Literature review to assess bird species connectivity to Special ...

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2.9 Peregrine 2.9.1 Foraging Core foraging range Peregrines do not hold exclusive home ranges, with areas used for hunting overlapping with neighbouring pairs (Newton, 1979; Ratcliffe, 1993). They defend a nesting territory, however, with average nearest-neighbour distances varying between 2.1km and 9km in different regions of Britain (Ratcliffe, 1993). It is believed that peregrines take 70% of their prey from within 2km of the nest (Weir, 1977, 1978), suggesting that the core foraging range will be approximately 2km. 2.9.2 Maximum foraging range Maximum foraging ranges tend to be variable between different nest sites and regions (Ratcliffe, 1993). Studies in Britain have recorded maximum foraging distances of 6km (Weir, 1977, 1978), 11-12km (on Uist; Andrew Stevenson pers. comm.), 13km (Mead, 1969), 15km (Glutz Von Blotzheim, 1971 in Bright et al., 2006), 16km (Ratcliffe, 1993), and 18km (Mearns, 1985). Larger foraging distances have been documented in Colorado, USA, with a radio-tracking study finding flights extending to 20-43km from the eyrie (Enderson & Craig, 1997). 2.9.3 Nesting Nest site fidelity Pairs tend to return to the same nest site between years (Mearns & Newton, 1984; Ratcliffe, 1993). Alternative nest ledges and cliffs are regularly used. Studies have found mean distances between alternative nesting locations to be 2.7km in the Scottish Southern Uplands (n=28 territories), 2.4km in northern England (n=40 territories), and 2.1km in north Wales (n=24 territories) (Ratcliffe, 1993). Maximum distances between alternative nesting locations tend to be between 5 and 6.5km. 2.9.4 Display flights Display flights generally occur in the nesting territory and immediate vicinity during the breeding season (Cramp & Simmons, 1980). These include high-circling, undulating flights, figure-of-eight flights, and fight-play. They can involve either one or both birds of the pair (Cramp & Simmons, 1980). The heights at which display flights take place are generally up to 200m, and they can take place up to 1km from the nest site. 2.9.5 Competitive behaviour Edge of territory interactions with conspecifics Territorial attacks tend to occur only within approximately 1.6km from the eyrie (Ratcliffe, 1993). 24
2.9.6 Habitat use Likely habitat use Peregrines require extensive open terrain for hunting, and are often attracted to river valleys, lochs, and lakes (Cramp & Simmons, 1980; Ratcliffe, 1993). 2.9.7 Winter behaviour Winter dispersal If prey items remain numerous during the winter period, peregrines will remain in the vicinity of their breeding territory (Ratcliffe, 1993). This tends to be the case in most regions south of the Scottish Highlands where peregrines are relatively sedentary. In areas where prey items are less numerous, and during hard weather, they will disperse to lowland areas (Ratcliffe, 1993). This tends to be the case within the Highlands, where peregrines are generally more mobile. 25
Page 1 and 2: Scottish Natural Heritage Commissio
Page 3 and 4: COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary Literat
Page 5 and 6: Tables Page Table 1 - Species revie
Page 7 and 8: 1. INTRODUCTION Proposals for opera
Page 9 and 10: 2. SPECIES ACCOUNTS 2.1 Red-throate
Page 11 and 12: 2.2 Black-throated diver 2.2.1 Fora
Page 13 and 14: High flying, up to 1000m, can also
Page 15 and 16: moved in successive years between s
Page 17 and 18: 2.5 Goshawk 2.5.1 Foraging Core for
Page 19 and 20: Nest locations were regularly distr
Page 21 and 22: Ringing recoveries of an adult fema
Page 23 and 24: 1986). A pair on a home range in th
Page 25 and 26: Grant & McGrady (1999) followed two
Page 27 and 28: 2.7.5 Habitat use Likely habitat us
Page 29: 2.8.5 Habitat use Likely habitat us
Page 33 and 34: will subsequently role away, or til
Page 35 and 36: 2.11 Short-eared Owl 2.11.1 Foragin
Page 37 and 38: 2.12 Black grouse 2.12.1 Foraging H
Page 39 and 40: making longer movements (5 to 10km)
Page 41 and 42: Thompson, 1998). Other interactions
Page 43 and 44: 2.14 Greenshank 2.14.1 Foraging Cor
Page 45 and 46: 2.15 Dunlin 2.15.1 Foraging Foragin
Page 47 and 48: 2.16 Curlew 2.16.1 Foraging Core fo
Page 49 and 50: 2.18 Wintering geese 2.18.1 Foragin
Page 51 and 52: to about 7 km from the roost (Malco
Page 53 and 54: 3.2 Foraging ranges during winter s
Page 55 and 56: 4. REFERENCES Arroyo, B.E. Leckie,
Page 57 and 58: Fuller, R.J. & Lloyd, D. (1981). Th
Page 59 and 60: Mearns, R. (1985). The hunting rang
Page 61 and 62: Rebecca, G.W. & Bainbridge, I.P. (1
Page 63 and 64: Whittingham, M.J., Percival, S.M. &

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