PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Circus pygargus is a semi-colonial ground-nesting migratory raptor deeply associated with farmlands, mainly nesting in cereal and fodder crops. It is vulnerable to changes in farming practices leading to the destruction of nests and exposure to higher predation levels; to extreme weather; and to the loss of habitat associated with the reduction of cereal crops in favour of other crops and land uses, often subsidized by agricultural or forestry policies. The species was updated from a “Secure” EU Population Status to “Threatened”. In Portugal, with an “Endangered” status, it faces an emergency, with a continued and sharp decline of its populations in recent years (rate 8%/year), with an estimated reduction of 80% of population in the last 10 years. The project will establish the tools for the short and long-term conservation of Cyrcus pygargus populations in their main portuguese and transborder distribution areas, by implementing conservation measures related to habitat management, improving breeding success, mitigating threats and reducing mortality. It will assess the main threats to the conservation of the species, apply specific conservation measures on more that 2000 ha of land, in order to improve habitat conditions; make agricultural practices compatible with the reproductive cycle of the species, prevent and mitigate disturbance affecting breeding productivity, raise awareness and promote capacity building. The project aims to improve the unfavourable conservation status from “Bad” to “Inadequate” and prevent the conservation status to be downgraded to “Critically endangered”. We aim to halt the population decline and increase the breeding population by 50% within the 6 years of project implementation and to improve the breeding success, bringing the productivity from the current value of 0.6 to 1.5 , which is needed to sustain a viable population. We will promote a significant reduction of mortality and nest destruction (by about 75%). We furthermore aim to improve and ensure 50% of nest survival in the wild (until very recently, over 90% of 1st clutches were destroyed).