| Summary: | The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has been used as a simple approximate descriptor of the global weather fluctuation over Europe. Spring arrival dates of 37 migratory bird species (summer visitors) recorded in Moravia, Czech Republic during 103 years between 1881 and 2001 were correlated with the seasonal NAO index. Bird arrivals occurred significantly earlier following positive winter/spring NAO values (causing a warmer spring than normal in Central Europe) in all short-distance migrants with a European (Mediterranean) winter range (Alauda arvensis, Anser anser, Columba palumbus, Larus ridibundus, Phoenicurus ochruros, Phylloscopus collybita, Remiz pendulinus, Saxicola torquata, Serinus serinus, Sturnus vulgaris, Turdus philomelos, Vanellus vanellus). On the other hand, the timing of arrival did not correlate significantly with seasonal NAO in long-distance migrants having largely an African (sub-Saharan) winter range (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Anthus trivialis, Apus apus, Ciconia ciconia, Cuculus canorus, Ficedula albicollis, Hippolais icterina, Hirundo rustica, Jynx torquilla, Lanius collurio, Luscinia megarhynchos, Muscicapa striata, Oriolus oriolus, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Riparia riparia, Streptopelia turtur, Sylvia atricapilla, S. curruca, Upupa epops). The prevailing positive phase of winter/spring NAO conditions observed in Europe at the end of the 20th century has obviously determined the trend of an earlier than normal arrival of short-distance migratory species.
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