Detected foraging strategies and consequent conservation policies of the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in Southern Italy

摘要

The reduction in both the extent and quality of foraging habitats is considered the primary cause of the LesserKestrel Falco naumanni population decline. A proper knowledge of Lesser Kestrel’s foraging habitat selectionat local scale is necessary for its conservation. Using accurate GPS devices, we investigated the patterns oflocal movements and land-cover type selection of 9 Lesser Kestrels in the main colony in Italy (Alta MurgiaNational Park, Gravina in Puglia and the surrounding rural areas) during the hatching period. The goals of ourwork were to individuate: 1) the preferred foraging habitats, 2) the potential sexual divergences in foragingmovements and in 3) foraging habitat selection, 4) the relationship between foraging movements and thespatial arrangement of land codes. We detected significant sexual divergences in foraging movements andhabitat selection. Lesser Kestrels preferred pseudo-steppes and significantly avoided ligneous crops andforested areas. While males selected positively pseudo-steppes, females used both pseudo-steppes and cerealsin proportion to their availability. Foraging selection was influenced by the interplay between the spatialarrangement of land codes and the sexual divergences in foraging strategies. On the basis of our results, wehave been able to propose suitable local-scale conservation actions to the Alta Murgia National Park and to thelocal administrations: a) the enlargements of the park’s boundaries; b) the purchasing of land parcels; c) theprovision of suitable nesting sites near the higher quality areas; d) the optimal timing for harvesting. Our studyis the first contribution to the assessment of the foraging strategies and the necessary conservation policies ofthe Lesser Kestrel in Southern Italy.