Population development of the Honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorus, in the Lake Selent region, Schleswig-Holstein, 2006-2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21248/corax.v25.153Abstract
Against the background of widespread declining insect populations, I looked for possible effects on the population of a bird species specialised in insect food, the Honey-buzzard. The 240 km2 study area around Lake Selent in Schleswig-Holstein is characterised by clayeysandy moraine soils, which are mainly used for crop production. Many scattered patches of forest cover a total of 12% of the area.
As an indicator of the Honey-buzzard population, I mapped the occupied territories during 16 years (2006–2021). Three methods were used: 1) mapping of Honeybuzzard nests and all raptor and corvid nests that could be occupied by Honey-buzzards in winter, 2) monitoring of these nests from the end of May, during the Honey-buzzards‘ breeding season, 3) observation of flight movements and territory-indicating behaviour in July/August, and immediate searches in case of concrete indications of nest sites. Methodological problems are described in detail.
The number of occupied territories (certain and probable) varied annually between 6 and 15. I found nests in only 62% of the territories. A tendency for the population to decrease or increase cannot be deduced from the inventories.
The partial breeding success (number of young in the nests of successful breeding pairs, n = 29) was 1.76 young at the time of ringing and (reduced by known deaths) 1.59 until independence. Compared to other European study areas, the density of territories is in the upper middle range, the breeding success at the upper edge. This does not indicate a lack of food, but rather that the study area ‘Selenter See’ offers relatively favourable living conditions.
References
Bijlsma, R. G. 1991. Terreingebruik door Wespendieven Pernis apivorus. Drentse Vogels 4: 27–31.
Bijlsma, R. G. 1997. Handleiding veldonderzoek Roofvogels. KNNV Uitgeverij, Utrecht.
Bijlsma, R. G. 2012. Mijn roofvogels. Uitgeverij AtlasContact, Amsterdam/Antwerpen.
Bijlsma, R. G., M. Vermeulen & C. Klok 2012. Demography of European Honey Buzzards Pernis apivorus. Ardea 100: 163–177. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5253/078.100.0208
Byholm, P., S. Mäkeläinen, A. Santangeli & D. Coulson 2018. First evidence of neonicotinoid residues in a long-distance migratory raptor, the European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus). Science of the Total Environment 639: 929–933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.185 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.185
Diermen, J. van 2022. Wespendieven Pernis apivorus figurerend in gesprekken met Ray Teixeira. Takkeling 30: 200–207.
Diermen, J. van, W. van Manen & S. van Rijn 2014. Wespendief in Het Groene Woud en Kempen~Broek. Nieuwsbrief 2 (2) van Het Groene Woud en Kempen~Broek.
Faveyts, W. 2010. Individuele herkenning van Wespendieven Pernis apivorus: boeiend en nuttig. Natuur.oriolus 76 (2): 37–42.
Gerber, R. 1949. Zum Brutverhalten des Wespenbussards, Pernis a. apivorus (L.). Vogelwelt 70: 71–74.
Glutz von Blotzheim, U. N., K. M. Bauer & E. Bezzel 1989. Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas. Bd. 4. Falconiformes. 2. Aufl., Akadem. Verlagsges., Frankfurt/Main.
Gruppen, H. 1993. De Wespendief Pernis apivorus in Havelte: het broedseizoen 1993. Drentse Vogels 6: 21–26.
Hallmann, C. A., M. Sorg, E. Jongejans, H. Siepel, N. Hofland, H. Schwan W. Stenmans, A. Müller, H. Sumser, T. Hörren, D. Goulson & H. de Kroon 2017. More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas. PLoS ONE 12 (10): e0185809. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185809 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185809
Heydemann, B. & H. Meyer 1983. Auswirkungen der Intensivkultur auf die Fauna in den Agrarbiotopen. Schr.r. Dt. Rat Landespflege 42: 174–191.
Holstein, V. 1944. Hvepsevaagen Pernis apivorus apivorus (L.). Kopenhagen, 199 pp.
Kostrzewa, A. 1984. Pestizide in Eiern des Wespenbussards (Pernis apivorus). J. Ornithol. 125: 482–483. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640142
LANU (Landesamt für Natur und Umwelt des Landes Schleswig-Holstein) 2008. Die Böden Schleswig-Holsteins. Schr.r. LANU SH Geologie und Boden 11, 3. Aufl.
Mammen, U. & L. Minkov 2021. Jahresbericht 2011 und 2012 zum Monitoring Greifvögel und Eulen Europas. – Jahresber. Monitoring Greifvögel Eulen Europas 24/25: 1–80.
Manen, W. van 1992. Het verzamelen en clusteren van wespendiefwaarnemingen Pernis apivorus. Drentse Vogels 5: 12–23.
Manen, W. van 2000. Reproductiestrategie van de Wespendief Pernis apivorus in Noord-Nederland. Limosa 73: 81–86.
Manen, W. van 2013. Biologie van Wespendieven Pernis apivorus in het oerbos van Bialowieza. Takkeling 21: 101–126.
Manen, W. van 2020. Mogelijke vervanging van mannetje Wespendief Pernis apivorus tijdens de jongenfase. Takkeling 28: 62–68.
Manen, W. van, J. van Diermen, S. van Rijn & P. van Geneijgen 2011. Ecologie van de Wespendief Pernis apivorus op de Veluwe in 2008–2010, populatie, broedbiologie, habitatgebruik en voedsel. Natura 2000 rapport, Provincie Gelderland Arnhem NL/stichting Boomtop, Assen.
Martin, C. 1989. Die Regenwälder Westafrikas: Ökologie – Bedrohung – Schutz. Birkhäuser, Basel, Boston, Berlin. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-6148-9
McInerny, C. J., K. D. Shaw, A. Little, K. Little, K. Hoey, K. Gibb & B. Kerr 2018. Honey-buzzards in central Scotland: observations and comparisons from two study areas during 2017. Scottish Birds 38: 15–29.
Mebs, T. & D. Schmidt 2014. Die Greifvögel Europas, Nordafrikas und Vorderasiens. 2. Aufl., Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart.
Meyburg, B.-U. & F. Ziesemer 2024: Where and when does mortality occur in adult European Honey-buzzards Pernis apivorus breeding in Germany, based on satellite telemetry? Vogelwelt 141, im Druck.
Riem Vis, R., V. S. van Bergen & J. Brinkgreve 2019. Transitie van zomernest naar broednest bij Wespendieven Pernis apivorus, en antekeningen over broed- en natale dispersie. Takkeling 27: 100–116.
Roberts, S. J., J. M. S. Lewis & I. T. Williams 1999. Breeding European Honey-Buzzards in Britain. British Birds 92: 326–345.
Roberts, S. J. & C. Law 2014. Honey-buzzards in Britain. British Birds 107: 668–691.
Tjernberg, M. 1987. Projekt Bivråk – motiv och mål med undersökningen samt en sammanfatting av resultatet från 1986. Fåglar i Dalarna 20: 103–114.
Voskamp, P. 2000. Populatiebiologie en landschapsgebruik van de Wespendief Pernis apivorus in Salland. Limosa 73: 67–76.
Vroege, J. A. 2015. Overlevingsstrategieën bij de Wespendief Pernis apivorus en de invloed daarvan op het antaal broedgevallen in de ses deelgebieden van het Noord-Kennemerlands Duin. Takkeling 23: 198–203.
Wendland, V. 1935. Der Wespenbussard (Pernis apivorus L.). J. Ornithol. 83: 88–104. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01908743
Ziesemer, F. 1997. Raumnutzung und Verhalten von Wespenbussarden (Pernis apivorus) während der Jungenaufzucht und zu Beginn des Wegzuges – eine telemetrische Untersuchung. Corax 17: 19–34.
Ziesemer, F. 2019. Wespenbussarde Pernis apivorus im Dänischen Wohld – Der Bestand 2016/17 im Vergleich zu 1985–1995. Corax 23: 339–349.
Ziesemer, F., M. Schlüter & T. Grünkorn 2021. Video-Beobachtungen an Horsten des Wespenbussards Pernis apivorus in Schleswig-Holstein. Corax 24: 369–380.
