Releasing experiences of Lesser kestrel following the DEMA s methodology: Colony Environment

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1 Releasing experiences of Lesser kestrel following the DEMA s methodology: Colony Environment José Antolín Project Manager and Founder of DEMA pepeantolin@demaprimilla.org Sara de la Rosa Ruiz Project Manager sararosa@demaprimilla.org dema@demaprimilla.org

2 0. WHO IS DEMA? DEMA is in Almendralejo, in Extremadura, where in 2003 the first urban SPA of Europe was declarated in the centre of the city because of the colony of lesser kestrel. The A divine Special Protection Area for the lesser kestrel project, which DEMA developed in the church, was a finalist of the European Natura 2000 Award in Breeding center and office of DEMA are on the outskirts of Almendralejo The Church of Purification in Almendralejo has an important colony of lesser kestrel

3 0. WHO IS DEMA? CAPTIVE BREEDING OF LESSER KESTRELS TO RELEASE THEM HABITAT MANAGEMENT INVOLVE PEOPLE IN LESSER KESTREL CONSERVATION

4 0. 1 CAPTIVE BREEDING TO RELEASE In 1996, DEMA started to develop a new methodology for captive breeding of Lesser kestrel in groups. Breeding methodology tries to simulate the conditions like a natural colony and avoid unnecessary handlings. In this way, birds can develop more species-specific behaviours. DEMA s facilities were designed to improve: animal welfare, breeding success and daily handling.

5 0. 1 CAPTIVE BREEDING TO RELEASE Chicks in the breeding center of DEMA Number of chicks Reproductive success of captive breeding in Lesser kestrel Robert Vidal and Irene Benedicto. Project in Postgraduate Biodiversity

6 0. 2 HABITAT MANAGEMENT -Monitoring the breeding populations to evaluate the impact of the management activities carried out and to avoid or eliminate the most important threats -Improving of breeding habitat through the maintenance of breeding sites and the placement of artificial nests

7 0. 2 HABITAT MANAGEMENT Desing new models of artificial nests This nest box, for outdoor use, can be placed on a building or a post and was developed according to the characteristics of lesser kestrel Nest of cement 1999 New model in progress in the framework of the ZEPAURBAN LIFE 15 NAT/ES/01016 Project Nest of wood 1997 Clay post 1996

8 0. 2 HABITAT MANAGEMENT Desing new models of artificial nests This other model is a wooden box, for indoor use, can be placed under the roof and has an entrance hall with a special tile for access. Teja especial de acceso al nidal Nidal de madera hidrófuga

9 0. 3 INVOLVE POPULATION IN LESSER KESTREL CONSERVATION C a m p a ñ a 2014

10 1. Ambiente de Colonia METHODOLOGY

11 1. Ambiente de Colonia Releases by the traditional hacking method require a sudden separation between chicks and parents or other adults, and interrupt the natural intra-specific relationship during the dependency stage between the chicks and the progenitors. We consider that ethological features of each species must be carefully considered and they are essential for the release. From the hacking method, DEMA developed an innovate methodology to release chicks of lesser kestrels in recovery programmes of this species. This is the method called Colony Environment designed by Jose Antolin (2001) and has been successfully implemented in Spain, France and Bulgaria.

12 1. Ambiente de Colonia - Use of irrecoverable adult lesser kestrels to maintain the intra-specific relationship during the whole process - Release of chicks from 18 to 21 days old

13 1. Ambiente de Colonia The proccess consists on placing the chicks that were born in the captive breeding centre inside a big nest cold release box, designed to provide them food without noticing the presence of humans. Normally, we use two release boxes where the chicks are put into. These boxes are attached to an external wire netting cage that is adjusted to the building where the new colony should be situated or an existing one should be reinforced.

14 1. Ambiente de Colonia The cage will be inhabited by captive adult Lesser kestrels (1-3 birds per year) from late February to late July. These kestrels were permanently injured and could not be rehabilitated to be released to the wild. In this way, the chicks are not isolated and are able to keep visual and physical contact with the adults of their species from the moment on which they are transferred to the release site.

15 1. Ambiente de Colonia It is necessary that a high number of breeding sites are available for lesser kestrels, so they should be placed in the release area.

16 DISCUSSÍON 2. PROJECTS PROYECT AREA INITIAL SITUATION DURATION OF RELEASES Nº OF PAIRS ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING THE PROJECT (breeding pairs) CURRENT SITUATION (breeding pairs) ZEPA Sakar, Levka (Bulgaria) LIFE11NAT/BG/360 ZEPA Sierra de San Pedro, Extremadura (España) Extinct as a breeder 2013 IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS 10 No colony 2015 IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS 4 Bardenas Reales, Navarra (España) No colony 2015 IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS 4 EBD-CSIC Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla (España) L'Aude (Francia) LIFE05NAT/F/ No colony No colony La Safra, Alicante (España) No colony Sede DEMA, Almendralejo (España) No colony Hinojosa del Valle, Badajoz (España) Dissapeared in Alhambra de Granada (España) Dissapeared in Palomas, Badajoz (España) Dissapeared in

17 2. 1 NATURE TRANSFERT - LIFE05 NAT/F/ REINFORCEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF LESSER KESTREL POPULATIONS IN AUDE (FR) AND EXTRÉMADURE (ES) Sistema de liberación Ambiente de Colonia. Aude. Francia Back

18 2.2 INTRODUCTION OF LESSER KESTREL IN ALICANTE INTRODUCTION OF LESSER KESTREL IN VILLENA (ALICANTE) En este enclave no existía presencia de la especie Back

19 Photo: Airam Rodríguez 2.3 ESTABLISHING A NEW COLONY IN SEVILLE ESTABLISHING A LESSER KESTREL COLONY IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES RODDRÍGUEZ, A., J.J.NEGRO, J.BUSTAMANTE, AND J.ANTOLÍN Stablishing a Lesser Kestrel colony in an urban environment for research purpose. Journal of Raptor Research 47(2): Back

20 2.5 LESSER KESTREL RECOVERY - LIFE11 NAT/360/BG GREATER CHANCE FOR LESSER KESTREL IN BULGARIA System to prevent predation Back

21 2.6 REINTRODUCTION OF LESSER KESTREL IN NAVARRA INTRODUCTION OF LESSER KESTREL IN BARDENAS REALES, NAVARRA Nest boxes adapted to the roof Back

22 2.7 REINTRODUCTION OF LESSER KESTREL IN CACERES REINTRODUCTION OF LESSER KESTREL IN SIERRA DE SAN PEDRO (CACERES) Temporary release facility

23 2.7 REINTRODUCTION OF LESSER KESTREL IN CACERES Artificial nest boxes Pieces to protect chicks

24 2.7 REINTRODUCTION OF LESSER KESTREL IN CACERES Removable lader Common kestrel nest Back

25 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION -Return rate ranges from 26%-27%, in most of the implemented projects, to 46% in the current project in Bulgaria. - In captive breeding methods used by DEMA and in the Colony environment release system, the presence of adults of the same species is guaranteed during all the development of the chicks -Lesser kestrel has complex behaviours related with the intense relationship betweeen individuals -By the traditional hacking method it was necessary to release for 8-9 years, in the case of lesser kestrel, but with Colony environment methodology we have obtained results in the second and third year of releases.

26 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION According to DEMA s experiences, it is necessary to take account some limits and risks which need to be analyze before to develop this type of release for their influence in the results: -Distance between the release facility and other colonies -Predation -Placement of nests in the release site -It is recommendable to release continuously at least for 4 years to create a stable colony

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