Migration routes and staging areas of trans-Saharan Turtle Doves appraised from light-level geolocators.

ABSTRACT: The identification of migration routes, wintering grounds and stopover sites are crucial issues for the understanding of the Palearctic-African bird migration system as well as for the development of relevant conservation strategies for trans-Saharan migrants. Using miniaturized light-level geolocators we report a comprehensive and detailed year round track of a granivorous trans-Saharan migrant, the European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur). From five recovered loggers, our data provide new insights on migratory journeys and winter destinations of Turtle Doves originating from a breeding population in Western France. Data confirm that Turtle Doves wintered in West Africa. The main wintering area encompassed Western Mali, the Inner Delta Niger and the Malian/Mauritanian border. Some indiv

SUBMITTER: Eraud C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3609750 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature