The last Red Kite’s insular population in Spain. The Recovery Plan in the Balearic Islands Rafel Mas Ferrer(1), Francesc Lillo Colomar(2), Joan Mayol Serra(1), Jordi Muntaner Yangüela(2), Antoni Muñoz Navarro(3), Félix de Pablo Pons(4) y Lluís Parpal Ramis(5) General d’Espais Naturals i Biodiversitat. Conselleria de Medi Ambient, Agricultura i Pesca. c/ Gremi Corredors, 10 1er pis. CP 07000 Palma. rmas@dgcapea.caib.es ; jmayol@dgcapea.caib.es (2)Servei d’Agents de Medi Ambient. Secretaria General Tècnica. Conselleria de Medi Ambient, Agricultura i Pesca. c/ Gremi Corredors, 10 1er pis. CP 07000 Palma. E-mail: flillo@sgtmaoti.caib.es ; jordimuntaner@dgcapea.caib.es ((3)Grup Balear d’Ornitologia i Defensa de la Naturalesa. c/ Manuel Sanchís Guarner, 10. CP 07004 Palma. conservacio@gobmallorca.com (4) Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Reserva de Biosfera. Consell Insular de Menorca. Plaza Biosfera 5; 07703 Maó; email: felixdepablo@cime.es (5)Consorci per la Recuperació de la Fauna de les Illes Balears (COFIB). Ctra. de Sineu, Km. 15,400 CP. 07142 Santa Eugènia. e-mail: crcofib@gmail.com (1)Direcció
The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) breeds in the Balearic Islands, in Mallorca and Menorca. It suffered in the late twentieth century a dramatic decline near to collapse by poison (used by hunters against other species or by farmers against wild dogs), electrocutions and to a lesser extent direct persecution and drowning in pools (possibly associated with intoxication with poison). The number of pairs in Menorca fell from 135 (in the 80s: 1 pair every 5.4 km2, probably the highest known) to only 6 couples in 1999. For decades, its recovery has been a priority for the administration and NGOs (GOB in Mallorca and SOM in Menorca). A recovery plan was adopted in 2008, although conservation activities were initiated in 2000. 35
CONSERVATION ACTIONS:
Incidence of poisoning in Balearics 30
• We have concentrated efforts against poison (inspections to hunting grounds, the implementation of final judgments (5 administrative or criminal records), with a result of 4 disqualifications for hunters and the closure of 3 hunting grounds). It has been achieved to pass from 140 cases of poisoning between 2000-2010 to just 11 cases between 2011 and 2015. Between January and June 2015 there were inspected an average of 3 hunting grounds per day, involving an average of 2,5 Environmental Rangers/day.
• Correction and improvement of power lines. It began in Menorca in 1999 with the correction of 950 electricity towers (unfortunately, without prioritization) and maintained with 697 corrections in Mallorca and 333 in Menorca between 2004 and 2015, through an agreement with ENDESA (electric power company). Since 2000, there is a selection and prioritization of the towers that should be corrected. The last electrocuted Red Kite that we are aware was in the month of February 2015, but the rate of electrocution has declined very considerably. 120
Total poisoning cases 25 Poisonig cases Milvus milvus
20
15
10
5
45
Menorca
Mallorca
0
40 100 35 Territorial couples 30
80
Territorial couples Chicks
Chicks 25 60 20
15 40 10 20
5
0 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015
0 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015
• Census of nesting pairs. Since the program started, the task has been maintained by ornithologists, and since 2013 by the Environmental Rangers (Agentes de Medio Ambiente), which has helped to increase the effort. The change in methodology is indicated with an arrow, because the data are not entirely comparable. The remarkable rise in the number of couples of Mallorca is due to both a greater effort and real growth. • Monitoring of individuals by the GOB (Balearic Group of Ornithology), partly funded by the Environment Institution. Since 2001, 254 individuals have been ringed, and have also been marked with wing bands; it has been carried on the monitoring of 195 individuals with land transmitter and 10 with satellite transmitter. The results have helped to define the landscape use and in a very special way, to detect and locate the dead animals, key task against poison. • Increase of the extension of ZEPAs. In 2007 the Special Protection Areas for birds (ZEPA - Zonas de Especial Protección para las Aves), including the red kite among its target species were enlarged. It meant reaching 18.500Ha in Mallorca and 18.122Ha in Menorca (see map).
Foto: Carlos Pache
• Feeders (dunghills). There are different feeding places, which are kept weekly, with a supply of meat remains, and where photo trapping monitoring is made. • Hacking in the Natural Park of Llevant (Mallorca). In 2008 began the translocation of chicks from other parts of Mallorca to the NE of the island, with the aim of creating a new area of reproduction far from landfill site (urban solid waste from all around the island), where there were risks of poisoning. Five chicks from Aragon were also released there. In total 67 chicks were released until 2014. A couple has settled in the park and has produced 10 chicks between 2009 and 2014, and now a communal roosting place with near 30 individuals exists. • Environmental Education: Information about Red Kites has reached 4,150 schoolchildren (GOB Mallorca) and a similar campaign in Menorca (IME). They were given a total of 27 public lectures.
Incidences typology 2005-2015
Number of wintering individuals in Mallorca 250 200
• Census of wintering Red Kites (in Mallorca coordinated by the GOB).
150
• Moratorium periods for forestry activities in nesting areas and nesting seasons.
100
Natural causes
50
Fall to the water (poison?) Collision
0
A NEGATIVE EPISODE IN 2015
2013
Unknown Electrocution Others Poison Shot Causas de entrada de milanos reales en centro de recuperación en Mallorca (N=91)
In late summer of 2015 were found in an area of Mallorca 34 dead youngsters in the nests or close to them (20% of juveniles of the year of the island). The finding was late, and corresponds to deaths that occurred in previous months. The most likely hypothesis is poisoning, which could have ended with adults and chicks which could have died of starvation. There is an ongoing analysis (without results yet). Environmental Rangers (Agentes de Medio Ambiente) and SEPRONA (Guardia Civil) have worked together to inspect the affected area. It is not excluded that it could be related to rat extermination campaigns.
CONCLUSIONS: Conservation efforts, when being focused on a species and are targeted to the key factors of recession (in this case, the poison and electrocutions), allow tangible results that have materialized in an increase in the Balearic population of 14 couples in 1999 (historical minimum known) to 127 pairs in 2015. Informing the population and doing environmental education tasks are also a key element in the conservation of the species. Anyway, the case of massive poisoning of individuals detected in this year, demonstrates the need of maintaining active tasks against poison, even when it seems that the incidence of the problem has been overcome. AKNOWLEDMENTS: We want to thank volunteers, Agentes de Medio Ambiente, SEPRONA, technicians of the Conselleria de Medi Ambient, GESA-ENDESA, Consorci per a la Recuperació de la Fauna Silvestre (COFIB), Grup Balear d’Ornitologia i Conservació de la Naturalesa (GOB-Mallorca) , GOB-Menorca, SOM (Societat Ornitològica de Menorca), and ultimately to all those who in one way or another have worked and collaborated in the Recovery Plan.
Death Red Kites -2015 Yes No
2014
2015