Satellite-tracking migrating juvenile Purple Herons Ardea purpurea from the Camargue area, France

Abstract

Migratory movements of juvenile Purple Herons from the Camargue area in France were studied by satellite-tracking. Six juvenile birds were fitted with transmitters in early July 2004. Of these six, four successfully started migration in September. Tracked birds followed a western migratory route, heading out south-south-west, towards Spain, the Balearic Islands and then Algeria. They pursed their flight either south-west to the Moroccan Atlantic coast or straight to Mauritania, flying over the Sahara desert. Flight speed could be estimated for one of the birds and was about 40 kilometres per hour. The results of this study are consistent with previous ring recovery data and provide additional knowledge on the speed and departure date of juvenile Purple Herons during autumn migration.