Otis tarda -- Linnaeus, 1758 ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- OTIDIFORMES -- OTIDIDAE Common names: Great Bustard; Avutarda; Avutarda Común European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe. Within the EU27 this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Montenegro; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Spain; Turkey; Ukraine Reintroduced: France Vagrant: Albania; Belgium; Cyprus; Denmark; Finland; Ireland, Rep. of; Latvia; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK) Population The European population is estimated at 17,100-20,800 males, which equates to 34,200-41,500 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 15,100-18,000 males, which equates to 30,300-36,100 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF . Trend In Europe the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% in 30 years (three generations). In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF . Habitats and Ecology The species occurs in open, flat, undulating short-grass plains, usually clear of trees, although it uses cork oak
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Otis tarda -- Linnaeus, 1758ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- OTIDIFORMES -- OTIDIDAECommon names: Great Bustard; Avutarda; Avutarda Común
European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status
LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)
Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.
Within the EU27 this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27.
PopulationThe European population is estimated at 17,100-20,800 males, which equates to 34,200-41,500 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 15,100-18,000 males, which equates to 30,300-36,100 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.
TrendIn Europe the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% in 30 years (three generations). In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.
Habitats and EcologyThe species occurs in open, flat, undulating short-grass plains, usually clear of trees, although it uses cork oak
(Quercus suber) ?savanna? and olive groves in SW Iberia. A high diversity of low-intensity land-use and lack of disturbance are generally important for year round needs (Collar & Garcia 2013). Nest sites are selected in fallow or cereal fields (primarily alfalfa in central Europe) in areas of low patch-type diversity, far from human infrastructure and with good horizontal visibility (Magaña et al. 2010). Females mate with males on lekking grounds (Tucker and Heath 1994) then incubate a clutch of two to three eggs. It nests with or without a scrape, occasionally with fragments of grass stems and crop stems as lining. The diet consists principally of plant material and invertebrates, although small mammals, amphibians and nestling birds are sometimes taken. In Europe the species is generally sedentary but can be dispersive in Iberia, central and eastern Europe to the Ukraine depending on weather, age and sex (Collar and Garcia 2013).Habitats & Altitude
Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land major breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land major non-breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable non-breedingGrassland - Temperate major breedingGrassland - Temperate major non-breedingAltitude Occasional altitudinal limits
ThreatsKey threats are increased habitat degradation, fragmentation and loss due to agricultural intensification, land-use changes and infrastructure development which has the potential to increase following land privatisation in eastern Europe (S. Nagy in litt. 1999, 2007, Nagy 2009). Habitat loss and fragmentation continues as a result of ploughing of grasslands, intensive grazing, afforestation and increasing development of irrigation schemes, roads, power-lines, fencing and ditches. Mechanisation, chemical fertilisers, pesticides, fire and predation all contribute to high mortality in eggs, chicks, juveniles and incubating females (Nagy 2009). Hunting is a major threat in Turkey and Ukraine (Y. Andryucshenko in litt. 1999, P. Goriup in litt. 2007). Collision with power lines (J. C. Alonso in litt. 2007, Nagy 2009, M. Kessler in litt. 2012) and wind turbines are also significant threats (S. Nagy in litt. 2012).Threats & Impacts
ConservationConservation Actions UnderwayCITES Appendix II, CMS Appendix I and II and CMS MoU in place since 2002. EU Birds Directive Annex I, Bern Convention Annex II (S. Nagy in litt. 1999, 2007, P. Goriup in litt. 2007). A European action plan was published in 1996 and updated in 2009 (Nagy 2009). Agri-environmental and land management programmes have been (successfully) implemented in Spain, Portugal, Austria, Hungary, Germany and Serbia. Artificial incubation and chick rearing projects have been established in Germany and Hungary since the 1970s. A UK reintroduction project began in 2003 with chicks imported from the Russian Federation (Dawes 2008) that has established a small population, although continued monitoring and supplementing is still needed (Burnside et al. 2012). A LIFE Nature project for the species was implemented in Hungary during 2004-2008 with the aim of increasing in-situ protection of the species (Bankovics and Lóránt 2008). Other LIFE projects for the species have been implemented in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Slovakia.
Conservation Actions ProposedConduct nationwide surveys in countries with currently low quality estimates, to confirm worldwide numbers and trends. Research the limiting population factors and the wintering distribution in Russia and Ukraine. Protect and manage breeding and wintering areas. Implement agri-environment measures for low-intensity farming. Prevent steppe fires, illegal hunting and collision with powerlines. Raise public awareness.
BibliographyBankovics, A. and Lóránt, M. 2008. Conservation of Otis tarda in Hungary - Layman's Report.Burnside, R.J., Carter, I., Dawes, A., Waters, D., Lock, L., Goriup, P. and Szekely, T. 2012. The UK great bustard Otis tarda reintroduction trial: a 5-year progress report. Oryx, 46(01): 112-121.Collar, N. and Garcia, E.F.J. 2013. Great Bustard (Otis tarda). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2013. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53712 on 16 January 2015).
BibliographyDawes, A. 2008. Great Bustards: conservation through nest management and rear and release methods. Proceedings of a Great Bustard Group conference Salisbury, England, 26th - 29th November 2007. Great Bustard Group, Winterbourne Gunner, Wiltshire, UK.Magaña, M., Alonso, J.C., Martín, C.A., Bautista, L.M. and Martín, B. 2010. Nest-site selection by Great Bustards Otis tarda suggests a trade-off between concealment and visibility. Ibis 152(1): 77-89.Nagy, S. 2009. International single species action plan for the Western Palearctic population of Great Bustard, Otis tarda tarda. BirdLife International on behalf of the European Commission.Tucker, G.M. and Heath, M.F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife Conservation Series no. 3, BirdLife International, Cambridge.
