RENF TETRAX - Reinforcement of the migratory breeding populations of the Little Bustard, Tetrax tetrax in France LIFE04 NAT/FR/000091

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1 RENF TETRAX - Reinforcement of the migratory breeding populations of the Little Bustard, Tetrax tetrax in France LIFE04 NAT/FR/ Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more Contact details: Project Manager: Thierry MICOL Tel: Fax: thierry.micol@lpo.fr Project description: Background Listed in the Birds Directive Annexes, little bustard, Tetrax tetrax, has been in decline around Europe. Remaining French populations of this endangered bird are found in west and central France as well as in the sub-steppic grazing ranges on the Mediterranean plains. Here the species continued to experience threats to its long-term survival. Five key sites within these areas were identified where conservation works could help improve the conservation status of little bustards. Objectives This LIFE project s overall aim focused on preventing the loss of little bustard in five target areas. A captive breeding and release programme was established using eggs from Spain and France. Existing agri-environment measures were reinforced to improve breeding habitats for the birds and project findings were carefully monitored to help improve know-how about success factors associated with the species recovery. Stakeholder awareness campaigns also formed an integral part of the conservation plans. Results

2 The project successfully reinforced little bustard populations in the target areas. Nevertheless, the species is still considered to be threatened by the lack of favourable habitats, following continued intensification of farming practices and land use changes. Findings from the captive breeding actions revealed that chicks hatched from Spanish eggs did not migrate during winters and less Spanish eggs were collected than anticipated. This was due to the need to conserve egg stocks in Spain where the birds are also at risk. From 363 French eggs, 202 were used in the project s captive breeding programme. Two breeding centres were established one for rearing young chicks and another for breeding adults. Initial problems prevented the project from breeding as many chicks as expected but through a process of learning by doing the programme improved its effectiveness. Results saw 282 eggs being laid, 190 chicks being released at three separate sites and 82 birds were retained as breeding stock. Monitoring confirmed that released birds integrated with the wild populations and migrated over the winter. The breeding and release is continuing after the end of the project, financed by the local partners. A variety of other useful knowledge about the species ecology, population dynamics and migration was gained by the project. Unknown migration routes and wintering areas were discovered in Iberia and new information about the birds habitat requirements has also been used to help inform the development of ongoing conservation measures. Farmers and other stakeholders participated well in the project via increased numbers of agri-environment actions and in some cases emergency agreements were set up with farmers to protect nests in agricultural plots during mowing period. A total of 163 eggs or chicks were protected on-site using these methods. Payments were planned to compensate for the loss of forage, yet many farmers concluded agreements without financial compensation. Contracts were also established with farmers for the retention of cereals and oilseed rape stubbles throughout the period of post-nuptial gathering so as to provide little bustards with quiet feeding areas. Communication tools developed by the project were considered successful and the conservation actions received a favourable support from local hunters and hunting groups as well as local inhabitants. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section). Environmental issues addressed: Themes Species - Birds Keywords

3 introduction of animal species migratory species monitoring public awareness campaign policy integration rural area Target EU Legislation Nature protection and Biodiversity Directive 79/409 - Conservation of wild birds ( ) Target species Tetrax tetrax Target Habitat types 01 - Unknown (site without information) Natura 2000 sites SPA FR SPA FR SPA FR SPA FR SPA FR PLAINE DE NIORT SUD-EST PLAINES DU MIREBALAIS ET DU NEUVILLOIS PLAINE DE VILLEFAGNAN Plaines de Barbezières à Gourville Plaine de Néré à Bresdon Beneficiaries: Coordinator Type of organisation Description Partners Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux NGO-Foundation The LPO is the French NGO officially representing Birdlife International in France since Its aims are to protect birds, the ecosystems they are depending on and, by extension, biodiversity. Muséum National d'histoire Naturelle, France Sociedad Española de Ornitología (SEO), Spain Administrative data:

4 Project reference LIFE04 NAT/FR/ Duration 01-SEP-2004 to 30-OCT Total budget 1,583, EU contribution 870, Project location Poitou-Charentes(France) Read more: Brochure Leaflet Leaflet Project web site Publication: After-LIFE Conservation Plan Title: "Programme de renforcement des populations migratrices d Outarde canepetière Tetrax tetrax en France" (FR) (793 KB) Author: Vincent BRETAGNOLLE Year: 2007 Editor: CEBC-CNRS, LPO No of pages: 23 Title: "L'outarde canepetière : renforcement des populations migratrices d'outarde canepetière en France"(FR)(4.780 KB) Editor: Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux No of pages: 8 Title: "Jachères et sauvegarde de la biodiversité dans les plaines cultivées" (FR) (418 KB) Editor: Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux No of pages: 8 Project's website (FR) Title: After-LIFE Conservation Plan Author: Carole Attié, Vincent Bretagnolle, Michel Saint Ja Year: 2009 No of pages: 14 Title: "Manipulating Lek Size and Composition Using Decoys: An Experimental Investigation of Lek Evolution Models" (639KB) Author: Frédéric Jiguet and Vincent Bretagnolle Year: 2006 Editor: The American Naturalist No of pages: 11 Title: Predicting short-term extinction risk for the declining Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) in intensive agricultural habitats (676KB) Author: Pablo Inchausti and Vincent Bretagnolle Year: 2005 Editor: Biological Conservation No of pages: 10 Title: Modelling population reinforcement at a large spatial scale as a conservation strategy for the declining little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) in agricultural habitats (177KB) Author: Vincent Bretagnolle and Pablo Inchausti Year: 2005 Editor: Animal Conservation No of pages: 10

5 Publication: Book Publication: Layman report Publication: Layman report Publication: Proceedings Title: "Projet de renforcement de la population d Outarde canepetière (Tetrax tetrax) dans les plaines céréalières du Centre-Ouest de la France, en accompagnement de mesures sur les habitats : Etude de faisabilité" (FR) (3.428 KB) Author: Carole Attié (ed.) Editor: CNRS, Museum National d'histoire Naturelle, LPO,. No of pages: 75 Title: Layman report Author: Carole Attié & Isabelle Chesnot Year: 2009 No of pages: 6 Title: Rapport simplifié Author: Carole Attié & Isabelle Chesnot Year: 2009 No of pages: 6 Title: "Conservation de l'outarde canepetière en France et en Espagne" (4.8 MB) Year: 2009 Editor: Carole Attié et Thierry Micol, LPO No of pages: 89 Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more