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Animals
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The Raptors: Ecology, Behavior, Parasites, Life History and Conservation
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The Raptors: Ecology, Behavior, Parasites, Life History and Conservation

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Wildlife".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 1656

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zbigniew Kwieciński

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Ecology and Anthropology, Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
2. Department of Avian Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
Interests: interaction between molt vs. breeding of owls; avian incubation behaviour; nest light environment; relationship between nest concealment vs. predators risk; morphometry of the owl and the raptors feathers; anthropogenic materials in bird nests

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Animals journal is about to launch a Special Issue dedicated to studies addressing the ecology, behavior, life history and conservation of the raptors.

In the evolutionary struggle for survival, the raptors are among the best-adapted organisms in the animal world. Their body shape and hunting abilities make them the finest sky hunters. However, despite their speed and strength, survival can be challenging for the raptors.

The raptors, due to their remarkable phenotypic plasticity, can adapt to a wide range of habitats. In addition, they are essential components in many ecosystems. Many research studies have provided a foundation for further studies on the ecology and behaviour of this fauna, but this is laborious work. Many details of the behaviour and life history of the raptors, even among intensively studied species, remain unknown.

Therefore, this Special Issue is an opportunity to combine and synthesize data from different research fields. We welcome high-quality original papers addressing all aspects of the life of raptors and owls, including their habitat requirements and selection, foraging ecology and diet preferences, breeding biology and nest success, distribution, post-breeding movements and migration, endoparasites and ectoparasites, threats and protection, and population statuses and trends.

Reviews and surveys that provide new relevant insights into the above-mentioned research areas are also welcome.

Dr. Zbigniew Kwieciński
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • the life history of raptors and owls
  • breeding biology
  • ecology
  • behavior
  • conservation

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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24 pages, 1898 KiB  
Article
Winter Ecology of the Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus: Bridging Behavioral Insights and Conservation Requirements
by Remo Probst and Renate Probst
Animals 2025, 15(7), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15071057 - 5 Apr 2025
Viewed by 355
Abstract
The hen harrier, Circus cyaneus, is a migratory raptor that relies on open grasslands as key winter habitats in Central Europe, where it predominantly preys on common voles, Microtus arvalis. However, habitat loss due to agricultural intensification, land use change, and [...] Read more.
The hen harrier, Circus cyaneus, is a migratory raptor that relies on open grasslands as key winter habitats in Central Europe, where it predominantly preys on common voles, Microtus arvalis. However, habitat loss due to agricultural intensification, land use change, and human disturbances increasingly threatens these landscapes. Using the framework of conservation behavior, this study examines how hen harriers respond to human-induced environmental changes, how behavior-based habitat management can support conservation, and how behavioral indicators such as territoriality inform conservation planning. Based on 278 h of field observations, we analyzed space use, foraging ecology, time and energy budgets, and territoriality of wintering hen harriers. Our results indicate that non-territorial females require ~20% more energy intake than territorial females, reflecting the advantage of defending vole-rich habitats. This corresponds to an estimated daily intake of up to 8 voles for non-territorial females, compared to 4–6 voles for territorial ones. Winter territory establishment was primarily driven by vole availability, and habitat degradation due to grassland loss impaired territory formation, influencing energy allocation and conservation prospects. Our findings highlight the role of territory establishment as a quantifiable behavioral indicator for habitat quality and conservation planning. At a landscape scale, habitat alteration and loss, anthropogenic disturbances and top-down effects further shape hen harrier distribution, emphasizing the need to account for these factors in conservation strategies. Finally, we identify open research questions, especially regarding large-scale environmental pressures and cross-seasonal effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Raptors: Ecology, Behavior, Parasites, Life History and Conservation)
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12 pages, 2316 KiB  
Article
Game Species Management and Ecosystem Health: Leveraging Vulture Scavenging to Improve Carcass Disposal and Health Risk Reduction
by Inmaculada Navarro and Raquel Castillo-Contreras
Animals 2025, 15(5), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050732 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 651
Abstract
Avian scavengers, particularly vultures, play a crucial role in ecosystem health by efficiently consuming carcasses, thereby reducing pathogen abundance and limiting disease transmission to wildlife, livestock, and humans. In addition to the indispensable role of vultures, they are a particularly threatened group of [...] Read more.
Avian scavengers, particularly vultures, play a crucial role in ecosystem health by efficiently consuming carcasses, thereby reducing pathogen abundance and limiting disease transmission to wildlife, livestock, and humans. In addition to the indispensable role of vultures, they are a particularly threatened group of birds. This study investigates the environmental factors that optimize this ecosystem service by examining the scavenging dynamics of vultures and other species at deer carcasses in a hunting area in Sierra Madrona, Ciudad Real, Spain. Carcasses were placed in habitats with different vegetation densities (open vs. dense) and altitudes (high vs. low) and were monitored for 30 days using camera traps. Data on scavenger diversity, arrival times, and carcass persistence were analyzed using Bayesian multilevel models. Results reveal that vegetation density and altitude significantly influence vulture arrival times and carcass duration, with dense vegetation and low altitudes delaying scavenger access. These findings provide actionable insights for game management to enhance vulture conservation and improve both public and ecosystem health through timely and effective carcass removal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Raptors: Ecology, Behavior, Parasites, Life History and Conservation)
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