Extract only - complete publication at www.jncc.gov.uk/worldwaterbirds
Waterbirds around the world A global overview of the conservation, management and research of the world's waterbird flyways
Edited by G.C. Boere, C.A. Galbraith and D.A. Stroud Assisted by L.K. Bridge, I. Colquhoun, D.A. Scott, D.B.A. Thompson and L.G. Underhill
EDINBURGH, UK: THE STATIONERY OFFICE
Extract only - complete publication at www.jncc.gov.uk/worldwaterbirds
© Scottish Natural Heritage 2006
First published in 2006 by The Stationery Office Limited 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AZ, UK. Applications for reproduction should be made to Scottish Natural Heritage, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness IV3 8NW, UK. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 0 11 497333 4 Recommended citation: Boere, G.C., Galbraith, C.A. & Stroud, D.A. (eds). 2006. Waterbirds around the world. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, UK. 960 pp.
Names used for geographical entities do not imply recognition, by the organisers of the Waterbirds around the world conference or other supporting organisations or governments, of the political status or boundaries of any particular territory. Names of territories used (and any alternatives) are included solely to help users of this publication apply information contained within this volume for waterbird conservation purposes. The views expressed in papers included within this volume do not necessarily represent views of the editors or the organisations and governments that supported the conference and this publication.
Cover photography:
Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus arriving at Martin Mere, England. Photo: Paul Marshall. (www.paulmarshallphotography.com)
Copyright of all photographs used in this publication resides with the named photographers.
Waterbirds around the world
Spotted Crakes Porzana porzana breeding in the UK - a history and evaluation of current status Ian Francis1 & David A. Stroud2 1Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 10 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 1YP, UK. (email:
[email protected]) 2Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1JY, UK. (email:
[email protected]) Francis, I. & Stroud, D.A. 2006. Spotted Crakes Porzana porzana breeding in the UK - a history and evaluation of current status. Waterbirds around the world. Eds. G.C. Boere, C.A. Galbraith & D.A. Stroud. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, UK. pp. 491-492. The Spotted Crake Porzana porzana is a rare breeding bird in the UK, with around 30-70 pairs nesting annually. It may have increased in recent decades. However, recording standards are poor and an intensive search of new information showed that in most years more than twice as many pairs were breeding than the official record suggested. Totals also reflected observer effort. A failure of observers to submit records is hampering the protection of sites of importance for Spotted Crakes, and the process of rectifying this is time-consuming. Better information flows are urgently needed. Spotted Crakes are rare breeding birds favouring a small number of sites where suitable wetlands exist. Most records are
of singing birds. Some of these records are passed to local bird recorders and then to the UK Rare Breeding Birds Panel, which includes both of the current authors. The panel’s reports estimated a UK population of around 30 pairs. A more intensive national survey in 1999 recorded 73 singing males. This study shows that previous annual figures are also underestimates in most years. Unpublished and published data sources were searched, mainly local bird reports, and many extra records of Spotted
Male Spotted Crake (right) caught in 2000 at Insh Marshes, Scotland and fitted with radio tag, leading to discovery of a nest and chicks (above). Photos: C. Donald, I. Mackenzie.
Fig. 1. Graph shows comparison of UK totals (Sharrock 1976, Gibbons et al. 1993, Gilbert 2002)
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Fig. 2. Comparison of published UK Atlas map (1988-91) (left) with revised map for same period (right).
Crakes each year were found. Many of these had been poorly recorded and normal reporting processes had not been effective. UK totals were adjusted to take account of the new information and the population trend since the early 1800s was reassessed together with current status and distribution. Evidence from the 19th Century indicates that Spotted Crakes were once significantly more abundant. During the early 20th Century records were few, but this probably implies very little recording. Since the 1960s, numbers have apparently increased, but periods of more intensive survey, such as national breeding bird atlases and the 1999 survey, produced more records (Fig. 1). However, in all years except 1999, the known totals were significant underestimates and even published atlas maps provide an incomplete picture (Fig. 2). To protect important sites for rare breeding birds such as Spotted Crakes, good information flows are required, at both local and national levels. This study has highlighted deficiencies in UK data collation processes, and shown that they can be rectified. But this is time-consuming, and an improved system for capture of site-based conservation data is urgently needed.
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana nesting location in Scotland. Photo: Ian Francis
REFERENCES Sharrock, J.T.R. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. T. & A.D. Poyser, Calton. Gibbons, D.W., Reid, J.B. & Chapman, R.A. 1993. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 19881991. T. & A.D. Poyser, London. Gilbert, G. 2002. The status and habitat of Spotted Crakes Porzana porzana in Britain in 1999. Bird Study 49: 79-86.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are grateful to all local observers and county recorders for submitting records to RBBP and to JNCC, the Statutory Country Agencies, RSPB and BTO for provision of information.
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