First meeting of the Research Group on Steppe Birds

    This group of scientists intends to cover the existing knowledge gaps on the ecology and conservation of steppe birds and become a reference to advise on management and territory use measures that guarantee the viability of their populations


    Scientists from the Research Group in Game Resources and Wildlife Management of the Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC – CSIC, UCLM, JCCM) have participated in a meeting, held from February 3 to 5, 2023 in Cabeza del Buey (Extremadura), whose main objective was form a reference group specialized in the knowledge of steppe birds.

    All the steppe birds are birds associated with open habitats dominated by grasses or small scrub, strongly linked to historical low-intensity agricultural practices in the Iberian Peninsula. These birds, like the great bustard (Otis tarda), the little bustard (tetrax tetrax), the Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis), the Dupont's Lark (Chersophilus duponti) or the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), have suffered a sharp decline in recent decades as a result of changes in European agricultural policies, and are among the most threatened group of birds in the world.

     

    This group of scientists intends to cover the existing knowledge gaps on the ecology and conservation of steppe birds and become a reference to advise on management and territory use measures that guarantee the viability of their populations

    The meeting had as its main objective the formation of a group of scientists who will try to cover the existing knowledge gaps on the ecology and conservation of these bird species. It also aims to become a leading scientific voice when it comes to advising management measures for agricultural practices and land use that guarantee the viability of the high biodiversity existing in these habitats.

    For now, the group has focused on the Portuguese-Spanish area, given the importance of the territories of these two countries for the target species, but it intends to broaden its scope to a more European and international area. Several working groups have already been defined that will launch various research initiatives, workshops, development of standard methodologies and dissemination activities..

     

    Steppe birds, such as the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata), have suffered a sharp decline in recent decades as a result of changes in European agricultural policies

    The group has committed to holding regular meetings and create opportunities for knowledge exchange between researchers and their students, and is already planning to hold an international congress on steppe birds at the end of 2024, to celebrate 20 years since the last meeting on the subject.