Movements of Juvenile Hen Harriers (Circus cyaneus) Tracked by Satellite Telemetry in Spain

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript investigates the movements of juvenile and immature (2nd cy) Hen Harriers by satellite telemetry in Spain, at the southernmost edge of their range. It specifically focuses on differences between the sexes. Since there is a lack of data on this species in the literature, the study provides an interesting contribution to our understanding of their habits during a critical life stage. My main concern is the small sample size used: seven birds in total, with 4 males and 3 females. The authors acknowledge at the end of the discussion that the results may lack statistical robustness due to the limited sample size, however,  I suggest emphasizing this limitation more clearly in the methods and results sections as well. I have included this and other suggestions directly on the manuscript (see attached file). 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

The manuscript investigates the movements of juvenile and immature (2nd cy) Hen Harriers by satellite telemetry in Spain, at the southernmost edge of their range. It specifically focuses on differences between the sexes. Since there is a lack of data on this species in the literature, the study provides an interesting contribution to our understanding of their habits during a critical life stage. My main concern is the small sample size used: seven birds in total, with 4 males and 3 females. The authors acknowledge at the end of the discussion that the results may lack statistical robustness due to the limited sample size, however, I suggest emphasizing this limitation more clearly in the methods and results sections as well. I have included this and other suggestions directly on the manuscript (see attached file). 

Thanks very much for all the comments and suggestions provided by the reviewer. All the changes made to the manuscript have significantly improved it. Each modification has been addressed individually, as can be seen in the attached Word document with the track changes feature enabled.

Title: I suggest to change the title. E.g. Movements of juvenile and immature Hen harriers tracked by satellite telemetry in Spain

Many thanks to the reviewer; we have modified the title in accordance with their advice.

Line 42 Agostini 2021, is in the references list but not in the text.

The reviewer was right. We have added in the sentence.

Line 58 Oppel 2015 This article focuses on mortality during migration

The reviewer was right. We have added migration also in the start of the sentence.

Line 67 However the authors should underline that the sample size concerning sexes in this study is too small

We have added this concerning in the different parts of the manuscript (Materials and Methods and Results).

Line 72 See comment above

We have added this concerning in the different parts of the manuscript (Materials and Methods and Results).

Line 97 Which ones?            

We have added some of the measurements as an example.

Line 177 No significant perhaps because of the small sample size? See comment above.

We have added this information.

Line 246 Here authors should explain why a larger wingspan would allow raptors to cover greater distances consuming less energy. Otherwise this sentence makes no sense.

We have added an explanation and rephrase this sentence to get a better understanding.

Line 250 As mentioned above, authors should emphasize this limitation in the methods and in the results sections as well.

Once again, thanks to the reviewer this suggestion. We have added this concerning in the different parts of the manuscript (Materials and Methods and Results).

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Although based on a small sample size, the study of the dispersal of the Hen Herrier are worthy of publication, as the authros show very clealry the sexual differences in this dispersal, and above all, the differences between the first and the second year of the despersal. Movements are, of cause, very precisely traced in space and time. Results are clearly presented. 

Few remarks/suggestions/recommendations:

Some expressions seem to be not accurate/not appropriate, e.g. 'population behaviour' (in line 2, 42,...), perhaps better to say behaviour of the species/individuals, as population actually does not behave;

line 13: 'the animals'  suggests that it refers to the Hen Herrier, while it actually refers to all animals; it should be rather without 'the';

line 22 should be rephrazed;

numerals from 1 to 12 should be fully spelled (Editor's decision); 

line 47: 'the species is well documented' rather 'the species ecology is well documented'

line 64-69, while listing use ';' sign not full stop, and not starting with capital letters

line 79: 'although perhaps' better use 'about'  

line 157 'generally' is not appropiate here; it is perhaps better to say 'on average' or 'mostly'

line 181 'significant results' better to say 'significant differences'

The red line in Fig. 3-5 is a bit confusing, as the male has similarly coloured line; I would suggest black dotted line or other better contrasting line with the males' lines  

In Discusion' section (line 246-248) you suggest that largers wings of females are responsible for the sex differences in total distance traveled, but may be females are more than males involved in habitat and nest site selection, and it is why they are more active than males in the movements.

   

Author Response

Although based on a small sample size, the study of the dispersal of the Hen Herrier are worthy of publication, as the authros show very clealry the sexual differences in this dispersal, and above all, the differences between the first and the second year of the despersal. Movements are, of cause, very precisely traced in space and time. Results are clearly presented. 

Thanks very much for all the comments and suggestions provided by the reviewer. All the changes made to the manuscript have significantly improved it. Each modification has been addressed individually, as can be seen in the attached Word document with the track changes feature enabled.

Few remarks/suggestions/recommendations:

Some expressions seem to be not accurate/not appropriate, e.g. 'population behaviour' (in line 2, 42,...), perhaps better to say behaviour of the species/individuals, as population actually does not behave;

Thanks to the reviewer for this suggestion, we have modified throughout the text.

line 13: 'the animals' suggests that it refers to the Hen Herrier, while it actually refers to all animals; it should be rather without 'the';

We have modified this sentence, thanks again.

line 22 should be rephrazed;

We have rephrased this sentence to get a better understanding.

numerals from 1 to 12 should be fully spelled (Editor's decision); 

We have modified the numbers from 1 to 10 spelled.

line 47: 'the species is well documented' rather 'the species ecology is well documented'

We have modified the sentence.

line 64-69, while listing use ';' sign not full stop, and not starting with capital letters

We have changed “.” Using “;” and removing the capital letters.

line 79: 'although perhaps' better use 'about'  

We have modified this sentence.

line 157 'generally' is not appropiate here; it is perhaps better to say 'on average' or 'mostly'

Thanks again to the reviewer, we have changed this sentence.

line 181 'significant results' better to say 'significant differences'

We have modified this sentence.

The red line in Fig. 3-5 is a bit confusing, as the male has similarly coloured line; I would suggest black dotted line or other better contrasting line with the males' lines  

We have modified the red line to a black dashed line to get a better understanding.

In Discusion' section (line 246-248) you suggest that largers wings of females are responsible for the sex differences in total distance traveled, but may be females are more than males involved in habitat and nest site selection, and it is why they are more active than males in the movements.

We have modified this sentence and add the information provided by the reviewer. Thanks again for each suggestion and comment.