Yerucham Ornithology and Ecology Centre: Ringing Report 2015

2015 was a terrific year for the Dukifat ringing team here in Yerucham. We ringed 8719 new

birds with a further 1,621 recaptures, of a record high 111 species. We had a total of 133

ringing days within Yerucham giving an average of 65 birds per session. These totals do not

include the ringing sessions we conducted at Katzanim cistern, Park Be’er Sheva, Park

Eshkol, Revivim, Lahavim, and Wadi Arad, where there was a further 1851 new birds and 26

re-captures in 21 ringing sessions. There were 20 new species ringed within Yerucham. We

conducted many ringing sessions for all age groups. We participated in a number of research

projects in association with the Ben Gurion University and KKL.

Chart 1. Shows the average number of birds caught during each year and the total effort since the onset of ringing in Yerucham.

The species caught the most often was once again the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) with 1941

individuals which equated to 22.3% of the total number of new birds caught in Yerucham. The

second most caught bird with 1158 individuals (13.3%) was the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus

trochilus) and with 975 birds (11.2%) the Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) was third.

One new addition to the top ten was the Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) which with 275

birds up from only 1 in 2014 replaced the Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) down from 173 birds

in 2014 to only 60 this year.

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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Year

Average number of birds ringed each year per session

averagepersession

effort

2012 2013 2014 2015

Blackcap 607 1274 1166 1941

Willow warbler 68 319 599 1158

Reed warbler 368 715 614 975

Barn swallow 368 267 216 636

Chiffchaff 273 360 607 467

Lesser whitethroat 111 189 313 345

Savi’s warbler 42 96 155 290

Desert Lark - - 1 275

Bluethroat 67 151 150 233

Olivaceous warbler 113 103 53 193

Table 1. The top 10 birds ringed during 2015 and the numbers caught in the previous 3 years.

Chart 2 shows the percentage of the total number of birds for the top 10 species ringed in Yerucham during 2015

22%

13%

11% 7% 6%

4% 3% 4%

3% 2%

25%

% of the total number of ringed birds of the top 10 species

SYLATR

PHYTRO

ACRSCI

HIRRUS

PHYCOL

SYLCUR

LUSSVE

LOCLUS

AMMDES

IDUPAL

Other

The Autumn months of September and October were once again the best ringing months in

Yerucham, having the highest percentages of the total number of birds ringed, over 50% of

the birds ringed were in these two months, and the highest average session numbers, 123

and 119 birds respectively. There was a significant increase in the month of July up from

around 2% of the yearly total to 8%, this was in main due to the increase in effort in Nachal

Revivim where large numbers of desert breeding birds were coming too drink. There was a

fall in the percentage share of the spring months of March, April and may but this was only

due to the high number of birds ringed in other months as the average birds per session for

this time was the same as previous years. It must be stressed however that I did not join until

May, from this time onwards the effort increased considerably.

Chart 3 shows the monthly percentage of birds ringed for the last 4 years at Yerucham

Chart 4 shows the average number of birds ringed each month at Yerucham from 2012 to 2015.

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Monthly % of birds ringed

2012

2013

2014

2015

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Average number of birds ringed per month between 2012-15

2012

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2015

During the summer months (mid-May to mid-August) we we ringed a large number of local

desert breeding birds at two location. Firstly Wadi Revivim at the SW corner of Lake

Yerucham and secondly 60km to the south at Katzanim Cistern near Mizpe Ramon. An

incredible breeding year for some of our desert breeders was highlighted at Katzanim, over

1400 birds were ringed in our 6 sessions (5 morning 1 afternoon) in 4 nets (2x12, 2x18), it is

one place we certainly hope to return to in 2016.

Katzanim Cistern Yerucham Lake

Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus) 1301 13 Hill Sparrow (Carpospiza brachydactyla) 48 40 Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) 10 275 Desert Finch (Rhodospiza obsoleta) 33 2 House Bunting (Emberiza striolata) - 83 Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi) - 55 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) - 8 Table 2. Number of birds of 7 desert breeding species ringed at katzanim Cistern and lake Yerucham

A total of 8 birds originating from either Europe or elsewhere in Israel were controlled by us,

with a further 2 birds being ringed by us were controlled elsewhere. The greatest distance

covered was a barn Swallow from Estonia which was controlled at Yerucham Lake, a distance

of over 3,000km, although we have not yet received the full details. The shortest distance was

the 17km between Kibbutz Revivim and Lake Yerucham, travelled by an eastern olivaceous

warbler ringed by myself there in june 2012

Species Date of Origin Country of origin

Place of Origin Date of Control Country Place of Control Distance (km)

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler HIPPAL 12-Jun-12 Israel Revivim 12-Jun-15 Israel Yeruham Lake 18

Sand Martin RIPRIP 10-Oct-13 Israel Yeruham Lake 8-Jul-15 Hungary Mocsa, Komárom-Esztergom

2338

Striolated Bunting EMBSTR 12-Jun-15 Israel Hemet cistern 3-Aug-15 Israel Yeruham Lake 47

Reed Warbler ACRSCI 2-Apr-09 Israel Agamon Lake 4-Aug-15 Israel Yeruham Lake 244

Reed Warbler ACRSCI Israel 11-Aug-15 Israel Yeruham Lake

Red-rumped Swallow HIRDAU 11-Aug-13 Israel Omer 19-Sep-15 Israel Einot Gibton 65

Reed Warbler ACRSCI 11-Aug-15 Serbia Hajdukovo: Ludaško jezero

20-Sep-15 Israel Yeruham Lake 2123

Sand Martin RIPRIP 19-Sep-15 Israel Yeruham Lake 23-Sep-15 Israel Eilat ringing station,

157

Barn Swallow HIRRUS 28-Sep-15 Israel Einot Gibton 8-Oct-15 Israel Yeruham Lake 96

Barn Swallow HIRRUS Estonia (Estonia matsalu) 22-Oct-15 Israel Yeruham Lake

Table 3. Controlled birds either originating or being recaptured in Yerucham.

Of 21 new species to Yerucham, 7 were waders and 4 were summer breeding birds coming to

the lake to drink. The increased presence at the Lake from May onwards certainly paid

dividends as 18 of the new species were caught during this time. A number of these new

species were caught in high numbers for example; 55 Sand Partridge, 109 Short-toed Larks

and 40 Hill Sparrows. One of the noticeable absentees this year were the pipits with only the

tree pipit being recorded. Other significant declines were recorded in Garden warblers (65%

decline), Red-backed shrike (-63%), Wryneck (-58%) and Chiffchaff down from 607 birds to

467 a decrease of 23%.

2010 2011 2012 (2012) 2013 (2013) 2014 (2014) 2015 (2015) TOTAL TOTAL()

Little Bittern IXOMIN 1 6 4 5 3 4 2 16 9

Squacco Heron ARDRAL 1 2 3 0

Little Egret EGRGAR 1 1 0

Common Buzzard BUTBUT 1 2 1 4 0

Sparrowhawk ACCNIS 1 1 2 0

Levants Sparrowhawk * ACCBRE 3 3 0

Chukar ALECHU 1 3 4 0

Sand Partridge * AMMHEY 55 4 55 4

Quail * COTCOT 1 1 0

Water Rail RALAQU 2 2 1 3 1 7 2

Spotted Crake PORPOR 1 5 6 0

Little Crake PORPAR 1 1 0

Baillon's Crake PORPUS 1 1 0

Moorhen GALCHL 2 2 1 6 2 13 0

Little Ringed Plover * CHADUB 2 2 0

Ringed Plover * CHAHIA 4 4 0

Spur-winged Plover VANSPI 1 4 15 3 20 3

Dunlin * CALALP 1 1 0

Little Stint * CALMIN 5 1 5 1

Ruff * PHIPUG 11 11 0

Wood Sandpiper * TRIGLA 7 7 0

Green Sandpiper TRIOCH 2 1 13 16 0

Common Sandpiper ACTHYP 2 6 3 8 3

Redshank TRITOT 2 1 3 0

Marsh Sandpiper * TRISTA 1 1 0

Woodcock SCORUS 1 1 0

Snipe GALGAL 1 1 2 6 1 9 2

Jack snipe LYMMIN 1 1 0

Little Tern * STEALB 1 1 0

Black-bellied sandgrouse * PTEORI 8 8 0

Rock Dove COLLIV 2 1 3 0

Turtle Dove STRTUR 1 2 3 0

Collared Dove STRDEC 1 4 5 10 0

Laughing Dove STRSEN 1 6 14 10 31 0

Namaqua dove OENCAP 1 1 0

Ring-necked Parakeet * PSIKRA 1 1 0

Scops Owl * OTUSCO 2 2 0

European Nightjar CAPEUR 1 3 4 0

Hoopoe UPUEPO 1 3 6 31 3 41 3

Kingfisher ALCATT 22 22 50 23 42 34 50 54 164 133

White-throated Kingfisher HALSMY 1 1 4 5 4 10 5

Pied Kingfisher CERRUD 1 1 0

European Bee-eater MERAPI 30 2 5 37 0

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater * MERPER 6 6 0

Little Green Bee-eater * MERORI 4 4 0

Syrian Woodpecker DENSYR 2 5 7 0

Wryneck JYNTOR 2 6 27 4 31 4 13 79 8

Crested Lark GALCRI 1 1 13 9 2 48 3 72 5

Short-toed Lark * CALBRA 109 109 0

Desert Lark AMMDES 1 275 10 276 10

Sand martin RIPRIP 5 44 51 9 87 196 0

Pale Crag Martin HIRFUL 1 1 2 4 0

Barn Swallow HIRRUS 69 348 267 1 216 636 2 1536 3

Red-rumped Swallow HIRDAU 5 7 13 25 0

House Martin * DELURB 2 2 0

Water Pipit ANTSPI 5 11 7 3 23 3

Meadow Pipit ANTPRA 3 2 5 0

Tree Pipit ANTTRI 1 6 5 1 4 5 1 21 2

Olive-backed Pipit ANTHOD 1 1 1 1

red-throated Pipit ANTCER 4 4 0

White Wagtail MOTALB 2 4 4 23 33 0

Yellow Wagtail MOTFLA 4 1 10 13 39 123 7 190 7

Citrine Wagtail MOTCIT 1 1 2 0

Grey Wagtail MOTCIN 2 2 0

Spectacled Bulbul PYCXAN 3 13 20 1 37 2 59 11 132 14

Dunnock PRUMOD 3 1 1 4 1

Robin ERIRUB 1 8 40 15 83 39 58 17 49 35 239 106

Nightingale LUSMEG 3 11 14 3 19 7 22 1 14 83 11

Thrush Nightingale LUSLUS 1 5 10 42 6 14 33 2 105 8

Rufous Bush Robin CERGAL 2 8 15 2 36 14 19 2 28 17 108 35

Bluethroat LUSSVE 7 6 67 21 151 42 150 59 233 87 614 209

White-throated Robin IRAGUT 1 1 0

Redstart PHOPHO 3 6 9 25 1 38 3 81 4

Black Redstart PHOOCH 1 7 4 1 2 1 14 2

Isabelline Wheatear OENISA 1 1 0

Mourning Wheatear OENLUG 1 1 3 5 0

Blackstart CERMEL 3 3 6 0

Whinchat SAXRUB 1 1 2 5 2 11 0

Siberian Stonechat SAXMAU 2 1 1 3 1

Stonechat SAXTOR 3 6 6 36 3 11 13 3 75 6

Pied Bushchat SAXCAP 1 1 0

Song Thrush TURPHI 1 8 8 7 24 0

Blackbird TURMER 1 9 1 14 4 11 7 35 12

Barred Warbler SYLNIS 1 3 4 11 9 1 28 1

Garden Warbler SYLBOR 14 66 1 64 173 21 60 2 377 24

Blackcap SYLATR 39 68 607 32 1274 39 1166 44 1941 57 5095 172

Eastern Orphean Warbler SYLCRA 7 13 12 41 1 73 1

Lesser Whitethroat SYLCUR 6 35 111 5 189 14 313 29 345 31 999 79

Sardinian Warbler SYLMEL 2 8 33 5 22 15 14 8 79 28

Cyprus Warbler * SYLMEX 1 1 0

Ruppell's Warbler SYLRUE 1 1 2 0

Whitethroat SYLCOM 1 1 6 1 16 13 4 37 5

Sub-alpine Warbler SYLCAN 1 1 2 0

Graceful Prinia PRIGRA 4 4 23 1 40 11 72 35 180 104 323 151

Sedge Warbler ACRSCH 2 2 14 3 93 29 69 5 103 31 283 68

Moustached Warbler ACRMEL 1 1 1 2 3 2

Grasshopper Warbler LOCNAE 1 1 2 0

River Warbler LOCFLU 2 2 1 5 0

Savi's Warbler LOCLUS 3 3 42 14 96 37 155 65 290 81 589 197

Cetti's Warbler CETCET 1 2 3 7 21 26 19 47 31 105 77 185

Reed Warbler ACRSCI 62 73 368 178 715 392 614 225 975 482 2807 1277

Marsh Warbler ACRPAL 3 5 21 3 13 1 47 89 4

Great Reed Warbler ACRARU 2 24 3 51 19 52 5 80 21 209 48

Clamorous Reed Warbler ACRSTE 1 1 0

Olive-tree Warbler HIPOLI 3 3 2 3 11 0

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler IDUPAL 6 19 113 30 103 46 53 47 193 47 487 170

Willow Warbler PHYTRO 9 68 1 319 51 599 167 1158 255 2153 474

Wood Warbler PHYSIB 1 2 3 1 7 0

Balkan Warbler PHYORI 2 3 3 12 2 22 0

Chiffchaff PHYCOL 16 65 273 26 360 46 607 83 467 89 1788 244

Dusky Warbler PHYFUS 1 1 1 1

Green Warbler PHYNIT 1 1 0

Yellow-browed Warbler PHYINO 1 2 3 6 0

Spotted Flycatcher MUSSTR 5 9 3 14 4 13 41 7

Red-breasted Flycatcher FICPAR 3 7 3 4 2 14 5

Pied Flycatcher FICHYP 2 1 3 0

Collared Flycatcher FICALB 1 3 4 0

Great Tit PARMAJ 1 2 9 2 5 9 17 11

Penduline Tit REMPEN 2 3 7 2 14 0

Southern Great Grey Shrike LANMER 1 1 2 0

Red-backed Shrike LANCOL 1 21 7 29 10 35 13 5 99 22

Woodchat Shrike LANSEN 1 2 3 0

Masked Shrike LANNUB 4 13 14 5 10 41 5

Palestine Sunbird NECOSE 1 1 10 1 20 1 29 2 11 72 4

Arabian Babbler TURSQU 8 1 14 3 9 1 5 5 36 10

Tristram's Grackle ONYTRI 2 39 3 40 5 81 8

Rose-coloured Starling STUROS 1 1 0

Golden Oriole ORIORI 2 17 4 9 28 4

House Sparrow PASDOM 1 2 3 37 129 3 69 1 241 4

Spanish Sparrow PASHIS 20 5 46 85 1 164 2 320 3

Hill Sparrow * CARBRA 40 40 0

Chaffinch FRICOE 2 2 3 7 0

Goldfinch CARCAR 6 1 7 0

Greenfinch CARCHL 6 1 24 1 76 2 113 5 219 9

Siskin CARSPI 1 1 0

European Rosefinch CARERY 1 3 4 0

Trumpeter Finch * RHOGIT 13 13 0

Desert Finch RHOOBS 1 17 2 20 0

Reed Bunting EMBSCH 3 3 0

Ortolan Bunting EMBHOR 2 5 1 20 28 0

Cretzschmar's Bunting EMBCAE 15 1 2 23 40 1

Striolated Bunting EMBSTR 1 83 6 84 6

206 437 2487 378 4565 887 5288 953 8719 1625 21702 3843

Table 4. full species list for Yerucham from 2010 to 2015. Recaptures are shown in columns with brackets. Note these are

the totals for Yerucham only and do not include birds caught elsewhere by the Dukifat Ringing Team. New species recorded

at Yerucham during 2015 are marked with an *.

Finally thanks to all the staff and volunteers, Yoram for taking a chance on me, Rony for all

the hours of painlessly entering the data, Aylon for reminding me I am not a teenager

anymore, Erez, Yehuda, Nevo and Amichi, Shaun and Anna, Oded, Yoram, Avi, Bruria,

Eran,The B7 crew Eyal, Adi, Nir, Yaron, to Yosef the No.1 expert on moult who is always only

a phone call away, to all the other ringers we shared time with throughout Israel and finally

Francis an inspiration to ringers everywhere.