Assessing the influence of raptors on grape-eating birds in a Mediterranean vineyard ...

• Main Authors: Monteagudo, Navila, Rey Benayas, José María, Rebollo, Salvador, Meltzer, Jorge
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2023
• Subjects: Biological control; Accipiter gentilis; Northern Goshawk
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.22692721.v2; https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Assessing_the_influence_of_raptors_on_grape-eating_birds_in_a_Mediterranean_vineyard/22692721/2

Several bird species may cause serious damage to grape production. The ability of raptors as biological control agents of grape-eating birds is poorly understood and under-used. We installed artificial nests and perches to encourage the presence and activity of raptors in vineyards located in central Spain and explored their effectiveness to reduce damage to grapes. We characterized the raptor community by field surveys and assessment of natural breeding sites, evaluated the abundance of grape-eating birds, and sampled damage to grape production for three consecutive years. Raptor community in the study area was diverse (13 species). Breeding of ornitophagous species such as Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus and Northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis was confirmed in the forest patches. We identified 10 grape-eating bird species, with Spotless starling ( Sturnus unicolor ) being the most abundant. Distance from the edges between vineyards and natural and semi-natural woody vegetation affected damage to grapes, ...