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.

Title: Responses of owls and Eurasian Kestrels Author(s): Erkki Korpimaki, Harry Hakkarainen, Toni Laaksonen & Ville Vasko Published by: Scottish Birds 28 pp 19-27, 01st July 2008 ISBN: Price: £0 Availability: By subscription from the Scottish Ornithologist's Club - www.the-soc.org.uk Summary: This paper examined the responses of owls and Kestrels to induced spatio temporal variation in western Finland. Temporal variation in vole abundance was a major determinant in breeding density and success. Human induced spatial changes in the environment, such as forestry, can have profound effects on the composition of assemblages of birds of prey.

Title: Parental differences in brood provisioning by Hen Harriers 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.

Title: Breeding of Tawny Owls in rural and urban habitats in southern Finland 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.

Title: The Common Kestrel population in Britain 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.

Title: Supplementary Feeding of Hen Harriers 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.

Title: Long term increase in the fecundity of Hen Harriers in Wales 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

Title: British ringed Honey Buzzards return to breed in UK 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.

Title: Scottish Racing Pigeons killed by Peregrine Falcons 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.

Title: Selection of nesting habitat by Montagu & Hen Harrier 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%.

Title: Artificial Feeding of Hen Harriers in the Peak District 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.