The breeding ecology of the Northern Wheatear (<i>Oenanthe oenanthe</i>) on Skokholm Island

Understanding demographic parameters (e.g. population size, age structure, site fidelity and survival rates) can help determine drivers of species’ population change. The Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is an insectivorous migrant songbird. Its breeding range is nearly circumpolar in the Northern Hemisphere extending across Eurasia, the Middle East, through Siberia to Alaska and the Yukon, and west to Iceland, Greenland and eastern Canada. It covers a wide range of habitats, mountains, plains, tundra and agricultural land. It winters in the Sahal belt of Africa. It is not globally threatened although it is declining in Europe. In the UK it is declining in numbers, but this trend differs spatially. Using colour ringing to identify individuals in a population on Skokholm Island, southwest Wales, age specific survival and spatial data were collected from 2017 to 2023. Data from previous studies on the island are available for comparisons. <br/><br/>The findings of this research have produced survival rates for adult male and female Wheatears as well as the first UK documentation of juvenile survival rates. The latter, which also includes the difference between survival of first and second broods, is only the second time this has been reported in Europe. The research into territories has demonstrated a strong site loyalty even on a relatively small island. Further findings on juvenile dispersal and immigration have helped explain the population dynamics of the species. Compared to historic data, dating back to 1948, this study finds a strong similarity between breeding territory choices made throughout that extended period. <br/><br/>This study concludes, when looking across the range of findings, that the population on Skokholm is stable and the factors producing this state are limited human activity impacting on the land use, lack of mammalian predators, extensive grazing activity and the proximity of other populations. In a species which is in serious decline over all of Europe, there is a stable population on Skokholm which can provide conservation lessons for other populations.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Master's Thesis

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Student thesis

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Beggs, Ian

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lee, David

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/22d54905-09d6-44af-9454-dc55a3a75bec

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/22d54905-09d6-44af-9454-dc55a3a75bec