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Diagnosing the causes of ring ouzel declines
Male ring ouzel
Project objectives
- To understand the demographic mechanisms driving the population decline
- To test the hypothesis that high late summer temperatures reduce earthworm (a key food source) availability, and thus impact upon post-fledging survival
- To determine the key habitat and topographical characteristics influencing breeding site occupancy and productivity
- To determine the key food sources for juveniles
Work planned or underway
Data on the foraging habitat selection of juvenile ring ouzels is currently being analysed. Once this is complete, analyses of the key habitat and topographical characteristics influencing breeding site occupancy and productivity, and the key food sources for juveniles, will commence.Results
The key results from the demographic analysis are:
1. Annual fluctuations in population growth rate were most strongly linked to variation in 1st year survival
2. Adult survival rates appear to be low compared to those obtained for closely related species in other studies
3. A high proportion of 1st year mortality occurs within 5 weeks of leaving the nest, when birds are still on the breeding area
Image gallery
Radio tagged juvenile ring ouzel (Sonja Ludwig)
Who to contact
Innes Sim
Conservation Scientist
E-mail: innes.sim@rspb.org.uk