Glareola nordmanni

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	CHARADRIIFORMES	GLAREOLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Glareola nordmanni

Species Authority:

Fischer, 1842

Common Name/s:

English	–	Black-winged Pratincole
French	–	Glaréole à ailes noires

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Bird, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Mischenko, A., Sheldon, R., Bragin, E., Kamp, J., Sklyarenko, S., Koshkin, M.

Justification:
Although difficult to classify, the evidence of declines in Europe, West Africa and Central Asia indicate that this species has experienced moderately rapid overall declines, and thus warrants Near Threatened status.

History:

2007	–	Near Threatened
2006	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Data Deficient
2000	–	Data Deficient

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Glareola nordmanni has a very large range, breeding in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan and sporadically in Belarus, Hungary and Azerbaijan. It migrates to southern Africa, mainly Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia, and irregularly to West Africa. It is now rarely recorded in West Africa, possibly indicating a dwindling 'sub-population' of breeding birds from south-east Europe that once wintered in larger numbers⁷. Some birds winter in Ethiopia, as the observation of 5,000 birds at river Baro in January 1973 indicates¹⁴. Passage birds are regularly recorded in Cyprus, Turkey, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Burundi, west Uganda, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, west Zambia and Angola. Non-breeding birds are also recorded in Libya, Lesotho, Niger, Morocco, Uzbekistan (rarely¹⁰), Kyrgyzstan and Georgia. The population was estimated at 29,000-45,000 birds following country expert interviews during the Single Species Action Plan Workshop (Moscow, 2002)⁶. However, this seems to be an underestimate and was probably based on incomplete coverage: the current breeding population has been estimated at 68,000 to 90,000 breeding pairs, based on five large scale surveys across the whole breeding range¹¹. A flock of 250,000-800,000 birds in Orange Free State, South Africa, in 1991³ and a flock of 76,500 birds at Vaal Dam, South Africa, in 2006¹³ support these substantially larger figures. Trends for the Asian population are poorly studied. There was a clear negative trend in eastern areas of the breeding range 1990-2000 going possibly along with a range contraction (e.g.¹⁸), but a slightly positive trend in some parts of South Asian Russia¹⁵. At least since 2004, a positive trend has been observed in Akmola and Karaganda regions, Central Kazakhstan¹¹. At least since 2000, numbers have been increasing in Pavlodar region, north-east Kazakhstan¹⁷. The European population (2,500-5,100 pairs or more, occupying 25-49% of the global breeding range) declined by over 50% during 1990-2000, with steep declines in European Russia^2,19 and Ukraine⁴. This trend is probably halted now, mainly due to greater availability of suitable habitat¹¹. Surveys in 2006 of 65,000 km² in the Stavropolskii Krai, south-east Russia found a total of 1,800 breeding pairs¹⁶ in an area where only 100-200 pairs were estimated in 2004^6. Recently, declines have been reported from the South African wintering grounds ¹. A count of 20,000 individuals in 2006 at Chagraiskoe reservoir, Manych, Stavropolskii Krai, south-west Russia represents one of the largest flocks in recent times recorded outside the wintering range¹⁶. It is clear that additional survey work visiting suitable habitat is required, especially in Kazakhstan and Asiatic Russia, but available evidence does not indicate that the global population is small or declining rapidly.
Countries:	Native: Afghanistan; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Botswana; Bulgaria; Burundi; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Croatia; Cyprus; Egypt; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Georgia; Greece; Hungary; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Israel; Kazakhstan; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Lebanon; Lesotho; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Mali; Mauritania; Moldova; Morocco; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Palestinian Territory, Occupied; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saudi Arabia; South Africa; Sudan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Zambia; Zimbabwe Vagrant: Austria; Bahrain; Belgium; Côte d'Ivoire; Czech Republic; Denmark; Equatorial Guinea; Finland; France; Gabon; Germany; Ghana; Guinea; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Jordan; Kenya; Latvia; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Oman; Poland; Sao Tomé and Principe; Serbia; Seychelles; Slovakia; Somalia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; Togo; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; Yemen
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Survey work in Kazakhstan and subsequent re-calculation of bird numbers across the known range of the species would suggest a world population of 68,000-90,000 pairs (Kamp et al. in prep.). This upward revision of breeding numbers is reasonable given the large flocks recently reported on the wintering grounds, e.g. a flock of 76,000 individuals recorded at Vaal Dam in South Africa on the wintering grounds (University of Cape Town 2006). An even larger flock of 250,000-800,000 individuals in Orange Free State in South Africa in 1991 (du Plessis 1995) suggests the population may be (or might have been) even larger.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Survey work in Kazakhstan and subsequent re-calculation of bird numbers across the known range of the species would suggest a world population of 68,000-90,000 pairs (Kamp et al. in prep.). This upward revision of breeding numbers is reasonable given the large flocks recently reported on the wintering grounds, e.g. a flock of 76,000 individuals recorded at Vaal Dam in South Africa on the wintering grounds (University of Cape Town 2006). An even larger flock of 250,000-800,000 individuals in Orange Free State in South Africa in 1991 (du Plessis 1995) suggests the population may be (or might have been) even larger.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Behaviour This species is migratory²¹. It nests in small to large colonies (5 to >500 pairs, occasionally thousands²¹) from May to July²¹. Birds gather to moult after breeding in July and August, and then apparently migrate rapidly overland at high altitude to non-breeding grounds^6,8. They depart between August and early October^6,8, and arrive on their wintering grounds in October-November²⁰. Migrating flocks of several thousand individuals have been recorded²². During the non-breeding season the species is constantly nomadic^{21, 22} and highly congregatory, occurring regularly in flocks of 10-100²², and occasionally in foraging flocks of thousands²², often in association with Collared Pratincoles Glareola praticola²⁰. It roosts at night in loose concentrations²⁰. The return migration begins in March, with birds arriving on the breeding grounds from the end of April through May²⁰. Habitat Breeding It breeds on grazed short-grass steppe, fallow and ploughed fields as well as on alkaline flats, sandspits, shell ridges and sparsely vegetated Solonchaks (saltpans) in lake depressions and river valleys^6,8,11,20,22. Large colonies always occur near water and damp meadows, or marshes overgrown with dense grass²². A study on habitat selection in Central Kazakhstan in 2006 revealed presence of livestock, vegetation height and the availability of water as key habitat features whereas vegetation type and topography had no influence¹¹. Nonbreeding birds frequent open high-altitude glassland and mudflats²¹. Non-breeding During the non-breeding season it occupies seasonally wet grasslands, savannas, and sandbanks along large rivers^6,8. It is also found at the edges of salt pans²⁰. Diet It feeds on epigeic and airborne insects, particularly swarming species²⁰. It takes locusts, orthopterans and coleopterans as well as wasps, bees, dragonflies, ants, termites, flies, ichneumons and cockroaches^20,21,22. It responds quickly to insect emergence after storms²⁰. Breeding site This species nests on open ground, usually near water²². The nest consists of a shallow depression of about 10cm diameter lined with small pieces of available vegetation²². Mortality of eggs and chicks strongly fluctuates and may reach 60-100% annually⁶. Recent quantitative data from Kazakhstan indicate higher fledging rates with a mean of 0.5 fledged chicks per nesting pair in 2006-2007 (Akmola, Karaganda and Pavlodar regions)¹¹.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Behaviour This species is migratory²¹. It nests in small to large colonies (5 to >500 pairs, occasionally thousands²¹) from May to July²¹. Birds gather to moult after breeding in July and August, and then apparently migrate rapidly overland at high altitude to non-breeding grounds^6,8. They depart between August and early October^6,8, and arrive on their wintering grounds in October-November²⁰. Migrating flocks of several thousand individuals have been recorded²². During the non-breeding season the species is constantly nomadic^{21, 22} and highly congregatory, occurring regularly in flocks of 10-100²², and occasionally in foraging flocks of thousands²², often in association with Collared Pratincoles Glareola praticola²⁰. It roosts at night in loose concentrations²⁰. The return migration begins in March, with birds arriving on the breeding grounds from the end of April through May²⁰. Habitat Breeding It breeds on grazed short-grass steppe, fallow and ploughed fields as well as on alkaline flats, sandspits, shell ridges and sparsely vegetated Solonchaks (saltpans) in lake depressions and river valleys^6,8,11,20,22. Large colonies always occur near water and damp meadows, or marshes overgrown with dense grass²². A study on habitat selection in Central Kazakhstan in 2006 revealed presence of livestock, vegetation height and the availability of water as key habitat features whereas vegetation type and topography had no influence¹¹. Nonbreeding birds frequent open high-altitude glassland and mudflats²¹. Non-breeding During the non-breeding season it occupies seasonally wet grasslands, savannas, and sandbanks along large rivers^6,8. It is also found at the edges of salt pans²⁰. Diet It feeds on epigeic and airborne insects, particularly swarming species²⁰. It takes locusts, orthopterans and coleopterans as well as wasps, bees, dragonflies, ants, termites, flies, ichneumons and cockroaches^20,21,22. It responds quickly to insect emergence after storms²⁰. Breeding site This species nests on open ground, usually near water²². The nest consists of a shallow depression of about 10cm diameter lined with small pieces of available vegetation²². Mortality of eggs and chicks strongly fluctuates and may reach 60-100% annually⁶. Recent quantitative data from Kazakhstan indicate higher fledging rates with a mean of 0.5 fledged chicks per nesting pair in 2006-2007 (Akmola, Karaganda and Pavlodar regions)¹¹.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Threats are poorly understood. Where declines are occurring the key factors probably relate to changing land-use practices such as conversion of steppe to arable agriculture in some areas (although much former agricultural land in Central Asia is now becoming fallow and grazed areas provide new breeding habitat), shifts in arable land versus livestock grazing on semi-natural steppe in others, and agricultural operations, such as harrowing. Nest trampling by livestock might influence breeding success at the Kazakhstan strongholds¹¹. In some areas, predation by corvids may affect breeding success. In the wintering grounds, agricultural practices and grassland degradation may have reduced the area of available habitat, and locust control measures may also have negative impacts²³ both in terms of loss of a food source and the impact of pesticides²¹. Whether regional climate change, as proved for Pavlodar region in northern Kazakhstan, affects the species negatively or positively, is largely unknown¹⁷ but it is likely to influence distribution and abundance.

Major Threat(s):

Threats are poorly understood. Where declines are occurring the key factors probably relate to changing land-use practices such as conversion of steppe to arable agriculture in some areas (although much former agricultural land in Central Asia is now becoming fallow and grazed areas provide new breeding habitat), shifts in arable land versus livestock grazing on semi-natural steppe in others, and agricultural operations, such as harrowing. Nest trampling by livestock might influence breeding success at the Kazakhstan strongholds¹¹. In some areas, predation by corvids may affect breeding success. In the wintering grounds, agricultural practices and grassland degradation may have reduced the area of available habitat, and locust control measures may also have negative impacts²³ both in terms of loss of a food source and the impact of pesticides²¹. Whether regional climate change, as proved for Pavlodar region in northern Kazakhstan, affects the species negatively or positively, is largely unknown¹⁷ but it is likely to influence distribution and abundance.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CMS Appendix II. An international single species action plan has been published for this species⁶. A national action plan for the stronghold country Kazakhstan is at the stage of preparation. Conservation Actions Proposed Conduct further surveys to clarify its population status and trends in Kazakhstan and Russia. Research population development on breeding and wintering grounds also by the means of a literature review⁶. Research breeding success and adult mortality. Target promotion of low-disturbance agriculture around nesting colonies, and manage grazing and other disturbance⁶. Ensure development and implementation of appropriate regulations on pesticides and hunting in key range states⁶.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II. An international single species action plan has been published for this species⁶. A national action plan for the stronghold country Kazakhstan is at the stage of preparation.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct further surveys to clarify its population status and trends in Kazakhstan and Russia. Research population development on breeding and wintering grounds also by the means of a literature review⁶. Research breeding success and adult mortality. Target promotion of low-disturbance agriculture around nesting colonies, and manage grazing and other disturbance⁶. Ensure development and implementation of appropriate regulations on pesticides and hunting in key range states⁶.

Bibliography [top]

	Ash, J. S. 1977. Four species of birds new to Ethiopia and other notes. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 97: 4-9. Barnes, K. N. 2000. The Eskom Red Data Book of birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg. Belik, V.; Babich, M. V.; Korneev, PI. 2000. [Catastrophic declines of Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni) numbers north of the Caucasus]. Information Materials of the Russian Wader Study Group 13: 36-38. Belik, V. P.; Lebedeva, E. A. 2004. International single-species action plan for the conservation of the Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni. AEWA Secretariat, Bonn, Germany. Berezovikov, N. N. 2002. [Decline in numbers of the Black-winged Pratincole in Eastern Kazakhstan]. Information Materials of the Russian Wader Study Group 15: 46-49. BirdLife International. 2004. Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. Cramp, S.; Simmons, K. E. L. 1983. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic vol. III: waders to gulls. Oxford University Press, Oxford. del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Dodman, T. 2002. Waterbird population estimates in Africa. du Plessis, G. J. 1995. Large aggregation of Black-winged Pratincoles Glareola nordmanni in the northern Orange Free State. Ostrich 66: 40-41. Hayman, P.; Marchant, J.; Prater, A. J. 1986. Shorebirds. Croom Helm, London. Hockey, P. and Douie, C. 1995. Struik Winchester, Cape Town, South Africa. Hockey, P. A. R.; Dean, W. R. J.; Ryan, P. G. 2005. Roberts birds of southern Africa. Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. Kamp, J.; Koshkin, M.; Sheldon, R. D. in prep. Population numbers, conservation status and habitat selection of the Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni* in Kazakhstan. Karyakin, I. V.; Koslov, A. A. 1999. Stepnaya tirkushka (Glareola nordmanni). Tucker, G. M.; Heath, M. F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status*. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Ash, J. S. 1977. Four species of birds new to Ethiopia and other notes. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 97: 4-9.

Barnes, K. N. 2000. The Eskom Red Data Book of birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg.

Belik, V.; Babich, M. V.; Korneev, PI. 2000. [Catastrophic declines of Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni) numbers north of the Caucasus]. Information Materials of the Russian Wader Study Group 13: 36-38.

Belik, V. P.; Lebedeva, E. A. 2004. International single-species action plan for the conservation of the Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni. AEWA Secretariat, Bonn, Germany.

Berezovikov, N. N. 2002. [Decline in numbers of the Black-winged Pratincole in Eastern Kazakhstan]. Information Materials of the Russian Wader Study Group 15: 46-49.

BirdLife International. 2004. Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Cramp, S.; Simmons, K. E. L. 1983. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic vol. III: waders to gulls. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

Dodman, T. 2002. Waterbird population estimates in Africa.

du Plessis, G. J. 1995. Large aggregation of Black-winged Pratincoles Glareola nordmanni in the northern Orange Free State. Ostrich 66: 40-41.

Hayman, P.; Marchant, J.; Prater, A. J. 1986. Shorebirds. Croom Helm, London.

Hockey, P. and Douie, C. 1995. Struik Winchester, Cape Town, South Africa.

Hockey, P. A. R.; Dean, W. R. J.; Ryan, P. G. 2005. Roberts birds of southern Africa. Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa.

Kamp, J.; Koshkin, M.; Sheldon, R. D. in prep. Population numbers, conservation status and habitat selection of the Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni in Kazakhstan.

Karyakin, I. V.; Koslov, A. A. 1999. Stepnaya tirkushka (Glareola nordmanni).

Tucker, G. M.; Heath, M. F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Glareola nordmanni. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
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