La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Foraging habitat selection of the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustics during postnuptial migration in Provence, southern France (2012)
Auteurs :	L Brouckaert, Auteur ; Timothée Schwartz, Auteur ; F Tron, Auteur ; Brigitte Poulin, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Alauda (80(1) janvier 1, 2012)
Article en page(s) :	277-284
Résumé :	The Vallée des Baux in the western part of Provence hosts during each postnuptial migration one of the largest known nightroosts of Barn Swallows in France. This study aims at studying the foraging behaviour of individuals using this nightroost. A total of 96 sites located at a distance of less than 30km from the nightroost have been investigated along 4 transects (Alpilles, Crau, Camargue, Costières de Nîmes) involving 31 habitat types. More than 2700 records of feeding swallows have been carried out. Record numbers decreased with distance to the nightroost, 12km being the threshold value. The species clearly favoured the Crau transect and used to a lesser extent the Camargue transect. Orchards, sunflower fields, irrigated meadows and scattered urbanized areas have been the most selected habitats by feeding swallows. Hedges were also very attractive particularly during windy days. The conservation of all these habitats and the hedges must be a priority in order to secure high quality feeding habitats for migrating Barn Swallows.

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