1. The changes in species‘ composition and numbers of Birds of Prey in Georgia in 1975-2010 Alexander Abuladze, Ilia State University, Institute of Zoology Ilia Chavchavadze Av., 31, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia (abuladze@inbox.ru)abuladze@inbox.ru MONITORING OF MIGRATING RAPTORS Territory of Georgia has a special importance for migrating raptors because of its specific location on the cross-roads between Europe and Asia on the way from breeding grounds in Fenno-Scandinavia, European Russia, Ural and Western Siberia to the Mediterranean, the Middle East and African wintering grounds. 32 species were recorded during passages within the limits of the study area. 28 species are regular migrants. Patterns of raptors’ seasonal movements at the territory of Georgia were monitored regularly in 1976–1992, 1997-99, 2000-2002, 2006. Counts were carried out every year in spring and in autumn from 1-4 stations in different areas during 52-67 working days every season (704—782 hours or 8-14 hours every day). Data on species composition, numbers, phenology, patterns of diurnal activity, directions and heights of flight, halting places, correlations with weather conditions, behavior, were collected. The most important “bottle-necks” in Georgia are: “Batumi” at Eastern Black Sea fly-way (up to 1000000 individuals of 34 species); “Mtkvari valley” (250000+, 26 spp.)’ “Alazani” (150000-200000+, 24 spp.); “Javakheti” (200000+, 25 spp.), several sites at watershed areas at Main Caucasian Ridge. Especially three species are very numerous migrants - Honey Buzzard (250000-700000), Buzzard, spp.- B.b.vulpinus, B.b.buteo. B.b.menetriezi (200000-600000) and Black Kite (80000-170000), Map 1. Based on data systematically collected during last 35 years the main results of complex study of raptors in Georgia are presented. Monitoring of breeding populations, populations of migrating raptors using the counts in migration corridors and monitoring of wintering raptors during National surveys were started in 1975. One of the basic aims of the project was to get information on breeding raptors’ numbers and population trends needed for the conservation of Birds of Prey. 39 raptor species were registered at the territory of country since 1975, 34 species are considered as regular elements, while 5 species are vagrant (Table 1). Breeding was confirmed for 26 species; 2 species are occasional breeders and 2 - probably breeders. For the period of studies it was revealed that number of 9 species is increasing, while in 7 species it is stable, in 5 species declining, and for 5 species – unclear (Table 2, Table 3) NSpecies Numbers of breeding pairs Trends Years 1975-19801981-19901991-20002001-2010 1Pernis apivorus20-4035+100-300200-450 ↑ 2Milvus migrans900-1100600-800500-700400-500 ↓ 3Haliaeetus albicilla001-22-3 ↑ 4Gypaetus barbatus20-2521-23(25)18-2220-22 ↔ 5Neophron percnopterus90-100100-120 105-110 ↔ 6Gyps fulvus34-7156-9144-6140-45 ↓ 7Aegypius monachus10-1511-1710-159-14 ↓ 8Circaetus gallicus4-75-1012-1415-20(25) ↑ 9Circus aeruginosus60-8045-6075-100110-130 ↑ 10Circus pygargus00?15-20 ↑ 11Accipiter gentilis200-225220-235220-250240-250 ↔ 12Accipiter nisus400-550500-600500-750750-800 ↑ 13Accipiter brevipes0015-2045-60 ↑ 14Buteo buteo1300-20001300-17001200-18001250-1500 ↔ 15Buteo rufinus50-6040+45-5055-60 ↔ 16Aquila pomarina85-10075-8570-8060-75 ↓ 17Aquila heliaca5-107-1115-2030-35(40) ↑ 18Aquila chrysaetos20-25 25-3025-30(35) ↔ 19Hieraaetus fasciatus01 case1?? ? 20Hieraaetus pennatus130-145120-14080-12070-100 ↓ 21Pandion haliaetus0000 ● (1957) 22Falco naumanni 600-700 (800) 250-600 11 (1995); 97 (1994); 115 (1991 Solitary pairs (?) ● (1996) 23Falco tinnunculus1500-25001200-18001500-2000 ↔ 24Falco vespertinus0001 case (?) ? 25Falco subbuteo300-350275-320250-300230-250 ↔ (↓) 26Falco biarmicus?1-21(2)? ? 27Falco cherrug0001 (?) ? 28Falco peregrinus02-515-2535-40 ↑ Years Number of breeding species Numbers of breeding pairs Regular breeders Sporadic breedersStatus unknownTotal 1975-1980 181-195700-8200 1981-1990 202-224850-6700 1991-2000 2214273800-6900 2001-2010 2131254100-6550 Raptor speciesStatus 1European Honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorusSB, PM 2Crested Honey-buzzard, Pernis ptylorhynchusOV 3Black Kite, Milvus migransYR-R, PM, WV 4Red Kite, Milvus milvusOV 5Pallas Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphusOV 6White-tailed Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus albicillaYR-R, PM, WV 7Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatusYR-R 8Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterusSB, PM 9Griffon Vulture,Gyps fulvusYR-R 10Cinereous Vulture, Aegypius monachusYR-R 11Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus gallicusSB, PM 12Western Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosusYR-R, PM, WV 13Northern (Hen) Harrier, Circus cyaneusPM, WV 14Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourusPM, WV occas. 15Montagu’s harrier, Circus pygargusSB, PM 16Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilisYR-R, PM, WV 17Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisusYR-R, PM, WV 18Levant Sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipesPM 19Shikra, Accipiter badiusOV 20Common Buzzard, Buteo buteoYR-R, PM, WV 21Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinusYR-R, PM, WV 22Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo lagopusWV 23Lesser Spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarinaSB, PM 24Greater Spotted Eagle, Aquila clangaPM, WV 25Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensisSV, PM, WV 26Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliacaYR-R, PM, WV 27Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetosYR-R 28Bonelli’s Eagle, Hieraaetus fasciatusSB, OV 29Booted Eagle, Hieraaetus pennatusSB, PM 30Osprey, Pandion haliaetusPM, WV?, FB 31Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanniPM, FB 32Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculusYR-R, PM, WV 33Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinusOB, PM 34Merlin, Falco columbariusPM, WV 35Hobby, Falco subbuteoSB, PM 36Eleonora’s Falcon, Falco eleonoraeOV 37Lanner Falcon, Falco biarmicusYR-R 38Saker Falcon, Falco cherrugOB, PM, WV 39Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinusYR-R, PM, WV *Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticollisOV (old data) Map 1. Main fly-ways of migrating raptors Table 2. Numbers and population trends of raptors in Georgia in 1975-2010 Table 1. Species composition and status of presence of raptors in Georgia MONITORING OF WINTERING RAPTORS Counts of wintering raptors were carried out in 1977-91, 1997-99 and 2006. Coverage of wintering areas was 45% in 1977-82, 75-85% in 1983-91 and 30% in 1997-99, 2006. Study suggests that Georgia has a special importance for wintering raptors, which are presented by 23 species: 18 regular winterers, 3 irregular, 2 occasional with total numbers 4400 (in hard winters) to ~ 14700 (in mild winters) individuals.. Table 3. Numbers of breeding species and breeding pairs in 1975-2010 Map 2. Wintering grounds of raptors Preferred wintering habitats are located in areas with warm and snowless winters in mosaic habitats, thickly alternated by small forests, which are used as shelters against bad weather and night roosts (Map 2). The most important wintering area is Kolkheti Lowland, holding up to 65% of wintering raptors. Black Kite was by far the most numerous winterer (3000-12000). It has adapted to almost all lowland landscapes, but in Eastern Georgia Hen Harrier was the most numerous wintering raptor (600-1700).