The Portuguese Osprey Reintroduction Project: Achievements, Lessons and Perspectives

THE PORTUGUESE OSPREY REINTRODUCTION PROJECT: ACHIEVEMENTS, LESSONS AND PERSPECTIVES Luís Palma, Jorge Safara, Andreia Dias, João Ferreira, Marco Mirinha and Pedro Beja CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Porto University, Vairão, Portugal , http://cibio.up.pt/

Park-Hotel Lake Aya, Katun, Altai Kray, Russia 07-10 September 2018

Nest of the second-tolast pair remaining after 1978 Last successful breeding in this territory in 1987, deserted in 1992

The Osprey Pandion haliaetus was a common breeder along the Portuguese coast at the onset of the 20th Century with an estimate of several dozen pairs.

Decline was mainly due to widespread persecution (state-rewarded in 1938 and beyond) up to 1967 (legal protection), and increasing human occupation of the coastline.

1900

1950

1980

Original distribution probably most of the sea coast. Desertion of nest sites began near growing urban areas and first holyday settlements along the shore.

After 1960, decline due to forest management changes in the tree-breeding area, mass tourism in the South coast, and agricultural and tourism development in the Southwest coast.

1920 s, first coastal family holiday settlements 1938, onset of State-rewarded predator eradication 1960, onset of mass tourism in the South coast 1967, legal protection of raptors 1983, rocky coast hunting ban 2002, extinction

Despite legal protection, coastal protected areas created and hunting prohibition along the rocky coast, the breeding population went extinct in 2002.

No conservation plan could be set up on time due to indifference of authorities.

A 5-year reintroduction project based in hacking techniques was set up in 2011 (>2015) The project closely followed similar successful projects carried out in England, Italy and Spain.

Goal: Goal To re-establish self-sustaining populations, namely on the species historical breeding range in the Portuguese rocky coast

The Alqueva reservoir in the Guadiana basin was chosen as release site because of extensive foraging and breeding habitat, high prey abundance, easily manageable impacts and favourable logistics.

Alqueva is European largest artificial reservoir, with 250 km2 and about 1160 km of outer shoreline

Lisbon

Alqueva

Project facilities: field base with basic accommodation, water pumping, solar panels, fish processing area,‌; 4-wheel vehicle, boat, floating fish cage, hacking tower, feeders and perches

Sweden and Finland donated nestlings (up to 6/country/year) under coordination of Bjรถrn Helander (Sweden, at right on the left photo) and Pertti Saurola (Finland, right photo), members of the consulting board jointly with Roy Dennis and Eva Casado, coordinators of English and Spanish projects

Clinical evaluation at the origin, Lisbon’s airport and prior to release, and whenever a bird showed clinical signs of impairment.

Analyses for biochemistry, haematology, parasitology, bacteriology, virology and endocrinology were routinely carried out.

Seriously handicapped birds were taken to rehabilitation centres

Health problems: accidental tendon injuries, osteodystrophy with fragile bone tissue, skeletal malformations, luxation or multiple fractures, and calcium deficit with Ca-P imbalance.

Of 5 birds taken to veterinarian hospitals and rehabilitation centres only 1 survived (but died later accidentally due to flight unfitness)

56 nestlings translocated, 47 dispersed (6 prematurely: males on 4-5th day, female on 14th day).

Losses (9) due to complications of orthopaedic problems (5) and predation (4). No losses from infectious diseases.

Justification: Estuaries, rivers and reservoirs generally lack natural nesting conditions (trees of suitable height and configuration for nest building) and need artificial platforms to increase nesting offer

10 Telescopic wooden platforms (yellow): estuaries, large rivers, marshes and Alqueva reservoir 3 Recycled small wooden platforms (orange): Alqueva and Caia reservoirs 11 Metal platforms (blue): Alqueva reservoir and small coastal dam White arrows: location of the Portuguese release site (PT, Alqueva) and closest Spanish release site (SP, Odiel marshes, Huelva)

Inspired in similar platforms used in Odiel marshes, Huelva, Spain Installation: 1. ground assembling; 2. platform lifting, 3. lifting of telescopic pole (by 2 people with an attached winch) Aeronautical limitations precluded platforms in one large wetland (airport restrictions) and several reservoirs (firefighting aircraft scooping ) Vulnerable to falling down by floods and stormy winds

Left: Metal telescopic platforms attached to trees (10) as used in the islands of the Alqueva reservoir (200 islands under public management) Centre: Wooden platforms build with materials recovered from the hacking tower and feeders (2) Right: Metal platform adapted to a deactivated electricity pole in reservoir

Comprehensive searches for territorial birds and nests in February-May throughout suitable habitats in the South Contacts with observers and field checking of Spring/Summer osprey data published in eBird and birdwatching sites Field collaboration from ecotourism Co., conservation NGOs and individuals Info exchange with Spanish entities: Migres Foundation , and regional governmental bodies of Andalusia and Extremadura)

Female P87, Kidwelly Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK, April 2018, courtesy Jeff Phillips and Colin Dalton

All All returns returns born born in in Finland Finland (18 (18 males males dispersed, dispersed, 15 15 normally) normally) Males Males P21, P21, P23 P23 2012; 2012; P82, P82, P88, P88, 2014; 2014; P87, P87, female, female, 2014 2014

None None from from Sweden Sweden observed! observed!

(11 (11 males males dispersed, dispersed, 88 normally) normally)

Male P21, Barbate reservoir, Cรกdiz, Spain Spring 2015, courtesy Migres Foundation

Pairing and breeding success

9UW

Territory

Pair

2015

2016

2017

2018

Total

T1

P23+9UW

1

2

1

2

6

T2

(m) + (f)

2

(m)

(m)

0

2

T3

P88 + (f)

0

incub - 0

0

T4

P82 +TR

incub - 0

0

T5

UV + (f)

0

0

2

8

Total

3

2

1

First breeding territories in 2015 (2), 3 in 2017 and 4 in 2018 In 2018, 4 territories: T1, T3 and T4 in the upper reaches of the Alqueva reservoir, and 1 unstable territory (T2) on the SW Coast, plus a 5th potential territory (T5) established in 2018 in Castro Marim marshes, now held only by the territorial male

P23

T 1 (2015): M P23 FIN>PT 2012 + F 9UW GER>SP 2012 T 2 (2015): pair unringed; 2016-2017 M alone, 2018 pair unringed T 3 (2017): M P88 FIN>PT 2014 + F unringed (8.6 km from T1) T 4 (2018): M P82 FIN>PT 2014/F TR born SP 2016 (0.8 km from T1) T 5 (2018): M UV born SP 2016, female unringed

T 1 (Alqueva 2015-2018) – above: 3rd nest of pair (2018) very low above the water T 3 (Alqueva 2017-2018) – upper left: 1st nest after reinforcement, pair now on platform T 4 (Alqueva 2018) – lower left: 1st nest of pair, a second nest built

T 2 (SW Coast 2015 […] 2018) – above: atop isolated rock pinnacle, same as last nest site of the native population T 5 (Castro Marim marsh 2018)– left: early occupation stage of wooden telescopic platform

Anti-stork device

Vulnerable body structure and health, tendency for complications, unlikely recovery Premature dispersal in males, higher mortality ? (but P21 alive 3 yrs later) Natural tree nests precarious (inundated decaying trees) Strong competition for nests from White storks Lack of data on birds’ whereabouts and movements (no telemetry transmitters on reintroduced birds and no ringing of nestlings from unstable natural nests).

No trace of birds from Sweden, mortality due to odd migration?

Slow acceptance of platforms and change of nest site type: slow colonisation of wetlands and rocky coast (large potential breeding areas)?

Disturbance by nautical activities hindering breeding success (photo) Sustainability of follow-up monitoring and platform maintenance Difficulty to guarantee setting of new platforms in newly colonised areas

Strong preventive health monitoring and quick veterinary response Manage predation risk, namely from terrestrial “unlikely� predators Platforms need not be tall but preferably inundated or surrounded by water at least during breeding season Males are a priority for translocation, as they territory founders and can attract females from far

Adoption of artificial nest platforms and high voltage powerlines can foster colonisation of new areas (rivers, wetlands) and help population expansion Further adoption of nest sites on sea cliffs would allow recolonization of the coast Ospreys becoming less migratory would allow improved survival All suitable areas altogether can hold a large population of breeding ospreys

Assuring conditions for follow-up monitoring and maintenance of platforms Assuring means for expanding the artificial platform network as necessary, e.g. as alternative to natural nests in dead trees Strict regulation and management of human access to priority coastal cliffs Regulation of nautical activities in osprey priority areas in reservoirs Awareness campaigns and creation of an “osprey friends� association

Initiative and Implementation Research Centre on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources / Porto University Partners Finnish Museum of Natural History Finnish Osprey Foundation Swedish Museum of Natural History Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Highland Foundation for Wildlife, Scotland Migres Foundation, Spain SAIP, Sociedade Alentejana de Investimentos e Participações Casa de Bragança Foundation ICNF, Portuguese Nature Conservation and Forests Institute EDIA, Alqueva Development and Infrastructures Co. Veterinarian Hospital of Évora University RIAS Rehabilitation Centre

Sponsor EDP, Portuguese Electric Company Supports Häme and Pirkanmaa Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Finland Swedish Environment Protection Agency Spanish Ministry of the Environment GREFA Rehabilitation Centre, Spain Servicio de Conservación de la Naturaleza, y Areas Protegidas, Junta de Extremadura, Spain Arapaima Breeding Centre S.L, Spain TAP Air Portugal Lisbon Oceanarium Reguengos de Monsaraz Municipality Sparos, Lda. Águas de Santo André, Grupo Águas de Portugal Amigos da Natureza de Cabeção Association EDP Distribuição – Energia, S.A. Rio-a-Dentro, Ecoturismo e Passeios de Natureza