Barriocanal C, Montserrat D, Robson D. Influences of wind flow on stopover decisions: the case of the reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus in the Western Mediterranean.
Int J Biometeorol 2002;
46:192-196. [PMID:
12242475 DOI:
10.1007/s00484-002-0133-3]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2001] [Revised: 02/04/2002] [Accepted: 04/02/2002] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Wind directions measured at two different heights (850 hPa and 700 hPa) and at different hours of the night were analysed during the spring migration passage at a bird stopover site located in the western Mediterranean, in order to evaluate the importance of wind components for a stopover decision. From a huge ringing campaign of bird migration in north-east Spain, data from the reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus have been used for the analysis. From a total of 2,478 reed warblers captured between 1993 and 1997 data recording significant days, with a high number of captures, and decrease days, with few captures, have been selected to develop an analysis of wind direction in relation to stopover and flight resumption. On days with a high capture the winds had mainly a fourth-quadrant flow (from the north, north-west and west), these being mainly head winds. Winds with westerly component (from the north-west, west and south-west), which enhance the flight, account for the majority of the days when there was a low capture of reed warblers. Wind direction therefore appears to be a determining factor for stopover decisions and resumption of flight for the reed warblers at an intermediate stage of their spring migration where topographical characteristics govern the winds.
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