Habitat availability and roost-site selection by the Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus in an arid cultivated landscape (Los Monegros, NE Spain)

Abstract

In Los Monegros, one of the main Iberian steppe areas and one of the most transformed by farming, an important population of Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) gathers in an unique post-breeding roost. We evaluate habitat availability and roost-site selection in 1992. Natural vegetation was found over only 3.5 % of the total surface area, restricted to road edges or to vegetation belts of several saline lakes. Stone curlews selected one sector within one of these belts, where the width, height and vegetation heterogeneity were larger. These results are interpreted as anti- predator strategy. Drops are not suitable due to its temporal unstability. Taking into account the high habitat loss suffered, we finally propose some conservation measures, such as the maintenance of natural vegetation reserves and wide margins, to favour this and other bird species.