The Migration of the Eurasian Woodcock (<i>Scolopax rusticola</i> L.) in the Carpathian Basin at the Turn of the 19–20th Centuries

In the present study, 7344 spring observations of a short-distance migratory species, the Eurasian Woodcock, from the Carpathian Basin between 1894 and 1926 were used to investigate the timing of the species’ migration and how different environmental factors influenced it. We used a generalized addi...

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Main Authors: László Bozó, István Fekete, Attila Bende
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Birds
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/3/38
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author László Bozó
István Fekete
Attila Bende
author_facet László Bozó
István Fekete
Attila Bende
author_sort László Bozó
collection DOAJ
description In the present study, 7344 spring observations of a short-distance migratory species, the Eurasian Woodcock, from the Carpathian Basin between 1894 and 1926 were used to investigate the timing of the species’ migration and how different environmental factors influenced it. We used a generalized additive model (GAM) to explore migratory patterns by using environmental and geographical variables. In years when the weather was colder and snowier, the birds migrated weeks later than in years with milder weather. This may be due to the availability of earthworms, which are the most important food for the species. In areas at lower altitudes, migration occurred earlier than in mountainous areas, which may also be due to the different weather. Furthermore, a two week difference was observed between the south-western and north-eastern parts of the Carpathian Basin. This difference is still present nowadays, but the timing of migration has shifted earlier than in the past, probably due to climate change. It would also be important to compare the historical data with recent data to gain a better understanding of the effects of climate change on the migration of the Eurasian Woodcock.
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spelling doaj-art-c3bd239a8f3f446d93ce5768b73c3b9c2025-08-20T01:56:01ZengMDPI AGBirds2673-60042024-09-015357158510.3390/birds5030038The Migration of the Eurasian Woodcock (<i>Scolopax rusticola</i> L.) in the Carpathian Basin at the Turn of the 19–20th CenturiesLászló Bozó0István Fekete1Attila Bende2Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117 Budapest, HungaryAmity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences, Amity University Kolkata, Major Arterial Road, AA II, Newtown, Kadampukur 700135, IndiaInstitute of Wildlife Biology and Management, University of Sopron, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út, 9400 Sopron, HungaryIn the present study, 7344 spring observations of a short-distance migratory species, the Eurasian Woodcock, from the Carpathian Basin between 1894 and 1926 were used to investigate the timing of the species’ migration and how different environmental factors influenced it. We used a generalized additive model (GAM) to explore migratory patterns by using environmental and geographical variables. In years when the weather was colder and snowier, the birds migrated weeks later than in years with milder weather. This may be due to the availability of earthworms, which are the most important food for the species. In areas at lower altitudes, migration occurred earlier than in mountainous areas, which may also be due to the different weather. Furthermore, a two week difference was observed between the south-western and north-eastern parts of the Carpathian Basin. This difference is still present nowadays, but the timing of migration has shifted earlier than in the past, probably due to climate change. It would also be important to compare the historical data with recent data to gain a better understanding of the effects of climate change on the migration of the Eurasian Woodcock.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/3/38historical ornithological datashort-distance migrationweather
spellingShingle László Bozó
István Fekete
Attila Bende
The Migration of the Eurasian Woodcock (<i>Scolopax rusticola</i> L.) in the Carpathian Basin at the Turn of the 19–20th Centuries
Birds
historical ornithological data
short-distance migration
weather
title The Migration of the Eurasian Woodcock (<i>Scolopax rusticola</i> L.) in the Carpathian Basin at the Turn of the 19–20th Centuries
title_full The Migration of the Eurasian Woodcock (<i>Scolopax rusticola</i> L.) in the Carpathian Basin at the Turn of the 19–20th Centuries
title_fullStr The Migration of the Eurasian Woodcock (<i>Scolopax rusticola</i> L.) in the Carpathian Basin at the Turn of the 19–20th Centuries
title_full_unstemmed The Migration of the Eurasian Woodcock (<i>Scolopax rusticola</i> L.) in the Carpathian Basin at the Turn of the 19–20th Centuries
title_short The Migration of the Eurasian Woodcock (<i>Scolopax rusticola</i> L.) in the Carpathian Basin at the Turn of the 19–20th Centuries
title_sort migration of the eurasian woodcock i scolopax rusticola i l in the carpathian basin at the turn of the 19 20th centuries
topic historical ornithological data
short-distance migration
weather
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/3/38
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