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Biology

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The aquatic warbler is more secretive than its common relative, the sedge warbler, and often remains hidden on the ground whilst actively searching for food. Similar to the other warblers, the aquatic warbler feeds primarily on small insects (3). During the breeding season, males attract mates with a song produced during a short song-flight. A single male will normally mate with more than one female; mating amongst birds is usually a very brief affair, but for the aquatic warbler however, it can last around 25 minutes, taking place both before and after egg-laying. Nests are constructed from reeds and tend to be placed over marshy ground or in a clump of sedge in shallow water (4).
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Conservation

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The aquatic warbler is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, and a number of known key passage sites have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (5). Key sites are being managed by organisations such as the RSPB in order to maintain suitable habitat of sufficient size to support migration. A further priority is to more accurately assess the number of birds passing through Britain and their ecological requirements so that the correct habitat can be identified as being in need of protection (3).
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Description

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The aquatic warbler is a small, slim bird with sandy coloured plumage with variable fine black streaking. Further identifying features are a sandy coloured crown and a rather spiky looking tail. The sexes are similar, and juveniles lack streaking on the breast and flanks (2). The eggs of the aquatic warbler are brown and densely spotted with a yellowish grey (4).
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Habitat

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The aquatic warbler breeds in open waterlogged areas of sedge, and seems to prefer vegetation of just a foot tall (2). During migration, preferred habitat comprises reed beds with sedge and other low-lying vegetation close to open water, normally along rivers, estuaries and coastal lagoons (3).
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Range

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The aquatic warbler passes through the southern coast area of England during its annual migration between breeding sites in Eastern Europe and over-wintering grounds in West Africa. Although no definite figures exist, it was believed that the number of individuals arriving in Britain could represent as much as 25% of the world population of this globally threatened species, but recent discoveries of large populations in Eastern Europe make this unlikely (3). The main stronghold is in eastern Poland (2).
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Status

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Listed on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Annex I of the EC Birds Directive and Appendix II of the Berne Convention (3).
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Threats

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For a healthy population, this species requires vast areas of wetland habitat. This is due to the large home ranges that males of this species occupy during the breeding season in order to gain access to several females. Such habitat is increasingly under threat from modern agricultural practices and is often drained for commercial use. Other threats may occur on the wintering grounds. The human population increase in West Africa is putting pressure on the habitat needed by this species such as over-grazing, over-exploitation of water resources and desertification (3).
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Status in Egypt

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Aquatic warbler

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The aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds in temperate eastern Europe and western Asia, with an estimated population of 11,000-15,000 pairs.[2] It is migratory, wintering in west Africa. After many years of uncertainty, the wintering grounds of much of the European population were finally discovered in Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Senegal, with between 5,000 and 10,000 birds present at this single site.[3] Its south-westerly migration route means that it is regular on passage as far west as Great Britain and Ireland.

This small passerine bird is a species found in wet sedge beds with vegetation shorter than 30 cm (12 in). Drainage has meant that this species has declined, and its stronghold is now the Polesie region of eastern Poland and south Belarus, where 70% of the world's population breeds. 3–5 eggs are laid in a nest in low vegetation. This species is highly promiscuous, with most males and females having offspring with multiple partners.[4]

This is a medium-sized warbler. The adult has a heavily streaked brown back and pale underparts with variable streaking. The forehead is flattened, and the bill is strong and pointed. There is a prominent whitish supercilium and crown stripe.

It can be confused with the juvenile sedge warbler, which may show a crown stripe, but the marking is stronger in this species, which appears paler and spiky-tailed in flight. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are unstreaked on the breast below. Like most warblers, it is insectivorous, but will take other small food items, including berries.

The song is a fast, chattering ja-ja-ja punctuated with typically acrocephaline whistles.

The genus name Acrocephalus is from Ancient Greek akros, "highest", and kephale, "head". It is possible that Naumann and Naumann thought akros meant "sharp-pointed". The specific paludicola is Latin, from paludis, "swamp", and colere, "to inhabit".[5]

Translocated aquatic warbler chicks in June 2018.

Conservation

The aquatic warbler is the rarest and the only internationally threatened passerine bird found in mainland Europe. Apart from a very small remnant population in Western Siberia, its breeding grounds are completely confined to Europe.

The main threat the species is facing is the loss/degradation of habitat due to draining of wetlands, the decline of traditional, extensive agriculture and overgrowing of the species' habitat with reeds and bushes or trees. Under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning Conservation Measures for the Aquatic Warbler was concluded and came into effect on 30 April 2003. The MoU covers 22 range States (Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom). As of August 2012, 16 range States have signed the MoU. This instrument provides the basis for governments, NGO's and scientists to work together to save the species and their habitat.

Much of the funding for habitat protection for this species has come from the EU's LIFE programme.[6]

Conservation methods

The main method employed to protect the species from extinction is habitat restoration. Bushes, reeds and trees are cut down. An adequate level of water regulation is achieved through hydraulic equipment installation.[7]

In order to protect the bird's offspring, farmers need to select optimal grassland mowing time (as late as 15 of August) and choose environment-friendly mowing technologies. As the late-cut grass isn't suitable for feeding making these measures economically unfavorable, farmers who agree to help out receive state issued compensations. The unusable late-cut grass is taken to processing plants that recycle it into biofuel/grass pellets.[8]

Chicks from the first translocation of the aquatic warbler in June 2018.

Translocations

Due to small and fragmented populations of aquatic warbler within Lithuania, translocation to the Žuvintas biosphere reserve in Lithuania became necessary as a method to reverse declining genetic diversity in the region.[9]

During the species' first translocation In June 2018, the Lithuanian Baltic Environmental Forum (BEF) successfully translocated, raised, and released 49 aquatic warbler chicks from Zvanec Belarus to the Žuvintas biosphere reserve in Lithuania.[10] By the end of the 2019 summer breeding season, 11 (22%) of the translocated birds returned to the Žuvintas biosphere reserve.[11]

In the summer of 2019, the BEF successfully translocated, raised, and released an additional 50 birds from Zvanec Belarus to the Žuvintas biosphere reserve.[12]

Range and population

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Acrocephalus paludicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22714696A110042215. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22714696A110042215.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Tanneberger, Franziska; Kubacka, Justyna (2018). The Aquatic Warbler Conservation Handbook. Groß Glienicke: Brandenburg State Office for Environment. p. 20. ISBN 978-3-00-059256-0.
  3. ^ Expedition solves Aquatic Warbler mystery, Birdlife International (2007). Retrieved 2012
  4. ^ Leisler, B. & Wink, Michael (2000): "Frequencies of multiple paternity in three Acrocephalus species (Aves: Sylviidae) with different mating systems (A. palustris, A. arundinaceus, A. paludicola)". Ethology, Ecology & Evolution 12: 237-249.
  5. ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 30, 290. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  6. ^ "List of conservation projects" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-10. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  7. ^ "Protecting aquatic warbler: farming in wet meadows and fen mires by Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania - Issuu". issuu.com.
  8. ^ "Home". Nine voices.
  9. ^ "Translocation of the Aquatic Warbler" (PDF). meldine.lt.
  10. ^ "New habitat for Europe's rarest song bird". EASME - European Commission. 2019-02-15. Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  11. ^ Grinienė, Rita (2019-06-27). "First ever Aquatic Warbler translocation confirmed to be effective". meldine.lt. Archived from the original on 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  12. ^ Grinienė, Rita (2019-07-15). "50 aquatic warbler nestlings are successfully released into the wild". meldine.lt. Retrieved 2019-09-04.

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Aquatic warbler: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

The aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds in temperate eastern Europe and western Asia, with an estimated population of 11,000-15,000 pairs. It is migratory, wintering in west Africa. After many years of uncertainty, the wintering grounds of much of the European population were finally discovered in Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Senegal, with between 5,000 and 10,000 birds present at this single site. Its south-westerly migration route means that it is regular on passage as far west as Great Britain and Ireland.

This small passerine bird is a species found in wet sedge beds with vegetation shorter than 30 cm (12 in). Drainage has meant that this species has declined, and its stronghold is now the Polesie region of eastern Poland and south Belarus, where 70% of the world's population breeds. 3–5 eggs are laid in a nest in low vegetation. This species is highly promiscuous, with most males and females having offspring with multiple partners.

This is a medium-sized warbler. The adult has a heavily streaked brown back and pale underparts with variable streaking. The forehead is flattened, and the bill is strong and pointed. There is a prominent whitish supercilium and crown stripe.

It can be confused with the juvenile sedge warbler, which may show a crown stripe, but the marking is stronger in this species, which appears paler and spiky-tailed in flight. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are unstreaked on the breast below. Like most warblers, it is insectivorous, but will take other small food items, including berries.

The song is a fast, chattering ja-ja-ja punctuated with typically acrocephaline whistles.

The genus name Acrocephalus is from Ancient Greek akros, "highest", and kephale, "head". It is possible that Naumann and Naumann thought akros meant "sharp-pointed". The specific paludicola is Latin, from paludis, "swamp", and colere, "to inhabit".

Translocated aquatic warbler chicks in June 2018.
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