of the Year’ winner received 3,187 votes, while the Egyptian vulture received 2,355 and the Iberian sand grouse 2,105. These last two species are also threatened and as a result appear in both the ‘Red Book of Birds in Spain’ and the III Atlas of Spaniard Birds in Spawning Season. 450 species that can be seen in Spain in the spring.
Montagu’s Harrier a good representative of the uniqueness and ecological value of grain-growing agricultural environments (wheat and barley) where it lives and what it depends on. This migratory raptor wintering in Africa, It can be seen throughout the Iberian Peninsula from spring to late summer..
“Through this kind of to raise awareness among politicians, farmers and the general public of the importance of keeping our fields alive“, says Asunción Ruiz, executive director of SEO/BirdLife.
“Necessary for Montagu’s Harrier find common solutions It prevents the destruction of the nests during the harvest season and provides the maintenance and support of the nests. agricultural systems that respect more biodiversity“, To add.
Adding that Montagu’s harrier “represents something extremely important,” the conservation group leader adds, “We must ensure policies and assistance that protect the greyhounds and the farmers who have them on their land.” Legal protection of a species is not enough.“.
“The message from Montagu’s harrier is that protection is not enough, we must act to protect it. Conservation is an opportunity to secure the future of rural communities,” Ruiz says.
The need to delay harvest
In exchange for shelter in the crops, Montagu’s Harrier destroys large numbers of voles, mice, grasshoppers, small reptiles and carnivorous birds.with their usual prey.
Early harvesting of crops severely affects species, and this is evident. persecuted for occasionally hunting game species.
SEO/BirdLife requires a profound change in the farming model to save species. One of the group’s first steps will be to request autonomous communities to take “special agro-environmental measures” for Montagu’s harrier’s interests.
“To protect nests during harvesting efforts, it is necessary to provide farmers with tools, funds and compensation measures linked to meeting species conservation goals,” says SEO/BirdLife.
In addition, it proposes specific measures linked to agricultural uses in cereal products. harvest delay, protection of borders or wastelands development of measures that enable protection of managed fallows “Promoting biodiversity in at least 10% of cultivated land”.
Another threat to the species is infrastructuresThat SEO/BirdLife will continue its line against wind and photovoltaic projects or new power lines in “key areas for the species” and “prohibition of any infrastructure development in the most sensitive areas”.
In wind power plants installed in areas where the species already lives, Pause periods during the breeding season“Assessment of the possibility of a complete cessation of activity in months when the species is in Spain”.
It will likewise request a review of the cataloging of species at the regional level. For example, in Extremadura, it will suggest changing from “Vulnerable” to “Endangered” due to its significant drop.
Data on Montagu’s Hound: https://atlasaves.seo.org/ave/aguilucho-cenizo/
……
Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]