4.3.2.6 — Aves: Other groups

Several tropical bee-eaters (Meropidae) and rollers (Coraciidae) exhibit complex, poorly understood innertropical migration patterns (Figure 4.11). The two temperate-latitude species, the European roller (Coracias garrulus) and the bee-eater (Merops apiaster) make spectacular intercontinental migrations, and are listed on CMS Appendix II. The European roller (Coracias garrulus) is still wide-spread, but there has been an alarming decline in Europe of almost catastrophic proportions. It became extinct in Sweden and Germany, and numbers have fallen throughout 18 further European countries. In Israel, spring passage at Eilat has collapsed from thousands of birds in the 1970’s to no more than a few tens today. Around the Red Sea (Oman), spring migrants are still hunted intensively, but habitat loss in Europe seems to be the most important reason for decline (del Hoyo et al. 2001). Samwald (1996) has clearly demonstrated that the species’ collapse in Austria is due to intensive pesticide-dependent agriculture: traditional pastures with scattered trees have been transformed into treeless maize fields. In spite of this unfavourable conservation status, Coracias garrulus does not appear on the International Red List 2000. Another non-listed species is the wryneck (Jynx torquilla: Picidae), a wide-spread Eurasian woodpecker. It recently became extinct in England, and declines throughout Western Europe. These examples show that International Red List status might not be sensitive enough toindicate an unfavourable conservation status of migratory birds.

This document should be quoted as part of the publication "Riede, K. (2001): The Global Register of Migratory Species ­ Database, GIS Maps and Threat Analysis. Münster (Landwirtschaftsverlag), 400 pp." + CD

 by Klaus Riede