This page provides information on articles, papers, books and other publications relevant to raptors and raptor workers. It will primarily relate to current material and please Contact Us with any suggestions for inclusion.
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Author(s): F.M.Leckie, B.E.Arroyo, S.J.Thirgood and S.M.Redpath Published by: Bird Study Vol.55 Part 2 pp152-160, 24th June 2008 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from the British Trust for Ornithology - www.bto.org Summary: This study was based at Langholm where 13 nests were observed from hides monitoring prey types, provisioning rate and the time spent at the nest by both sexes in relation to brood size and brood age. The results showed that males always provided more food than females. Males brought similar amounts of prey items irrespective of brood size and nestling age, whereas females brought more prey and bigger items to larger and older broods. Females spent less time brooding larger broods, particularly early on.  |
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Author(s): Tapio Solonen & Kimmo AF Ursin Published by: Bird Study Vol. 55 Part 2 pp 216-221, 24th June 2008 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from the British Trust for Ornithology - www.bto.org Summary: The aim was to determine whether the general intensity of human habitation in the territory affects breeding. Over an extended time period, rural and urban habitats were largely of equal quality. In urban environments, however, owls seem to be less affected by the pronounced regional abundance fluctuations of small mammals and weather conditions of the preceding winter that largely govern the breeding owls elsewhere. |
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Author(s): Rob Clements Published by: British Birds Vol 101 No.5, 23rd May 2008 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from www.britishbirds.co.uk Summary: Estimates of the British population of Common Kestrel suggest a continuing decline in the past 30 years, from around 100,000 pairs in the 1970's to a little more than a third of that level recently. This paper summarises recent survey work in several english counties which questions recent estimates. It is suggested that the current British population remains above 50,000 territorial pairs and that, although there has been a steep decline in some parts of its range, the Common Kestrel still breeds at high density (50+pairs per hectad) in mixed farmland in much of England. |
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Author(s): Paul V Irving Published by: British Birds Vol 101 p.256, 23rd May 2008 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from www.britishbirds.co.uk Summary: This is a follow-up from the previous note by Andrew Heath and Helen Armstrong regarding supplementary feeding of Hen Harriers (see details on 5.3.2008 below). Irving questions some of the data presented and queries some aspects of the Hen Harrier Recovery Project. Richard Saunders of Natural England also explains the background to diversionary feeding. |
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Author(s): D.P.Whitfield, A.H.Fielding & S.Whitehead Published by: Animal Conservation 11 pp144-152, 06th April 2008 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: by subscription and published by Blackwell Synergy copyright The Zoological Society of London Summary: This study used 20 years of data on Hen Harriers in Wales where productivity has slowly increased with time being the highest in recent years. Food availability could not account for these differences. Human interference (apparently, largely or entirely in the form of nest destruction by grouse moor gamekeepers) had a large influence on productivity, despite being restricted to a minority of the breeding population. This negative effect, and a positive effect of May temperature was most influential on variation of breeding productivity. This study quantifies, for the first time, that cessation of persecution can result in a marked improvement in Hen Harrier reproductive output. Full abstract available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1469-1795.2008.00164.x |
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Author(s): S.J. Roberts & J.M.S.Lewis Published by: British Birds Vol. 101 pp203-206, 05th April 2008 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from www.britishbirds.co.uk Summary: Colour ringing of Honey Buzzard chicks in the UK has provided vital information about the breeding dynamics of the species. The short note urges those working with the species to consider colour ringing as an important tool to assist understanding of this secretive species, the long term aim being to ensure that conservation strategies to support our breeding birds are based on sound knowledge and understanding. |
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Author(s): D. Parrott, I.Henderson, C.Deppe & P.Whitfield Published by: Bird Study Vol.55 Part 1 pp32-42, 09th March 2008 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from www.bto.org Summary: The aim was to assess the numbers of Scottish racing pigeons taken by Peregrines, based on the recovery of racing pigeon rings from Peregrine eyries and the daily food intake (DFI) of Peregrines. Although the DFI technique is constrained by the lack of comprehensive data it does provide a good indication of the magnitude of Peregrine impact - in 2002 Peregrine kills based on DFI represented 13-40% of total losses of Scottish racing pigeons to all causes - or conversely 60-87% of total losses could not be attributed to Peregrines. Further research is encouraged. |
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Author(s): J.P.Cormier, J.Fustec, J.Pithon & P. Choisy Published by: Bird Study Vol. 55 Part 1 pp 86 - 93, 09th March 2008 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from www.bto.org Summary: The aim was to investigate relationships between vegetation structure and nest selection by Montagu's and Hen Harriers in managed heaths. Montagu's Harriers selected places where tree cover was less than 25%, the maximum height of the upper stratum was 1.87 m., and the cover for the intermediate stratum was higher than 75%. Hen Harriers nested either in plots where the upper stratum was higher than 1.87m, or where tree coverage was greater than 25%. |
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Author(s): Andrew Heath & Helen Armstrong Published by: British Birds Vol 101 pp 152-54, 05th March 2008 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: by subscription from www.britishbirds.co.uk Summary: In spring 2006 the Hen Harrier Recovery Project (HHRP) run by English Nature was involved in monitoring breeding Hen Harriers in the Peak District with the help of the South Peak Raptor Study Group. Though two pairs were present and two nests developed naturally, both males disappeared. A decision was made to artificially provide food at both nests and the article explains what happened and what led to successful outcomes in each case. |
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Author(s): Edward J.A.Drewitt & Nick Dixon Published by: British Birds Vol. 101 pp 58-67, 12th February 2008 ISBN: na Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from www.britishbirds.co.uk Summary: The authors analysed the diet of Peregrines in three cities in southwest England - Bristol, Bath & Exeter - between 1998 & 2007. The wide range of prey species taken included many associated with a variety of non-urban habitats. Some prey species appear to be hunted at night while on migration. This paper summarises the diet of Peregrines in urban areas and reviews their night time hunting behaviour. |
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Author(s): Edited by Ron Forrester & Ian Andrews Published by: The Scottish Ornithologists' Club, 28th December 2007 ISBN: 978-0-9512139-0-2 Price: £75 Availability: Available from SOC, Waterston House, Aberlady, East Lothian EH32 OPY - www.birdsofscotland.org.uk. Please add £10 for postage. Summary: This publication is in two volumes of full colour A4 hardback, containing some 1500 pages written by 150 experts and edited by a team of 9. All 509 species ever seen in Scotland are included. This is the 3rd in line of Scottish avifaunas following in the footsteps of the Misses Baxter & Rintoul's The Birds of Scotland, and Valerie Thom's Birds in Scotland. However, in terms of the level of information and overall presentation, it is in a different class. |
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Author(s): Etheridge,B., Holling,M.,Riley,H.T., Wernham, C.V. & Thompson, D.B.A. Published by: Scottish Ornithologists' Club, Aberlady, 23rd December 2007 ISBN: ISSN 0036 9144 Price: £0 Availability: restricted publication available to members of the SOC and Scottish Raptor Study Groups. Full pdf to be available on this site. Summary: This is the third annual report of the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme. For further information see the SRMS pages on this website. |
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Author(s): Olaf Cuthbert Published by: Orkney Field Club, 04th December 2007 ISBN: 0-9538146-2-9 Price: £8.99 Availability: copies available in Orkney bookshops or through the following website - http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/FIELDCLUB/index.asp?pageid=737 Summary: The name of Eddie Balfour and Hen Harrier are synonymous and although he died in 1974, his work remains internationally acknowledged. Orkney Field Club are to be congratulated on producing this publication which contains a number of his papers as well as tributes and appreciations of his life. |
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Author(s): David M. Bird & Keith L. Bildstein Published by: Hancock Publishing, 30th November 2007 ISBN: 0-88839-639-2 Price: £60 Availability: www.hancockhouse.com - presumably will become available in UK Summary: This U.S. publication is an update on the 1987 volume and is supported by the Raptor Research Foundation. There are 464 pages which provide up to date information on various current techniques, an overview of the field of raptor research, as well as chapters on public education and legal aspects. |
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Author(s): P.Lopez-Lopez, C.Garcia-Ripolles & V.Urios Published by: Bird Study Vol.54 Part3, 09th November 2007 ISBN: 000 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from BTO - www.bto.org Summary: This paper examines the population size, breeding performance and territory quality of Bonelli's Eagle in Eastern Spain. |
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Author(s): J.Riegert, A.Dufek, D.Fainova, V.Mikes & R.Fuchs Published by: Bird Study Vol.54 Part 3, 09th November 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from the BTO - www.bto.org Summary: The aim was to describe diet composition, hunting behaviour, habitat choice and reproductive success of urban Kestrels during changing vole abundance. The study was based in the Czech Republic. |
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Author(s): Anthony Messenger & Martin Roome Published by: British Birds October 2007 Vol. 100 573-636, 01st October 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: by subscription from www.britishbirds.co.uk Summary: The breeding density and nesting success of the Hobby was studied in 412 sq.kms of farmland in Derbyshire between 1992 & 2001. Over the period there was a mean breeding density of 3.06 pairs per 100sqkms. At least 35% of nesting ranges were occupied each year. A mean of 2.44 young fledged from successful nests and of 126 breeding attempts only 7 failed. |
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Author(s): Manuela de Lucas, Guyonne F.E.James and Miguel Ferrer (Editors) Published by: Quercus Publishing Company, Madrid, 19th September 2007 ISBN: 978-84-87610-18-9 Price: £25 Availability: available through specialist natural history outlets and through the publisher at www.biodivers.com and Summary: This book contains contributions from scientists from various countries. It claims to to present an objective overview of the various technologies and their potential effects on birds and bats; methods of minimizing the risk of adverse impacts; and gaps in knowledge and how to tackle them. The editors hope that being a global testimony of a new threat for birds and bats, it will increase the awareness of the problem and lead to the implementation of adequate measures to mitigate its impact in the near future. |
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Author(s): Mick Marquiss, Lynne Robinson & Elizabeth Tindal Published by: British Birds Vol. 100, 06th August 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from www.britishbirds.co.uk Summary: Most breeding Ospreys in Scotland feed on freshwater fish. Some east-coast pairs use estuarine fish in summer but depend on freshwater foraging in spring. A pair in southwest Scotland fed on predominantly marine fish in both 2004 & 2005. This behaviour is analysed in the context of climate change suggesting scope for population expansion as a result of increased opportunities for marine foraging. |
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Author(s): Derek W. Yalden Published by: British Birds No. 100, 06th August 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from www.britishbirds.co.uk Summary: This article reviews evidence for the former status of White-tailed Eagle in Britain, on the basis of place-names and archaelogical findings. It concludes that there is no doubt that White-tailed Eagles frequented lowland southern Britain during Roman and Anglo-Saxon times. |
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Author(s): John R. Stewart Published by: British Birds No. 100, 06th August 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from www.britishbirds.co.uk Summary: Eagle Owls have bred in northern England in most years since the mid 1990s and this has prompted much debate about their place in British avifauna. The paper reassesses the fossil and more recent archaelogical records of Eagle Owl which suggest that a species closely allied to the modern Eagle Owl , has been present in Britain for up to 700,000 years, through to the end of the last ice age, some 10,000 years ago, and into the Holocene. |
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Author(s): Bjorn Helander Published by: SOC - Scottish Birds 27, 08th July 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from the Scottish Ornithologists Club (SOC) - see www.the-soc.org.uk Summary: This was the inaugural Derek Ratcliffe Memorial Lecture at the February 2006 SRSGs Conference. Much of the historical range of the species has now been recolonised and with a population of 500 pairs the outlook looks good. It is estimated that there is the capacity for 1000 pairs in Sweden and this is the objective. |
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Author(s): Steve J. Petty Published by: The SOC - Scottish Birds No. 27, 08th July 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from the Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC) - see www.the-soc.org.uk Summary: Details are provided of an unsuccessful attempt to establish a breeding population of Northern Goshawks in Argyll with 11 birds imported from northern Europe between 1969 and 1980. Although breeding attempts were reported these cannot be confirmed. Reasons why the species failed to become established are discussed. A lack of suitable food is considered the most likely cause unlike elsewhere in Scotland where persecution is the main factor restricting population growth. |
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Author(s): D.P.Whitfield, A.H.Fielding, D.R.A.McLeod, K.Morton, P.Stirling-Aird & M.A.Eaton Published by: Bird Study Vol. 54 Part 2, 01st July 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: by subscription from the BTO - www.bto.org Summary: Little evidence was found that recreational disturbance was influential. Only a limited number of territories were abandoned due to commercail planting. Little evidence was found that territories were influenced by changes in carrion abundance. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that persecution was influential - occupied territories tended to decline where persecution was influential and increased where persecution had probably declined. |
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Author(s): I.W.M.Sim, I.A.Dillon, M.A.Eaton, B.Etheridge, P.Lindley, H.Riley, R.Saunders, C.Sharpe and M. Tickner Published by: Bird Study Volume 54 Part 2, 01st July 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: by subscription from the BTO - www.bto.org Summary: This paper also also included a comparison with the 1988/89 and 1998 surveys. The population of breeding Hen Harriers increased between 1998 and 2004 although country and regional trends differed. Continued illegal persecution arising from perceived conflicts between breeding Hen Harriers and driven Grouse shooting may be a major cause of these regional declines. |
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Author(s): M.A.Eaton, I.A.Dillon, P.K.Stirling-Aird & D.P. Whitfield Published by: Bird Study Vol. 54 Part 2, 30th June 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: by subscription from the BTO - www.bto.org Summary: The third complete survey of Golden Eagles in Britain found 442 pairs. Though the population remains stable there are concerns regarding its future particularly due to the threat posed by persecution. In particular, persecution related to Grouse moor management could be depressing the population in the Eastern Highlands and preventing expansion into suitable habitat which is still unoccupied. It may also be reducing the pool of adult 'floaters' which act as a buffer against adverse population impacts. |
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Author(s): Mark Holling and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel Published by: British Birds 100 pp321-367, 13th June 2007 ISBN: n/a Price: £0 Availability: by subscription to British Birds Summary: This is the 31st report of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel and covers 2003 and 2004. It is the first report under the stewardship of Mark Holling who is also a member of the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Group. Whilst the report contains many of the records summarised in the 2004 SRMG report it also summarises records of raptors breeding in other areas of the UK. |
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Author(s): Alan Stewart Published by: Argyll Publishing, 09th April 2007 ISBN: 978 1 906134 044 Price: £14.99 Availability: through bookshops or direct from the publishers. Summary: this is a personal account of Alan Stewart's 40 years working in the field of wildlife crime, both as a police officer and latterly as a civilian co-ordinator of Tayside Police Wildlife Crime Unit. Told with predictable humour the book looks at many case histories and charts the recent developments and legislative changes in the effort to combat this particular problem. |
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Author(s): M.Marquiss Published by: Bird Study - The science of pure & applied ornithology, 01st March 2007 ISBN: ISSN 0006-3657 Price: £0 Availability: By Subscription from the British Trust for Ornithology - www.bto.org Summary: Seasonal patterns of predation and foraging behaviour fir the idea that Bullfinches are vulnerable to predation when a limited choice of food obliges them to forage far from cover. In the presence of Sparrowhawks food abundance and its proximity to cover is a factor. |
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Author(s): Robert Kenward Published by: A & C Black, 38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HB, 17th February 2007 ISBN: 9780713665659 Price: £35 Availability: Available from specialist bookshops and via the publisher at www.acblack.com Summary: A new Poyser monograph in the popular series. In hardback with 320pp including 8pp in colour and described as an authoritative yet highly readable monograph which is the product of 30 years of research by Robert Kenward. |
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Author(s): Whitfield, Fielding, Gregory, Gordon, McLeod and Haworth Published by: Ibis 149, 26-36, 28th January 2007 ISBN: Price: £0 Availability: British Ornithologists Union (BOU) periodical - available from www.ibis.ac.uk Summary: This study was based on research in Mull and Kintyre and examined the effects of afforestation of breeding habitat used by a population of Golden Eagles. The response of individual pairs of Golden Eagles was highly variable. There was strong evidence to suggest that afforestation contributed to declining overall productivity mainly by increasing the number of pairs that did not attempt to breed. |
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Author(s): Marion Cieslar and Boleslaw Dul Published by: Natura Publishing House, Warsaw, 09th January 2007 ISBN: Price: £25 Availability: via the internet at www.naturapublishing.eu Summary: an excellent guide to bird feather identification with over 250 photographs of feathers presented as wing formula for 60 species. Most of these are diurnal birds of prey and owls as well as species with similar feathers. |
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Author(s): Rob Clements Published by: Kent Ornithological Society News No.467, 05th January 2007 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: copy available through web. administrator Summary: The island of Sheppey, Kent, is increasingly renowned for wintering raptors and this article summarises observations to date - with up to 20 Hen Harriers, increasing numbers of Marsh Harriers (74 in Dec. 2005), up to 12 individual Merlin and Peregrine, as well as increasing numbers of Common Buzzard it is very much a raptor hotspot on the south coast. |
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Author(s): Jon Hardey, Humphrey Crick, Helen Riley, Chris Wernham, Brian Etheridge & Des Thompson Published by: TSO Scotlands Bookshops, 22nd December 2006 ISBN: 0-11-497321-0 Price: £14.99 Availability: All TSO Bookshops. Tel: 0870 606 5566 or www.tso.co.uk Summary: This field guide is written for people who watch, survey or monitor raptors. It provides detailed descriptions of survey methods for all species of raptor which occur regularly in Britain and Ireland. This book includes a free CD with raptor calls. The book draws on the experience of many raptor workers, particularly members of Scottish Raptor Study Groups. |
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Author(s): Keith L Bildstein Published by: Cornell University Press, New York., 29th November 2006 ISBN: 978-0-8014--4179-0 Price: £19.95 Availability: Bookshops, Amazon etc Summary: This book looks primarily at the ecology and conservation of migratory raptors. Chapters include topics such as flight strategies, orientation and navigation, migration geography and the ecology of migrating raptors. Useful reading for those who enjoy visiting raptor migration hotspots and for those who work in the field. |
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Author(s): Paul Howarth, Michael McGrady, Philip Whitfield, Alan Fielding & David McLeod Published by: BTO Bird Study 53 pp 265-273, 28th November 2006 ISBN: Price: £0 Availability: periodical - available by subscription through BTO - www.bto.org Summary: This study has demonstrated that range-use by Golden Eagles in western Scotland is at least partly dependent on breeding status and season. Consequently any EIA for proposed developments such as windfarms would produce misleading results if restricted to summer. |
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Author(s): John Love Published by: Scottish Natural Heritage, 27th November 2006 ISBN: 1 85397 461 7 Price: £4.95 Availability: At bookshops and through SNH Publishing Unit, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth PH1 3EW. E.mail:pubs@snh.gov.uk Summary: John Love will always be associated with the reintroduction of the Sea Eagle and this publication was updated prior to his recent retiral - an excellent publication with terrific illustrations. |
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Author(s): Brian Etheridge & Ron W. Summers Published by: Ringing & Migration - the journal of the BTO ringing scheme, 09th June 2006 ISBN: 00 Price: £0 Availability: By subscription through the BTO and online - see http://blx1.bto.org/pdf/ringmigration/23_1/etheridge.pdf Summary: Ron Summers presented this paper at the 2007 SRSG Conference. Harrier chicks were wing tagged in four regions of Scotland and in Wales between 1990-95. The paper examines the movements of the birds. |
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Author(s): R.L.McMillan Published by: skye-birds.com, Elgol, Isle of Skye IV49 9BL, 01st June 2005 ISBN: 0 9550253 0 3 Price: £11.95 Availability: Through bookshops or direct from the publisher at £14 inc. p& p. Summary: An illustrated guide to the birds of Skye and where to find them. |
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Author(s): DBA Thompson, SM Redpath, AH Fielding, M Marquiss & CA Galbraith Published by: The Stationery Office, Edinburgh., 22nd December 2003 ISBN: 0 11 4973083 Price: £35 Availability: The Stationery Office Ltd., 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH9 2AS Summary: In December 2000, SNH, the BOU and the JNCC held a conference on birds of prey in a changing environment. This publication provides an account of the Conference, the 41 chapters providing a substantial contribution to our understanding of ecological and conservation issues in Britain. |
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Author(s): David Minns and Doug Gilbert Published by: Scottish Natural Heritage, 27th January 2001 ISBN: 1 85397 061 1 Price: £3.95 Availability: From bookshops and through Scottish Natural Heritage, Publications, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth PH1 3EW Summary: This publication charts the background and progress of the Scottish Red Kite reintroduction programme. |
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Author(s): Ken Crane & Kate Nellist Published by: Cartwheeling Press, Skye., 01st June 1999 ISBN: 0 9536033 0 X Price: £10 Availability: from the publishers Cartwheeling Press, Downbye Cottage, Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye IV47 8TA (price includes postage) Summary: Many Golden Eagle fieldworkers are dedicated but few can match the commitment of Ken and Kate and their intimate knowledge of the birds in their study area. This book is a celebration of 20 years of watching Golden Eagles on the Isle of Skye |