Time budgets and foraging of breeding golden plover Pluvialis apricaria

Abstract

1. The golden plover Pluvialis apricaria is of high conservation concern in Europe. Previous studies have concentrated on how birds utilize moorland. We used radio-telemetry to study their habitat selection and behaviour, during both night and day, in an upland landscape of enclosed fields and moorland in county Durham, UK. 2. During incubation adult golden plover fed principally in enclosed fields 1·1-3·7 km from their moorland nests, but spent less than 5% of their foraging time on moorland. In contrast, birds with broods spent around 85% of their time foraging on moorland. 3. Birds on moorland selected calcareous grassland and avoided old stands of dense tall heather (> c. 12cm). Younger, shorter ( < 4 km) to breeding populations of golden plover. Rank heather on flat or gently sloping ground should be kept short by appropriate burning or grazing. Areas of calcareous grassland should be preserved. 6. These data illustrate the value of detailed radio-telemetry in informing equally detailed habitat management for important bird species.