La avutarda hubara - SEO/BirdLife

Summary
SUMMARY
This monograph presents information on the current situation of the Houbara
Bustard Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae on the basis of the results of four
general censuses carried out between 2004 and 2006, which have taken place in
the framework of a LIFE Nature project implemented by SEO/BirdLife from
2003 to 2007 (LIFE 03NAT/E/000046 “Conservation of the Houbara Bustard in
the SPAs of the Canary Islands”). The censuses were aimed at setting up both
the current population size and the population trend, taking the baseline on the
results of the mid-1990s census coordinated by Dr. Aurelio Martín (University of
La Laguna). Consequently, the methodology applied for the mid-1990s census
was also adopted for the mid-2000s one.
The four counts were undertaken during the summer and winter periods for the
species. The information on the study area was previously updated, and the
locations occupied by the species were classified either as primary habitat (i.e.
sites in good conservation status) o as secondary habitat (i.e. sites of low quality
or partly degraded).
The method used to count individuals consisted of multi-line transects in which
a pre-defined track was walked along by observers separated 200 m from each
other. Sampling was simultaneously undertaken on the two main Islands, and
then in the reminding islets.
Most of the transects were surveyed during the morning period of maximum
activity for the species. In each census, 49 transects were studied that were distributed
among the islands and islets as follows: 26-27 in Fuerteventura, 13-14
in Lanzarote, 4 in La Graciosa, 2 in Alegranza and 1 in Lobos. The global area
covered by the itineraries varied between 204.7 and 206 km 2 , with Fuerteventura
being the island with the largest prospected surface (134,8 and 137,3 km 2 ); 57-
and 58-km 2 areas were surveyed in Lanzarote.
Houbara Bustards were observed in Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa
Islands, but were not detected in Lobos and Alegranza Islets. Looking at the
number of individuals detected on each transect, a gradual increase between the
first (December 2004) and the last (December 2006) counts has occurred, with
the range of Houbara Bustard individuals being, respectively, 495-503 and 646-
649. For the four censuses, the results have been above those of December 1994.
Therefore, the fist conclusion drawn is that a population increase for the Houbara
Bustard has occurred during the last decade.
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