Mining citizen science data to explore stopover sites and spatiotemporal variation in migration patterns of the red-footed falcon.

ABSTRACT: Citizen science data have already been used to effectively address questions regarding migration, a fundamental stage in the life history of birds. In this study, we use data from eBird and from 3 additional regional citizen science databases to describe the migration routes and timing of the red-footed falcon Falco vespertinus in the Mediterranean region across 8 years (2010-2017). We further examine the seasonal and yearly variation in migration patterns and explore sites used during the species migration. Our results suggest that the autumn passage is spatially less variable and temporally more consistent among years than in spring and that birds migrate faster in spring than in autumn. The species seems to be more prevalent along the Central Mediterranean during spring migration

SUBMITTER: Bounas A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7705510 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature