Western Marsh Harrier

Short abstract from the book:
The marsh harrier breeds in many parts of Denmark but is absent from central Jutland. The first marsh harrier was ringed in 1917, though most were ringed after 1970. The majority of the recovered marsh harriers were ringed as chicks. In the first two months after fledging the mean position to the ringing site is 20 km, but at the end of August migration starts. In September the mean position is south of Denmark, and Danish birds have been reported from the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The migration route is rather concentrated towards the southwest, in a direct line from Denmark through France and Spain. During winter marsh harriers have been recovered in Spain, France, Morocco and Algeria. Danish birds have also been found south of the Sahara, in Senegal and Mali, though not during winter. The spring migration seems to follow the same route as in autumn. The marsh harriers return to the breeding sites in April. The mean distance between ringing and recovery site for marsh harriers found as adults was 35 km. Three birds born in southern Jutland were found in Schleswig-Holstein in the breeding season, and a one-year-old bird was found in Mali during summer. One Polish and some German birds have been found in Denmark in their first autumn. The major known cause of death is hunting. Before 1970, 45 % of the dead birds were reported as shot and after 1970 this proportion decreased to 13 %.

Read more about the species in the chapter from The Danish Bird Migration Atlas here

Ringing data for Western Marsh Harrier

Datavisning: genmeldinger    genmeldinger/mærkninger    mærkninger