Habitat associations of wintering granivorous birds on the Canary Islands

Abstract

Farmland birds within arable land are of conservation concern in Europe, but little is known about their ecology in the oceanic islands of the Mediterranean Basin (Macaronesia).We report here that, during two consecutive winters and within the entire arable land area of the Canary Islands, increasing area of bare soil is associated with higher occurrences of the resident granivorous species Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra), Atlantic Canary (Serinus canaria) and Linnet (Carduelis cannabina meadowaldoi). However, such a relationship was not found for wintering Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) probably because of its different diet.We recommend that local authorities, theCabildo de Tenerife, purchase and manage these lands to improve conditions for granivorous farmland birds.We suggest that providing suitable foraging habitat will support the recovery of farmland birds on this island.